Frustrated! Nothing they said to expect has happened.

I'm so frustrated lately, I haven't been losing any weight the last month or so.  I'm pretty much exactly 3 months out and the weight used to come off fast, but has basically completely stopped.  I feel like I am wasting these first few months when I should be losing the most by not losing anything.  I see other people 5 weeks out at my same starting weight who have already lost more than me.  I started at 405lbs, so being down 60lbs whi*****ludes optifast and the 3 weeks I wasn't eating anything, doesn't feel like any weight loss at all.  I don't feel or look any different and my clothes fit the same.  I don't feel healthier.

The other big issue is that I don't have any of the "complications" that I should have had that were supposed to help make breaking the food addiction easier.  I don't feel full basically ever.  I have to measure my food because I will be able to easily eat whatever is on my plate.  I also don't get dumping syndrome.  I throw up sometimes if I eat to fast, but it has nothing to do with what I eat and how healthy it is.  Whenever I've slipped and had something that's not as healthy (breading, sugar, fattier bits of meat) there are no repercussions to help me learn.  While I know this is no excuse, I can admit that I have a food addiction and I was really hoping to have these physical cues to help me.  I've been doing my very best to avoid everything bad and haven't gone completely overboard or anything, it's only been small amounts when I have slipped, but I'm so afraid that since my body isn't holding me back that I'll slip again and again just like I did all those other times trying to lose weight before I had the surgery.

I'm feeling so frustrated.  I'm going to keep at it, obviously.  Going to keep exercising and eating healthy, but I went through so much preparation and pain, and it was supposed to be so that I could change my life significantly, but it feels like every other time I've ever lost weight only to gain it back.

I am soirry you are frutrated. There will always be stalls. Did you take your measurements before you satrted? Often when the scale does not move your body is catching up and inches will come off. If you are staying oon plan you can not stop losing this early.

Also the nerves in your stomach were cut. This is why you need to measure, They have probably not come back. Not everyone dumps. It is up to you to not test it.

The eating issues are mental and not solvedd by surgery. Contact your centre for help. I know TWEH has greta resources and I am sure tthe ohters do as well.

This is a journey not a sprint.

Everything Pat said is spot on.  Sometimes our bodies hold onto fluids while they are making adjustments and losing fat, it's a defense mechanism against starvation.  If you follow the rules, you will lose, slower after a the first 6 months though.  Pat is right, take your measurements now if you didn't before.  My weightloss has slowed way down, but I am losing inches like crazy.

Some of the cues that you have eaten too much (because our nerves in the stomach take a long time to heal) are a runny nose, sneezing, hiccups, these cues are different for everyone.  You may not dump now, but from what I have read, it can start even a few years post op.  You are doing great, you are exercising willpower, making good choices, and following your plan.  The weightloss will be noticeable very soon (I didn't really notice until 4+ months out).  You've got this.

As others have said, there are stalls.  I had major stalls (one lasting 2 months)...but I kept on track and the weight eventually came off.  I took my measurements and was astonished that even when the scale didn't move, the inches were coming off. 

My one concern for you, and please take this as constructive, is why are you testing yourself at 3 months out.  Breaded stuff, sugar and fatty cuts of meat concern me...and the fact that you realize you don't dump.  I am almost 14 months out and I don't know if I dum*****t because I have not pushed those boundaries.  (And its not that I don't want to...I just know that if I start to test it will be a slippery slope.)  Please contact your clinic and seek out some help if you find you can not control your issues.

I also never got that full feeling early out, and I still don't.  But please be consistent, and measure and eat what you are allotted.  Then wait..and if you think you are still hungry 30 minutes later, drink fluids and ask yourself if it is real hunger or head hunger. 

Don't give up.  You will soon notice a difference in the way you look and feel.  Your hormones can be out of whack too, from everything, so you may just be feeling a little down and hard on yourself.

And my last bit of advice is....please stop comparing yourself to others with regards to how quick the weight comes off.  This is your journey and unique to you.  As PatM said, it is not a sprint.  You are already 60lbs lower than you were this time last year.  And I am sure you are much healthier for it as well.

Try to hang in there, and please give yourself a break. 

Yeah, to be clear I'm not trying to test myself and push my limits.  It was more that I was away at business travel for about a week with absolutely no access to a grocery store and had to rely on restaurant food and pre-made provided lunches where the options were eat these things or eat nothing (all of this was planned before I even had my surgery date, so I never got a chance to change the fact that I now had dietary restrictions). I usually made the best choices I could with what was available, but a lot of the time it was just unavoidable.  I was so sure I was going to be sick every day, but I was surprised at the fact that nothing I ate during that time ever made me sick, which scares me.  I don't want to go back to how I was and when I did all my prep I was assured by the clinic that for at least a year my body wouldn't let me.

This has to be the reincarnation of "Lynn" or any number of the screen names you have had.  I can tell because you are going after NewMe2.0 again.

First of all, 60 lbs in 3 months is fantastic! When have you ever lost weight that quickly? Secondly, I know it's soooo so so hard but don't compare yourself to others. A woman I adore had her surgery the same day as me (hugs J), she was smaller than me, and she's lost more weight - so trust me, I know how hard it is. As others have said - it's not a race, it's a journey.

I find drinking water helps fill me up. Seriously. Drink as much as you can as quickly as possible (within REASON here people.. don't chug it.. just sip a bit faster than usual).  

Lastly, you cannot rely on dumping to keep you on track, less than 50% people ever do.