X-Post: Has Surgery Failed me?

On the day of surgery, May 26, 2010, I weighed 239 lbs. To date, I've lost 54 lbs. I haven't lost one single pound in six weeks. I talked to my NUT and she told me to increase the amount of exercise that I am doing. I see others on OH who have lost close to 70 lbs or more in 4 months. This is all just so frustrating!! I haven't stepped on the scale in 4 days because if I see the numbers 185 again, I will go ballistic! I exercise 4 to 5 times per week, get in protein and fluids, and take my vitamins. What gives?!? Has the surgery failed me or have I failed it?

Look at my Ticker and you won't feel so bad.  I go months losing only 3 pounds.  It's slow and go for me.

How much are you exercising?  I found that I have to exercise 90-120 minutes, 7 days a week to lose a pound a week.  It's different for all of us.  My doctor told me that at almost 60, I have to exercise at least an hour a day to accomplish what someone in their 30's does from sitting on their tush.  I took that to heart and upped my exercise considerably.

Weighing 185 is great!  Keep up what you're supposed to do and the scale will move.  The surgery hasn't failed you but maybe you just lose differently than some of the others around here. 

Hang in there until the miracle happens for you!

 Thanks, Lee! You've been a voice of reason!

Detra

 Detra, 

I lose, then long stall, then lose again.  Here's what my progress has looked like. There were times that I thought it wasn't going to work for me.  Then I put myself in a state of gratitude that at least it was moving.  Now, the only thing that really matters to me is that it's moving and getting closer to my goal.  

Starting Top weight in 2009 - 249 
2/17/2010 - 229 on surgery morning
3/17/2010 - 210 - measurements 42-36-50
4/17/2010 - 207 - tough month
5/17/2010 - 197 - started exercising 60 minutes a day
6/08/2010 - 194 - weighed early. Went to France- walked 120 miles in 2 wks
7/17/2010 - 186  - measure  37-33-41 - Exercising 60-120 minutes a day, 7 days a week
8/17/2010 - 182 - Exercising 90-120 minutes a day, 7 days a week
9/17/2010 - 174 - Exercising 90 minutes, 7 days a week. Started Thyroid Meds 8/20/2010.

Hang in there.  It is working - 54 pounds in 4 months is great.  The usual loss is about 20 the first month and around 10 each month after that so you are right on schedule..
Some are a little slower than others, but I think you are right in the average group.  Mine really slowed down after the first 8-9 months.  It is slow and steady so I'm ok with that.
Good luck.
Linda

I'm at 7 months and have lost 54 lbs, so don't sweat it.

54 pounds is GREAT!!   That's about what I lost.  I've always been a slow loser but I was always a slow gainer too.  Did you take your measurements?  We have found that when most people are in a stall that they are actually still losing inches. 

I'm sure a 6 week stall is depressing.  I'm not into exercising but that might work too if you are going to continue it, but I have some friends who increased their exercise and then when they cut back they started gaining. 

I'd try increasing your protein for 4 or 5 days and then cut back to what you are eating now.  That seems to break a lot of stalls. 

Posting on Menus and Miles might help you too.  Do you write everything down?  Do you post on one of the menu sites like fitday.com or dailyplate.com?  Someone mentioned this week that OH has a site you can keep track of everything too. 

Keep us posted!!!

 

You are in a stall. Keep your chin up! You will get out of it. I can remember it seeming like it lasted forever but it won't really. You will be fine. Sometimes believe it or not when I would splurge a little it kicked something inside me and I would start losing. It is like if your body gets used to the same old same old it holds on to everything. Jazz it up a little and you might see a change. Good luck! It hasn't failed you just keep the faith.

I had my RNY on May 24, so we can be weight loss buddies if you want.  I was feeling super frustrated last week because I worried that I wasn't losing fast enough too.  I have lost 61 lbs since surgery, so only a few more than you (and I started out way heavier, so I should be losing at a faster rate. )  

I talked to my Nut about it and I realized that I had been taking in too many calories.  So I have a new resolve to cut back to about 600 calories/day, making sure to pack as much protein into those 600 calories as possible.

Are you trying to monitor your calorie intake?  If you are doing everything right, I would say, IMHO, that 3 months is a very long stall.  Why don't you call your surgeon's office and ask them what they think.  In the meantime, hang in there and try not to get discouraged.

Kathy
(former Michigan resident ;) 

 

 thats like 1/2 alb a DAY  !!!  thats  a LOT of weight in my book !