Scale Finally Moved ... Yee Haw

Monday I will be 8 weeks post-op. I lost 16 pounds the first two weeks, then it slowed right down. Over the next five weeks, I only lost three pounds. I know stalls are common, and since I did lose a little bit, that it wasn't technically a stall. Still, it was horribly discouraging. I am used to talking myself through distorted thinking, but I was really fighting the urge to just give up. I was eating well below 1000 calories a day, how could I not be losing? I tried to focus on the positive (off diabetes drugs, off blood pressure meds, was down 85 pounds since referral), and trust that I would eventually get moving again.

This week, I am down about 2.5 pounds. It's not a major loss, but at least it's finally moving again. It averages out to almost a pound a week, so I can't complain too much. I was really hoping to hit 294 by November 1st, but at this point, I'm not expecting to get there. 100 pounds in a year would have been nice, but I will get there, it will just take a bit longer.

You have done amazing in a year. I have read that weight comes off slower if you have lost a substantial amount of weight before surgery, and you definitely did. Good luck!

How "well below" 1000 calories? At 8 weeks out 1000 calories sounds like a lot!

Usually between 700-800, but I have been having trouble keeping my blood sugar up. I have had three or four episodes where my sugar has dropped into the 3s. The only thing that prevents it is eating every three hours.

Stalls suck and are really hard to get through! Congrats on the scale moving - I know how great that feels after a long stall! Keep up the great work

I gained 4 lbs this week and I'm like what the actual **** ! How is that even possible?? I'm not on my period and don't work out. My body likes to play mind games on me.

Congrats on your weight loss thus far.... and 85 lbs pre-op is amazing!!!

Wow, that must be frustrating. It's a weird and wonderful journey, with ups and downs. You just have to keep working and you will get there.

I only weigh myself once a week so I don't know how this week has gone, but the last seven weeks have been so slow. I finally admitted I need help and called the clinic today. The dietician said that I have to add carbs to my diet. With everything the vets on here say, that's a scary prospect but in my gut I know she is right. My blood sugar keeps bottoming out, and I can't go on like that. She even suggested that the lack of carbs in my diet are a contributing factor to the slow loss. I have to figure out how to add two "servings" of fruit, two of veggies, and two of starch every day. We will try that for a couple of weeks then reassess.

It is so hard for me to admit I can't figure something out and to ask for help. I was on the phone with her for a 1/2 hour and cried for most of it, but I felt better afterwards. My point is, you have a team to help you, don't be afraid to call and ask for help. They are the specialists with the knowledge. Let them offer suggestions or reassurance.

For the record, I lost 39 pounds during the process, 27 pounds during OptiFast, and 22 pounds since surgery. That's 66 pre-op. In my head I know that's good, but I still have 150 to go, but I try to think of the big picture with what I have already lost, but the small picture with how far I have to go.