Well, today marks my 4th week out from RNY surgery and I have lost exactly 3 lbs....no this is not a typo, I have lost only three whole pounds!!  My high weight was 291, my surgery weight was 258 and as of today I am weighing in at 255.  Granted I have lost in excess of 20" all over but I am becoming very discouraged that the numbers are not coming down.

I track everything I put in my mouth on my fitness pal, I am managing a 700-1000 cal diet daily, my protein is high, my carb count is low and I am walking 5 kms daily.

My husband routinely comments on what a differenct he sees in my weight and shape.  My clothes are getting very lose so I know things are shifting somewhat, but aside from the post surgery weight loss - which I am damned proud of, the numbers are really discouranging compared to some of the tales and signatures of my fellow RNY'ers - most signatures within these forums are recording weight loss in the double digits during the first month and I keep asking myself - what is wrong with me, what am I doing wrong, have I made a horrible mistake, etc.

I could really use some encouragement!

you are shrinking. Very good sign. 

I rather be heavy and fit and small size (that I am at this point) than light weight and all "fluff", wearing bigger clothes.

the weight loss w- as in lbs - will come. Just give it time.  

We're all different and have very different plans, but at 4 weeks out, I was nowhere near 700-1000 calories.  More like 300-400 if that.  Even at 9+ months out, I'm around 1000 calories (while exercising vigorously nearly every day).  Have you spoken with your nutritionist?  

Sure have - The team I see has set a goal for me to aim for 1000 per day (I don't get near that, am lucky to get to 700) - I would be quite content at 300 per day and certainly would not randomly go past that if not in the plan they have laid out for me...

I didnt have calories. I had volumes, like 1/4-1/2 cup pureed food.

I imagine that at the 1/4 cup food per meal that I was at week 4, I would have been well below the 1,000 calories.

How active were you before surgery? You may be gaining muscle and losing fat with all the walking, which is a very good way to shift weight around.  =)  I had a stall at 2 weeks out, but during that time people still said they could see that I was losing more in my face. I understand the frustration though. Patience may be a virtue, but it's not one of mine!

It takes a lot of effort and time to gain a measurable amount of muscle mass. Walking around for 4 weeks is not going to do it.

OP, multiply your current weight by 10. That is roughly the minimum calories you need to maintain your current weight. If you currently weigh 200 lbs, that 2000 calories. I'm pretty sure that you are not taking in 2000 calories a day unless you have a serious milkshake addiction! :D

As long as you are not eating low-volume high-calorie foods, it's almost impossible to not lose weight at this stage. Take a deep breath, stick with your program and come here when you need to vent! You'll do great!

Jen

Weight loss in the double digits and around 20 pounds is pretty much what happens during the first month, but many people are doing good to get down a protein shake a day then.  Sometimes I wonder if the medical teams just decide to experiment and see what happens if they recommend something like 1000 calories a day right out of surgery.

I am over seven years out and would lose about a pound a week on 1000 calories a day.  I know my weight loss during the first year was because I consumed very little food.  It was about eighteen months before I was up to 1000 calories a day.  High protein and low carb are great, but is total calories that really determines the amount and speed of weight loss.

I agree with you White Dove.  I am 20 months out and get about 1200 calories now, some days all I manage is 1000.  Once month out, I was probably around 300-500, and continued this for about 3-4 months in.

Good luck to you, but I would be considering lowering your calorie intake, although it's always encouraged to follow your surgeon's advice.

Twenty inches is incredible!! 

I want to tell you that I am one of those people who lost a lot the first month. I lost 33 pounds. BUT at the same time I had a badly infected abscess and ended up in the hospital for most of my third week out. And I was really glad to be there! I had a fever for the first three weeks. My surgeon's office scared me and told me to go to the ER NOW when my fever went to 102.7; normal for me is 97! I couldn't drive until a month out. I had to use a cane for the first six weeks. I had five (I think?) CAT scans in a week, a drain in my back for a week and home health care nurses for a couple weeks after I came home. So, I'm ok with my 12 lb loss the second month :) The first month was a great jump start on one hand, but it was also kinda scary...I lost a pound a day for six weeks.

We will all get there in the end, and I'm willing to bet you're in a lot better shape than I was two months ago!