Am I really doing bad? (long)
Hi,
I know that we're not supposed to compare ourselves to others, but I'm really starting to get frustrated by my lack of weight loss post-op. I'm 8 weeks out now and I've lost less than 28 pounds (on Monday my weight loss was 28 pounds, but as soon as I drank water that day it went back up to where it was the week before).
I've seen my surgeon, the physician at my weight loss center, my therapist, and my nutritionist. I've been honest with all of them about what I'm doing and they don't seem concerned about my lack of weight loss, but they seem puzzled. Here's what they've said:
Nutritionist - "You're eating fine and drinking enough. Maybe it's because you lost so much on the pre-op liquid diet (35 lbs)? Maybe if you drink more water?"
Physician - "The overall weight loss numbers show that you are succeeding. You're eating is fine (and normal) for someone at your stage. You can increase your exercise if you want, but let's do some labs to make sure that there isn't some deficiency that's making you so fatigued (something I was concerned about)."
The physician's assistant (a post-op person) - "You really should be aiming to lose between 3-5 lbs. per week. You only have about a year to maximize your weight loss before you'll get hungry again. Try to lose more weight. (Duh)."
Therapist - "You've lost 63 pounds in 11 weeks - that's an average of over 5 lbs. per week. You're too hard on yourself."
Surgeon - "You're fine."
I can't figure up what's stalling the weight loss. I'm eating about 900 cal per day (I journal everything that I eat). I'm eating occassional snacks which is against the nutritionist's plan at my surgery center (but the surgeon and physician recommend snacking, go figure). Of the 900 calories per day about 40-50% are from fat, 30% from protein, and 30% from carbs. I try to focus on protein as much as possible, but I can't supplement and dense proteins are hard to keep down so I include fat to make them moister (thus the high fat content). I haven't been doing much exercise so that might be my downfall (but enough to curb weigh loss entirely?) I drink about 68-80oz. water per day.
I'm so frustrated - pre-liquid diet I would eat, on average (this is embarassing) over 5000 cal per day, 200g of fat, and carbs like there's no tomorrow! I definately earned every pound of the 465 that I weighed! How can eating 20% of what I used to only result in a 60 pound weight loss?
I'm feeling really fragile about all of this so I want to say that I'd like nice feedback, but honestly, I want to start losing weight again so I'll take any feedback I can get to get the scale moving again. Please help!!! Just FYI, I can't drink anything (protein shakes, supplements) due to post-op nutrition guidelines so I can't go back on the liquid diet or do a pouch test.
Thanks for any and all feedback.
Jen
I know that we're not supposed to compare ourselves to others, but I'm really starting to get frustrated by my lack of weight loss post-op. I'm 8 weeks out now and I've lost less than 28 pounds (on Monday my weight loss was 28 pounds, but as soon as I drank water that day it went back up to where it was the week before).
I've seen my surgeon, the physician at my weight loss center, my therapist, and my nutritionist. I've been honest with all of them about what I'm doing and they don't seem concerned about my lack of weight loss, but they seem puzzled. Here's what they've said:
Nutritionist - "You're eating fine and drinking enough. Maybe it's because you lost so much on the pre-op liquid diet (35 lbs)? Maybe if you drink more water?"
Physician - "The overall weight loss numbers show that you are succeeding. You're eating is fine (and normal) for someone at your stage. You can increase your exercise if you want, but let's do some labs to make sure that there isn't some deficiency that's making you so fatigued (something I was concerned about)."
The physician's assistant (a post-op person) - "You really should be aiming to lose between 3-5 lbs. per week. You only have about a year to maximize your weight loss before you'll get hungry again. Try to lose more weight. (Duh)."
Therapist - "You've lost 63 pounds in 11 weeks - that's an average of over 5 lbs. per week. You're too hard on yourself."
Surgeon - "You're fine."
I can't figure up what's stalling the weight loss. I'm eating about 900 cal per day (I journal everything that I eat). I'm eating occassional snacks which is against the nutritionist's plan at my surgery center (but the surgeon and physician recommend snacking, go figure). Of the 900 calories per day about 40-50% are from fat, 30% from protein, and 30% from carbs. I try to focus on protein as much as possible, but I can't supplement and dense proteins are hard to keep down so I include fat to make them moister (thus the high fat content). I haven't been doing much exercise so that might be my downfall (but enough to curb weigh loss entirely?) I drink about 68-80oz. water per day.
I'm so frustrated - pre-liquid diet I would eat, on average (this is embarassing) over 5000 cal per day, 200g of fat, and carbs like there's no tomorrow! I definately earned every pound of the 465 that I weighed! How can eating 20% of what I used to only result in a 60 pound weight loss?
I'm feeling really fragile about all of this so I want to say that I'd like nice feedback, but honestly, I want to start losing weight again so I'll take any feedback I can get to get the scale moving again. Please help!!! Just FYI, I can't drink anything (protein shakes, supplements) due to post-op nutrition guidelines so I can't go back on the liquid diet or do a pouch test.
Thanks for any and all feedback.
Jen
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
Hi Jen
First of all congrats on having your surgery. As you already know, I haven't had my surgery yet, but, I have been doing a lot of research, and talking to people I know that have had the surgery. What is happening with you is completely normal. You may lose slow for awhile, and then one day soon, you'll get on the scale and say.."DAMN!! I just lost another 10 pounds!" My friend was just like you. She went 3 weeks without losing a single pound, but then all of a sudden, she starting dropping pounds like crazy! But what is more important is how do you feel? Do you have more energy? I believe you are going to do wonderfully..be patient hon!!
First of all congrats on having your surgery. As you already know, I haven't had my surgery yet, but, I have been doing a lot of research, and talking to people I know that have had the surgery. What is happening with you is completely normal. You may lose slow for awhile, and then one day soon, you'll get on the scale and say.."DAMN!! I just lost another 10 pounds!" My friend was just like you. She went 3 weeks without losing a single pound, but then all of a sudden, she starting dropping pounds like crazy! But what is more important is how do you feel? Do you have more energy? I believe you are going to do wonderfully..be patient hon!!
Thanks Lisa.
I do hear on occassion that one day the weight will just start pouring off. The physician's assistant said it will hit me "like a train wreck". I'm just so frustrated right now that I have a hard time believing it. I keep thinking that I'm doing something wrong.
I appreciate the encouragement. I kind of come and go from these moments of panic.
I do hear on occassion that one day the weight will just start pouring off. The physician's assistant said it will hit me "like a train wreck". I'm just so frustrated right now that I have a hard time believing it. I keep thinking that I'm doing something wrong.
I appreciate the encouragement. I kind of come and go from these moments of panic.
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
(deactivated member)
on 8/8/08 2:10 am - San Antonio, TX
on 8/8/08 2:10 am - San Antonio, TX
First month - 33lbs (and probably only that much because I had a second surgery where I was allowed NOTHING to eat for a week)
Second month - something like 3 or 4 lbs, maybe 6
Your body might just be in panic mode right now. Its trying to heal what you did to it, and it thinks its never going to eat again so its holding on to all the energy (fat) it can muster. Its normal, and its also true that losing some weight before hand makes for a less dramatic post-surgery drop. You have to remember that the people who don't diet pre-op lose a lot of water those first few weeks, just like with any low-carb diet.
You are so NOT doing bad. Keep following your instructions and it will come off. It didn't become a real struggle of effort to lose until I was about 9 months out. I bet in another couple weeks you'll be posting how excited you are because you lost 5lbs in 2 days!
Patience Grasshopper
Second month - something like 3 or 4 lbs, maybe 6
Your body might just be in panic mode right now. Its trying to heal what you did to it, and it thinks its never going to eat again so its holding on to all the energy (fat) it can muster. Its normal, and its also true that losing some weight before hand makes for a less dramatic post-surgery drop. You have to remember that the people who don't diet pre-op lose a lot of water those first few weeks, just like with any low-carb diet.
You are so NOT doing bad. Keep following your instructions and it will come off. It didn't become a real struggle of effort to lose until I was about 9 months out. I bet in another couple weeks you'll be posting how excited you are because you lost 5lbs in 2 days!
Patience Grasshopper
It is so normal and I think it happens to most of us, so don't feel like you are alone! I lost 18 pounds the first 2 weeks, then NOTHING for 6 weeks -I'm talking not even an ounce. I left my scale at a neighbors because I was becoming obsessed! My surgery was Sept 13 and I finally stepped on a scale at Thanksgiving and was shocked to see I had lost 50 pounds! And now I've lost 200 pounds and feel great - it will happen for you as well.
The thing to do is step away from the scale! Do what Kathy and I are doing and seperate for a while - just ignore it and concentrate on how you feel, getting in some exercise, eating good stuff and getting in tha****er and you'll do great.
Keep your head up, it will all catch up eventually, promise!
The thing to do is step away from the scale! Do what Kathy and I are doing and seperate for a while - just ignore it and concentrate on how you feel, getting in some exercise, eating good stuff and getting in tha****er and you'll do great.
Keep your head up, it will all catch up eventually, promise!
Wow Sweetie I could have wrote this email myself a few months ago and it is exactly like the ladies above have said!!!! don't woory in fact let me tell you what happend to me I lost 39 pounds on the 6 month diet program my HMO put me on which was required to be sent to the surgeon I saw the surgeon the first week in November but did not have my surgery till April in the mean time gained most of it back ( the dreaded last suppers) Then I went on the two week liquid diet prescribed by the surgeon an lost all but 5 pound of it back off that was like 25 pounds in 2 weeks. after surgery the first ten days I only lost 5 pounds the first month 18 I was so horifid I did this to my body for this ect ect. Then some of the wonderful people from OH explained that 1 I lost alot of weight in the liquid faze of this diet and probably scared my body some and two your body swells during surgery and stores fluids this goes away after about 2 months. I kind of just thought I was the one in the small % that this surgery doesn't work for and I was depressed. But you know what? By the end of June my weight loss sped up and know I am losing pretty close to 4-5 pounds a week. just do what you are doing and be patient it will come. I think you are doing fabulous and I have been reading alot of your post you are doing great and you will succeed.
436/401.8/277/175
Thank you *so* much everyone! I know the physician's assistant (who is also post-op) really meant to be encouraging yesterday, but when she said I need to really try to lose between 3-5 pounds per week I really freaked out because I AM really trying!
Jenn, I love what you said about patience. Since I work in the counseling field I get a lot of "therapeutic" gifts from co-workers and friends and lot of the things that I have contain an inspirational "focus" word for me - everyone seems to pick patience. It is something I'm sorely lacking and this experience is no exception. I will stay the course (not that I have a choice to really get off of it) and trust that the pounds will continue to come off and that I won't end up the only WLS post-op that weighs 404 pounds!
I am stubborn and will hold on to my scale until I go below 400 pounds or until next weekend - whichever comes first - then I will only weigh myself on my surgiversery for the next several months. This multiple times per day weigh-in is going to end me up on anti-anxiety medications.
Again, thank you. It helps to know that others have also had a slow start.
Jenn, I love what you said about patience. Since I work in the counseling field I get a lot of "therapeutic" gifts from co-workers and friends and lot of the things that I have contain an inspirational "focus" word for me - everyone seems to pick patience. It is something I'm sorely lacking and this experience is no exception. I will stay the course (not that I have a choice to really get off of it) and trust that the pounds will continue to come off and that I won't end up the only WLS post-op that weighs 404 pounds!
I am stubborn and will hold on to my scale until I go below 400 pounds or until next weekend - whichever comes first - then I will only weigh myself on my surgiversery for the next several months. This multiple times per day weigh-in is going to end me up on anti-anxiety medications.
Again, thank you. It helps to know that others have also had a slow start.
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
Hi Jen,
Please don't get frustrated. You really are doing well. I find you an inspiration actually. If you look at your loss of 28 lbs. in 8 weeks, that is 3.5 lbs. per week, right in the zone of 3-5. And to lose 35 lbs. pre-op. Thats amazing!
I am averaging 4 lbs. a week with a total of 24 lbs post op and I am at six weeks out so the numbers are about the same. I can really see a difference in the way my clothes are fitting. I could not be happier with my progress. Whenevery I was on Weigh****chers, I would do everything absolutely right and still average 1/2 lb. per week. AAArgh!
Please keep your chin up. I need your support!
Denise
Please don't get frustrated. You really are doing well. I find you an inspiration actually. If you look at your loss of 28 lbs. in 8 weeks, that is 3.5 lbs. per week, right in the zone of 3-5. And to lose 35 lbs. pre-op. Thats amazing!
I am averaging 4 lbs. a week with a total of 24 lbs post op and I am at six weeks out so the numbers are about the same. I can really see a difference in the way my clothes are fitting. I could not be happier with my progress. Whenevery I was on Weigh****chers, I would do everything absolutely right and still average 1/2 lb. per week. AAArgh!
Please keep your chin up. I need your support!
Denise
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