Does it hurt you in the long run to lose more slowly?

I kind of would like to lose slowly to give time for my skin to adjust and so people don't know for sure I had some sort of surgery. People lose a couple pounds a week on diets all the time. Beyond that, it might be harder to believe. He He

Anyway, I am totally fine with losing slowly if I am not blowing my shot in the long run at losing all of this weight. I have read that you really need to step on the gas in the beginning to get where you want to be in the end. On the other hand, it sounds like you will get there eventually and not to worry too much about how long it will take.

I just wonder what others have to say about this.
 
Do I really need to pu**** and get it all off right away, or can I take my time and it will go away in time?

Please respond if you have experience and/or know about this topic.

Thanks!

I'm a newbie but here is my personal opinion on that. I think they tell you to go for it in the beginning because you will never have better restriction than you do the first 6 months. After that you will be able to eat more and if you do not have a handle on your food issues then you are likely to regain some. If you have already met your goal then if you regain some  it might not be too much and you won't be all depressed and thinking that you never will meet your goal and that just adds to the food issues. But you've met goal then you think, well I know I can do this because I already have and it's just 15-20 lbs. anyway.

So when they say to lose it fast they are saying "I know you have problems with food and you should take advantage of the good restriction in the beginning because I know you won't be able to loss much after a year or so."

That's just what I'm thinking, but what do I know? I'm sure others will say different stuff. I'm interested in the answers too!

You were sleeved the day before me!! Yeah for us!! It's been an awesome ride so far eh? I have only lost about 30lbs so far, but man I feel and look so much better! He He

Anyway, yeah that sounds right. I do have great restriction. So much so, that some days I wonder how I will ever stop losing weight. Ha Ha  I know though that over time, I will be able to eat more. I can't eat enough to survive on long term now, so I guess it would be good at some point to be able to eat more. Ha Ha

Thanks for the post!

I was one of those who wanted to drop it fast, and worry about maintenance. These are my reasons why:

1) I knew that my restriction would change around a year out, meaning I could eat a litle more, and life seems to take over meaning all those little "fat" habits are sneaky and they came back in before we realize it. (this is just my observations from those who were before me that shared their experiences)

2) I knew I had some issues that I had to identify and resolve before I could get into maintenance. All this means is that I knew I had to set a meal plan, I knew I had to track calories/carbs/protein because for me, not tracking my intake helped me get fat. I knew that my life was going to take over i.e. social activities, fun outings, all the events, socials, I was going to be participating in revolved around food in some way. If I didn't establish some sort of new behaviors, and habits, I knew I'd be in trouble.

3) VSG was my 2nd my WLS, the band screwed me, and I was pretty hellbent on hitting goal, and proving to people that I was going to be successful.

4) I saw (from reading here) people struggle losing those last 10-20lbs the further out they got. The reason; Life took over, food became more than fuel to them, their restriction changed just enough to where those couple of ounces of "better" choices added up to empty calories, and those couple of ounces turned into an entire 6inch subway sandwich.

I guess my point is that we all have to choose the path we want to take. Personally, I didn't care if people knew how I lost, or how my skin looked afterward. Looking like a can of Grands biscuits busted at the seam is pretty horrific, a little flabby, wrinkly skin is well worth dropping my weight quick. Losing was easy. Maintenance is where I found I had to truly use my losing stage tactics and habits to keep the weight off which was always my issue in the past with dieting attempts. I know others don't mind losing slower, or taking longer to get to goal. I wasn't one of them. Plus, I wanted to get pregnant as soon as my body stabilized. I really didn't have time to spare on this issue. You gotta do what ya gotta do, and what you feel comfortable with through not only losing, but into maintenance. I saw it far too many times people struggle with only losing 2lbs a week, then stalling for 3-6 weeks only to drop another 2lbs and then want to go back to liquids only, or feel like a failure. I could NOT put my brain or heart through that stuff.

Wow. Yeah I sure don't want to be stuck with those last 10-20lbs. We have all had enough years of that. I sure didn't have surgery to deal with that again! He He.

Well, I think I will just go back to my docs plan and let the cards fall where they may. I have always been a slow loser, on any diet. I guess my body just doesn't want to give it up. This surgery has been the only time I was on par with everyone else.

You have made some good arguments for doing all I can now. Thanks so much for your post. I guess if it's not going to help my skin out, I am ready for it to go away for sure! He He

Thanks again, you always have good posts!

On another sleeve site I frequent there are women (slow losers tend to be women) that have met goal and it took them longer than the 6-9 month window. I think around here there is a general push to say a person is a failure or not doing something right if they don't meet goal in 6 months.

I have NEVER been a fast loser. I lost 22 pounds my first month and now I average 2 pounds a week (some have been only 1). I am not overeating, eating hardly any carbs, working out, drinking water--blah,blah. My body IS losing and I use my tape measure weekly. I WILL get to goal but it will take closer to 8 months and I am ok with it.

You have to find a way to stay positive though. You will see others drop big numbers instantly and sometimes that can get you down when you know you are doing things right.

Yeah, I am so with you. I have always been that way. I can follow a diet to the letter and still drop 1/2 of what my friends do. It's always been that way, no matter what the diet or who the friend. I just don't lose quickly like many others do.

I am glad to hear I am not the only one. I am losing okay since the surgery. It's about time something is working for me. I may not be the fastest but if I get there eventually, that's the main thing.

Thanks so much for your post!

 Crissy......As a support group leader....I see people who have lost it quickly and who are losing slower.    I know lots also that never reached the goal weight that they wanted to be.   IMHO....I would say lose it fast as you can....then make good choices to maintain that loss.    That is MY opinion.   I would want the weight off ASAP.   As far as the skin goes....my bariatric surgeon tells his patients that the skin shrinks for 2 yrs after your WLS.    In fact he recommends his patients not get any plastic surgery for 2 yrs after their WLS.    SO my advice to you as a newbie....and since I see WL patients in my support group in all stages of their journey.....I would suggest to you to take advantage of the honeymoon period ( 1st year ) and lose as much as you can.   The farther post op you are the harder it  becomes to shed the weight.   Good luck in your journey.

Hugs and Blessings ~~~ Vivian

Vivan,

Thanks so much for your informative post! It means so much coming from someone who deals with so many people in a support group and being so many years out. I guess I hadn't considered the fact that I could end up with some to lose after a year. It sure makes me re-think my plan of taking my sweet time. He He. I am really not in a hurry for me but I really don't want to be a year out and not be able to drop the last 20 lbs. I have heard it is harder to lose then, so I guess I'd better stick to doing all I can now. He He

I am so glad I posed this question. It does make me determined to track my foods again and stay the course. I do want to lose it all for sure. I want to meet the thin me again, not the so/so me. I want to feel that awesome freedom from weight bogging me down. I will probably need plastics anyway. He He

Thanks again Vivan! You are a treasure girl!

 Crissy....I am so glad that I could help you out with my advice.   That being said....After my WLS I did just as I was suppose to do but I still lost slowly.    I never really reached my goal weight ( I got 1 lb. above normal BMI ) but did NOT stay there.    BTW that was after PS and almost 15 lbs. of skin being removed.   Sometimes it is beyond your control how quickly the weight comes off.   So if  your body sheds the weight slowly....DO NOT beat yourself up.   Also do NOT compare your WL journey with others.    That will only stress you out.   Our bodies are all different and we lose at different levels.    Just let your journey be yours alone.   Also do NOT beat yourself up if you don't lose all the weight.   After all....we have had our WLS to be healthy....not to be PERFECT.   Perfection is something that I will NEVER achieve.    But I am healthy, happy and feeling great about life.....that;'s one of the main things is to be Happy and Healthy.    My life is not ruled by the numbers on the scale !!!  Well....sometimes that is.   LOL   have a blessed day !!!


Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian