What the heck is going on?

OK.. i now understand why my surgeon tells me to STAY OFF OF THE SCALE! I couldnt help myself.. and boy do i regret it! On day 5- i told myself "meagan, you are only 5 stinking days out.. and you are swollen and huge.. and there is a good chance that you will either be the same weight as surgery day- or maybe even MORE!".. so i stepped on the scale and i was down 12 lbs!!! Holy Cow! 12 lbs in 5 days!! OMG On day 10- Again,, overwhelmed by the "high" i felt on day 5, I stepped on the scale again... down 21 lbs!! UNBELIEVABLE! That is GREAT! (i am sure you are wondering why i regret my scale cheating... since it seems to be nothing but good!) So day 14 comes- and I am so curious to see if i am continueing my patern. I step on the scale- and no change! Hmmm.. That is weird but thats ok. Well day 16- I step on and GASPED at the sight of 2 additional lbs! I GAINED 2 lbs ? what the heck? and here we are on day 18.. and NOTHING! I lost the 2 lbs that i had gained but am still only -21 lbs less than surgery day. The big picture = 21 lbs in 18 days is GREAT! It is incredible.. and i am so happy. But i am so concerned about the last 8 days of no change. I have been doing great with protein, and vitamins..(wish i were getting a bit more water in, but i am doing ok with it). i have even been to the gym and shopping and dancing.. i have been very active and i feel great! I really feel like once i lose 30-40 lbs- it will sink in that i HAVE had surgery and that i my journey HAS in fact begun. i have lost 20 lbs before but never 30, or 40, or more. i really dont feel post- op (other than the obvious- that i cannot eat more than a few tablespoons at a time. and of course there is the scar on my abdomen from my OPEN RNY) So i almost dont believe that i will lose anymore.. I keep thinking- well this is it.. 20lbs.. that was "fun". i believe i probably am still losing inches.. even if i am not still losing numbers.. because i am down from size 20 to an 18.. so at least there is some progress. I almost feel like I have no room to be upset because i am "doing this to myself " by obsessing over the scale.. HELPPPPPP! Anyone else about 18 days out ?? Does your story sound alot like mine? How are YOU doing avoiding the scale monsters! meagan

STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE!!! only weigh once a month. You already know this.....sassy girl....kathy

Megan, I have only weighed myself once since I have been home. It was down 17lbs. That was last Monday. I do not own a scale at home and have been fighting the temptaions to buy one. I am going for my post-op check up on Tuesday. I hope that the 17lbs is gone and that there is more to go with it. But, it sounds like you should maybe not use the scale so much. If it makes you that discouraged. You are doing great. Melissa

Hi Meagan, I weigh myself everyday. I need to stop. It was great at first. 11lbs the first week 11lbs the second. The 3rd it was up and down and ended up at 5lbs. This week Im due for my period any second and tomarrows my weeks end and only 2lbs. I cant eat solids ( not meaning meats)very much about 4 baby spoons is all I can get. I drink protien shakes take my vitimans and about 50 ozs of water a day. Im depressed but my period probably has something to do with it. I aslo was a 20. I fit into my 16W jeans. Thats cool but like you I have lost 27lbs before and until I get under 200 I just cant seem to be proud. Joy

My story is very similar. I am 3.5 weeks (12/14). The first two weeks, every other day I weighed and was down 2, 3, or 4 pounds. I lost twenty pounds in the first two weeks. The next week and a half (whi*****luded my monthly cycle) I have lost about five pounds total. So I am down 25 but it slowed considerably in the last ten days. I am moving towards a once a week weighing to avoid the "scale crazy" obession. I am now beginning to feel like more exercise. Walking will be my first feat and after clearance from the surgeon, I am going to join Curves or something like that with a friend (for mutual encouragement). I do think I need to up my water and protein. I am doing okay with it, but my numbers were immediate post surgery and I feel I am moving beyond that now. (50g protein, 48 oz of water). Each of us are different too. I began at 5'4", 240 and on significant meds for diabetes. Now, still 5'4" (lol) 215, and maybe 15% of the meds at pre op. Life is good. Vicky

Hey Meagan... The EXACT same thing happened to me.. a big "whoosh" and about 10 pounds down in like 3 days and then after about the 15th pound.. I started to stall. I was killing myself emotionally, I weighed every day for 2 weeks straight. I had to step back and realize that EVEN though RNY will no doubtedly bring me rapid weight loss...this is still a "marathon" and not a sprint. There may be weeks when I lose weight and weeks when I don't lose anything at all. To keep from beind DEPRESSED and second guessing myself. I told my hubby to hide all 3 of my scales and he is NOT to bring them out no matter what! He knows I can get pretty cranky when I don't get my way, but he is prepared to deal with the attitude. SO.. I said all of that to say pretty much what every one else has said. PUT the scale up.. and just make sure that you are doing what your doctor instructed you to do. As long as you do that.. the weight will come off. I would love to see a pound a day gone.. but I know that is NOT going to happen. I have no idea what my weight is right now.. and you know what.. I really don't care. I have been able to wear clothes that I could not wear prior to surgery. I also frequent the mirrors in our house often. The next time I weigh will be on February 3rd. When I go to my 6 week appt. I've decided to just go about my business try to pretend as if I didn't even have surgery.. and one day when I least expect it.. I am going to look up and I will be half way to goal. I assure you when you stop thinking about it.. its going to happen. I felt as long as I kept stressing over the numbers I would remain stuck at 15 pounds lost. As long as my clothes are baggy.. I'm cool.. I don't need numbers to validate my success. P.S. Visited family yesterday and for about 30 minutes every one was in awe and told me that even though it has only been 2 weeks or so they can REALLY see the difference.. most of them were literally freaking out on how I looked. I am no longer stressed or depressed.. since I put the scale away a week ago. Best Wishes... Denise

Hey Denise, What a wonderful post you did. Helped me a lot - so much that I'm going to put my scale away. You're all of you right - this is for the long haul - not just the quicky yo-yo "dieting" we're so programmed for. See if this sounds familiar - Lost 5 pounds - let's celebrate (food of course) Didn't lose anything this week? might as well eat. Habits of a lifetime - gone for good if we take advantage right now. I'm so READY!!??!!

You are right Curly... the habits that we form within the first couple weeks or months (hopefully they are good ones) should be habits that are with us for a lifetime. I am so ready for whatever is in store for me. Best Wishes Denise

Meagan! Me too! I vowed to only weigh myself once a week. I have lost 42 lbs/19 since surgery on 12/5 BUT for the last two weeks--nothing! I was wondering if I broke my pouch on vacation over Christmas by trying some cereal soaked until it was mushy in milk. I am trying to get in my water and protein. And I have sworn to go to Curves twice this week. Karen

Dear Maegan, Avoid the scale monster! I am ten days out and have been obcessing over the scale. I am down seventeen pounds since surgery, but today, I lost no weight! I immediately start asking myself what did I do wrong? Our bodies fluctuate like crazy! We are so ready after surgery for this big change, but it still won't come off over-night. I will encourage you to stay off the scale and you encourage me to do the same! Sincerely, Terry C.