Venting frustration/fear re: lack of weight loss

I had my surgery a month ago and I definitely have an appetite. It actually scares me. I'm able to eat most protien sources without any problem. I have protien first ... often, that's all I can have.  I'm staying away from stuff I shouldn't have, but that doesn't mean I don't want it. I find that really scary.

I've lost just shy of 20 lbs. Part of me knows that is fantastic ... another part of me knows that many others, including some in my "group" @ DukeWLS have had much bigger losses ... 30 lbs... (and not because they had so much more to lose).

I've been using my FitDay.com software to track what I eat so that I know how many calories, protien, etc. I'm getting ... I do this to be sure I'm getting enough protien and not ingesting too many calories ... My guidelines are 40 - 60 grams of protien and <900 calories. I usually get between 50 and 60 grams of protien and fall under the 900 calorie mark.

But I'm frustrated, because I'm not losing nearly what I thought I might... At the rate I'm going, I think I'll be lucky to have lost 35 to 40 lbs at the 3 month mark ... a far cry from what I had hoped for ... I guess I was hoping that I'd lose about 50 lbs at 3 months, since I know that early on is when I'm most likely to see results.

 I'm not sure what to do and/or what I'm doing wrong. If I only lose 35 to 40, I'm worried that my overall loss won't be nearly as much as I was hoping for. I find this distressing and depressing.

I feel like I'm whistling in the dark.... but I am trying to keep my "head up" ... I went shopping yesterday and could get my tail in size 14W's and they fit! :dance: :dance: :dance:

Well ... Thanks for listening. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears.

Barb

Remember - you lost a good amount of weight pre-op.  That will slow your post-op weight a little.  You've lost a LOT so far!  Some of the people who lost heavy initially have not been on a pre-op diet (or may not have been following it well). I think you're doing great!  (By the way, Dr. DeMaria is a wonderful doctor - so you were in good hands!). Cheers from Winston!

Kit

Barbara,      I am by no means an authority on this, but i have heard of people just all of a sudden dropping huge amounts of weight. Don't fret about it(i know, easier said than done). Have you taken measurements? You may be losing inches...most likely you are. Think of it in terms of the long term picture. Slow and easy still wins the race. It will be all fine in the end. You are doing what is right and you know that. Your body has to adjust to this major rerouting of your organs and such. Everyone is different. I have never heard of anyone not losing the weight. Just relax. What size pants were you in before surgery? I am guessing it may have been larger than a 18 and usually we loose a size for every ten pounds, so I am guessing you are really loosing lost of inches and the weight will follow. Just my take on it. Lisa

Its hard not to compare ourselves to others but we still do... even thou you are losing 'slower' you are losing more healthy... you said above you are eating well and without any issues... I wonder how "well" some of those people who lost more are doing? Are they getting sick (throwing up) are they barely eating are they struggling with their protein? You are losing the healthy and proper way... in the long run you will do much better than anybody who is losing more but not being healthy about it. I would just keep on doing like you are doing and you will get there... its hard to see others with bigger numbers but in the end we all reach the same goal... there are people who started at the same point as me and were at goal in 6 months, I am still working towards mine.. eitherway I will reach it just like they did theirs :-)

Sounds like to me you are doing fine, I bet your weight loss will pick up soon. For me exercise made the big difference--- try adding some walking to your day.  This will work for you, we all did worry it would not, but it did--- hang in there.

 

take care

Hi Barbara!  I asked my nut about this when I went in for my six week.  She said that since I had dropped about 40 pounds in the two months prior to surgery that it was totally reasonable that I would not have the swoosh effect of dropping a herd in the first few weeks.  She was really pleased with my dropping about 27 in six weeks. 

I know what you're going thru tho!   And for me, at 356 when I had surgery, I totally expected weight to just slide off like butter off a hot knife!  fooey!

so I guess we get yet another chance to learn patience!  I am going to try and measure my success by whether I am doing what I am supposed to (water, protein, walking, vitamins) and let the scale do what it wants.  As someone told me a week or so ago, you now have 20 lbs that you won't have to lose again!  Hang in there with me! Robin

Stick to your guns..  I am sure that you will start loosing soon.  Sometimes (in the past..)  I would do really good and not loose weight, but if I perservered I would start dropping pounds.   And for the record, when I get into a size 14W I will be doing the HAPPY DANCE!!! 

First ... Let me thank you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement.

As many of you have suggested, I do walk daily. I'll work on increasing my walks though. According to Dr. DeMaria, I'll lose the weight weather I exercise or not ... BUT, he added that exercise seems to be the statistical key to those who are successful in the long term at keeping that lost weight off. I'm exercising. There's no way I want to see any of that weight again.

I've lost about 25 inches. I was wearing an 18W, now I wear a loose 16W or a 14W. So you are right, I am seeing changes ... just not as fast as I thought I guess.

Thanks for helping me find perspective.

Barb

Hey Barb..... I worry about the same things too about having an appetite and all. I have been weighing everyday still and at first when the scale didnt move I was really down and MAD. I have stopped worring when it dont move---because I know it will start again. I didnt lose any weight for like 9 days and I was so bummed but It started again. It has not been fast for me since the first 3 weeks. I started at 294 at my 2 week liquid diet---283 the day of surgery----and 249 current. So only 34 pounds for me since surgery on May23rd---and 45 total. I was hoping to be around 200 atleast by 6 months out at thi srate though I dont think I will make it. So you see you are not the only slow loser-----BUT look at it his was We are stilll LOSERS!!!!!and doesnt that feel GREAT!!!!! ( ((((HUGS))))CAROL.....

Thanks for sharing ... I guess I, like you was hoping to lose more and faster. I am trying to ease up ... I just don't want to mess up this "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

Barb