1 Month Out

It has been 1 month since surgery (Monday). I am feeling well. My energy is pretty good, pain is VERY minimal (I have an occasional twinge in the biggest incision area), and have NO problems eating. I have not vomitted (or even come close), and nothing has yet upset my pouch. I am now transitioning to "soft" foods, and I had a couple of bites of my favorites at Thanksgiving chewed relentlessly, since I did not puree anything that day. I have days when a small amount seems to fill me to bursting, and other days I never get that feeling. I do not have any hunger (like before). Now I eat because it is TIME to eat. My clothes ARE getting a bit bigger, and I have officially retired one pair of jeans. My rings are sliding all over, and will have to be re-sized. My husband says that I am shrinking, and a few friends have commented that I seem smaller. These are all of the positives. Unfortunately, I have been feeling like a failure because I have lost (maybe) 12 lbs. according to my home scale. (I get on it WAY too often, and it is almost IMPOSSIBLE not to compare to others.) I lost 11 lbs. on the liquid diet before surgery, and 45 total since my all time high. SO...........WHY do I feel like I am not loosing enough, fast enough? I am TRYING VERY HARD not to say "I only lost........", and I am SURE that I am not the only one on this planet that this surgery is not going to work for, but still............the feeling of failure is there. I have posted my before and after pictures, and I don't really see any difference in those either. Everyone please say a small prayer for me to aquire some PATIENCE. It's funny, but just writing this down has seemed to help a bit. So again...... Thank you all for being here and lending support when itis needed. I'm sure a "wow" moment is right around the corner! Dawn

DANG GIRL!!! IT'S BEEN ONE ... UNO ... one little ole month! You are doing great!! Your body is making all kinds of adjustments around now, deciding what's going on because its not getting quite the same fuel it once was, so don't get down on yourself. People who usually have more to lose tend to lose faster ... initially. So you cannot compare yourself to others, it's not being fair to you (or to them). Just work the tool like you're supposed to and you'll get there. That being said, I'm still having issues ... sometimes I feel fatter now than I ever was ... I don't see myself as maybe I should, and I still feel I have another 80 or so to lose (which people tell me I don't). At this point, drill in your new eating habits (which will have to last a lifetime) and get going on the exercise ... other than that ... sit back and enjoy the ride. If you get everything down and in the right mind-set the first year, it will be that much easier for you further out, and hopefully you won't have to see a gain and post on how to get "back to basics" ... because believe me ... the further out, the more difficult it gets. Hang in there ... you're doing quite well ... so, all in good time my dear. You'll do fine. Karyn

Dear Karyn: Thank you SO much for the "pep talk". I really need it. Everything you say is true, and my brain knows it, it is the emotional side that was getting me down. I am going to try to be patient. Thanks again for the support! That's what this board is all about. (hugs) Dawn

You said at the end of your post that just writing this down made you feel better. I was ready in the book Weight Loss Surgery that people should keep a journal. Maybe you might feel better if you keep journal that way you could reflect back to positive feedback when you start feeling bad. Don't be to hard on yourself. I think that you are doing great. My husband is getting ready to have open RYN and I can't imagine being on these diets. I think that it would be so hard. I admire all of you!!! Have a good week and keep up the good work!!!

Hi! Dawn...you are doing gr8 as far as I can see.....Don't beat yourself up ....some ppl tends to lose it much faster then others. I know , I too am like most when it comes to losing it slowly....I'm 5 and half mo's out and lost 75#'s...but, I feel good and move around so much easilier....so no complaint here....so hang in there it will go more rapid then other mo's....wish you luck, hun Cams

I think it sounds like you are doing great. A lot of people have trouble around the holidays as it is, and here you are eating "normal" food, but in moderation. Hello, that is the key to any diet! You will get there. Don't be so obsessed with the scale. Get rid of it. Weigh yourself either once a week or once a month. The numbers are going to go up and down. That is reality. As you lose fat, you will probably be gaining muscle, which weighs more. As long as you're eating healthy, drinking your fluids, and exercising as your doctor ordered, you will start to see more results. You don't want it to come off too quickly. (OK, we all want it off yesterday, but our bodies are not meant to do that). Try and figure, it took you how many years to put the weight on? And you want it off in a month...two...??? The other thing, as you lose fat, your hormones are probably going to fluctuate. It takes our bodies a little extra time to get it all worked out. If you are having up and downs, it may be related to actually losing the weight and hormone imbalance. "This too shall pass". I had surgery 8/31/06 and have lost almost 50 pounds. Not ONE person I know (other than my family) has said to me, "wow, have you lost weight"!!!! I can see it, and more so, feel it. I can walk without getting out of breath and I am 10X more active. I don't even weigh myself except when I go for a check up. I don't care if it says 200, as long as I feel like a healthy size 10! Ok, 199, I wanted out of the 200's. Be patient, you're doing fine.