Quick intro and questions

My SIL told me about this site and I'm glad she did!  I've been lurking for a couple of weeks, but decided y'all seem nice enough so I created an account.  I'm Lynne, 28 and from Myrtle Beach.  I had my RNY April 18th and I absolutely love it.  I was considered at "lightweight" at 221.2 pounds the day of surgery, but I have a lot of comorbidities for someone my age.  I have HBP, PCOS, high cholesterol, Fibromyalgia, chronic tachycardia and Atrial Fibrilation.  Before surgery I also had sleep apnea, GERD and Type II Diabetes.  All of which have resolved in the past 5 weeks. 

My only complaint is that I've only lost 20 pounds since surgery.  I know I shouldn't complain at all and in reality I'm thankful that I've lost those 20 pounds.  I wouldn't of been able to do it on my own.  I feel like I should be losing faster though.  I recently added exercise 3 times a week to my routine and I'm hoping that helps me lose a bit faster.  I know I WILL lose the weight though it may take me a bit longer than I would like. 

Is it normal as a lightweight to lose slower?  Does that mean I'll have less excess skin?  The only areas I'm really concerned about are my upper thighs and my stomach thanks to 2 kids and 2 c-sections.  

Also at a 5 1/2 weeks out, is it normal to still have abdominal pain?  It's hard to explain, but it feels like when I'm up walking around for a while or on my feet doing housework that my abdomen is just incredibly sore.  It's pretty painful, but not so much so that I can'f function.  I don't know if my core is weak or what. 

 You sound perfectly normal to me.  Yes, lightweights do lose a bit slower.  I wish I could say it helps the skin issue but that hasn't been the case for me.  I think it is just luck of the draw.  I have seen people with massive weight loss with hardly any extra skin and some people that didn't have that much to lose and they needed plastic surgery.  Kind of luck of the draw, along with genetics and perhaps youth.
If you are concerned that you aren't losing enough you can post on the miles menu thread and see what other people are eating to lose and to maintain.

Welcome to the LW board.

Yes, we do seem to lose slower but the good part of that is that most of us make our goal weight.

It's not about pounds but percentages. http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss.html scroll down and read the article by Carolyn M. That is the best explanation I've seen.

Also make sure you measure monthly, my weight loss seem to stall this month but I did lose almost 5 inches overall.

Liz

Welcome aboard! Congratulations on your successes so far and the loss of some of those comorbidities. We do lose weight in lower pounds but we are just as speedy as our heavier buds. Many of us get to goal within a year and our heavier friends are still plugging along, don't let it get you down and try not to compare yourself to heavy weights. I'm glad you've joined us!

--gina

 ^^^THIS

It's not really slower. It may seem that way when someone on your surgery board posts that they lost 40 pounds this month.

Look at this way:

If I have 200 pounds to lose and you have 100 pounds, and I lose 15 and you lose 10 in the same time period, I've lost 7% of my EW but you've lost 10% of yours. So you are losing FASTER than I am!

I got to a normal BMI in 6.5 months and my lowest weight at 10.5. That's pretty typical for a lightweight.

Welcome and congratulations on your recent surgery!

I am definitely a slow loser....slow but steady.  As you can see I am 1 pound away from goal (and hoping to keep going to lose another 10 pounds)....it will probably take me 2-3 weeks to lose that pound but it'll happen!  Hang in there, follow the rules, and in the meantime---enjoy life!!!

You really can't compare your weightloss to others or it will drive you nuts and you will feel like a failure (which we're not!)  Some lightweights (with similiar stats than me) met goal(plus lost additional weight)  in 6 months and here I am at 10 months still plugging along!  It's all good!

I really didn't feel back to normal until 6-8 weeks but I did feel better day by day!  The exercise will help but take it easy....

Again...welcome, glad you are here!!

Welcome. 

Don't compare your self to others.  We all lose at our own pace but if we follow the guidelines, we lose.  You have done great so far getting rid of a bunch of co-morbidities.

I was sore for quite a while, and swollen.  Took me forever to get out of my 24 pants although I was losing well.  Then the sizes started dropping pretty quickly.

I am going to mirror what every one else has stated, but also say 20 pounds in 5 1/2 weeks is truly amazing. Really it is, when was the last time you did that?
As light weights we do lose slower, I am 9 mo out and still have the last 10 or so pounds to go and the scale is not moving at all. I know I am not done but hopefully it will drop really soon. As far as the skin, it really is the luck of the draw. I have had 4 children and my stomach is a mess, I am only 35 and hate my stomach but am working on it diligently to get it somewhat tighter... They need to make a miracle cream that tightens up all excess skin...

As far as the stomach pain goes , yep I am the one to talk to LOL... Not really. I had the pain well past my 2nd month. I had pulled a muscle in my stomach on week 3 and had excess bruising. Talking to many others, they have continued to have a twinge in their bellies also. I will say that if it continues, talk to your surgeon at your next appt, just to be safe.... Welcome to the board and Congrats on your weight loss so far, it does get better!

Welcome to the LW board.   Wishing you a successful journey.   Cindy

Welcome... all sounds normal to me too!  Sounds like you are doing everything right, just keep doing what you are doing the weight WILL come off!  Get ready for enjoying life!!