rate of weight loss can be influenced by so many things - age, sex, metabolic rate, activity level, starting BMI, whether or not you lost a lot of weight prior to surgery (as you know, a lot of initial weight loss is due to "water weight". Since you lost 36 lbs before surgery, that "water weight" was long gone....). The only factors you really have much - or any - control over is how closely you stick to your program and your activity level. It sounds like you're doing well with both of those.

I lost 16 lbs the first month, and maybe 22 or so by the time I got to where you are (at six weeks out). I started out at well over 300 lbs. So if you're lighter than that, you're probably losing at the same pace I did. I was a slow loser from the get-go, but I was very compliant that whole first year and ended up losing 100% of my excess weight. In the long run, your level of commitment is a much better predictor of your ultimate success than your rate of weight loss is.

I think a lot of people go into this with pretty high expectations, and I blame shows like "My 600 lb Life" for that. You need to keep in mind that those people start at MUCH higher BMI's than the average WLS patient does. Although I've never seen any actual medical research on this, I've been hanging out here on OH for about six years, and from what I can tell, the average weight loss the first month is around 15-25 lbs. Of course you will find people who lose more or less than that, but that seems to be about the norm. As long as your overall trend is down and you're committed to your program, you're good.

I was sleeved on August 10, 2020, so it has been a little over 6 weeks as I write this, and I have only lost 16 pounds, barely 2 pounds per week. Anything is better than nothing, but this is pretty disappointing because I hear of so many people with dramatic weight gain post op.

I did lose 36 pounds before surgery over two and a half months, and I get that I may have used up some of the 'easy' weight loss then, but I ate so little after surgery (fasted for a day, then liquid diet for two weeks, then purees and the gradual introduction of more normal foods with an average daily caloric intake between 800 and 850 calories -- and I log everything). For the last month I have been exercising 4-5 times per week for at least 30 minutes, and reaching 10,000 steps some days even when I don't get to my treadmill (much more than I was exercising pre-surgery).

I recently discovered online that a drug I have been taking for neuropathy (amitriptyline) is linked to weight gain (wish a doctor had mentioned that earlier!) so I am tapering it off and I'm almost finished with it. That could be a factor too.

For what it's worth, I also have been extremely hungry. It feels just like it used to when I would lose a lot of weight, then start feeling abnormal levels of hunger.

I am determined to stay the course, hunger or no, but I almost want to cry when I hear of people "forgetting to eat" or "unable to take more than a few bites before they feel satisfied". Not my experience at all.

Any ideas anyone, or similar experiences?

Thanks, Selene

Thank you for the book reference. I can't say to much since it's their problem together, but she did confide in me so I want to help even if it's in support and suggesting a book. I love him too, he's a good guy, just seems thrown off track somehow.

Counseling could be an option, we'll see what she says about it first then she can go from there. He's never been a great communicator but we'll see what they come up with together.

A good multivitamin is a good start if you aren't already taking one. It needn't be a specific bariatric multi as your sleeve doesn't significantly malabsorb anything, unlike the malabsorbing procedures like the RNY or DS, as most deficiencies for us are driven by our diet or individual metabolic quirks (my wife is chronically low on potassium, but that's just her, not her WLS). Centrum, or Centrum silver for us older folks, and their generic equivalents (I usually use the ones from Costco) are a good starting place, or check the labels and look for one that is higher in the nutrients you are deficient in.

With a sleeve, start with one a day (though a good argument can be made for starting with two to counter your immediate deficiencies) and make adjustments based upon your next labs. I only take one every other day as that's all I need to keep things up.

If iron is on your deficient list, consider taking a separate iron supplement, as the iron (and/or calcium) that's usually included in most multis is the cheapest, least absorbable form and usually isn't enough to counter a deficiency.

Sorry, but I can't help with gummies as I've never used them.

Hi all.

I had my surgery almost 10 years ago and have not been on this site in a long time. My new doctor drew all my labs/vitamins and I'm deficient in a few areas. She suggested a multivitamin.

My question is, what is your favorite Bariatric Multi-vitamin? I prefer the gummies.

Thanks!
~Jocelyn