Ups & downs, goods & bads....

Aloha from Hawaii my July WLS friends! Well, I just found this July group, and I'm delighted. My surgery was July 26th in Honolulu, and I've been so very lucky in not having any trouble with eating/drinking, etc. However, when I read some of your amazing weight loss, I feel rather badly because I've only lost 33 lbs. so far, and have been at that for a couple of weeks. I'm eating right I think. Have around 85 grams of protein a day, 85 oz. of water, and I exercise. I'm now eating salads, and yesterday tried a South Beach Diet sandwich wrap which went down fine. I think I'm getting around 750 calories a day and I should be losing much more it seems to me. I have to quit comparing my loss to others...it can bum me out. I have to be thankful for no problems, and that I now have this awesome tool that will eventually get me back to my healthy weight. I am so happy to meet you all! We are on quite an adventure together. Aloha nui loa, KarenS

Karen- Congrats on taking the step like the rest of us and getting the tool. After a quick look at your profile it seems like you may have started as a lightweight (although you don't mention your weight anywhere). If that's the case you may want to check in with the lightweight forums to see if your progress is in step with some of them. Keep in mind though that we all lose at different rates and the main thing is that you're making the right choices (protein, water, exercise) and you're regaining your health! It's not a race, it's a journey! Just as an "I can identify"...I tend to lose in chunks, not steady. I go for a week or two at the same weight and then wake up one morning to the scale moving a few pounds....at first disheartening, but now, expected. Just find what you're body's system is and work it. Keep up the good work and you'll get the results you want! Christina S

Aloha Christina.....Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Where are the "lightweight forums?" I don't know if I'm lightweight or not....sure doesn't seem like it. I started out at 319 and am now at 286, 8 weeks from surgery. I'm glad to hear that you lose in chunks. That seems to be the pattern that I'm looking at too. First few weeks it was a pound a day...and oh so happy to get on that scale. Now, it's the same every day......and then the discouragement. I appreciate your good words and advice. Aloha, Karen

Karen- I'm not sure if your starting weight "qualifies" you or not, but here's the link to the forum: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_lightweights/ I'm where you started after two months! Christina S

Karen, Just hang in there It will all balance out eventually. I had my surgery on 07/18/06 and have lost 45 lbs. to date, but I have not lost anything this week and I have been getting more excerise, drinking all my protein and water and even returned to work this week. I too was losing about a pound a day at the beginning and then started to get depressed because it wasn't coming off fast enough. But it will soon enough. I still have trouble getting in enough calories a day. Alot of things don't go down or come right back up. You said your getting in about 750 calories a day. I try and drink 3 protein shakes a day thats 63 grams of protein and 480 calories. I don't think my one meal consist of even 200 calories. Usually it's 3 oz. turkey or half of pouch of tuna with 3 crackers, some refried beans, or turkey chili or some egg flower soup.Today I had 1/2 a peanut butter( natural) and sugar free jam sandwich. But I can never usaully eat more then 3-4 oz. of anything. I also suffer from knee problems and I see a new Ortho doctor on Monday. I have arthritis bone on bone. But since surgery something happened I pulled something or something tore. My Ortho wouldn't order an MRI and said he wouldn't do surgery for at least a year. My gb surgeon said there was no reason I couldn't have surgery now if needed and suggest it was probably a good Idea to change Ortho Doc's. So I'm anxious to see this new one on Monday. I just can't go on with this terrible pain. I go daily to the pool and do excerise and walking in the water and that helps alot. Well I'm just glad your doing so well and keep up the good work. Those pounds will start coming off again in no time. Have you taken your measurements, it seems like when the scale dosen't move the inches are still coming off. Take care. Kathi

Aloha Kathi.....Thank you so much for responding to my post. It's so nice to have someone who had surgery very close to mine to compare notes with. You have done exceptionally well, and I'm so happy for you. I know that my weight will continue to go down..it has to...but I hate getting on that scale and seeing the number be the same day after day. I, too, have some ortho problems with a leg I broke several years ago. It didn't heal correctly and has given me problems since. I'm hoping losing 100 plus pounds will ease the problem. I'm also doing the pool...walking and exercising...3 times a week. I love the feel in the water of being so lightweight! I've been very lucky with my "Gracie" (my pouch). She is very agreeable and lets me eat almost anything I want to. I do not abuse her and give her anything I wouldn't give a baby, including sugar, white four, pasta, rice, etc. But, she does fine with salad, whole wheat tortillas, bean soups, chicken, etc. I'm struggling with what is a good diet. Some say go protein as with Atkins...others say just good carbs and lots of proteins. It gets very confusing sometimes. Thanks again for telling me your experience. I appreciate it. Aloha nui loa, Karen

hay ya'll,,,,lol how are you ms karen... we have alot in common,,,,my surgery was july 25 now i have lost 45 as of today,,,but we all do lose at a different pace,,,i started 314,,now im 269-270up and down up and down all this week,,,,a friend gave me some 3 oz cups,,,said i should eat only what i can get in the cup at one setting,,,that is all the bigger a pouch is,,,,,and eat something every 2 hrs,,,,im doing that,,,i know alot of people have lose more then me ,,,,dont know why,,,,i get about 40 - 60 protine in,,water 64 or so,,,,and cal around 600 -700...i wish i have someone to walk with,,,but i dont,,,,,so i dont do much,,,,,i want to,,,,but,,,anyway,,good luck and write me anytime,,,keep in touch,,,,oh try to keep away from starches,,, white ones too,,,,,eat more meat,,,,,,or protine,,,,see ya,, friends w/a pouch sandy

Sandy, I get 100 gms of protein a day and on a slow day I get 75. I also eat alot more calories. U might have your body in starvation mode. You might try increasing your protein and u will see the wt melt off. Its very important to get protein and lots of it. Mariah

ITA w/you, Mariah. I recommend the Atkins route. You might want to check out the forums at BariatricEating.com for some great guidance and recommendations.

I had my surgery on 7/7/06 and I'm down 46 lbs as of Friday so I'm 11 weeks out I guess. I am a light weight. Your intake sounds a lot like mine. Definitely watch the carbs but it looks like your doing great. Maybe you should check out the lighweight forum as we do tend to lose a lot slower. I look at my loss, not only in pounds but in percentage of excess. I'm nearing 50% of my excess weight.