Down 1 little pound this week

I started logging my food again last week and I finally re-lost 1 little pound.  More importantly I learned the incredible number of calories in some restaurant meals.  I've been correcting my food diary the following morning and making little changes.  Tri

Hi - just want to encourage you to hang in there. I can't believe I.m encouraging someone else, while struggling with the same issues myself. Maybe I can pay it forward. My story:

I had VSG on 8/20/2010 and never lost the weight. I was 259 the day of surgery, lost down to 230 within about 10 weeks, then the weight loss stopped......completely stopped. I joined a gym and worked out every morning for over an hour; 3 months passed and I had lost....wait for it.....1 whole pound.

I followed my doctor's plan about 95% of the time, only occasionally having something off plan like tortilla chips at work. We have birthday events once a month and I would usually cheat just a little. Mostly I stayed away from the sugary stuff, but I would eat corn chips, getting right back on track the next day.

I lived pretty much on protein shakes and dense protein, yet no real losses. I am still only able to eat tiny portions, so even at 2 years out my restriction is good. I don't graze and eat 3 meals a day, with a snack (usually a very small apple with some organic PB). My diet is a protein shake for breakfast, a cup of coffee with skim milk and splenda. I then go for a walk between 2 and 3 miles, come home and have either another protein shake or my apple/pb snack. For dinner I have 1/2 chicken breast, some type of green veggie or a small salad.

I started lifting weights again about 3 weeks ago and making sure I go for my walks everyday. I started tracking my weight and here are the results;

Week 1 - weight was 224.6

Week 2 - weight was 223.2 - a loss of 1.4 - I was reasonably happy with that

Week 3 - weight was 222.6 - a loss of only .6 - wasn't impressed at all

Week 3 - weigh in is tomorrow. I have sneaked and weighed a couple of times this week and it's not looking like I'm going to lose anything.

I've walked in excess of 3 miles, at as face a pace as I can every day this week, so I expected to lose more.

It still blows mind the way I eat and still weigh more than 220 pounds 2 years after having weight loss surgery. I hear others proclaim how the weight just fell off and it blows my mind why it didn't work for me.

Since I had my surgery 6 years ago I have read hundreds of stories like yours.  If you continue on as you are you will reach your goal.  Muscle really does weigh more than fat so you have lost more than a couple of pounds of fat.  Do you feel good?  Do you have more energy?  Your persistence and patience will pay off.  I understand how difficult it is to watch other people lose fast.  Remember there are very many of us that are really slow losers.  Sometimes I give up when I lose hope and I gain really quickly.  I am done in by tortilla chips and cheese frequently.  10 chips and 1 oz of cheese are about 300 calories and look like such a small serving.  I need to eat 500 calories less each day to reach my goal weight...eventually.  It sounds like you are doing everything right and just need to keep going.   

Thanks for the encouragement. You are right...persistence is part of my issue too. When I don't see results on the scales, I have been...not anymore if I can help it....letting it get me down and I give in to cravings. Mostly it's head hunger since I don't have a huge appetite since surgery. I find comfort in the foods I mentioned above.

I have finally began to enjoy walking, so I'm going to keep it up, adding to my distance and speed as I can. Eventually, my body HAS to let go of some weight.

I am definitely losing inches and that is good. Getting more fit and building muscle is good for my long term health too, so I intend to plug along. Who knows where I'd be today if I had been steady instead of expecting the miracles others were proclaiming?? I set myself up for failure by comparing myself to others success.

I will keep going this time...I plan to anyway.

Thanks again!

Well...weighed in...lost another .6 this week. It's better than nothing, but just barely.

Hanging in there

Congratulations!  I really think the weight will come off a little faster now that you have built a more solid body.  I went to a bariatric psychologist and mostly emotionally explained my history.  I am also going to see a weight loss therapist to help me cope with my appetite behaviorally  now.  I went to a bariatric dietitian that switched up my diet and wants me to eat 1800 calories consistently every day for a month.  I am not getting on the scale until I see her in a month now because I lose so slowly and I don't want my appetite influenced by the scale.  Seriously, did you ever expect weight loss to be so difficult after any kind of WLS?  Hanging out on these forums for the past 6 years has made me realize how difficult the last 40 lbs. is for many of us.  We all want to be like the people that have weight simply drop off of them.  I am hanging in there too!  Tri 

I can't believe it. I weighed in on Friday and I was 218! I haven't been below 220 in 30 years, so the walking and trying is working. I am beginning to believe I might actually make it to one-derland eventually if I can stay on track for long enough.

Thanks for the support!

P

Congratulations!  You are doing great.  I did get on the scale and was down one more little pound.  I need to pack it up in the closet now.  A lot slower than you but I am really trying to do what they tell me to do.  Some days 1800 calories is difficult.  I went to the bariatric therapist too this week.  She told me to make a list of things to do between meals and to drink more water.  I will see her again in a month.  I think just hanging in there long enough....  Tri

I am sorry to say that I am in the same predicament as you. My lap band surgery never caused me to lose any weight either probably due to the fact that  my weight gain is due to medication I have to take. However, we are not alone. I saw a statistic online to the effect that 60 percent of lapband patients fail for either  either complications or unsuccessful weight loss. Go figure. Hope to hear back from you. Cheryl