What do you make of this felllas?

Hey boys, It's been a bit since I have posted, just working A LOT! (It's my latest addiction...who would have thunk I had it in me to be a workaholic?) I am down about 50 pounds in 11 weeks.  I thought that sounded pretty good.  Lately the loss is about 3 pounds per week.  I spoke with my RD today on another matter and she asked how the loss was going.  When I told her 3 pounds per week it was obvious she was not impressed!  She kept mentioning that this is my golden opportunity in the honeymoon phase and that she'd like to see more in the range of 5 pounds per week at this point.   She has been doing this a loooong time and I really trust her opionion, but that kind of pissed me off.  I mean...It's going in the right direction, right?  I have a goal to get down to about 190.  I started at 301 on surgery day, so that's roughly 110 pounds.  I'm almost halfway there in 11 weeks.  I didn't start out HUGE, so I don't think my weekly loss should necessarily be what someone who started out at 450 or so would be.  Am I right, or am I just rationalizing?   I'm working a lot in the yard, but I'm not really walking more than once a week (a couple of miles each time) and no weight training yet.  I guess my big fear is that I don't want to start treating this like  a DIET again, because I know where that leads me.  I think just being careful with carbs, getting plenty of protein and water, etc, is ok for me, but now I have doubts.  I'm easily swayed.  Did you get that already? What do you guys think?  DxE?  Dave, AJ, Blob?  Everyone?

Hey Buddy, Congrats on the weight loss.  Keep in mind that everyones weight loss is different.  If your body says 3 lbs a week then so be it. Don't let anybody stand in your way or get you depressed.  The weight will come off. If you don't believe me read my profile.  You will get a good laugh at my mood swings.

Thanks, Big Funn. I like your blog!  Congrats on your excellent loss. Ken

Hey Ken,  I think as long as your doing everything "by the book", then it is what it is.  I don't want to disrespect her opinion, but I've only had one week where I lost 5 lbs. The rest have been 1-4 lbs. per week. I'm not counting the first two weeks. I started at 351, 8 months later I'm 245. I'm 6'3" tall, large build, my ideal weight is 215, only 30 lbs. more to lose.  Good Luck with your loss!  Ronnie

I think you have set very reasonable goals for a 6'3 guy! Thanks for the comments, and congrats on the loss. Ken

I have to admit, her reaction surprises me. I think it's uncalled for. most docs would be happy the arrow is pointing down and not up. the shrinks spend so much time telling us not gauge our response or weight loss to others and then the surgeon dings you. hell, a pound a day is tough even in the first 6 months. i don't get it really. you know, i was known on here as the platuae king. i would stay steady for almost a month and then lose 5 pounds in a single day. it would never come back either. so we all lose differently. i think the way i exercised made a difference. by the time i went on pain pills, my weight was gone. so i can't attribute that but then again, i couldn't eat solid food for 7 or so months.

like you i started a relative lightweight and all the facts support that we lose much slower. i've lost about 143 pounds and had i been able to eat solid foods i bet it would just now the last few pounds coming off. we all have different things going on with us that effects the loss. like you said, the smaller guys like us lose way slower, couple that with some setbacks and it could take even longer.

again, just baffled by the ball busting. i think you're doing great and right on track but my opinion is just that, mine. are you losing inches? losing weight? feeling better? exercising more? if yes to all those questions, then you're doing great! carbonblob

Thanks for taking the time to write back, blob.  I can't be too hard on her.  She's 6'2" and gorgeous and very slim.  She's really good at what she does (dietician), but I think sometimes she has to remember that these are people who allowed themselves to eat to morbid obesity!  So perfection is not going to be in the cards.  I really don't cheat at anything.  I eat three meals per day.  I get about 70-80gms protein, very little calories from carbs, etc.  I think I could stand to get away from my desk and be more active.  I'm going to start setting a timer to go off, and I'll leave work when it happens!  I agree with your assessment.  I'm going to increase the protein and wait this out and see where it goes.  I'm ok with 3 -5 lbs per week.  I'm feeling great!

Ken, She’s probably got previous Patients who had 200+ to lose set in her head. You know? Like if a mechanic works on big SUV’s all the time, his "Mind set" of what would be good mileage per gallon would be skewed. But- Starting at your weight? You’re doing Great!!! Stay the course. It’s a long-term solution for a long term problem. I was still losing at 18months out, so I’m not completely sold on all of the "honeymoon phase" hype. It’s a life-style change, not a race, and that’s what makes it have such high % of success compared to dieting.

Best Wishes- Dx

Exactly what I needed to hear, as usual!  Thanks Dx!  Ken

Hey Ken - Sounds to me like you're doing fine.  If you look at your average 50 lbs. / 11 weeks that's over 4.5 lbs. a week.  Seems like a good average to me!    By comparison, if I just take my total for the first 6 months and divide by 26 weeks it comes out to 3.6 average per week.  There are some weeks with stalls, but, similar to what Ronnie was saying, I've also only had one week of more than 5 lbs. in the last 5 months.  I had a heck of a lot more excess weight than you; I've been pretty committed to a rigorous work-out regimen; have never eaten sugar/high fats, etc. since surgery and am (obsessively?? hmmm, maybe) scrupulous about tracking my calories, so, I think everyone is just different and it happens as it happens.  Steve