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Hi I had my surgery the 2nd of Nov. I have been frustrated with the up and down the scale says adn yes starting today i am not looking at the scale except once a week. I have lost 40 lbs and have been frustrated the moment I hit foods and i was off liquids my body slowed down drasticly with the weight loss. I was thinking of going back to protein adn water adn vitamins again like a full liquid diet. What do you all think. Also I was very active before surgery and it feels so weird to be starting over and walking and aerobics and I am so weak and sore it was like I never exercised. I get 90 to 100 grams of protein in a day and I drink plenty of water. Just lately I have been having head issues with seeing people that are not doing what the doctor says and they are losing so much faster than me. My surgeon says I am right on schedule. Is it just me or is it normal to feel like you could be doing more. I think it is a control issue also that I just have to let time take its course. Wanting to hear peoples advice.

Welcome Amy! My surgery was Nov 1st, so we are pretty close date wise. I have lost 45lbs since surgery. It can get you down when you see people here who have lost that in one month! One thing that helps me keep focused is that I do weigh myself daily...only because I have noticed if I take a binder paper and list all the months since surgery at the top of the column and then the days going down with the corresponding weight of the day, I can see how I have a weight loss pattern. I also note when I am on my period. Now I know that I have a pattern of 10-14 days stalling or losing and gaining a couple of pounds, and then I loose 10lbs quickly. I am very happy now---I don't compare my unique body with anyone elses! I know that I am determined to loose it all. So what if it takes me a few more months than everyone else. I am starting to like to excercise too---who would have thought! Hang in there--you are doing everything right Pam J.

I know what you mean! I had my surgery 11/15 and have only lost 37 pounds. But I did have to do a 10 burst of steriods which really screwed me up! I was hungry all the time and found my self eating. The wrong things. I have been so upset with my self. But I started exercising more and will see the inches coming off now ~

Dear Amy, I had my surgery mid-November and have had several stalls that caused great frustration. It really became a head issue for me. I have to remind myself that I have been this heavy for a long time, so that will make my speed of weight loss different from someone else. Also, number of pounds lost isn't the whole story. Are they male or female? Age? Height? etc. So while I do have that nagging voice in the back of the head, I try to focus on my behavior rather than the scale (and only weigh once a month). My goals are sticking to my food, exercise, and vitamin plans. If I do that, I know I'm winning the war even if it seems I lost the battle at the scale. I may not control the weight loss but I do control my behavior. I don't know if you have a behavioral group or a support group to go to in your area, but I find attending those also helps me get through the rough times. Keep up the good work and listen to your surgeon! Sally

I've posted it in this forum before, but it needs repeating. DO NOT LET THE SCALE MEASURE YOUR SELF ESTEEM! Weight isn't the only measurement that changes are happening to your body. Have you looked at your inches? Many people still lose inches even when the scale seems to have stalled. Have you looked at other key factors? For example, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, etc.? I'm sure these are all showing positive effects of your surgery as well. We are a society of immediate gratification, but you didn't put this weight on overnight, so give your body a chance to heal and take it off in the timing that's right for you. 40 lbs. is nothing to sneeze at - if you need a visual, think about 5 bags of ice or 40 boxes of butter. That's a lot to have lost. Focus on the overall trend and not the day-to-day snapshot. Best, Jennifer

hi Amy, I feel your pain. My surgery was 11/7 and I have lost approximately 30-32 lbs. When I went for my last checkup I was a little unnerved with my slow loss, but my surgeon reminded me that what I lost was actually 20% of my excess weight. That little fact made the weight number much easier to tolerate. Perhaps figuring out how much of your excess weight is now gone would make you feel better...that way you can think of things in terms of "1/4 to goal" or "1/5 to goal." Also, keep in mind that if you were a "lightweight" for surgery, your loss won't be as drastic at first as it may be for a person who weighs in at a much higher starting weight. Good luck!! Christine