so upset

So a week ago I was very concerned with gaining once I moved to solids.  I contacted my Dr's office and spoke to a NP there.  I do not know if I am being overly emotional about the weight or if her response was just mean.  I explained my concern about gaining and how upset and depressed I was over it & her response was  well you just need to stay off of the scales.  I did stay off of the scales for years because everytime I stepped on the scales the number was steadily increasing.  I am just so upset about this whole thing and have been super bummed out & now even questioning my choice to have lap band  

You may well stall or gain when you start eating real food again. Your intake has been abnormal and you need to get back to proper eating and your body needs to adjust to that. Totally normal!

Some people weigh every day, some every week, some just at hospital visits. You need to do what works for you. I weigh every day but don't get screwed up if I haven't lost; some people can't handle that and hide their scales away. Obsessing about weight won't make it drop faster but can make you seriously unhappy!

Your nurse may have sounded mean but she was probably trying to help you undertand that this is a long slow process and we mustn't agonise over each pound but look at the overall picture.

Kate

It's very common to experience a sort of "buyers remorse" after surgery.  It's a huge decision and scary for many reasons.  But take a deep breath and remember why you made the decisions to get surgery in the first place.  If you are like me, your life was probably out of control  because of the affects of obesity and your heath is definately compromised.  Be proud of yourself for taking this important first step toward true freedom from the desease that is holding the real you prisoner!  Don't second guess your WLS choice because it's too late now.  You have the band and it can be a very good tool.  It helped me save my own life! 

You may gain a pound or two when you transition from liquids and mushies to real food as your system adjusts but if you are committed to changing what you eat the band will help control hunger and portion size. (At least it did for me).  You're going to be eating very small portions of food and if you decide to change what you eat as well as how much you'll be fine.

Here's one recommendation from me.  While later you'll be able to eat small portions of most foods I would put a ban on the following food types for maximum results for at least the first year.  All simple carbs, i.e., white breat, white rice, white flour, refined sugar, pasta and white potatoes.  This is what I did and instead switched to the complex carb counterpart for some of them, for example, sweet potato or yams, brown rice, whole grain (not whole wheat, whoe grains) crackers instead of bread and whole wheat or other grain pasta i(f you can't live without it), etc.

I lost 100 pounds in 9 months this way keeping my daily calorie intake under 1000 calories and portion sizes to 1/2.  Once I let processed foods and refined sugars back into my life I stopped losing.

Don't worry if you gain a couple of pounds, you'll lose them again quickly if you keep the band rules.  It's just a fluctuation as your body adjusts.  Keep your eye on the prize...good health!

Best~
Lisa O.

I have gained 8lbs  1 or 2 I do not think I would have reacted so badly towards.  I have had no simple carbs no caffeine no sugars I have been following the meal plan the nutritionist gave me.  It is just disappointing me that I am eating right doing what I am supposed to be doing even though I am still hungry and gaining weight

My apologies, Jessie.  I mis-read your original post and thought you were worried about weight gain that hadn't happened yet.

Now that I understand what you're saying I agree with Jean.  If you are eating according to your surgeons plan then it must be water retention and in that case it should go as fast as it came.  Just make sure you are avoiding things that are high in sodium, i.e,  like frozen dinners, packaged foods, pickles, olives, etc.  Oddly, cottage cheese is very high in sodium.  Keep your sodium under 1600 mgs a day and see if that helps.  Drinking more water is even more important as you need to flush your system. 

Hang in there, I bet you're going to see a big drop in the next couple of days!

Best~
Lisa O.

Remember you are barely a month out so you have no restriction and may well gain some before you get the restriction needed to actually see the lbs. drop. It could easily take a few months before this happens so you really do need to stay away from the scales. This is the very slowest weight loss surgery so patience is a must. You can not allow your mind to focus on the short term or you will drive yourself mad! Just relax, follow your program and take it day by day!

thanks so much I do have no restriction but I NEVER would have thought I would gain eating such small amounts

You should also remember that at some point when you cut your food intake, your body is going to rebel at losing the weight because it will go into "starvation mode" where the body tries to hang onto all of the weight.  Some kind of biological coping mechanism.  Also, although her delivery was rude, I think that your nurse may be right about staying off the scale.  Don't weigh every day because the fluctiations will drive you crazy.  Especially if you are already emotional about the process.  Perhaps you should put the scale away for a while?  Just remember that once your body gets balanced and you start and maintain an exercise regimen, it will be easier to lose weight.

((Hugs)) Hang in there, sometimes when people say things they dont realize how they sound to us.  Its going to get better :) 

....just keep swimming,
Swoosh :)

I am 4 weeks post op and have the same issue, here i am losing so much weight and terrified of gaining a single pound but i know it is part of the process and have to get my body healthy again. my body has been in starvation mode for 4 weeks and i am going to include everything i have been eating into what i will start eating. i see my nutricionist tomorrow i donot know what to eat or how to eat it!!! Try to relax and stay away from the scale i know it sucks but we have to do it:) I am expected to gain some 2 :(
good luck girl!!! the journey has just began....