So discouraged...

I am almost 4 weeks postop and have only lost 20 pounds. I keep reading everyone else's comments and profiles and most people around my weight have lost at least 30 pounds by this point. It is so hard to stick with the rules of the diet and exercise without any positive feedback from the scale. This is not easy for me because I am never sick, am always hungry and can eat just about anything I have tried (though I haven't tried anything against the rules yet). I am getting in over 64 oz of water and over 60 g of protein every day. I am walking at least 30 mins on the treadmill or outside and am riding the stationary bike also every day. This is so frustrating. I went for over 10 days without losing a pound and now all I can do is cry! . I have heard that this journey is "so much easier at first", "the window of opportunity does not last forever", and :this is a honeymoon period", etc, and have not been lucky enough to experience any of that. When I was on fen-phen I lost weight faster than this. I saw a difference on the scale almost daily for the 4 months I was on it and I lost 70 pounds. Sorry for all the negativity, but I am really discouraged. Sue R.

Sue, I understand where you are coming from. I had surgery Jan 18 and have only lost 24 lbs. I have tried everything. Am trying to up my calories a little and see if this helps. I am so discouraged also. My friend, who lost 165 lbs. keeps telling me it WILL work. Email me if you want to talk. Rhonda

Thanks for the encouragement. It is nice to hear that some others are having similar weight loss numbers. I asked my nutritionist about the calories and she said that I am not eating enough calories! I added more and hopefully will make a difference. She mentioned that I might be in "starvation mode". Good luck to you Rhonda. Sue R.

hang in there hun.!!!! im only 16 days post op so i dont k now where il will be at 4 weeks. but i was thinking you are doing you walking..maybe adding muscle? just a thought julie k

THanks for the encouragement. It just might be muscle?? I will do measurements again on Feb 20th and see where I am. I am only going to measure once a month. Sue R.

Sue, Don't give up. Have you measured? You may be losing inches which will not show on the scale. Also you are exercising so you are probably building muscle. Keep your chin up the scale will move again soon. Kim

I am just walking on the treadmill and riding the bike at the gym. I am not cleared yet to do more exercise than that. I will do my measurements again on Feb 20th, one month from surgery. Hopefully will see a difference there. Sue R.

Sue, I had my surgery on Jan 3rd and I'm down 28lbs. A had a plateau for a couple of weeks when I didn't lose. I just kept on track and I've lost four pounds this week. I'm in training to walk a marathon and we have a five minute whining rule. Give yourself five minutes to whine and then move on! You are doing all the right things and the weight will come off. Just keep up the good work. Kathy 250/222/140

Thanks Kathy. I like the 5-minute whining rule! Sue R.

Hey Sue, I know all too well how you feel. My surgery was 1/26/05 and I've only lost 14 lbs. I have been faithful to the letter about following the rules of my surgeon. I'm still on full liquids until next week. Logically, it seems like I should have lost about 20# by now and looking at other posts, it seems like everyone has lost more than that. It's so frustrating. I'm fighting to stay positive. This site is so helpful for so many reasons, but sometimes I think it helps to discourage me by looking at everyone else's success! The most important thing I keep telling myself is although I may have lost more weight, more quickly, on another program, this time I am forced to STAY on it for more than a month or 2. By now on any other program I would've eaten those chocoloate covered peanut butter balls my sister-in-law brought to my husband last weekend for his birthday. This time, I don't dare. This time, my choice is for life. Even if it means longer than I anticipated. My diabetes is almost gone. I'm off my blood pressure meds. I am experiencing some healthful changes that will carry me years into the future not just months and I bet you are too. We have to fix our heads along with our bodies. (Good advice if I could just follow it!) Just keep on pluggin' away, one day at a time and we'll get there. Or I'm suing my doctor!!! (Just kidding.) Take care of yourself, Valerie