LW's with RNY - how was your weight loss early out?

I've read about a 100 posts......and I know that everyone loses differently.....some more than others....etc.....

I'm frustrated though!!  I'm 6wks post op today with a total WL of 24lbs.....which gives me an average of 4lbs a week....but I'm NOT losing 4lbs per week.......I lost 20lbs in the first 2 weeks...since then....the last 4 weeks.....1/2 a lb.

I'm following my plan, I've started to exercise.......1/2lb.....just seems.....daunting.

What can I do to speed this weight loss up?  My surgeon made a comment about being down 40lbs at my 3 month check up.....uh....not at the rate I'm going.....

24 lbs is GREAT!!!!!   You are doing awesome.  Just keep with your program, the weight will come off.     Cindy

Hi, Rhietta,

First, congratulations on a 24 pound loss. Envision a 24 pound turkey - that's a lot of weight! I know it is really frustrating but it is normal to have scale slow down after the initial loss. As LWs, we are not going to get the big numbers that others report on the RNY forum. We started at the same weight but I had my RNY two weeks before you. Your rate is only a little slower than mine.

I think that there are a lot of factors to the loss rate:

-Did you lose a bunch pre op? If so, you might not get the same weight loss rate as those who just started.

-Are you getting in enough liquids? I notice that this is a big factor in my loss.

-Are you eating at least 80 grams of quality protein every day? I am convinced that the better I do with my proteins, the better I do with my weight loss. In fact, I try to do more than 80 when I can. I also avoid simple carbs like the plague.

-Are there any physical constraints (like thyroid, med reaction, nutiritional deficiency)?

-Are you sweating every day? I bet with the start of exercise, you are going to see changes. I just started exercise in a serious way this week, and the scale is moving again.

Please keep the faith! You are already 24 lbs lighter. You will get to goal! If you are really concerned, you might want ask your doctor about testing your metabolic rate to determine your calorie limit.

I encourage you to join us on Roz's Menus and Miles daily thread. I have found it very helpful to see what others are eating and to have a place to commit to a daily plan. We are a friendly and supportive bunch! I love starting the day to Roz's good morning post.

Hang in there. I am rooting for you!
Amy

I am a 5 1/2 months out and have lost a total of 54 pounds and I agree it is frustrating. You see others who by (my) time has lost over 100. As lightweights I believe we tend to lose slower. Just think of the last time you were able to lose 24 pounds in 6 wks? I have never been able to. Ease up on yourself, the scale will start going a little faster, you also said you are excercising, remember when you build muscle, it is heavier than fat. Tape yourself and see how many inches you are losing, sometimes that helps tremendously. Good Luck sounds like you are on the right track.

Your weight loss will come in steps.  You've lost 24 pounds in 6 weeks, that's incredible.  You also need to remember that you had to lose the water weight that you gained during surgery from the IV fluids.  You are doing fine.  The body has to adjust. 

Hi Rhietta,

OK, I could have written your post at 6 weeks out!  I lost from the date of surgery to the one month visit I lost like 22lbs.  Month 2, I lost 8.  I was very worried that it was all going to slow, things were not going to go quickly, etc, I was a slow loser, etc, etc...I was VERY defeated and even went a couple of weeks with NO weight loss on the scale.  Just weighed in for month three and lost 17 lbs this month!!!!  SO, I guess I am goign to say hang in there!!!!  It is ups and downs, I see some people are very consistant losers but mine is more in spurts, so if you are anything like me, you can still lose those 40 by the first three months, so just hang in there and see what happens!

Ann Marie

I'm 3 weeks out and have lost 17lbs. I weigh everyday and there are times when the scale doesn't move for 5 days.  I know it's frustrating, but what else can we do other than...hang in there.

You're doing great!  as you have read everyone is different.  Focus on learning your eating plan and meeteing your surgeons guidelines for eating.  It will come off sooner then you think.  Good luck.

It totally is frustrating but you have to keep moving forward.  It does start to come off slow and then fast and then it seems like you hit a stall.  Then the cycle starts again.  Hang in there.  And the weight will come off just follow your plan.

The NP at my surgeon's office warned me (accurately) that that would happen to me too. She described the first couple weeks as your body being in free-fall with the weight pretty much falling off. Then, at 3-5 weeks, the body suddenly goes "WTF???" and hangs on to every ounce it can until it learns that you WILL keep feeding it, and you will NOT starve it to death. That may take anywhere from 1-4 weeks. At that point, you'll start to lose again.

I did, and you will too. And in the meantime - check your size. I dropped inches and sizes even without dropping pounds, which (according to my DD who is a trainer and my surgeon's office) indicates losing body fat and gaining muscle - a wonderful thing!