Not losing well !

I went to the doctor for checkup (6months) and I've only lost 6 pounds in 8weeks.  Started 256 and now I'm 207.  I am eating about 1000 calories a day and exercising the best I can on the treadmill and walking the dog - about 30 mins a day.  The only thing I can see I'm doing wrong is not drinking enough water.  I'm getting so jealous of all these people who have double the weight loss I have.  I feel like such a failure again.  What is wrong with me?  I'm 53 but I know other older women who had better loss.  Help!  I can't be the only one like this.  Please let me hear from you or email [email protected] Thanks.

First, you've lost about 50 pounds, roughly 20% of your weight, in 6 months. That's a pretty big accomplishment. Second, you're probably going to lose a lot more weight. Most people lose for well over a year or 18 months, even though it slows down. Lots of people hit a slow spot between 4-8 months, and then it picks back up. One of my RNY friends is still losing after three years, really slow but it's still coming off. I remember getting to size 12 and staying there for a few months, thought I was finished losing and bought lots of $$$$ worth of clothes. And then boom, almost overnight I dropped down to size 2. It's so hard to predict where you'll end up. But please, please, don't get down on yourself, you're not a failure by any means. The water does make a difference, so you might want to work on that. And walking is great, but it helped me a lot to add some weights and resistance into my workout. Use some small weights for your arms, do some modified push-ups, some squats (they're awful but they're effective), some crunches and things like that, and you'll see a big difference. The added muscle will help you burn extra calories and even if it doesn't take off lots of pounds, you will drop some sizes. Another thing - since I'm preaching - it may be helpful to look at things long term instead of immediate gratification from losing the weight. So many of us focus on weight loss but don't think about where we'll be in 5 or 10 years. It's so much more important to reach a weight where you'll feel good and be healthy, something you can maintain without starving yourself. Being only 6 months out, you're sure to lose lots more weight, but the important thing is really to get healthy and stay that way!

Thanks,  I would think it should be easier for me to get to 124 since I was a "lightweight".  Maybe I'm being too hard on myself.  I will not give up and can't wait to post the "end" results in a year from now :)  Any food suggestions?  Protein count?  Carb count?

First congratulations on the weight loss. I am 54 and lost very slowly. I am out almost 3 years ( Sept) am down 100 lbs , not as much as some have lost and that is my fault, but I weigh now what I weighed when I was in my twenties. Get in your water and make sure you are getting in your vits and also your protein. I found that when I didn't get in my protein I also slowed down in my weight loss. Have you measured yourself ? Usually when you slow in the weigh loss you lose more in the inches. Check out this site  Thinnerself  he has charts you can track your weight and inches and also gives you a "report" that gives you info on how much protein, water, calories etc you may want to get in.    Don't get down on yourself this is a new journey and you will have highs and lows ( hopefully weight wise) being a "lightweight" it may come off slower also than someone that had more to lose. Good Luck, Sandy

Thank you Sandy.  I will check that site out.  People like us probably worry too much.  I have increased my water now and started tracking food.  It's not easy.  In fact much of this is very time consuming.  I'm supposed to be working :)  Anyway thanks again./Anita

Hi, I am  5 years out and  had WLS at 59. I use to go in the chat room everynight and compare....naturally I was the slow looser ..there were 3 of us who had surgery on the same day. Naturally we looked to each other to see how we were doing. The 2 other girls lost twice as fast as I did. I remember at 3 months out I hit a plateau for 8 weeks...never lost an ounce....but I was faithful and kept on the "perfect " way to eat . At 18 months we had all lost and got to our goal weight.....my last 20 lbs fell off overnight it seemed. So I'm telling you by experience.....don't count what others do as a success..and you being a failure...its all about YOU!  We all loose diffrently. You have done great...keep on the good way of eating and you will reach goal....age has nothing to do with it   : ) oh! I lost 176 lbs and feel great! Keep going girl! Cha

Thank you.  All the replies are really helping me today.  Yours is very inspirational.  I will keep going.  Thanks again.  Maybe these "chat rooms" make us crazy.  Maybe I should stay away from comparing myself to some of the others.  I'm happy for them, but it does make me mad. So, for now I will just do what I am supposed to do.  Thanks.

Stalls are very normal during your loosing phase. Thats most likely what is happening. You may want to track your food intake on fitday or the dailyplate. The more protein I got in the better I lost. Carbs tend to slow the process down a bit. They are usually the first suggestion to add back when you are undergoal. Protein is the key. Your body doesnt function without it and then you wont loose. Just relax, measure your inches. The weight will come off. There is nothing wrong with you. You may also want to kick up the excercise. That really helps as well. You can do this. There are lots of people that are slow loosers that get to goal. Give yourself a chance.

As long as it is a stall and not a stop.  I remember my Mom who passed away in January hardly ate much at all - very small meals.  She would go to the doctor and gain 5 lbs.  I would wonder how much less she should eat.  Anyway, I worry that I have that same metabolism or something and that that will be me one day.  Again, here I go with the worry stuff.  I must stop.  Thanks for the reply. How much protein?

At the very least 60 grams. The more grams the better though. I usually get in about 90 or so these days.