What am I doing wrong?

Hello all, I need to come out of the closet, and my local support group would likely call me too much of a downer. Surgery was Sept 27th and I'm only down about 20 lbs. And what's harder-- the scale can stop moving for days. And what's even harder (nice vent, right?) is that I don't really have too much trouble getting the water and protein in each day. I envy those who can only handle an ounce here and there. So, my protein is about 50 G per day and calories run about 500-550. I try to get some exercise each day (not that the scale cares -- when I go back to work 1/2 time the exercise part will jump higher. I'm thinking of emailing the food lady at my Dr.'s office, but needed to ask/vent here too. I just don't understand what else I need to do Any would make falling asleep much easier. Thanks for reading this far

My surgery was the 23rd and I have only lost 16lbs. since surgery. That being in the first 2 weeks. I have lost NOTHING this past week. I watch what I eat (log it in fitday), watch portions, drink (get my fluids in) ....work out every night on my treadmill PLUS I bust my hindend at work (at a bank) where I am up and around all day long. So what the heck is up with this? Not a pound. Not even a half pound. I'm so bummed right now. DH is eating sensibly and working out with me (we have been doing this for weeks-even prior to my surgery)...and his weight loss has continued like it was doing before my surgery. Heck I'm not even loosing weight like I was BEFORE surgery... at least that was a couple of lbs. every 3-4 days .... I can't even do that now! Sorry for the mini vent... I'm just so bummed right now... Just finished my breakfast of 1/4 c. cottage cheese (lowfat of course).. and wondering why I can't get the scale to budge (I'm not a lightweight either) Elizabeth~ Lap RNY September 23rd 16lbs. since surgery - Total of 49lbs. altogether

hi elizabeth, i am in a similar situation to you. i wonder if you were a yoyo dieter? from what you wrote, eating well before surgery, getting your body ready, changing your food routines, i bet you weren't. neither was i. i was not a sweets or junk food person. i lost 21 #'s in the first 5 days and now it's been 18 days and i haven't lost even one pound! i believe that my body is just holding on for dear life, not knowing what's going on. it thinks it's starving - it's not used to the ups and downs of dieting. so just keep on doing what you're doing and it will eventually just drop off - i believe that for myself. i have a dr's appt today and believe me i will be asking all about it. susan

Well you pegged me pretty good for not knowing me. I'm not a yoyo dieter and I don't like the junk food or sweets... I keep telling myself that I have lost 49lbs. overall and that I changed my eating habits LONG before surgery ( as in weeks) so I guess I should factor in that weight loss as well... since alot of folks don't start eating better til AFTER surgery.... but it is still a hard "pill" to swallow when you KNOW that you are doing everything you can and you are doing it right and still NOTHING... If you will read back in some of my earlier posts you will see where I thought I wasn't getting enough protein in...but then I went to fitday.com and started and found that I WAS getting in anywhere from 55 grams of protein and UP on a daily basis... so that couldn't be the problem... I'm just going to work harder and exercise more..... and believe that it IS going to happen.... I know I'm loosing inches though... started at (highest weight ever) a size 26 (maybe a tight tight 24) and I went to Wallyworld last weekend at DH's prompting just to try on clothes as I was so bummed by my stall. He kept telling me I was getting smaller... and guess what? I pulled on 18-20 dress pants and they FIT! Sz. 20 jeans (non stretch) I could get all the way up but couldn't fasten them over my tummy... but before I couldn't of even gotten them past my knees... so I guess something is changing even though the scale isn't budging.... Wishing you speedy loosing vibes... it is enough to drive ya batty huh? Elizabeth~

My Doc says not to weigh any more often than once a week. Scales (especially home) can be 10% off. Twenty pounds in less than three weeks sounds like you are on track. Keep doing what your doing and the pounds will come off!

I am 3 weeks out yesterday and I have lost 20 lbs as of my last visit with the doc last friday. My scale hasnt moved much in the last week and I was wondering if I am normal too. However I am not getting as much exercise as I would like to because I have an open insicion and it hurts me to walk alot but I do get alittle each day. I say if your eating right and drinkig fluids it will happen. Just think about it, were we able to lose 20 lbs in 2 weeks before??? Keep your chin up it will happen. Love Amybee

RUTH!!!!! 20 lbs in two weeks is lovely. Twenty pounds is about 5 weeks worth of loss.........even if there are those who drop it faster. I PROMISE!! My doc says an average of 4lbs a week is fabulous, and not to ever get disheartened if you are eating and drinking right. Your body will go into "stalls" and later "plateaus", but it will all work out in the end, BECAUSE your lifestyle and eating habits will have permanently changed. So, try not to be discouraged.........yeah, I wish I had dropped 50 lbs by now at 6 weeks out like some of the folks I have read about........but that is simply not going to happen for the average person. Period. Heck, if you lost 20 in two weeks, then that means I should have lost 60 in 6 weeks?? Crazy...not going to happen... Hang tough..we will get there.....and we are better off than we were before...despite the open incision, lol. (Can't wait to be done with THAT little problem!!)

I had surgery on the 30th and have only lost 13 lbs. Remember to stay away from the scale, it is STILL your enemy. Get a measuring tape and start measuring your arms, legs, tummy, chest, etc. You will see loss there when the scale is being evil. I ate a pickle last night and gained 2 lbs haha I know I must be patient, everyone loses differently that I know. Good luck Anna

Hi Ruth You are right at the point when I was kinda stalled out as well. I did a ton of reading about it, and it apparently happens quite often. The good news is that my loss has picked up again! YAY... I eat btwn 50-60 grams of protein a day, and quite a bit more calories than you, and have no troubles eating. Of course I get full on less than pre-op, but nothing like some of the folks here who are stuffed after an ounce and never had a hunger pang. I've envied them a bit as well! Keep up the exercise, as the others say, don't weigh too often if it's going to freak you out. I am three weeks ahead of you, and down about 27 lbs. For a while there, it seemed stuck but then all by itself, the losing machine fired up again. Hang in there, try not to panic, read lots of profiles, you'll be amazed by how different everyone's story is. Till then, I just hope you can be comforted by the knowledge that everyone loses at a different pace and there's a WIDE range of normal. Take care! ~Sue

Hi Ruth!! Don't worry, my doc says stalls are very common. It our bodies way of trying to hold on to that fat, but eventually it ends. I stalled for about a week when I was 3 weeks post-op. I heard increasing calories helps start the losing again, so that's what I did. No matter how hard I try I can't get over 750 calories, but anyway--after I increased eating I started losing again. Good Luck and remember you can always VENT here!!!!!!!!! -KT