Weight loss slowdown normal?

From what I read... at ~6month mark your suppose to lose about half your excess weight... which I have acheved... but now it seems things are slowing down... Im down to ~1-1.5lbs a week lost... is that normal? At first the weight was flying... now im worried I wont make my goal. Ive been going to the gym and limiting my simple carbs and sugar... I have been eating mostly protien... So is this normal or should I still be dropping like a rock?

I lost ~100 lbs in the first 3 months.. now in the next 3 I have only lost ~25 lbs... I need to go in for my 6month check up soon but is this normal or is there something wrong?

Hi Michael,

First, congrats - it sounds like you are rocking your DS!  Eating right and exercising is 80% of the challenge here,  and it sounds like you are doing it all correctly.  The other 99.9% of this is mental.  Step back and celebrate - you have lost 125 pounds!!!  You are the man!  

Looks like you have about 100 or so to go to meet your goal.  Are you going to reach that goal in 12 months?  Maybe, maybe not - don't stress about it.   According to the literature we got from Lenox Hill, DSers can expect to lose 75% of their excess weight in the first year.  You've lost 50% of your excess weight so far.  If you lost another 25%, another 60-65 pounds over the next 6 months, that would seem reasonable and achievable.  Expecting to lose 100% of your excess weight in the first 12 months is probably unrealistic.  On the other hand, you now have a DS for life, so it will happen in time.

Since you and I are both here in NY, and we share the same NUT, here are a few other thoughts - Share with Sharon what you are eating, and your exercise regimen when you have the 6 month check up - write up a sample menu, including liquid intake from a normal day or two for her, and your complete exercise regimen -  she may have a few suggestions to help.  Think about the foods you are eating - are you tolerating everything well, or are certain foods triggers?  I found out that artificial sweeteners caused me a lot of gastric distress, and I took them out of my diet, and the gas and cramps are improving.  Now I'm looking at cheeses - they are great high protein foods, but I am finding when I eat a lot of cheese, my weight loss slows down.  

Also, from gleaning info on the board, are you adding fats and oils well into your diet?  Sharon doesn't mention these as much, but from what I've read here, they can help flush out the pounds, and often help when the weight loss stalls out. The last time I was at the support meeting, the DSers all got together in a room and shared what is going on, as our dietary needs are different from many of the people at the support meeting.  I learned sooo much from the DSers who are 2-9 years out.  The senior DSers talked about how they would grab a chicken breast or other protein, and slather it in mayo or olive oil so it goes through the system smoother.  They talked about the way they lost weight when needed a few years out was to actually increase their proteins and fats!

I'm a baby DSer compared to you, and believe me, I want to gain more wisdom from you at the next support meeting, because you are doing great!  Stay positive, and keep up the great work!

Cheese really? I wonder if that s why I'm listing so slow, I'm 6 months out on the 28th of may... I've list 75lbs so far, but over the lay two months I have fought to lose and since march have only lost 4 pounds I I'm getting really discouraged. 2 lbs a months isn't cutting it. I war a lot of cheese mayb your on to something

Wow...its my phone typing horrible...not me...gotta spell check lol

Normal.  : )

I think it took me as long to lose the last 20 as it took me to lose the first 60. Luckily our weight loss window is something like 18 - 24 months. Time is on your side. 

--gina

 

Congrats on the weight loss!

Don't forget to eat HIGH fat too! Our bodies cannot flush fat if you do not eat fat. Since we only absorb 20% you need to eat alot of fat with the protein. Also many of our vitamins cannot be absorbed without fat in our systems. I hope I am doing as well as you when I am as far out as you!!

I've heard it said that the more you have to lose the faster you lose it, and that was true with me, but it may not be for everyone.

Also...how about *eliminating* simple carbs and simple sugars, at least while you're trying to get to goal, and once you get to goal, make those things occasional treats.  I use sucralose (Splenda) like I own the factory!  It's the closest thing to tasting like sugar to me, and I drink a lot of Splenda-sweetened Kool-Aid to get my fluids in.  I can't stand plain water!

I know from experience that  simple carbs/sugars can make for some extra smelly gas and extra trips to see the Ty-D-Bowl man!

Wow...I just aged myself!  Do they even make Ty-D-Bowl anymore?  

 

Its close to impossible to eliminate simple carbs it seems, even calorie free sweeteners have some carbs in them... 

eg. splenda as 25g per cup and the more natural alternative stevia has 1g per packet.

 

 

If you want to sweeten something use a liquid splenda. It has not calories.

I use this;  http://www.amazon.com/EZ-Sweetz-2oz-Liquid-Sweetener-Serving s/dp/B002MO765O

and it last a really long time. It measures as one drop=1 teaspoon of sucralose.

Thanks for the info everyone... I've been Morbidly obese since I was in 3rd grade... and my current weight is now down below what I was at in HS so I guess my body will fight the last 50% tooth and nail...

Also I have been eating plenty of fat... I was never really a sweets guy... I was a fat/carbs guy.. So being able to eat tasty meats without consequences is great.