Really Discouraged!

I had my surgery on 2-21 and have only lost 20 lbs! Since January 5th I am down 35 lbs. I am really discouraged because I read other peoples posts that had surgery around the same time and they have lost more than I have. I walk on my days off work, take my vitamins, get my protein in and drink as much water as I can, even though I am not getting 64 oz. I only eat things w/ protein in it. Sometimes I feel that I can eat more than what I should be able to........not tons, but I can eat 3/4 cups of special k w/ added protein (10 grams) and am satisfied, or 1 cup of Wendys chili. I weighed 245 at the start and then 230 at surgery day......Can anyone help me out? Is there something I am not doing that I need to be? Why am I losing at such a slow rate? Or haven't lost any in about 2 weeks?? I am having no other problems, and no food that I have tried has bothered me. I haven't had any dumping or throwing up. I haven't tried any sugar stuff or breads. HEEEELP! Thanks Kristin

Kristin, you are doing fine. I had wls the same day as you did and as of yesterday i've only lost 32lbs. I was feeling the same as you, reading other people stories i was depressed. i went to the dr yesterday and he said 32lbs was great. look at it this way, could you have lost 35 lbs without the surgery? also by losing the weight slow, and working out i dont think you will have a bad excess skin problem. i just got off of a two week stal where i didn't lose anything, it will pass. i dont dump or throw up either so be happy for that. dont pu**** i started swimming 5 days a week, find an activity that you enjoy doing and you will be fine. june

Kristin, tonites entries are full of stalls. Don't be discouraged, yours will break soon too. Doesn't sound like you are doing anything different than the rest foodwise, so it'll happen, keep the faith. J.

Kristen, I'm feeling like you do! I had surgery the week after yours, and I've only lost 20 pounds. I had lost 20 during the two months before surgery so that is making a 40 pound difference which I'm liking - BUT, I also read on here the big 30 to 40 pound drops the first month after surgery and am feeling a little cheated. I walk 2 miles every morning at 3.5 MPH - it is about a 35 minute sweaty workout - on weekends I play tennis or go for long walks. I'm eating pretty much like you are. I get at least 60 g of protein every day, most days I get in my water, I'm eating almost anything as long as I eat it slowly and chew - but my calories are between 500 to 700 a day. My doctor said a few things about way I wasn't getting as big of drops. First he said that people who actually lose some before the surgery don't get as big of drops, next he said because I was somewhat fit and walking/exercising before surgery there wasn't as much of a drop, the last thing, and he didn't say this one but I'm thinking, that because I'm older (53) perhaps my body is never going to drop in big chunks like this. The other part of what he told me is this: Losing slower is ultimately better. The body has time to adjust - it isn't as much of a shock on your system - the skin has a better chance to keep up with what it holds - and a couple of other things which I don't recall because I was bummed out and didn't listen well! The only advice I can give you is to make sure you drink all of your water!! It really is a big factor in flushing out fat cells and losing weight. I get the bottled water at costco and just know that each day I have to drink 4 of them. I drink one in the morning during/after exercise - the second I drink around lunch time - the third I drink all afternoon - and then when I get home from work I know I have to drink one more bottle. I don't drink the other things I would like to drin****il I get my water in. Keep up the good work, you are doing fine!!! (I know, I wish I was losing faster too!) Julie B

I hear you, I lost all this weight at first then over a span of 3 weeks only lost 10 lbs. I thought, what the heck did I have surgery for, I could have done this on my own! I was looking on the main message board and I saw that there is a plateau diet, where basically you just concentrate on getting as much protein as possible and forget the rest (i.e. no crackers or carbs period) and concentrate on your water intake, and I tried it, and I noticed that the weight is coming off a bit more easily. Just try to be patient with yourself, it's really hard, and I know it's hard to see posts where people talk about how much is coming off and how fast. Try not to worry about it, just keep doing what you're doing, if you get realy discouraged maybe have a talk with your doctor or your nutritionist, if your doctor works with one.

Kristin, First i want to say CONGRATS on losing 35 pounds. I am 8 weeks out and like you I was a smaller wls candidate. I was bigger than you at 271. I have found through postings and friends who have had the surgery, that if you are smaller you will lose slower than those who are bigger. Now correct me if i am wrong your clothes are falling off arent they??? YES and people are saying you look great right?? YES...You are doing great better than me I have as of last weigh in last week lost 40 pounds in 8 weeks i could be like WHAT!!??!!! but you know i did it and i am working out 5 times aweek and I am proud of myself and I am prooud of you! This is what I do because i dont wan to buy new clothes..I go to mall and try on clothes to see what size i am (i just dont buy anything). I am a comfortable 16 and can wear some 14 and i was a 22. It makes me feel good and i can tell people i am down almost 3 sizes. HEAD UP LIL CMAPER! you are doing awesome and you keep telling yourself that. Your still only about what 4 weeks out and your body is like WHATTTTT ISSS GOINGGGGG ONNNNNN. once it gets adjusted you will see weight come off fater but lest face it when did you ever loose that much weight in a month???? KEEP ON KEEPIN ON! J

Kristin: I do know how you feel! At my 1 month check up I had only lost 15lbs. Since then 7wks post op, I down 37lbs. I am still only on liquids, protein shakes/water/applesause/and babyfood. I do walk 5 days a week (lunch hour). Keep up the good work, Best of Luck Heidi