Need some love

Hi everyone.  Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I have been crazy busy at work.  Things are starting to wind down now.  But, I have been feeling down lately.  I wonder if I have stretched my pouch or am eating too much.  I just need some of the wonderful encouragement, advice, and love that I can only find here.  As of today, I am 3 months and 3 weeks post op.  I read about others that are this far out and don't eat anything.  I hear about people dumping and throwing up all the time.  I can eat a whole South Beach Diet frozen dinner.  I eat like a cup of refried beans and a whole chicken thigh.  I also drink while I eat, always have, so that is a lot going into my pouch all at once.  My weight loss has slowed down to about 2 lbs a week.  As of last week I had lost 62 pounds (that was at 3 months and 2 weeks).  I am so proud of my weight loss and my improved health, but I am terrified and have this guilty feeling all the time that I have ruined my chance to keep up the weight loss.  I am so proud of myself for the weight I have lost.  I can actually go into WalMart and pick up any shirt in the Woman's section and it will fit.  3X and some 2X's.  Before I had to get 5X's and stretch them with my elbows and my knees.  I just don't want it end here.  I want to hit the 100lb mark and go beyond.  So, share some experiences with me.  Did you guys' weight loss slow down like that (2 lbs a week).  Am I eating way too much?  Could I have actually really stretched my pouch?  Why don't I dump? 

I have lapband, but I think if you stop drinking with your meals, it would help!  When you drink while eating you are flushing the food right out of your pouch, allowing you to eat more!  It is hard to get used to, but you can do it!  After you eat, try and get your mind busy doing other things.    If you can, take a walk after you eat and tell yourself that you will be able to drink all you want when you get back from your walk.  You'll get used to it. Andrea

Thank you for your advice.  I will stop drinking with my meals.  It makes sense that when I drink, I don't get full as fast.  When I don't drink, I feel full pretty quick. 

It really makes a difference!  There is a woman from my surgeon's office that gained 30 pounds in a year just by starting to drink with her meals again! Andrea

Well, I'm definitely not "seasoned" at this. I've read that it is hard to stretch your pouch - HOWEVER I do think you should absolutely stop drinking with your meals. Nothing 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. I admit first hand it's not easy, but I think it's an important rule to follow. When I went to see the nutritionist a few weeks ago she told me at my stage I should have 4 ozs which is half a cup. And she meant volume and not weight. For example 4ozs of shrimp is a lot more than would fit into a half cup measuring cup. That amount will slowly be increased to a cup and she said my goal should be to be at a cup of food around 6 months out. Your weight loss if fabulous. :) I think slow downs are normal for everyone at every stage of the process. Some people don't dump and that's where it becomes important for you to make the right choices. I don't dump - but I haven't tested the waters either. I'm following the plan from Dr. Naziri and the nutritionist. I'm sticking to 4ozs of volume per meal. I get all of my fluids - and I don't drink while eating even though I really really want to sometimes. This works for me. What works for you may very well be different. The veterans will certainly give better advice - but since we have the same surgeon and same nutrition guidelines I thought I'd chime in. Keep up the great work! Improved health and smaller sizes are something to celebrate! :) :) :) Becky

Hi Becky!  I am glad you chimed in.  I guess it is official.  My new task is to not drink with my meals.  I am glad you are doing well.  Maybe it is a good sign that I don't dump.  I haven't really tried many things either that would probably cause an episode.  Thanks for sharing, it makes me feel normal. 

Becky said it wonderfully! Just chiming in with my encouragement. You're doing fantastic! Slow down's are normal. Our bodies can't keep that up or we'd wittle away to nothing.

Hey!  It is good to hear from you!  Your are doing great.  I guess as long as the numbers drop some each week, I should be happy!  Thanks!

Quit being so hard on yourself.  You are doing great with your weighloss and yes, stalls/slow wt loss is very normal all along.  I know I've had my share of them.  I don't really know about stretching your pouch.  I eat until I am "full" even though I don't really feel like I'm full in the sense that I did prior to surgery.  I don't measure, I eyeball it and try not to over do.  I stop when I think I've had enough.  i have finally gotten kicked out of the clean plate club.   I know that not drinking while eating is really hard for me but I try very, very hard not to do it.  Hang in there and try to make one small change, don't have anything to drink while you eat!  Don't even have it within reach!  Oh and I don't dump either.  I sort of wish I did, so i would not be tempted.   Let us know how you're doing!  Alice

Oh yeah, the clean plate club.  I have been a life long member.  It is hard to push that plate away with food still in it, but doesn't it feel great once you have done it.  Not having anything to drink in reach is probably the best thing.  I always have a big cup of water.  Thanks so much for the advice!  Take care!