Question:
VERY SLOW WEIGHT LOSS

I HAD LAP RNY ALMOST 4 WEEKS AGO. I EAT COTTAGE CHEESE, MOST MEATS EXCEPT BEEF, DRINK PROTEIN SHAKES, EAT PROTEIN BARS AND DRINK ABOUT 60 OZ OF WATER. I STARTED AT 222 POUNDS AND NOW AM 213. I AM ONLY 5 FEET TALL. I KNOW MY WEIGHT LOSS MAY BE SLOW BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS SLOW. THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP.    — Amy P. (posted on July 9, 2003)

July 9, 2003
Hang in there! You are a light weight and we lose a lot slower! I had a plateau at 2 weeks post op and it drove me insane. I started adding exercise and just relaxing about the amount of weight that I was losing, and now the scale seems to be moving again. Stress can slow down weight loss so try not to worry so much. My doctor told me as long as I lose around 10 pounds a month she was fine with that. -Patra
   — Patra R.

July 9, 2003
Just a different perspective here -- I had WLS in order to keep myself from regaining weight, as I'd lost many pounds over the years on diets, but I always gained it back (and then some). I could lose fast at times, and regain faster. I see lots of post-ops talking about how slow their weight loss is, and I sympathize (though I was wrong to think of myself as a slow loser in the beginning, and it took months for me to look back and realize how wrong I was). But if one of the reasons you had the surgery was to help you make permanent lifestyle changes (better eating habits, less junk food and binging, better health, more ability to exercise, etc.), then the pace of weight loss isn't as important as how well you heal up, how your new eating and exercise regime is starting to shape up (never too soon to think about that), and what you're going to do *this* time to make WLS help you succeed where all the diets failed. When we talk about being "slow losers," we raise very valid issues and concerns (and we learn how each of us, personally, needs to eat and exercise in order to lose), but I think we also lose sight of what the surgery is really for in the long run. You're gonna lose the weight, even if it's not at a record-breaking pace at the moment. The cool thing is that, this time, if you work your tool right, you'll never see that weight come back again. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet. (That's my mantra.) Hang in there -- just thought I'd throw that thought out there, if it helps at all when the scale is not cooperating.
   — Suzy C.

July 9, 2003
Hi Amy, I am 5' also and had surgery 10 months ago. I had times where I lost a lot but then there were months I was lucky if I lost 2 pounds. I started at 213 and now weigh 127, with 14 pounds till goal. So it does come off. I know how you feel thow sometimes I just want to wake up at goal LOL. Take care.
   — April G.

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