Weight loss/ irritable mood

Hi Guys! I had VSG a little more than 3 weeks ago.  I lost 21 pounds the first week--I was really excited.  The next two and half weeks the scale has not moved.  My calorie intake is minimal and I just started the mushy stage of my diet.  I don't understand how I couldn't have lost any weight the past two weeks.  I have been trying to excercise, but my energy level is extremely low.  I have a hard time getting in all my protein because it simply won't fit.  How do I get over this hump?

Also, my friends and family say that I have an attitude since I had surgery.  They say I am snappy and defensive.  I really dont mean to be.  I do get tired of people asking me how much weight have I lost and I get tired of talking about surgery to them.  I know they are curious, but when I don't lose in a weeks time I feel like they are judging me.  Do any of you experience this?

You are in the infamous 3 week stall - most of us got through that, your body is just taking a break. You will have more stalls as time goes on; your weight will drop in stairsteps rather than an even ramp.

 Some attitude and irritability can be expected - there are lots of hormones trapped in that fat the we carry and that all comes out as the fat disappears. Even us guys can get *****y sometimes! (though I haven't had it as bad as some)

Nothing to worry about so far - it's just part of the adventure.

Thank you--that makes me feel better.  I guess I never really thought about how much I think about food and how much of a role it plays in our lives. Socially we go out to eat with friends, we go out to eat to celebrate, etc.  I think that I think about that too much instead of thinking about the good things that are going to come out of this surgery.

Congratulations on the first 21 lbs of this journey.  I had the same surgeon, and am a few months ahead of you.  Frankly, at 3 weeks out I was still really tired after climbing the stairs, much less able to exercise regularly.  But it's about to get better, soon.  I think the attitude and irritability will get better as does your energy level.

As for your  weight loss stall, that's welcome to the VSG world.  Some weeks it comes off easily, others it seems to stick no matter what.  Read other posts here and you'll learn many theories and facts about this process.  I'd suggest that you trust the process, keep doing what you are instructed, and it will improve.  Journalling my food on myfitnesspal.com has been a very useful tool for me.  I'm not sure that it explains the weight loss or not, but it does help me to be honest about my own participation in the process.

And one thing I fight is getting too focused on the absolute number of lbs lost. Try to think of it as percent of goal poundage and it's a bit more satisfying.  Also, be aware of your clothing sizes.  When the scale doesn't move for a few weeks the size does.  We had the same surgeon so may live in the same area.  Message me if you want to get any suggestions on the local thrift stores or consignment shops I've found.  Nothing improves my mood quite like a new outfit.

Trust the process.  For those of us who have fought the battle of the bulge for many years, it's hard to believe that we are actually going to win it at long last.  But as the other posters prove, we will, and you will too, with the help of your sleeve and some now simple changes in your behavior.  It's amazing how filling the dense proteins are, and when you are full on 3 ounces of protein it's easy to develop a healthy eating habit.

I'm 4 months post op and over half way to my goal, and you will be too, in a few months.   Trust it, it works if you use it.

Sheila

Thanks Sheila!  Congrats on your weight loss.  I am feeling that my clothes are getting a lot looser and guess I am concentrating on the scale too much.  I guess I just want to see the numbers go down everyweek b/c of my drastic change in diet--and when they don't I get discouraged.  Thank you for the encouragement : )

I also stalled at week 2 for about 2 weeks, you're totally normal. Also, I was a mess (emotional/irritable) the first month or so after surgery - your body has been through so much. It will get better.

Here's a good article on Stalls and Weightloss that someone else posted a while ago and helpe me understand what's going on with our bodies. Hope it helps.

http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html


Best of luck to you - you're doing awesome. :)

I think you hit the nail on the head Life has changed and it will take some getting used to the new way. I have beem much more of a grump and I have to watch myself because it seems to just sneek up on me. Friends say we are grumpy when we are losing..... I bet you are losing inches!

You sound pretty normal. Your body is adjusting. It'll get better.

As for being irritable, everyone gets to be irritable sometimes. As long as you don't do anything drastic to end your relationship with them, they'll get over it.

But don't let the scale rule your mood. Find peace in the fact that most of your stomach is gone and you are following the plan as best you can. At 3 weeks, many people are too weak to exercise and have trouble getting in protein. Just make sure you are hydrated and try to improve the rest on a daily basis.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support!  And congratulations to you on your weight loss.  It helps me so much to talk to you. People that haven't had WLS really can't even to begin to understand what we're going through.  Thank you for being so positive!  I will try to be that way from now on.

Hi,
I just wanted you to know that I am 5 weeks post op and just within the last 2-3 days have I started to actually feel mostly like my old self for alot of the day. The first 3.5-4 weeks were horrible for me emotionally. Plus I had my hormones checked and my estrogen had bottomed out which my ob/gyn said was definitely contributing to my difficult time on top of the surgical recovery.

I think I am starting to feel better now because over the last week to 10 days I have finally increased my caloric intake a little more to around 700-800 which I think is improving my energy and therefore my mood. However, now I'm on a weight stall. I lost 20 lbs. in the first 3.5 weeks and been stalled for the last 10 days. I'm not worried about it though because I know I will break through it. In fact my mood was so bad I never even weighed the first 4 weeks except when I had to show up at a doctor's office.

I got so tired of being tired and not myself that I started experiencing for the 1st time in my life real worry and anxiety. I had to start taking 1/2 xanax maybe once per day and honestly it help sooooo much. Now in the last day or 2 I don't really ever need it anymore but if I have to it's there. I was so worried about even taking it but finally gave it and it really helped. I am not a pill taker at all.

Hang in there because starting about week 4.5 I started coming around. I am convinced taking in a little more food did it for me. Plus now you have all that spare time you were thinking about food that you are now starting to focus on all the other areas in your life. This can be good and bad as we try to tend to or fix everything around us especially if you are a Type A personality as I am.

I had all my blood work done also just to confirm nothing else was low or off and as it turns out I'm fine! Please email me if you need me.

Leigh