Question:
Am I THE SLOWEST LOSER OUT THERE?
Help! I had my Lap RNY 4 weeks ago, on April 24th. I hate to sound like a cry baby, but why have I only lost 17 lbs in 4 weeks. Yes, I am thrilled that I have lost any weight, and it is 17 lbs. that I WOULDN'T have lost without the WLS, but c'mon! I am excercising regularly at my gym, and eating about 600 calories per day, sometimes a bit more. Getting in the protein, getting in the water, etc. Is this just because I am 5'7" and weight 214 lbs.? I mean, that IS obese, but not "morbidly obese". I expected a bit slower a rate of loss than most on this site, but at only 4 weeks out it has slowed to 1 pound per week and that is S L O W!!! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! — Vanessa H. (posted on May 21, 2002)
May 21, 2002
I know you must be frustrated, but look at it this way, if you lose 4.25
lbs a week (your run rate right now)in 6 months you will of lost 110 lbs ,
making you weight 104 lbs
and you will be underweight.
6 months is going to come and go anyway in your life, just think how
exciting it is that you will lose so much weight in 6 months time
God Bless
— Jeri P.
May 21, 2002
Hi Vanessa*S* I know the feeling. Like you, I am a
"lightweight". But I know why I am not losing. It's called
CHEATING!LOL I know you are not but I think you are doing a wonderful job!
Hang in there! What I find hard to deal with is the constant question of
"How much have you lost"? from friends and family. Obviously
this is the rate your body is supposed to lose. Maybe only weigh yourself
once a month. That's what I am doing and it makes it alot less stressful.
Just keep in mind that this slow weightloss is gone forever!
— SLIMGRAMMA
May 21, 2002
I lost 20 pounds the first 3 weeks then NOTHING for 3 weeks after that. I
was so scared it was over for me at 20 pounds lost! I went on to reach goal
at 7 months. You are doing the right things. Just don't get discouraged.
Keep eating, keep drinking water, and keep exercising. The weight WILL come
off. A lot of us went thru this early plateau and, while it is frustrating,
it is too early for you to throw in the towel! Keep up the good work and
check back in with us in another month or two when you will be a couple
sizes smaller and much happier! Don't forget to measure yourself in
addition to weighing. You may be losing inches but not pounds, especially
if you are working out. Happy losing!
— ctyst
May 21, 2002
Hi Vanessa-
No, you're not the only slow loser out there. I had my WLS,Lap/RNY on
1-8-02 and at my 4 month appt. I had only lost 44lbs. at 4 weeks I had lost
only 22lbs now thats really slow. And I'm only 5'and started at 235lbs and
I'm still considered at lightweight!! It can really get frustrating
reading about all of the huge losses that others are having on this site
even though I'm happy for them it makes me feel like a failure. What I've
decided to do is to concentrate on how my clothes are feeling and the
inches that I'm losing and what food choices I make. Those and how much
water I drink are the only things that I have control over. The weight
will eventually come off if we keep following the plan and exercisising it
just have happen abit slower for some of us. Keep up the good work you
really are doing great so don't beat yourself up because thats a diet
mentality! Good luck to you.
Vicki Mize
— vmize
May 21, 2002
You may want to increase your calorie intake to 800. 600 calories seems
low and your body may think it's starving and you'll stop losing weight.
— Patty H.
May 21, 2002
I was eating about 500-600 cals a day at one month. Don't try to push it
and do more if your pouch isn't ready. The weight will come off, maybe
slower than others because you are a lightweight, but that is OK. I also
started as a lightweight, 6 mo. post-op, down 76 lbs. Many have lost 100
by that point, but I am thrilled with my results. And I have already lost
83% of my excess. They say that 85% is successful so I am almost already
there and it has only been 6 months!! I will also reach goal much quicker
than the 'heavyweights' even though they can lose 100 lbs. in 6 months. So
don't look at yourself as a slow loser, look at yourself as a 'get to goal
quicker'! Oh, and the closer you get to goal, the S-l-o-w-e-r it will
become. I lost 6 lbs. last month, and been at a stand still for 3 weeks!
Just be aware and expect it to be slow, that way you won't feel so let
down. You are doing great, ENJOY your journey!
— Cheri M.
May 21, 2002
I was eating about 500-600 cals a day at one month. Don't try to push it
and do more if your pouch isn't ready. The weight will come off, maybe
slower than others because you are a lightweight, but that is OK. I also
started as a lightweight, 6 mo. post-op, down 76 lbs. Many have lost 100
by that point, but I am thrilled with my results. And I have already lost
83% of my excess. They say that 85% is successful so I am almost already
there and it has only been 6 months!! I will also reach goal much quicker
than the 'heavyweights' even though they can lose 100 lbs. in 6 months. So
don't look at yourself as a slow loser, look at yourself as a 'get to goal
quicker'! Oh, and the closer you get to goal, the S-l-o-w-e-r it will
become. I lost 6 lbs. last month, and been at a stand still for 3 weeks!
Just be aware and expect it to be slow, that way you won't feel so let
down. You are doing great, ENJOY your journey!
— Cheri M.
May 21, 2002
VAnessa, I KNOW that you want to lose faster and I KNOW that it seems slow
to you right now. You are not wrong for feeling that way because so many
of us have been there and done that. Here is my "but" though. I
lost my weight very fast. (you didn't want to hear that right?). Well, I
did but, the catch is that for the first year afterward, I had the worst
hanging skin around. I still look anorexic but the hanging skin was so
ugly. "If" you lose slower, your body and muscles have a chance
to "catch up" and your won't look as "hangy" as I did.
Each of us have experienced the good and the bad hon. What is hard for you
now, was what I wish happened to me 3 years ago. I think that I would look
alot younger at this point. Hang in there...it's gonna come off. Hugs.
— Barbara H.
May 21, 2002
Wow, I would have thought that I posted this question instead of you! I had
my surgery on 4/23/02 and have also only lost 17 or so pounds.. Man oh man,
as mean as it might sound, I am SO glad to NOT be alone as a slow loser. I
was about ready to post this same question. It looks like you have some
great answers and it's really helped me out a lot! I hope it's helped you
too! We've come to far to give up, so we just have to fight the fight and
let this pass. Keep up the good work!
— sunsect
May 21, 2002
Vanessa...How I envy you! I am just starting the process for weight loss
surgery. I have chosen a doctor and am scheduled for my initial
consultation, but surgery is still a long way off. But I wanted to
encourage you anyway. I have had so much experience with losing weight and
regaining it again, but I did learn an awful lot about weight loss through
my experience with a great group in Sacramento called Obesity Treatment
Center. I lost 170 lbs. through their program and kept most of it off for
about 3 years until I went through a terrible depression a couple of years
ago. I don't know what your history is or what you have learned through
past experiences, but one thing I wanted to pass on to you that you may not
know is that: muscle weighs more than fat. If you are working out a lot
at the gym (especially if you are doing any weight training or
muscle-building on the equipment) you are adding muscle. You may actually
be losing a lot more fat (which is the real objective) than you think.
Make sure you get your full protein requirement (your body won't burn fat
until this is met...at least that is what I was taught at OTC) and drinking
the water is also a key factor in enabling your body to work right in the
fat-burning process. Don't get discouraged if you hit a plateau...I noticed
that is when you actually start to feel smaller...I think your body is
readjusting things during that time. Don't get obsessed with the scale
(try not to weigh more than once a week) and keep the faith. Don't get
discouraged, you are headed in the right direction and I am sure you will
do very well!
— RedHotKK
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