Question:
Slow Weight Loss at 16 weeks....................................
I've looked through the library, but I wanted to ask you guys what you think. I'm 16 weeks post-op Friday 5/23/03. I've lost 52.5 pounds (started out at 294). Please don't get me wrong, I'm very excited about this weight loss (please no bashing me), but it seems I'm losing a lot slower than most people my size. I keep up with ladies that had the surgery at the same time, and I'm the only one out of about 11 of us that has lost the least amount of weight and it's behind them at least 10 pounds or more. I do take Synthroid for Hashimoto's disease and I'm on 20mg of Paxil. I had my thyroid checked a month ago and the TSH is still in the normal range. I work out 3 times a week at curves, and get in all my water. I could eat more protein I'm sure, but I'm probably only averaging 800-1000 calories a day. What do you guys think? I'm scared I'm not going to reach my goal. My goal is 140 and I'm 5ft. 4 in. Thanks guys! — Tamara S. (posted on May 21, 2003)
May 21, 2003
I really dislike post like these. I think that your weight loss is
awesome. How much weight did yu expect to lose? I am interested in
knowing how much weight you think you should have lost for a woman of your
size? I am 5'4 myself started out a a weight of 331 down 66 pounds since
september of 2002 maybe I should be the one writing your post. How is
your self worth? What is it really that you are seeking approval of?
— train
May 21, 2003
You know, I think your weight loss is awesome! And unlike the previous
poster, I'll just give you encouragement and not ask about your mental
health. Goodness knows we all want to lose the weight fast fast fast after
being M.O. for most of our lives. If I were you, I'd think of it this way,
maybe your skin will have a chance to keep up with your weight loss and
won't be waving in the wind at the end! :) I say keep up the good work and
don't pay attention to the first poster. :oP Good luck!!!!
— Cheryl M.
May 21, 2003
I think you are doing great. I, too, am a slow loser. I am at 13 weeks
and have only lost 43 pounds. We may be slow, but we WILL MAKE
IT!!!!!!!!!!!
— Jazi in N FL W.
May 21, 2003
Ignore the first poster, I understand that you are just looking for
encouragement and there is nothing wrong with that. Sounds like the first
poster is a little bitter about something?! Anyway, you are doing fine. I
know that after having an organ-altering surgery, you are ready for it to
work fast. It may not be on the fast end, but it is working, you just have
to keep your chin up and keep doing your part. I was a slow loser too, and
it is hard to see others 'blowing by' you at such a high rate of speed, but
we are all different, and our bodies do their own thing (unfortunately).
Wouldn't it be fun if we could tell our bodies how to do it? A plus to
losing slow is the skin issue. People are amazed at how little extra skin
I have. I see more than they do, of course, but plastic surgery is not
mandatory for me. I would like it though. Keep up the great work!!
— Cheri M.
May 21, 2003
I am 15 weeks post-op (started at 282)and have lost 49 lbs! I think the
problem is that we are the norm and the ones that lose 30 lbs in the first
week are just dang lucky. I try not compare myself to others but I am
human and so I do. My best friend had surgery the day before me and has
lost 65 lbs. I know we are all different but it is hard!
Just keep doing what you know is the right thing and you will be fine.
I also think people don't post the "bad" I never see a post
saying whooo hooo I lost 16 lbs in my first 4 weeks. But I do see I have
lost 30 lbs in the first 22 days. I do not think people do it on purpose
they just get more excited with the 30 in 22 days than my poor little 16 in
4 weeks. So what happens is we think that it is normal to lose 30 lbs in 22
days not 16 in 4 weeks. Ok does any of this make sense because I am
getting lost in my own post!!
I have more about this on my profile!!
You are doing great hang in there!!
— Haziefrog
May 21, 2003
Another slow loser weighing in here, no pun intended. I am bouncing
between 40-43 pounds loss and I will be 4 months out on June 6. I have
found that I still have to REALLY work on the head stuff. If I lose
weight, I reward myself with food. If I gain weight, I console myself with
food. See the vicious cycle here? I agree with previous posters, think
about the plastic surgery we'll be able to avoid.
Keep your chin up.
— M O.
May 21, 2003
I used to be really jealous of a woman in my group who lost 150 pounds in 5
months. I was jealous because we both had 180 pounds to lose and at 5
months I had 'only' lost 84 pounds. After that though her weight loss
slowed down tremendously but mine is still going. At 7 months, I still lose
10 pounds per month, sometimes more. I think we will end up reaching our
goals in the same amount of time. Yes, she got a rabbit's head start, but
this turtle is closing in!!! I don't compare myself to anyone anymore. It
just doesn't matter. Good luck to you.
— Yolanda J.
May 21, 2003
Hi Tamara:
I think you are doing wonderfully. If you are anything like me, who is
also a slow loser, you sort of panic when you see what others have lost.
You are afraid that you will be the one in a million who will not lose
well. I started at 230 pounds, 5'4", and by 16 weeks had lost 49
pounds. I used to be so discouraged, that I would fail, not lose well,
etc. I know how hard this is to do, but you must wait and see how you are
doing at 6 and 9 months. In the case of slow losers, it seems as if it
takes our bodies a while to catch up. At 9 months postop, I am down almost
80 pounds. It does add up, you will see! I am also seeing those who
started much heavier than me at the same weight I am now. But I think you
and I are the normal weight loss pattern. Those in the 200-300 range who
lose 100 pounds within 6 months are the exceptions, I think. Keep up the
good work. In the dog days of August, you will be so glad you have lost so
much weight and stuck with the surgery. Let me know how you are doing. I
care. Love Grace
— Grace H.
May 22, 2003
I know it's hard not to compare...we are all guilty of it, or at least 99%
of us! I'm going to be honest here...I had surgery the same day as you,
and have lost more...but, I still look at where I'm at and only see the
other people that have lost more than I have too! In one way it is
discouraging...yet, at the same time, it motivates me to keep making good
choices. Just try to remember, this is not a race, we have all had
different procedures, and are following different plans, and we certainly
all have different metabolisms. We are all on our own journey
here...together. You are doing great. And the weight will continue to
come off with time. In the mean time, maybe now is the time to look at
your eating (carbs, protein and water) and exercise routines (maybe try
upping the exercise to 5 days a week, even if it's just brisk walk). If
all seems to be on track, just hang in there and keep making good choices
and your patience will be rewarded in the end. Good luck to you!
— eaamc
May 22, 2003
Hate to tell you this but...the weight will come off as long as you're
doing what you're supposed to do. Barring any medical complications and
all other things being ok, keep doing what you're doing. If anything, I'd
work out 5 days a week. I do 3 days a week but I'm at goal now. Plus with
Curves I don't know how much sweating you get to do and for how long. It's
better than nothing but I've found that I get results from a good 30
minutes of sweating exercise daily. Anyway, I think most people go thru
the slow weight loss thoughts during this process. I did. But anyway, I
took advantage of the thoughts by paying attention to what I did to make
the weight go and how quickly and found that on weeks where I'm good with
my exercise and water, I lost more...on weeks where I was lax, I lost less.
Protein shakes keep you from being as hungry so those are nice when you're
wanting junk. But anyway, like I said, I thought I was a slow loser, never
really tracked how quickly the weight came off but I lost all 170 pounds in
18 months and am 2 years out now so hopefully you can use the advice. Good
luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
May 22, 2003
hi Tamara,
I had LAP RNY on 1/7 and have lost almost 50 lbs. Like you I am much
further behind people who had WLS AFTER me. However, I too am happy with
the 50. I am not worried about reaching goal TODAY. I try to worry about
getting in my protein, vitamins and water and let the rest take care of
itself. There's not much I can do about how slow this happens for me so I
just try to stay off the scale and not stay focused on the weight. Also, I
notice that I weigh the same as I did last week but my clothes are looser,
so you might be losing inches faster than lbs and building muscle from
exercising. In any event, hang in there...you will continue to lose....and
I'm sure that the 50 lb weight loss looks really good on you! :)
— susanje
May 22, 2003
Hi, I know that you've heard this before but we all lose weight at
different speeds. Your issues are very similar to mine. I am 7.5 weeks out,
and my weight loss is at 30lbs total (15lbs a month). I am about 20lbs
behind everyone in my group who had their surgery around the same time I
did. I thought a few of them were close to my weight to start with, only to
learn recently, that they were a little heavier and had more body fat. I
had less water weight to lose as well due to the diuretics I take. My
Doctor said I would lose it slower because I had less to lose. I take
sythroid because my thyroid was removed due to tumors. My thyroid levels
are normal. I too have that fear in the back of my mind I won't reach goal,
but a reality check tells me that I will probably get there. Hang in there.
My Doctor told me not to be concerned unless I had -0- weight loss during a
one month period in the first 8 months.
— M B.
May 22, 2003
Who finished first?? The turtle or the hare?? See?? You will get to the
finsh line just fine!!
— S A.
May 22, 2003
Hi all, I would like to respond to Cheri McGee, I would like to thank you
for bashing me I appreciate that! I am not bitter actually at all but
thanks for trying to guess my feelings. But, you are wrong. I think that
it is unrealistic to expect miracles. We all want to lose the weight like
yesterday! And we need to focus on the each and every pound that is gone
fast or slow. This is why we have psych evals to see how we can hand the
change.
— train
May 22, 2003
I feel the exact same way you do. I am about 9 weeks out and feel so
discouraged. I have lost only about 40 pounds and I am NOT a liteweight so
I should be losing faster than this. I was also diagnosed with a thyroid
problem but my doctor said my levels were okay. I am also drinking alot of
water and getting at least 60 grams of protein in...some days its hard
though. The thing is I am sure we will still lose weight if we dont have 60
gms every single day, lack of protein doesnt make you stagnant it just
makes you lose more muscle. I am working out too..maybe its cause we are
building muscle right now. I have decided to measure inches instead of
looking at the scale..but boy its hard!! Good luck to you..
— krism2003
May 22, 2003
Cheryl, first of all she was coming here for encouragement, not someone
telling her that they dislike her question. If you dislike the question,
don't answer it, move on! And ME trying to guess your feelings? What is
up with "Who are you seeking approval", and "What is your
self worth?" Sounds as if you are the psych-wannabe. I just simply
told her to ignore you b/c I didn't feel that you were encouraging at all.
Geez, lets encourage one another. I dislike all of the hyper-sensitivity
and how people 'read' into others posts. It is quite silly.
— Cheri M.
May 23, 2003
Mean people suck!!!
— Anonymous A.
May 23, 2003
I just want to say thank you to all of you wonderful people. I wanted to
cry when I read all of your responses (except for one of course). I'm
going to try upping my exercise to 4 times a week and if that doesn't help,
then I'll up it to 5 times. I'm also going to make sure I'm definitly
getting in all the protein. I know too that the Paxil might be affecting
things. I'm hoping to wean off of that in about 6 weeks (doctor didn't
want me to try to wean off of it until after 6 months). You guys have
really encouraged me and hopefully I'll be making some new friends out of
this too! I'll keep you guys posted that wanted to be updated. :) You
guys keep up the good work too!
Tamara
— Tamara S.
May 23, 2003
I don't think she came here seeking approval, she came here seeking
support. Yes, we all occasionally tire of the "why am I losing so
slow?" questions. But we are a SUPPORT group, not a critic's group. As
far as having a psych eval and thinking that if you pass it means you'll be
able to handle everything just hunky dory...that's a lot of bunk. Even the
sanest, most emotionally stable person will experience times of doubt and
insecurity. Especially after WLS!!! My goodness, let's get back on track
and help this poor lady. I believe she answered herself in saying "I
could eat more protein I'm sure." More protein, even more water. Those
are my suggestions. Good Luck to you, you'll do fine. Have patience with
yourself and with the scale (try only weighing in every 2 weeks). - Anna
LAP RNY 7/3/02 -126lbs.
— Anna L.
May 24, 2003
Tamara, I totally understand you. I have the same feelings. Everyone is so
far ahead of me. I think, I did this drastic thing and I still can't get
it off!! I am also 5'4" and I started at 290lbs. I had my surgery on
2-21-03 and have lost 40lbs. I will go 2 weeks and not lose a thing. I
think I am going to join a support group. Have you thought of that? If
you want to chat feel free to email me a [email protected]. Best wishes and
try to keep your head up!!
— Karen M.
May 24, 2003
I was about where you were(weight)at the same time. I was a slower loser
than the average and know how you're feeling. It's hard not to compare.
BUT! I am 3 years out now and feel it was a good thing being slower. I had
time to learn good habits and feel that I had less flab because of being a
bit slower. Hang in there, the time goes fast. Don't get hung up on a set
"goal weight" We can weigh heavier and look much smaller due to
our bone density. Best of luck!
— ZZ S.
April 27, 2004
I just came across your post, and I know it's been a year, but for MY
Hashimoto's disease, I didn't start to feel better until I started taking
CYTOMEL with my Synthroid, because I don't "convert". If you
don't know what that means, PLEASE go to about.com and go to their thyroid
section. The moderator wrote a comprehensive book on her own struggle with
getting proper care and it was my roadmap to getting me. I think her name
is Mary Shomon. BEST OF LUCK, and I hope this post finds you, a year after
you made it, healthier and happier.
— Annie F.
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