why not me?

ok look, i've only lost about 60 pounds so far. why? it's alittle depressing. i think this is it for me. it seems like everything i read says that people have lost 100 pounds. so why not me? boo hoo. just wanted to whine alittle. i know, i know, better to lose slow but i haven't lost anything in about 3 months. i haven't gained but i haven't lost. i'm stuck. thanks for reading. sue

Susan PLEASE do not be so hard on yourself!! We all lose differently. Afterall we did not put on all this weight in only 9 months right? Maybe increasing your protein or exercise will help. I would call your Dr and discuss your concerns. I have felt like I'm not losing as fast as others too. But at the same time I'm so happy to have lost what I have!! I know you have to feel so much better than before surgery. Hang in there and do not get discouraged. You have come a long way baby!! Blessings Tonya

Remember that EVERYONE is different and a lot depends on how much weight you have to lose to start with. A much larger person like myself will drop a lot of weight but adventually my weight will slow like it's doing now. I think age plays a big role in losing also and how active you are. Donna 338/185 -153

I too, am a slow loser. I have only lost 88 pounds. A week ago, I added a morning protein shake to my regular diet. I also added an additional one hour daily walk. I was advised that changing the routine, every 3-4 weeks, will help to reduce the plateauing that I have been doing. It might work for you too. Up your protein, up your water and up your exercise for a few weeks, see what results you experience. I am on week two of my changed routine. Lost two pounds last week. Karen G

I just hit 60 lbs losts since surgery, and I had surgery around 3 weeks ahead of you. I lost 37 before surgery, too, so my total since July '04 is 97 lbs. You can't fix on what others have done, or you will make yourself crazy. I've been there, too. It would be really nice to have lost more by now, but maybe not. This way, my clothes last longer when I buy new ones. I've not lost any hair as yet. And, the part I value the most is having time to get used to the new me that is surfacing. I've not weighed this little for 25+ years and I really don't know what it is like to be this size as an adult. I've been losing around 2-3 lbs per month for the last 5 or 6 months, until 3 weeks ago. I lost 6 lbs that week and 2 lbs the week after. Wish I knew why. I've not altered anything. I started using fitday.com to track my intake. I was using a paper journal, and had gotten lazy as far as writing EVERYTHING down. I was tracking protein and roughly how many carbs I was injesting. I was guessing that I was getting to 1000 calories each day. When I switched to fitday.com, I found that I was consuming 1300+ calories each day. Before surgery, I never lost weight eating 1500 calories per day, so why would I think I would do it now? I'm now keeping myself 1000-1100 calories each day, 100 g protein, carbs 50 g daily or less, and the rest in fats. I don't know if this will make a difference in the long run or not. I would suggest analyzing exactly what you're eating, perhaps varying your exercise routine, even varying your calorie load. If your body gets into a rut, knows what to expect, knows exactly what type of exercise you're going to expect of it, it will get very efficient in managing its energy expenditure. Your body's natural tendency is to maintain what it has stored away. However, I'd challenge your "i think this is it for me" statement. You have the tools to keep going and to get to your final goal but you have to work at it. I know that I will get to my goal, as that is the only outcome I will tolerate. It may take me twice as long as the rest of the world, but I know that I will get there. Sue O.

Please don't be discouraged. I haven't lost anything for about a month, but continue to eat the same and exercise the same. I was thinking this morning while I was walking my 5 miles before I come to work (just had to give myself a plug), our bodies give up the weight at their own time, not ours. We are all individuals and we will all get to goal -- some faster than others -- but we will all get there if we continue to follow the rules. It is really slow for us December post-ops now, but I truly believe the weight will start to fall off again. We have an 18-month window and we all have a year left. We can do it! And who says, we can't continue to lose after 18 months? Patience has never been one of my virtues and I guess we have to have patience to get to our goal weight. Now if I get to my year post-op appointment and am still where I am today, then I will be discouraged! Ha Ha. But, I know that won't happen and so do you. Besides this is a life-long lifestyle change so we have the rest of our lives to get there. (Although if we were there now it would be awesome wouldn't it?) Anyway, take care. Debbie.

thank u all for responding. i definitely think the food consumption and the exercise need to change. that's probably the problem. i'll have to work on that. we are all doing great !!! sue

Susan, I can't stress enough how wonderful it is for me to use FitDay.com to track my intake each day, each meal, each snack. This free site helps me "SEE" just want I am putting in my mouth. I need this tracker to keep me on the right path on this journey. I like this site cause you can personalize it with all your favorites and there are thousands of pre-entered food choices already in its data banks. I was stuck for a long time at a certain weight. The scale would not move at all. But I continued to shrink and shrink as my body adjusted. My weight management doctors said this is how WLS patients should lose weight. I was frustrated. But I did as many here have stated. Upped my protein, water, limited limited limited my devil carbs, and tried to increase my activities. I had a physical set back with my left shoulder and a problem with my left foot, but finally through physical therapy, helped correct these issues and re-dedicated myself to going to the gym. I see the scale moving and now have lost 101 lbs. I am age 58 and I started at 330lbs. Keep up the great job you are doing and give yourself some credit there women!! Monica