"Slow" losers--- post here!

Great Post Michele: YEEEHAAAAWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surgery date: July 13, 2005 Weight day of surgery: 242 Height: 5'6" Age: 36 Weight loss so far (post surgery weight only please) : 32lbs Goal: 150 How much protein per day? 65+ How much water per day? 40-50oz NOT ENOUGH Are you losing your hair? Just starting to shed more in the shower How much exercise are you getting in? Just day-to-day activity with pushing my wheelchair. Do you think you'll have excess skin issues? Yes Have you taken your measurements? No How many inches have you lost? Do YOU see a difference in the way you look? Big difference (That's all that matters) What size did you start at? some 3X-4X and 24-26 What size are you at now? 18-20 some XL How are you feeling now? Really good

Just curious..... my surgeons office recommended getting 59 grams of protein per day but didn't expect that we would be able to handle that amount for several months out. I noticed that some of you are eating alot of protein.....at least more that my surgeon recommended so I am just curious if that is why you are losing more slowly than others.

Michele- Great idea-- There are a lot of us "slow losers". But when you think about it, losing 30-40lbs in two months is nothing to sneeze at! I feel much better! Andrea

Surgery date: 7/18 Weight day of surgery: 278 Height: 5 ft 6 Age: 22 Weight loss so far (post surgery weight only please) 43 Goal: 165 How much protein per day? 45 grams How much water per day? 60-80 oz Are you losing your hair? Nope How much exercise are you getting in? Walking 2 days a week, Weight training, Getting ready to start Taebo Do you think you'll have excess skin issues? Yeah Have you taken your measurements? yes How many inches have you lost? 29 Do YOU see a difference in the way you look? Oh yeah What size did you start at? 24 What size are you at now? 16/18 How are you feeling now? Awesome Niesha 285/278/235/165 .............^........ ** 45 grams protein per day, as reccomended by Surgeon due to the fact that too much protein makes your kidneys work harder and if your not getting enough water in on top of that you will most likely have a few problems. I actually have a friend who had her surgery out in Boston, totally different opinion from her doc...She is on a 65 gram protein regimin and has only lost 33 lbs and had her surgery 13 days before I had mine!! I think everyone loses at a different rate depending on our genetic makeup and whether or not we want to EXERCISE

Surgery date: July 20 Weight day of surgery: 230 Height: 5'7 Age: 48 Weight loss so far (post surgery weight only please) 32 pounds Goal: ? How much protein per day? varies How much water per day? varies Are you losing your hair? no How much exercise are you getting in? shoot for three times at the y a week at least, most of the time get it, but didn't go last week Do you think you'll have excess skin issues? not bad yet Have you taken your measurements? no How many inches have you lost? Do YOU see a difference in the way you look? yes What size did you start at? Depends on brand.2x What size are you at now? Depends on brand. How are you feeling now?fine

Michele - Thanks for the slow loser posts (and all who participated. I'll add mine Surgery on 7/27 -Weight post was 305 now 272so it's 33 lbs. 40 or more oz of water only 20 protein in shakes I don't count the protein I eat. I will start though. I know I need to do more protein. I have joined a program call I Excerise it's like Curves. I can't do much but hope it's gets easier. The coach said I did better than a lot of new ones. Boy was I tired though even into the next day. Oh I forgot I'll be 64 in November. I saw myself in a window (frontal view) last week and for the first time I looked smaller, kind of deflated if you know what I mean. Thanks to all who posted. Cil

Surgery date: 7/11/2005 Weight day of surgery: 257 Height: 5 3 Age: 39 Weight loss so far (post surgery weight only please) 45 Goal: 135 How much protein per day? 50-60 How much water per day? not enough Are you losing your hair? no more than usual How much exercise are you getting in? not enough Do you think you'll have excess skin issues? probably belly Have you taken your measurements? not recently How many inches have you lost? don't know Do YOU see a difference in the way you look? a little What size did you start at? 22/24 What size are you at now? 18 How are you feeling now? Good except problem with constipation I know TMI, does anyone else have that problem? I have additional questions to ask, I do not really see a trend here that would contribute to our slow weight loss. Some of us are taking in more protein, more water and excercising more while others are not doing as much. So lets try and see if there is some other common thread. I have hypothyroidism and just started on a higher dose of thyroid meds. Do any of you have thyroid problems or anything else that might contribute to the slow weight loss. Are you drinking whey protein or soy protein drinks? What kind of supplements are you taking? Have you been eating sugary foods, if so do you dump? Have you had any side effects of teh surgery like dumping, vomiting, constipation, nausea? Just trying to get a feel of how everyone is doing? Tami

I do see one common thread- hardly any of us are losing our hair. One benefit of losing "slowly" I guess. Honestly, I don't think there is a reason for it. But I really believe that we will all get to where we want to be, albeit maybe not super fast like some others. Oh- I thought of another thing- for how long were we all in the "morbidly obese" category? Say, BMI over 40? I was only considered morbidly obese for about a year (after gaining 60 pounds in 6 months after a medication change (Effexor for depression) But I have been overweight/obese almost all of my adult life (over 200 pounds). Here are your questions Tami: Do any of you have thyroid problems or anything else that might contribute to the slow weight loss. No. Thyroid is fine. I have super high cholesterol though (330+) and a really fast pulse (100-I smoke) and borderline high blood pressure. Are you drinking whey protein or soy protein drinks? Yes- whey predigested protein (Unjury) What kind of supplements are you taking? Centrum chewables, B12 sublingual, calcium citrate chewables (or Viactiv) Have you been eating sugary foods, if so do you dump? I have tried various things- like one Reeses peanut butter cookie and had no problems. I have had about 10 bite fulls of the frozen yogurt at Costco with no reaction. The other day I took some Nyquil and then ate 1 1/2 cinnamon graham crackers and I got soooooo sick- vomiting and diarrhea, I thought I was gonna die. Thankfully it only lasted for 10 minutes. Another time I vomited up foam but I hadn't eaten anything. Strange. That's the only 2 times I've vomited. I have gotten mildly ill from instant mashed potatoes, no sugar added ice cream sandwiches, a Power Crunch bar. Have you had any side effects of teh surgery like dumping, vomiting, constipation, nausea? See above; and, I've been constipated a few times, I take Milk of Magnesia and everything is fine after that. Nausea I have rarely. I had gained about 5 or so pounds in the hospital (water retention) and I got phlebitis (an infected vein from the IV) that I had to take antibiotics for that. That's all I can think of. If anyone else can think of something else, please share and let's see if we can find some other common ground!

Some more good questions... Do any of you have thyroid problems or anything else that might contribute to the slow weight loss? No - but I do have a drop foot problem which makes it difficult for me to walk much. I have a very weak left leg and left hand - otherwise, I'm hitting the gazelle pretty much every time i think about it - now that's a TON of fun - very easy and you get the burn without really feeling wiped out when you are done! Are you drinking whey protein or soy protein drinks? Whey Protein - Sport Pharma Chocolate and occasionally, Protica Profect when I go on business trips What kind of supplements are you taking? Solgar Women's Multiples for the vitamins, CalTrate for calcium citrate, B12 liquid (GNC) and Iron Have you been eating sugary foods, if so do you dump? I haven't been brave enough to try anything with sugar so far. But I was REALLY diabetic before all this so I had cut out sugars a LONG time ago! Have you had any side effects of teh surgery like dumping, vomiting, constipation, nausea? I dumped once on rice pilaf. (That was horrible) ...and then once on a whole wheat chapati (kind of like a tortilla) but that was because I swallowed way too quickly and didn't chew enough. I ate 2 M & Ms once by mistake (in a "sugar free" trail mix) and had pain like I went to hell and back. I've been pretty chicken about trying foods right now. Grits go down really well and oatmeal seems to be a staple.

I have a thyroid problem, but it is under control. To answer Michele's question-- I was only morbidly obese for about 6 months-- but I had a lot of health problems-- (see profile). I think this is a good idea because it made me realize that we're not slow losers-- I think we're probably right on track and there are a few fast losers out there--- In terms of dumping-- I don't get the feelings, but I do get diarrhea from things that are too high in sugar alcohol-- I tried a low carb ice cream pop (breyers) and it sent me running. An advantage power bar did the same thing. Other than that I have not tried anything sweet. I did have a bite of someone's fried clam and didn't like it much but did not have any issues. I have stopped vomiting. I may feel nauseous with some foods but thank goodness, I am not running for the bathroom anymore.