Ok, now I'm depressed...

All my surgery buddies are doing so well, I am happy for them, but now I'm getting depressed. I keep worrying I am going to be the person this surgery doesn't work. As you can see from my profile I have a pretty high BMI (67) and percentages say I should be losing pretty rapidly, but here I sit, five weeks out only -11. That is only -4 since my check-up two weeks post-op. Even my sister, who had WLS on 5/26, has already lost more than me. I am trying to not let this get to me, but what am I doing wrong? I follow my diet, get in my water, walk on average 3 miles a day, I've returned full time to work and pretty much resumed my normal life. I am hoping once I get the ok to resume at Curves it will help kick start the weight loss. I just can't believe I went through all of this and I am not losing weight. Thanks for listening, I just wanted to whine a little. I'll kick my own butt and just hang in there...IT WILL HAPPEN FOR ME!!!

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. I HAD MY SURGERY ON THE 5TH OF APRIL AND HAVE ONLY LOST 31 LBS. EVERYONE ELSE I KNOW HAS LOST MORE THAN THAT AND WE HAD SURGERY AROUND THE SAME TIME. I'M ALREADY DEPRESSED AND WHEN I'M DEPRESSED I EAT. WE JUST NEED TO HANG IN THERE AND LET OUR BODIES ADJUST. I NOTICED I EAT ALOT OF CARBS. I NEED TO STOP THAT CAUSE I KNOW IT HAS GOT TO BE SLOWING DOWN MY WEIGHT LOSS.CONCENTRATE ON THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUTOF THE SURGERY AND DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP ON HOW MUCH YOU LOSE. EVENTUALLY IT WENT JUST COME OFF. GOOD LUCK JOSIE

I had surgery on 4/2/04, and have lost about 33lbs. I dont know why its not coming off, I am doing richard simmons disco sweat and least 4 -5 times a week, I walk, and I stay away from carbs.....But I am happy of what I did lose so far. I was worried, I was the only one who is experiencing this! Good Luck!

Hi, No offense to anyone, but I am a little happy to see others like me, too. I had RNY open on 4/13/2004. Everyone (including my doc) said the weight would just "pour" off of me. Well, it isn't. I lost 24 pounds in the first 11 days and then only 6 more by the time I got to 5 weeks. Now, it is nearly 8 weeks and I am piddling along with a pound here and a pound there. A friend had the surgery and lost 46 pounds in the first 2 weeks (no problems!!). I am so depressed. I exercise, eat absolutley properly, walk, drink, etc, and have been on plateau after plateau. I am tired of people saying "it will happen" or "one day you will wake up and have a huge weight loss" or things like that. This was a huge step for me, my last resort, and it has been a struggle, but I actually thought by the time my inlaws came from Colorado to visit in July that I would be looking pretty good. But, I am still wearing the regular clothing I always wear, no changes in underclothing (still fit the same) and the only place I can tell weight loss is in my face and neck. I guess we all need to stick together and be each other's cheering section. I have failed at so so much in my lifetime regarding weight loss, and cannot afford to fail at this one, too. My email is [email protected] if you want to get in touch with me to "talk". Some days I just don't even want to go out anymore as I see people daily who know I had the surgery and then they ask questions and I just don't feel like answering.... Oh well, I will stick to this and hopefully, someday I will have a figure. Thanks for listening! Smiles, Pamela

I had Open RNY on 4/30/04. I have lost 25 pounds. I was a little upset because I didn't lose more but I have lost 11 inches!! I am losing, just differently. One thing you must remember is that you are exercising. With a high protein diet and exercise, your body will lose fat and gain muscle. And everyone knows muscle weighs more. I weigh once a month, but measure every two weeks. What you are not losing in pounds, you are probably losing in inches. Also, watch the carb intake. I have a little nutrition calculator I got from Avon. It allows me to keep track of protein, fat, and carbs. I did a 'test' run on it the other day to see what I was eating and I had over 30 carbs in a 500 calorie day! That's alot! I'm adjusting my diet to remove some of the carbs I intake to help speed the weight loss. One great tip my surgeon gave on exercise is to compete against yourself. Time how long it takes to walk 3 miles. Make a goal that in one week, you'll cut five minutes off your time. Or add ankle or wrist weights to help build more muscle. The first time I was disappointed about how much I'd lost, my surgeon told me to keep the faith. That's the key. This surgery will work. This is not another diet that will fail. We are disciplined, strong and courageous and we will make it. We must be patient and follow the rules and the rest will take care of itself. God bless you on your journey. Diana

Hey you guys! It sounds like we are all pretty normal then. I have lost a total of 60lbs but only 40 since my surgery on April 12. The last 3 weeks I've lost nothing. I hate the scales. I think we must be just be pretty normal. My Dr. told me that this is your bodies way of protecting itself. If your metabolism rate didnt do that you would be dead of starvation in 3 months. He also reminded me that it's only been 2 months. I'm doing great. Yada Yada Yada. It's really not what I want to hear BUT.... I guess we didn't gain overnight and we aren't going to lose over night. BTW, my BMI was 62. 339/280 4/12/04 RNY-Open Distal

Hi Josie, add me to the group. It will be 8 wks tomorrow since my surgery and I haven't lost any weight in the last FOUR weeks!! As a matter of fact, one of the times I got on the scale I had put back on 8 lbs!!! So don't feel too bad. Now I've been fluctuating with the last 3 lbs. It hasn't gone all the way back to the original 8 I put back on. I've lost 60 some pounds (amt flucuates daily) and half was pre-op. All post-op weight was lost within the first 4 wks after the surgery, then NOTHING. Well, nothing but regain and I'm doing what the doc told me to do too! So as you can see, you're not alone!!! Take care. Linda

I'm a slow loser, too. But this has been SO insightful!! I'm doing all the right things too, but I forgot to factor in what was said (by Diana, I think) that we are building muscle. I was COMPLETELY sedentary prior to my surgery because I am disabled. As we build muscle, we will become more efficient fat burners. We need to turn to each other and not the food. We CAN make this miraculous journey. Ladies workout express (like curves) did help me off a three week plateau.

I went three weeks with no loss. I called my doc. His nurse asked me about my calorie intake. I upped it slightly, not much, and boom, -4 lbs in three days. My body went into starvation mode, which is pretty common. A few additional calories (from good foods) can help get your metabolism back on track. Now in the past five days or so I've lost 6 lbs. Finally! I had surgery on 4/23/04. Don't give up. Like the pain after surgery, this irritant will pass too. As annoying as that is to hear, its true. Tina 5'2" 274/241 -32