Question:
3+ Months Out, Plateaued for 3 Weeks Now. Lightweight Seeking Advice
I'm over 3 months post op and I've lost 40 pounds. I am very happy with the loss because I know that I would've never been able to lose without surgery. I started out at 255 and I am 5'6. I know that I am a lightweight and that we lose slower, but is there anyone out there with similar stats who has lost this slowly? I have been able to tolerate everything but believe I have been making good choices in food. I exercise at least 3x a week. My surgery was proximal, could this be the reason I am not losing faster? Thanks! — Lindy L. (posted on March 15, 2003)
March 14, 2003
I am 4 months out and have lost 52 lbs. I was (am?) a lightweight, too. I
have been stuck on a plateau the past 3-4 weeks! I just keep telling
myself to keep on doing what I've been doing and give it time. I try to do
all the right things. What is more frustrating is that I work with a woman
who had surgery over a year ago and now wears a size 4, eats junk or eats
nothing all day, doesn't drink enough water by (her own admission -says she
is lucky to get down an 8 ounce bottle during the day) and doesn't
exercise. (She was not a lightweight to start with.) She recently had a TT
where they removed 'about a pound' of tissue. Here I am , walking an hour
everyday, working with weights and trying to eat healthy, watch carbs and
fat, get the water in,etc. (My other co-workers have threatened to give me
'a sound thrashing' if I start doing what she is doing. LOL! Also, I
still maintain that there are other factors to consider - how long you have
been obese, age and genetics. I have been fat since I first recall hearing
the word 'diet' at age 7. My fat cells aren't giving up without a major
fight! I've had them for about 40 years, now, and they don't want to leave.
As lightweights, I think we just need to be patient, stay positive,
imagine where we will be in a year, and disregard the big losers (and bless
them - it's great that it happens for them!) I have to admit, it would be
nice to have a forum or some way lightweights could compare statisitics
based on age, height and starting weight. Sometimes I get a little
discourage by lightweights who are losing more, and faster, then come to
find out they may be 20 years younger! Hang in there!
— koogy
March 14, 2003
I'm a lightweight too --really! now I'm down to 138 pounds at 8 months
post op -- it is so hard to believe. But I had plateaus every month. I
lost weight only one week out of the month for each month. Your weight
loss sounds fine to me. You can check my stats and others if you like.
Also check the library for more information on plateaus.
— Darlene P.
March 14, 2003
I'm almost exactly the same. I'm 5'4, started at 259, had lost 50 at three
months, and, um, 50 at 4 months, and about 50 at 4 months and a week. And
now, at 4 months and 3 weeks, I've lost 60. It will move, darlin'. I
promise.
— Tamara K.
March 15, 2003
Linda, proximal or distal, we all lose weight. How fast we lose, who loses
faster than others etc, is a mystery. I will tell you that everyone is
different, and if you try to compare your loss to others, even those who
started at the same height and weight as you, you will drive yourself nuts.
Just don't do it. Period. I know its hard, and we all want to be the
ones who lose 100 pounds in less than 6 months, but thats the exception not
the rule. Most of us plod along but the good news is, we all get there. I
am a lightweight too. Started at 249 and 13 months later I am 153. Are
there others who lost more than me quicker, same height and starting
weight. Yup! Are there some who have not lost as much as me? Yup!
Bottom line-be patient, stick to your good food choices-lots of protein,
keep the calories up (too low and your body will hoard the fat), keep up
the exercise, and especially the water, and it will continue to drop off of
you at its own pace. Plateaus suck but they happen. i have had more than
I can count, but good news is they always move on eventually.
— Cindy R.
March 15, 2003
I'm a lightweight, too. I started at 250lbs. but am shorter than you
(5'2"). And I must have had a plateau atleast once a month, so I
completely understand your frustration! But despite all those things
sometimes working against you, I have lost 115lbs. in a little over 9
months. I am 5 lbs. away from my goal in less than a year- I can't believe
it! SO, you will lose the weight, do not worry. Sometimes it's slower than
others, and slower for you at different times, but don't concern yourself
with it. As long as you are maintaining or losing, you are doing great!
Goodluck to you :)
— Lezlie Y.
March 15, 2003
17 mos post op and I started at 265 and am 5' 7". I am now at 135 and
still losing even though I no longer want to. It will come of, just be
patient.
— RebeccaP
March 16, 2003
Lindy,
I'm very close to your statistics. I'm 5'5-1/2", 56 years old. I was
247 the day of surgery. I'll be 3 months out tomorrow and so far have lost
a total of 45 pounds. I also get very frustrated by the speed at which I'm
losing but at least the weight is going down and not up. Personally, I
can't remember another time when I lost 45 pounds in three months let alone
with the reassurance that it is likely to stay off. So I just try to be
patient about it but I know exactly how you're feeling. Let's just keep on
keeping on and doing what we're supposed to, we'll get there in time. As
the tortoise said, "Slow and steady wins the race". Blessed be.
— Birdie59
March 16, 2003
I am 4 months and almost a week out and I have only lost 48 pounds. I am
38 and 5'4". I started at 261 and now weigh 214. It feels like I
will never get under 200 pounds. It is very frustrating. I know that we
shouldn't compare ourselves with others, but it is very difficult not to
when others have lost 60, 80,or even 90 pounds. I need to exercise more
and drink more water. I think this will definitley help. Good luck and
remember you are not alone in SLOW weight loss (even though it feels like
it)
Denise :-)
— esmeraldas7
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