I would love to have that recipe, too, Sheri. Thanks so much. Kathy

I am so glad to see this topic raised. I had my surgery on 11/11/03. I started at 263. I'm 5'4" and 51. At my 3 month checkup, I had lost only 41 pounds, with only 6 lbs lost in the third month. I lost 30 lbs the first 6 weeks. Since my checkup on 2/11, I've actually gained a couple of pounds from 222 to 224. One of my problems, I think, is that I was slow to get started with exercise because I lost a lot of blood during and over the first week after the surgery and felt terribly weak for about a month following surgery. Then I got the worst flu I've ever had over the holidays. I'm now walking 2 miles at least 4 days a week and just this week I've started adding weights. I just read someone on the main board say that their nutritionist said that to lose weight consistently you need to do 5 hrs/wk aerobics and 2 hrs/wk weightlifting. My doctor says my weight loss may also be slower because I'm older but I've noticed a lot of people my age or older losing more quickly. I'm convinced that another issue for me is that I was living the low-carb lifestyle (40g or less carbs/day) for more than two years before the surgery and couldn't lose weight. What I didn't do then or now was get down to 20g carbs/day, but this is my next step. I know I eat less than 1000 cals a day, though I was only eating around 1500 cals for two years preceding the surgery. I'm a little frustrated with this eating/weight loss situation because I didn't realize before the surgery that I would basically be required to focus on "dieting" the rest of my life. I define dieting as counting calories and/or carb grams. I was under the impression that just following the rules of the pouch -- i.e. 5-6 meals a day at 2-3 oz. each with an emphasis on high quality protein -- would take care of itself. Now I'm wondering whether there's something else going on with me that makes it more difficult for me than others to lose weight, but if there is, nobody seems to have any ideas. The only other problem I do know I have is an issue with chronic inflammation that has show up through high numbers on c-reactive protein blood tests. Having said all this, I will say that I feel better than I have in 10 years, and I look good, too. I'm now wearing a size 16, down from a 22. Most important, I'm healthier than I've been in a long time and I can exercise, which I couldn't before. Still, I want to lose most of the extra weight, even if I only get down to 160-170, so I'm going to keep trying to figure it out. If any of you who are struggling as I am at this early stage with plateaus and slow weight loss do in fact come up with approaches that work for you, I hope we can stay in touch on this message board and support each other. That would be wonderful. I've been feeling a little discouraged about this and I'm so glad to know there are others in this group who at least can empathize with what I'm dealing with. Best wishes to all of you. Kathy

I'm told it's because of starting at a relatively low weight. I started at 252 (11/4 surgery) and I've lost just over 50 lbs. Of course I'm only 5'2" but my dr. still says I'm right on track for my size. But believe me, I'd kill to be about 70 lbs. down right now! We have to learn patience ... now!!

Could be an infection. Call your doctor. In the mean time, drink extra water.

I am sorry, but I don't know if that is a sign of dehydration or not. I do think you should call your doctor. Good luck, Dawn