Question:
I need encouragement! Tell me I'm okay.
I'm 7 weeks post op. I've lost 31 pounds. I'm working out, I'm certainly active. I'm eating normal food just not alot of it. I saw a friend today who knew I was thinking about surgery. She asked if I'd had it yet. I knew I hadn't lost that much but thought 30 pounds was something. Some of my clothes are getting bigger some are not. According to the weight loss chart I need to be down another 20 pounds by September 11th. Like that's going to happen. I haven't lost anything in two weeks. I'm hungry more than three times a day now. Am I already a failure at this? Have I already ruined it? Somebody PLEASE tell me I'm okay. That this is just a plateau or something and it WILL come off. Thanks! — Tiffany S. (posted on August 28, 2002)
August 27, 2002
I came back to work at 4 weeks and had lost 30 pounds. I over heard a
co-worker remark that i looked exactly the same. I was crushed (mainly
because it was my uncle who said it - we work together). But, you know,
when you are 364 pounds, loosing 30 pounds ain't much. No one really said
anything until the 50 pound mark. Also, I never weighed myself outside of
the doctors office for the first year. It wasn't about a number, it was
about how I felt. If I felt I was moving forward, that's what I
concentrated on. Worry less about a general weight loss chart and more on
your health and well-being. You will loose weight, trust me!! Before you
know it, you're friends won't know who you are.
— Anna F.
August 27, 2002
Tiffany, don't worry about your friend not noticing the weight loss yet.
About 13 years ago I went on one of those all liquid protein diets. I
started out weighing 278 lbs, I didn't tell my co-workers about the diet.
Well, no one even mentioned that it looked like I was losing weight until I
had lost about 85-90 lbs. Talk about a let down. When you are larger
starting out it takes alittle longer for people to notice the weight loss.
Keep up the good work and don't let things get you too down.
By the way, at that time I had lost 140 lbs, but, of course I regained all
of it back plus alot more in only half the time it took to lose it. I now
weigh 420 lbs and my surgery is scheduled for Oct. 10th.
— Patricia C.
August 28, 2002
{{hugs}} take a deep breath
you are doing fine
a few suggestions:
1. throw out that weight loss time line - everyone loses at different
rates, there are so many factors, don't put yourself under pressure to lose
a certain amount within a certain time frame
2. try to take what people say with a grain of salt - they may not have the
best of intentions. there are a lot of ppl who are jealous...also depending
on your size and what you are wearing, someone may not see the 30lb
difference. does it really matter? did you get the surgery for other
people? to be thin? no, (at least i hope not) you got it to be healthy,
extend your life, improve the quality of life and be an active participant
in life.
3. don't weigh yourself more often than 2x a month. i'm serious.
4. increase/change your exercise. if you walk, try aerobics or tae bo. you
can borrow video tapes from the library to find out what you enjoy doing.
5. attend support groups, either in person or online. there are lots of ppl
who have gone through what you are experiencing. there are groups on yahoo
and msn.
6. keep a journal. when was the last time you lost this much weight this
fast and you knew you were going to keep it off? remember, the surgery was
on our stomach not our brain so we still have pre op issues we have to deal
with (BODY IMAGE!!)
7. for plateaus: increase/change exercise, up your protein intake, drink
lots of water and make sure you're low on carbs/fats. be sure to take your
vitamins, iron, calcium
8. if this distress continues or deepens into depression, seek counseling.
please feel free to email me anytime! {{hugs}}
kate [email protected]
open rny 6-14-01
pre op: 268lbs
goal weight: 135lbs
current weight: 130lbs
— jkb
August 28, 2002
I went through a plateau at about four weeks too. You are doing great.
The next couple of months will be amazing. I am 3 1/2 months post op down
82 pounds. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. And I am eating a lot more
normal now, and still loosing. I can eat steak porkchops everything. I do
make sure to get in all of my water and protein everyday.
— Linda A.
August 28, 2002
I went through a plateau at about four weeks too. You are doing great.
The next couple of months will be amazing. I am 3 1/2 months post op down
82 pounds. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. And I am eating a lot more
normal now, and still loosing. I can eat steak porkchops everything. I do
make sure to get in all of my water and protein everyday.
— Linda A.
August 28, 2002
I went through a plateau at about four weeks too. You are doing great.
The next couple of months will be amazing. I am 3 1/2 months post op down
82 pounds. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. And I am eating a lot more
normal now, and still loosing. I can eat steak porkchops everything. I do
make sure to get in all of my water and protein everyday.
— Linda A.
August 28, 2002
I went through a plateau at about four weeks too. You are doing great.
The next couple of months will be amazing. I am 3 1/2 months post op down
82 pounds. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. And I am eating a lot more
normal now, and still loosing. I can eat steak porkchops everything. I do
make sure to get in all of my water and protein everyday.
— Linda A.
August 28, 2002
I was around 319 a month before surgery. My offical surgery weight was 305.
But I had to lose another "40 pounds" before ANYONE NOTICED! Sad
but true. When we weigh alot you have to lose alot before anyone notices.
Heck, now if I lost 6-12 pounds everyone comments! Don't worry about it.
And why do you have to lose another 20 pounds by Sept 11th?
Please don't feel you have to be in competian with anyone. Relax, do what
you are supposed to and enjoy the ride. You will never lose as much as you
will right now. Relax. ;)
— Danmark
August 28, 2002
I am 6 weeks out/post lap RNY and have lost 30 lbs. I have also been
eating well(lots of protein), drinking my water, and exercising. I had been
feeling good about my loss until my mother in law, whom I haven't seen
since the surgery, said to me this week, "OH, aren't you terrible
disappointed that the surgery hasn't worked for you? It must make you feel
terrible that you haven't lost " AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hang in
there-and I will too-LOL!!
— Heather N.
August 28, 2002
I think you have hit a small platuea... I would not get discouraged.. I hit
a plateau for about 2 weeks and then finally I started losing again. This
is going to happen, don't come down on yourself. You have made the right
decision. You are probably experience head hunger at this stage, where you
thing you are hungry but your really not. I went through this and it was
hard. If you have lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks that is great... I think I was
about the same. I have lost 83 lbs in 5 months with 15 to go. You sound
like your on track.. Keep in my mind your tummy is still swolen and
probably will be for a while, so don't get discouraged about your clothes
quite yet... It will come. I have gone from a 24 to a size 10. It will
happen.... Don't let anyone come down on you. You are doing what you are
supposed to be doing. Some doctors say eat 3 times a day and some say 6. I
think you can eat 6 times a day in small quantities. Stay away from fruit
and carbs and stick strictly to protein as much as you can. I know it is
hard.. Hang in there... It takes time for you to really start noticing a
change. Look at a picture of yourself before surgery and then look at
yourself now in the mirror, you should start to see a difference in your
face, that is where you will start to notice first... Hang in there, your
doing fine...
— Michelle C.
August 29, 2002
Tiffany,
Give yourself a break! Your doing great! You say your working
out...muscle weighs more than fat girl! I would suggest you start taking
your measurements..that way every few weeks or so you can take em again and
see the inches your loosing..My Dr. says we shouldn't go by the scale, go
by the inches..I know it's hard b/c I always wonder how much I lost
constantly! It takes time before you see your clothes really falling
off...I posted here not 2 weeks ago complaining about my clothes still
fitting (my pants especially) well I am happy to report that at 5 weeks
post op my pants are FINALLY starting to get very large! I am down
44lbs...you WILL loose...31 lbs. is fine...keep up the good work and DON'T
get discouraged! We are all walking beside you!!!!!!!!!!! Smiles,
— Trish R.
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