Question:
I was kidding when I told people I would be the only one this surgery wouldn't work
for, but here I sit, 8 weeks post-op today, and have only lost 32 pounds. I haven't lost an ounce for two weeks and it is NOT encouraging me to exercise, drink my water and eat any more cottage cheese!!!! I am getting really upset that I put myself through this whole ordeal for nothing. Please give me some input...especially if this sounds like what you went through. I am really getting fearful that my pouch was stretched from the waterloading, or that there must be a problem they didn't catch before I left the OR!! IF I WASN'T DEPRESSED BEFORE, I AM AFRAID I WILL BE SOON. — Linda D. (posted on June 19, 2002)
June 19, 2002
Hi Linda, I'm 2 months post op and have only lost 35lbs. I know I'm
smaller than most and realize that I won't lose like most people. You are
small too, so just hang in there.
— Tina P.
June 19, 2002
Surely you're not talking about giving up at 8 weeks. You are on a
journey, girl! When's the last time you lost 32 lbs. in 2 months? The
first thing you need to do is put your scale away. I'm serious. I'm 7
months post op, I'm down 80 that I know of, I hardly ever weigh myself
because I don't want to struggle with the plateaus. The last time I
weighed myself was about 3 weeks ago and I don't plan on getting on a scale
again til the end of July. In the meantime I am doing everything I should
be doing. Drink that water, if it gets boring, mix 1/2 water, 1/2 crystal
light or o.j. or gatorade. Get your protein in. Meats are almost
impossible at your stage but how about protein drinks, etc? Take your
vitamins. Start doing some low impact exercises, like walking. Don't give
up just yet. There's hope! You are on month two of a life-long journey.
Enjoy the ride and stop fretting. Okay? Okay.
— Annie H.
June 19, 2002
hi linda i agree with the other poster you may not have lost 32 before
surgery you are doing great i think we all wonder at times if something
happened to the pouch and why it deosnt just seem to fall off but ill tell
you give yourself atleast 3 months and wow your ganna be amazed im telling
you cuz i sure was im very happy with my decision to have open r n y hang
in there it only gets better:)
— carrie M.
June 19, 2002
Linda, like you at 8 weeks I had lost 32 lbs. I am now 10 weeks and have
not lost anything else. I see a pattern in how I lose. Seems like 3 week
plateau (but lose inches) then weight loss. Of course I hope this is what
is happening as I don't have much history to judge it by. I too find it
discouraging to lose so slow but at least I am not sagging yet and more
importantly I am feeling better. Keep up the good work and it will
succeed.
— Dianne C.
June 19, 2002
— lindajenkins
June 20, 2002
I feel the exact same way you do but I am almost 10 weeks post op and have
lost 34lb. My DR even has said that my weight loss is not excessive and as
of now I am plateauing. I don't regret having the surgery, I just feel that
if it was meant for me to lose weight then it will happen. I know how you
feel about putting your body through this because I am feeling it along
with you. Not only do I get depressed sometime, I now cant even do my usual
anti-depressant which is food, you know the ice cream the candy and all the
foods that are unhealthy for you. I just turned to god he has helped me
through alot. Even though my weight loss is on excessive I have lost enough
to control my blood pressure better. Don't give up there is still hope for
the both of us
feel free to email me anytime
— Lovett
June 20, 2002
Most of us went through an early plateau. Don't give up yet! Keep eating
your protein, drinking your water, and exercising. If you stop eating your
body will go into starvation mode and hang onto all that fat! Your body has
gone through some major changes in the past two months. It just needs a
chance to catch up with itself. Treat yourself well and be patient. There
is NO WAY your body can maintain your weight on what you are eating. The
weight WILL come off . . . It's just plain mathmatics! Also, keep taking
your measurements. Bet you are losing inches even if you aren't losing
pounds. Good luck and happy losing!
— ctyst
June 20, 2002
Hi! First step back and take a breath. I think you're doing fine. I
looked at your profile and your BMI is only 40ish, right? You sound just
like me. I was a "slow loser". In spite of that I went from a
size 24/26 to a size 8/10 in only 9 or 10 months. While I was in the
middle of losing it seemed to happen so slow but looking back it seems like
it happened fast. Go figure. I was also the queen of plateaus. My
surgeon was dead set against protein supplementation but I'd read so much
on here about the benefits of them that I decided to take matters into my
own hands and try them. I figured it couldn't kill me. The two MOST
amazing things happened to me when I started protein supplements. The
first is that it all but killed my cravings and second it almost completely
eliminated my plateaus. I felt better, had more energy, etc. Still, by
some standards I was a slow loser. One thing led to another and I ended up
becoming a bariatric coordinator for a large hospital in the city where I
live. Being in this position I've been able to work hard to give my
patients things I didn't have when I had surgery. One of the best gifts I
can give my patients is EDUCATION! I conduct a prep class each week that
our patients are required to attend. One of the things we discuss is
plateaus. I let them know right up front that things are going to rock on
just fine after surgery and then somewhere between the 3rd and 8th week
they're going to hit a brick wall. Everything will stop. They may stay
there a week - they may stay there 3 weeks, occasionally longer. This is a
defense mechanism that our bodies use when we've been traumatized. Once we
get past this initial plateau, PROTEIN is going to be a key element in
avoiding future plateaus. Luckily the surgeons where I work are very
supportive of supplementing protein. I have lots of patients who don't
like the taste but I tell them to follow the "green bean" theory.
I hate green beans - I always have. My mom was one of those "clean
your plate and eat it even if you don't like it" kinda moms. When she
served green beans she made me hold my nose and eat them. YUCK! So I tell
my patients, if you have to hold your nose and spend a few minutes drinking
a protein drink then do it. It takes so little time and makes such a
difference in your experience. (For those of you who are against protein
supplementation - please don't flame me. I've seen this work so many
times! I respect anyone who makes a firm decision not to use them so I
hope folks will respect my decision to tell about their benefits.) GNC is
an excellent source if you are shopping around because they'll let you
return anything you don't like for a refund. Of course, our own Michelle
Curran is the queen of protein and can set you up with lots of samples.
It's such a small price to pay. My surgeon still recommends getting your
protein from your diet but it's worth mentioning that we don't absorb
everything we eat so we're not actually "getting' all the protein we
eat. OK - now I'm going to stop preaching about that. Lastly honey, take
a breath, keep your chin up and give yourself a break. You're doing fine.
At your lower BMI you're not going to lose as fast as others. Sometimes
slow and steady wins the race. Speaking as a slow loser, my life has
changed so much that I can't even imagine it. I never dreamed that just
being normal could be so wonderful. Don't give up. You're going to be
just fine. I'm very proud of you!
— ronascott
June 20, 2002
I am also 8 weeks post-op and have only lost 30 pounds. I hit my first
plateau at 3 weeks pot-op and it lasted for almost 2 weeks. I am a bit
discouraged, but I keep doing everything the surgeon and nutritionist tells
me to. I think that is very important. I drink about 80oz. of water
daily, take my vitamins, get all my protein in and have increased my
exercise to jogging an hour 5-6 times a week. The nutritionist says that
my weight loss is slow because my starting BMI is lower than most and that
because I'm exercising so much, I'm probably gaining muscle. That made me
feel so much better. Although I'm not losing weight, I know I'm losing
inches since I've gone from size 22/24 before suregery to currently 14/16
in 8 weeks. I'm confident that this weight will eventually fall off.
Don't be too discouraged and hang in there. Don't give up and keep up the
good work!
— A D.
June 20, 2002
I felt like this ? was written by me:) only my story goes like this-
surgery on 4/16/02 putting me at 9 weeks out with a loss of 40#, not too
bad but I started at 315#. When I decided that I wasnt going to
"melt" so to speak I was okay with this loss. The research I have
done on this site seems as though lap rny has a little slower loss than
most. Anyway I guess my point is that my misconseption was that miraculous
results would happen at first (1-3) months out and it just doesnt happen
like that for some of us :( Oh well, if your like me the up side is that
you can eat anything and have had no problems. Always remember that we ALL
succeed!! to some degree with wls. Cant wait to hear back from you in a
year! On a different note I went to my surgeon at one month out and he
told me to cut back on my protein and it worked. Go figure??
— DEBBIE C.
June 20, 2002
Linda, after reading your profile, it doesn't seem that you have allot too
loose the rest of us, 300 pound and + people that are on here, hence with
this you're going to loose at a slower rate, hang in there you'll do just
fine,just remember that even though you may be depressed exercise, walk,
jog, swim you name it, it helps in ways in which we could never imagine,
It'll also help with your depression. Take it slow you're only 8 weeks out
don't expect it to just come off of you over night, it didn't appear on you
over night.
God Bless and good luck, post op almost 4 weeks
— tannedtigress
June 20, 2002
I absolutely agree with one of the other people who posted - put the scale
away. That was the one thing I did for me from the very beginning. I
weigh when I go in to the doctors office. There was so much time prior to
surgery to sit and worry or to wake up every single morning wishing I was
in a different way or different weight or different body or different this
or that - it's pathetic. We should wake up every morning and find that
smile on our face that we made it through this major surgery and we should
feel positive that the scale isn't moving upwards. I have only weighed 3
times since surgery and I'm about 9 or 10 weeks out. I refuse. I'm worth
more than a number on a scale and that number on a scale will NOT dictate
how my day is going to go ever again...not if I can help it. Use a tape
measure, if you have to do something - measure once a month and watch the
numbers shrink each time you do it. Even though the scale numbers might
not be moving, I can almost guarantee your dropping inches. Don't be
depressed, girlfriend ~ your doing fine. Thirty two pounds is nothing to
sneeze at. Try carrying around six 5 lb. weights for 15 minutes - go up
and down a few stairs and around the room just holding them...you'll soon
realize how heavy 30+ lbs. really is.
A while back, my surgeon told me about one of his patients who had only
lost one pound at her 3-week post op check up. Talk about a discouraged
woman. Her weight loss has remained slow - her metabolism and digestive
system is extremely slow but guess what? After 2 years, she met her
personal goal. Hang in there and know that many people are supporting you
- I believe one of the other posters said it best "your on an
adventure, girl" - enjoy it and go through it with grace &
ease...you deserve it.
— Lisa J.
June 20, 2002
Yes, my input is "WHAT exactly did you expect to lose in just two
months"? I am always curious to know what you think is
"normal" yet when people post these questions they never say what
they THINK they should have lost! You CANNOT predict your weight loss! I
just checked my own site and between 7/25 and 10/25 - which was THREE
months- I lost 50lbs. That breaks down to 16.5 lbs. per mo. or basically,
what you've just expirienced yourself.... I personally thought, it rocked
the house. I also feel the slower you lose, the better for your skin, your
health and body- probably the easier to keep it OFF.
— Karen R.
June 20, 2002
I think you are doing wonderful. I am 8 weeks also and lost 41lbs. I slowed
down 2 weeks ago at 32lbs. So, I upped my walking to 4 times a week instead
of 3 at a distance of 1.5 miles a day. I also increased my water intake. I
was a slacker where the water was concerned. I am also only having a b.m.
every 4 days and thought that was unusal. So, two days ago I got horrible
cramps and the only way I can explain it is that I exploded.(Sorry to gross
everyone out.)I told my husband that I think I lost about 2lbs in there
just now. I got on the scale the following morning....and I was down 3lbs.
This may not be your problem but, it seemed as soon as I did the exercise
thing and the larger intake of water It set things in motion. Don't stop
the exercise or the water these are two of the things that can break a
plateu. God Bless and Good Luck.
— Jennifer F.
June 20, 2002
I have some thoughts on this, as I have posted similar sentiments in the
past few weeks. I have lost 23 pounds in 5 weeks. I came home from the
hospital 5 days after the surgery and, expecting a fabulous 10 pound drop,
was delighted to see that I had GAINED 5 pounds. Over the next week, that
5 pounds was all I lost. I am 300 plus (at least until tomorrow), so I
envisioned losing 100 pounds in 3 or 4 months like others have on this web
site. Fact is, I have lost 23. I lost 4 in 10 weeks following Atkins to
the letter, so is 23 pounds that bad? Hell no! And, I am planning all of
my meals, tracking all of my calories and nutrients, and working my way
through post-op complications and towards the treadmill. Keep it in
perspective. How much would you have gained in 2 months? I have dropped
my blood pressure medicine and the carpal tunnel syndrome has disappeared.
So 23 pounds with nutritional success is okay by me. But it took a lot of
rationalization to come to that perspective. By posting your question, I
am sure you will help others realize that "slow" weight loss is
as normal and acceptable as the "melting" weight loss. Hang
tight -- we'll get there!!!
— Karen F.
June 20, 2002
i think it is amazing how someone can weigh 147 and fit into 4-5-6 size
jeans.. thus it isnt youe wieght its the INCHES... exercising make muscle
muscle weights more then fat .. thats why the scales arent comeing down ,
1# fat equals out to way less weight then muscle.. so if you lose 32# its
like loseing 45 plus # in fat... thats why everyone says DONT watch the
SCALES...ilearned from experience .. id weight the same but i knew summin
was uip b/c my jeans were looser in places . dont fret in time you'll get
there. like i readon a post awhile back... when was the last time you lost
such and such amount a weight in 2 months or or.:)
— brandy H.
June 21, 2002
You have to get a hold of yourself! Did you do ANY research on this surgery
at all?? You are doing great. By 6 weeks I have have lost 30 pounds and my
doc said that it was TOO much that early. He said it is dangerous if I lose
much more next week and he would put me on a feeding tube if I didn't eat
better. I haven't lost another pound in a week and I am not reaking out
because I know the weight will come off. I will go to my surgeon today to
see the official weight. When have you lost that much weight in 8 weeks
before? Probably never! Everyone hits plateaus and if you are not doing
what you are supposed to do, then the only person you can blame is
yourself. Plateaus are brought on by not eating, eating more carbs, not
exercising, and not drinking eough water. If you start doing a couple of
those then you will break your plateau. You are doing just fine and stop
freaking out. If losing 32 lbs in 8 weeks is causing you so much stress,
perhaps you should look into seeing a councelor. Nothing happens overnight.
Good luck!
Amber
— amcswain
June 21, 2002
I just wanted to let you know that I feel the same way, and I am trying
hard to get over it. I had surgery 4/23, I am about 8-1/2 weeks post-op. I
started at 239 and have lost 28 pounds.I cant find any one that has lost
this slow. I was wondering has anyone eles lost this slow and still made it
to goal? I am going by the book always get all my water and protein in and
have a total of 600 to 800 calories a day.
— Christi W.
June 21, 2002
I was down 36 pounds in my 2nd month. I complained that I was a slow loser
but eventually got to my goal. You will too, just be patient your doing
great! There is NO way you can stretch your pouch from water. I kept track
of my montly progress because some weeks nothing then the next I would make
up for it. Your body is effiecint and is doing what its supposed to
...trust it!
— ZZ S.
June 21, 2002
Christy--I had only lost about 25 pounds at 2 months out. I had an early
plateau. I felt really stupid at the support group saying 15 pounds/20
pounds/30 pounds. One woman lost 43 pounds in the hospital! BUT I still
reached my top goal by 7 months and my current weight at 10 months. I
started out at 230 and am now 130. I was wearing 22W and 2X and am now in
6-8P and smalls. Think about your percentage lost--you really don't have
that much more to lose. Don't panic--you are still on track!
— ctyst
June 21, 2002
Christy,
I don't think that the surgery is failing you at all. At 8 weeks I had
only lost 30lbs and now at 5 months out I've lost only 50lbs. We all lose
at different rates but we all are losing and thats what we have to hang on
to when we start to feel down. Just keep doing what you are supposed to do
and your tool will work for you. Maybe you and I lose slower than some but
we still are losing. Cheer up you're doing great!!
Vicki Mize
— vmize
June 22, 2002
As someone else said, you need to keep this in perspective. Comparing the
actual number of pounds lost to someone else is useless if you don't
compare it to the total number of pounds needed to lose. In other
words..the percentage of excess pounds lost is the real perspective. Let's
say that someone who needs to lose 100 pounds loses 30...that would be 30%.
For someone who needs to lose 200 pounds, 30% would be 60 pounds. If both
people lost 30% of their excess weight during the same time frame, they're
both losing equally, even though they're lost different amounts. I wish
people would post the percentage of weight lost, rather than the actual #
of pounds...it would be much more clarifying for the rest of us. Of
course, don't lose sight of the fact that everyone is different, and each
of us will respond differently.
And just so you know...I am one of the failures. My stoma has been
enlarged from the beginning, and I don't have the "tool" to force
me to eat small portions. Long story short...I am using self control to eat
small portions, and I am continuing to losing weight. For all my whining
(and, trust me, I've done a lot of that), I've lost almost 58% of my excess
weight in less than 6 months. I've gone from morbidly obese, to severely
obese, to just obese. So, technically, I'm not a failure, even though the
surgery was.
— Cyndie K.
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