need advice from 1 yr post-ops

I had my surgery in April of 2004 but I'm struggling with something and wanted to ask you guys who have been out for 1 yr already for advice. A lot of us on the April board are hitting plateaus BIG TIME! We are frustrated. Did you have trouble right around the 9-10 month mark? If so, did your weight loss kick back in or are we pretty much done? I work out 4 days a week, try to eat right - lots of protein, water, etc. I've lost 100 lbs and I'm thrilled with it but I'd like to lose about 30 more if possible. Thanks for any help you can give! Ronda sw-297/cw-197/gw-170

Ronda it is perfectly normal don't worry you will start loosing again pretty soon. I am one year post-op and had the same weight for 3 or 4 months(144.5 Lbs.) and it is now that I started to loose again, went down 4 pounds and I'm now on 140.5 so I think I will still loose a couple more, who knows. Keep up the good work and good luck to you. Celines

Hang in there you guys. I lost my first 100 lbs in six months and then lost another 29 in the next 6 monts. Yes you will hit those plateaus and they will be frustrating, then it will trickle off, then once in a while you will see a 4 or 5 lb loss all of a sudden. Just hang on and be patient. It is all worth it. Also look for inches lost, as you all are working out you are building muscle, that weighs more then the old fat, so use the tape measure and be encouraged by the inches as they melt off. Have fun and enjoy the journey

Hi, I had surgery Jan. 27, 2004 and I weighed 252 or so at that time, I now weigh 125. I did hit a point in August when I was not loosing but in Nov. I started to loose again. I lost another 15 lbs. I really do not want to loose anymore and I struggle to keep from loosing more. My Dr. said you usually loose up to one year after surgery and then stabilize out. I did get down to 121 but I worked very hard to gain back 4 lbs. I am happy at a size 6-8....from a 24.... Best of luck and I am sure you will succeed in loosing that last 30 lbs. Trick the metabolism up seems to be the key. Vera Houpt Greenville, OH

Hi Ronda, I lost 99% of all my weight by 9-10months out. NOW I fight the last 20# I need too loose.my scale goes up & down 5#. So I've been stuck since october.it's now feburary. I'm 152# today ...I can get discouraging....but now it's allwhat we eat and how much we excersize. Ang~ 275/152/130 I wish...lol!!

Plateaus are part of the WLS journey. If you stick to your program the weight will start to come off again. I am just over a year, with 40 pounds to lose and can't seem to overcome my current plateau so I understand. It's so much easier to stay on program when you see the pounds dropping. Maybe we could misplace the scales for a month or so. Best of luck!

True,true.I went to the gym 5 times a week or more for 30 days ok,and gained a pound supposedly on their scale when before I only powerwalked w weights and always lost weight ,and had maintained a low weight for 4 mths joined a gym gained a pound!.Talk about feeling like I wasted a month!But I lost from 27 to 24 inch waist and inches on every part of my body except half an inch gained on my thigh from muscle,and lost like a dress size or 2,can wear 0s now in some clothes lines but usually 1-3 and 4/5 in smaller made dresses.Muscle weighs more,your body needs time to catch up,just because my scale goes up 5-6 pds on my period does not mean thats my true weight.Its more about how your clothes fit,your energy level,if you are not eating bad,and you are exercising I would not worry about it! U work out eat right,the amount u weigh fluctuates and hormones and fluid levels change the number on the scale but truly no one who is doing all the right things should panic about a plateau ,or a number KEEP IT UP IT COMES OFF!Cheers! Glori

Ronda, I had Surgery January 2, 2004 and it's obviously been a year. What vitamins do you take? The vitamins in my opinion along with your current exercise program and protein intake is your best bet. The "Complete" Multi vitamin (not flinstones by now) but a (and it has to say "complete") just swallowable pill works great with energy and helps get you moving even more. I found the flynstones vitamins didn't give me the energy I needed. Also, vitamin B-1 is a motabolism booster. You can get it over the counter as well. This alone has been a lifesaver. I did plateau around the same time as you, but have since slowly lost a few more pounds. Just keep a positive mind set and keep up the water, protein and vitamins. I also want to suggest you take a calcium tablet a day as well. I take vitamin b-12 once a week or more as well. These vitamins are the best thing. If I don't take them...I can tell a big difference. Especially is I don't take the B-1 metabolism booster. Eat smaller meals more often and make sure the protein is eaten first and if there is room for more...do the vegies next. Staying away from sugar is a must to contiune to lose the weight as well. Starches and sugar make you plateau so much quicker and it really does stop the weight loss. I wish you luck and feel where you are at...but keep trying. and if you are already taking those vitamins....don't give up...just keep trying and stick with a liquid protein diet for a few more weeks or a coupld of months. I found the Atkins protein shakes taste great and travel easily! Try some of those. They fill you up and taste great! If you like coffee...they have a late that is out of this world! Please let me know if you need anything else. I would be glad to help in anyway possible. Amy

Hi there it's been along time for me posting, glad to be back. Please help me I've lost 130 lbs since surgery started at 350. I feel good but I 've been at this platue for about 6 months now 220lbs.Iis this normal a nd it seems so hard to loose these big thighs. It's hard to exercise due to the artheritis in the knees, however things are much better than before, Do any one have any advice. Thanks LOL Cheryl