A little frustrating

Up until four weeks ago, when I was 3 months post-op, I had been steadily losing. Then, at the 3 month mark, I had 3 nonstop days and nights of very intense physical labor. Afterwards I was very sore for a day or two, and within 2 days I had gained over 2 pounds due to inflammation and water weight.

Gradually this came down, but this entire past month has been up and down. I lost a total of 6.8 pounds this month, but with plenty of weird ups and downs. For instance, today I weighed in at 2.2 pounds more than I did on Saturday, and am up 1.6 pounds over what I weighed one week ago today. My diet is very consistent - under 600 calories (often under 500), protein at 60 grams or greater, carbs low (for instance, yesterday's carb total was 12 grams). I am working on taking in more water but don't alway**** the mark. I am making a concerted effort to drink more. I am also walking more every day, but I am a little frustrated. Last month I lost 18 pounds, and up until that episode of physical labor was losing almost every day. This month I have only lost 6.8 and I'm constantly up and down, gaining inexplicably and then barely losing.

I'm going to pump up my hydration and work on increasing my exercise and hope that will help. I still have 127 pounds to go to hit my first, unstretched, goal, and still 140 lbs. from my real goal. so it's not like I'm slowing because I'm near to my target weight. I have lost 77 pounds this far.

I had really hoped for a higher loss this month and did not think that was particularly unrealistic. Grrrr!

77 lbs in 4 months is pretty remarkable. Even half that would be phenomenal in the non RNY world.

I only weigh myself once a month to avoid the frustration of possibly not seeing the scale move. A preemptive strike if you will.

Above all, remember that slow and steady wins the race.

Thanks, Scott. Regardless of how slow, I am committed to staying the course, I just hope to recover a peppier rate of loss. I have always been a fast loser, even before WLS, so this past month is unusual. Regardless, I will keep on keeping on! I appreciate your response.

It took me close to 6 months to lose 77 lbs.

Put the scale away for a while. And keep your body moving.

I'm going to move and drink more, and appreciate your advice about the scale! Thanks Scott!

Whenever I exercised during my weight loss, I swear to you I either slowed my loss, or even gained some at the end... There's a lot of great things about exercise health-wise, but one shouldn't look to it to lose.

Get your water up to 100oz or more (you can count flavored water and decaf coffee too), and it'll help.

And I bet that next month you'll see a big loss!

Hang in there! It sounds like you are doing all of your diet just the way you should... you will be rewarded at some point

Thank you Pammianne! I am going to set alarms on my phone to remind myself to drink. I will work on upping my water - I'm nowhere near 100 ounces, but will try to double my intake. I hope to see a good loss next month, too! I appreciate your kind response.

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. Keep up the good work- you got this! Hoping you have a better month.

Thank you Emiepie! I actually feel pretty good, it's only that my weightloss is less than I'd hoped to achieve this month. But onward - and downward! Thank you for responding, I appreciate it!

The HUGE losses only come in the first few months. After the body adjusts to the new anatomy and the calorie restriction, things slow way down. By month two or so, most people see an average of one or two pounds per week.

At this point in your post-op journey, it sounds like things are perfectly normal. Many people around here take about a year to reach their goal: losing a lot of weight at first, then 5 - 10lb per month after until they reach target.

Keep doing what you're doing, and try not to stress too much!