New to this board! have questions

hi everyone I had my lap RNY surgery on August 15th. To date I have lost 79 pounds total, including the 10 pounds i lost prior to surgery. My question is..about how much are you all eating in ounces at one meal..I have found myself being able to eat more in this last week than before..instead of maybe 3 ounces imeating 4 ounces ..is this normal? I have also stalled at this point..it seems i lose about 12 pounds..then stall..then lose..ugh..I started out at 343 pounds..now im down to 264. I know I have done great..but i have such a poor self body image it isn't funny! I feel so FAT!!! ugh..Any help would be appreciated. Hugs JudyB

HI Judy, Welcome...this board is great, isn't it? I think you're doing a tremendous job. I had my surgery on 8/17 and am down 52 so far. We started at about the same size (I was 323 day of surgery), and I know exactly how you feel. WE know we're working hard and doing a great job, but we're a long way from goal and I, too, tend to have a poor self body image, which can make my goal of 170 look almost impossible. I'm 271 right now, and although I THINK I'm doing the best I can, I still get stares and comments when I'm walking down the street. The only thing I can say is that society is cruel...these people can't see the struggles we're all going through to make ourselves healthier and more accepted. I'm in therapy right now, which I highly recommend and also attend my hospital's monthly support group. Feel free to email me privately if you want...keep up the great work! I'm so jealous...I can't wait to get to 264! ~Toni~ 323/271/???

HI Toni Thanks for your response..and congrats on your weight loss..awesome job here! I too am in therapy and it helps, but when i have days like I have had lately, nothing seems to help but time. Take care and I may email you privately. Thanks a bunch Hugs JudyB

Hi Judy! Gosh! You are doing SO good with your weight loss! I know it's hard to see yourself as you are becoming, I look in the mirror and either see the old me, still at my highest weight, or see myself smaller and think "this won't last". So I definitely sympathize with you there. But please know that I think you're very beautiful and doing a awesome job with your weight loss! About the food amounts, girl lemme tell you, mine varies from day to day. It's seriously WEIRD! Last two days I could eat and eat and eat (ok, it FELT like it, I was definitely putting away more than normal tho). Then today I ate like 3 ozs of salad and thought I'd explode for sure, didn't eat anything else til dinner tonight, got in 2 ozs of taco meat and was back to thinking I'd explode. Just plain weird. My weight loss comes in starts and stops too. I'll lose like 5 in one week and nothing the next week. I did catch myself not too long ago deliberately NOT eating in order to kick start my weight loss, and had to rein myself in. Better to stall here and there than hurt myself, ya know? Glad to see you over here!

Awww mrs.G You are such a sweetie..Thanks for the encouragement!! I needed to hear that what i seem to be doing right now is a "normal" part of the process. Thanks again hugs JudyB

Hi Judy and everyone, I guess we are in the same boat as far as self image goes. My husband constantly tells me how good I look and how nicely my body is starting to look. Yep he sees it, other people see it, but I don't. I feel it in my clothes of course, but when I look in the mirror I still see the old me. I haven't started therapy yet, but I think that is something to think about in the near future. It's also true what someone else said here that we still get stares from people and yes, people are cruel. I secretly hope I see those same people when I get to my goal weight. I am down 53 pounds since surgery Aug 1/05. I am so happy I had this surgery and feel great. Keep up the good work all Joyce

Hi Judy, We had our surgery on the same date. I was 291 when I started the process, 284 on my day of surgery & as of yesterday, I'm 239. So that's 45 lbs since surgery & 52 lbs total. Sometimes I think I'm losing slow because, like others on here, I'll lose like 5 or 6 lbs in a week & then stay the same for a week or 2, but if you average it out, it's a little over 3 lbs a week. Heck, I can't remember the last time I did that. Regarding food, if it's something like cottage cheese, I can eat a 1/2 cup, if it's meat, it's not alot, maybe 2 or 3 oz. I don't really measure I just really listen to my body. Once I start to burp or hiccup, I know I'm done. I'm still drinking a protein shake daily because I don't think I could get all my protein in if I didn't. I think you're doing wonderful. As long as you continue to follow your dr's plan, chew, wait between your bites & get all your liquids in, you'll continue to do as amazing as you have been. Welcome to the board, this is a wonderful place to come to for support. Keep up the great work & keep us posted Tammy

Hi everyone. I had my open RNY on 8/24 with a starting weight of 337. At my 2 month check on 10/24, I was down 50 pounds to 287. Trying not to get on the scales every day. As far as eating goes, I think what makes a difference is what you are eating. Steak or chicken breast I can only handle 2 to 3 ounces. But something a bit lighter in density like fish or shrimp and I can get a little more in, maybe 3 to 4 ounces. Then, if I eat something like salad I can get what seems like much more, but you have to remember that salad is mainly water. I mainly eat protein, but sometimes I just need something more like a vegie or potato. I have the same problem with body image. I don't every remember thinking of myself as that fat, but I knew I was. It was when I saw pictures of myself, or caught a glimpse in a mirror when I wasn't expecting to see myself that reality hit. Now, I don't know what to think. Although, the loose clothes tell a story. Went digging in my closet this morning and found a pair of pants that actually fit properly. Must be 2-3 yrs old at least. Wonder how long they will last? I am excited about that prospect. Keep walking/exercising and drinking tha****er!