Are you not loosing enough??????

These two links give great and reasurring information. I thought I would pass it on for us May Babies. And those who usually dont frequent the Main Message board. Tooter has this on her site http://www.bariatricbytes.com/timeline.html This is awesome and another post from Dawn on the main board http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/action,replies/board_id,4856/topic_id,1782220/cat_id,4456/a,messageboard/ Post Date: 2006-06-04 04:28:48 You ask I'm a few short weeks out of surgery and have stopped losing weight have I failed? Is this normal? When will it start? You have not failed. There is really no way for you to fail at this point. Your body has just come through a major trauma of a life changing surgery and is asking It's self just what the hell did You do to me? This is very normal even though you are not losing weight at this time because your body is re-adjusting to just having major surgery what is it doing? Have you messured yourself? Are you losing inches? Are your clothes getting looser? Chances are you are there have been changes. You may not see it but others might be. Give your body a chance to catch up to itself. It may take a week maybe longer but the weight will start coming off. Put your scales away you don't want to become a slave to them.If you feel the need to weigh yourself do it once a month. After all what is in a number? Ask yourself Do I feel better? What did I feel like before? I will lay money you are feeling different. We didn't put this weight on over night and it is not going to magically disapear the day after surgery. It's going to take some time. The key is simple: 1. Keep up with your protein. Be it shakes or from foods. 2. get as much water into your system as possible (64 oz's min) per day 3. if you can't exercise walk as much as you can (it really does help) It doesn't matter if its 10 minute to start or 15 just keep moving. 4. Keep positive look for the small changes you might be taking for granted here. Like clothing getting looser or inches coming off. and ask yourself do I feel better? 5. Follow what your doctor has to say or your nutritionist If they didn't give you a plan to follow. DO NOT be afraid to speak up. OH members have the experience and some are more then happy to help. Don't worry about the flamers even if they have forgotten what it is like in the beginning many haven't and they are more then happy to help you. 6. Keep up with your vitamins they are very important now and for the rest of your life. 7. If you stumble back into a bad habit dust yourself off and start over. Don't be hard on yourself chances are you are NOT alone. 8. OMG you've gained a pound or two. Don't panic ask yourself is i****er weight? or are you building muscle? Muscle is heavier then fat I'm not sure why that is myself but that is how it was explained to me. On average a person can gain anywhere from 1-5 pounds in a month some can in just a day's time. It's mainly water gain the easiest way to get rid of it is? Drink more water cut back on salt and watch it fall off. Always keep in mind noone knows it all. Some say its a science some say its blind luck but mostly its hard work and a lot of determination for all of us to stick together and lend a helping hand to those who are lost and need help. I don't care if your pre op. post o*****n op Everyone has something to learn and you won't learn anything if your afraid to ask for help. So speak up don't be shy about it. This is YOUR life and you are the only one that can change it. Just know you are not alone doing it. Sue

Sue, Thanks so much for this wonderful post. You are a mind reader. I had surgery on 5/10. On 5/3 I weighed 223.5 and started the liquid diet. During the week on the liquid diet I lost 7 pounds and went into surgery at 216.5. Today, I weigh 206. Tomorrow will be a month and I've only lost 10.5 lbs. I was getting really nervous. My mom tells me it's because I barely qualified for the surgery, but I know that I haven't been eating even as much as I'm supposed to. I have been trying to get all the protein, calcium and fluids in and am almost there, but averaging around 750 calories a day. I thought I would lose more by now. Thanks for your post...I feel better now. Lynne

I too have been feeling nervous about the weight loss. I know I need to be more patient and allow my body to heal, but it is so hard to wait!!! I had a little lapse two weeks after the surgery, but since then I have been right on track, eating the prescribed items and getting in at least 64 oz of water a day. I still feel kinda bloated like I did right after surgery and I know I am eating smaller amounts. Some days I have to force myself to eat because I am not in the mood for the battle withthe babyfood spoon (LOL, I know some of you know what I'm talking about). Asit is, I have lost 22 lbs, but have been at that plateau for the past ten days. Then I remembered that my aunt Flo is due for a visit int he next 3-5 days, so maybe that's the problem? I really need to be reminded that this surgery was a major trauma to my body and I have to allow it to heal. I have made a pact with myself not to toch the scale until Saturday and from then on only on Saturday mornings. I just wish the weight would come of more consistently. That way I would know for sure I am doing everything right.

Hi there - I'm in the same boat - I'm trying not to obsess over how slowly the weight is coming off. I have a hard time determining what's a "normal" rate of weight loss. I'm glad to know I'm not alone! Heather

My surgery was 5-22. I lost 9 lbs on the pre-op diet and pre-surgery clean out, then in the first 9 days after surgery, I lost another 11 lbs. Then it came to a complete stop. I may be back up a pound. I think my plateau started earlier than most but I'm not going to sweat it. I know I'm doing everything the nutritionist told me to do, taking my vitamins and I'm walking 30-40 minutes almost every day. I know the weight will start coming off again soon but even if it didn't, I know my body is healthier than it was before. I can also tell a difference in my clothes. I feel very blessed that I have had no problems at all so far tolerating any food I've tried except for getting a little nauseous earlier today from a protein drink. I'm still very happy with the results of the surgery. Good luck to all. Kathy

Thank you so much for the wonderful encouragement. I've been a little down since my 4 week checkup. I have had a few slips during my first month, and I only lost 17 lbs. I am having a constant battle with myself about eating. I am constantly hungry, & I'm scared that if I eat anything, I won't lose. I know that I'm eating a lot less now than what I ate before the surgery, but I'm having problems making healthier food choices. Thanks again for your encouragement.