Frustrated

Ok so I know you are not suppose to day this but........Am I losing fast enough?  I understand everyone is different but gosh.   Since surgery I have had 1 big lose.  After that I will loose a couple puonds and then it seems like nothing happens for a couple of weeks.  Did I stretch my sleeve out?  I started running but maybe am not getting enough protein.  It seems like all I eat is protein but maybe I need to bring my shakes back.  I need some pointers

I was 54 when I had surgery and spent my life dieting.  As a result, my metabolism was shot.  I did not expect to lose quickly.  Knowing this I decided I would not bring a scale into my home.  In fact I had not had one for over 24 years.  I knew if I weighed and the scale did not move or moved up, I would easily become discouraged.  So I decided to weigh at my doctor appointments and at the gym.  I averaged weighed about every 3 weeks.  I tried to weigh once per month.

This does not work for everyone, but it was the answer for me.  I quickly learned my weight loss pattern was a stall every 3 or 4 weeks that lasted from one to 3 weeks.  All in all I averaged 8 pounds per months - expect that first month, of course. 

There were times I felt I lost more quickly on past diets than I was losing post RNY; however the difference was huge.  My surgery gave me hope and confidence that as long as I followed my plan and exercised I would be successful.  I had to be successful because of the surgery.

Make sure you take your supplements, drink plenty of water, get enough protein and exercise.  The weight will come off.  Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others.  My surgeon warned me about that in the very beginning. 

Now that I am in maintenance I weigh every single day.  It is rare I skip one day.  In maintenance I must keep myself accountable. 

Thank you for the words of encouragement.  I probably will have to get rid of the scale. 

I tried to not fall into this trap but I guess I did.  Now I will work on getting out of this rut and back on the positive train :)

dasie - your weight loss sounds a lot like mine and I would love to know more about your experience.  My first month I lost 23 lbs and then each month after, its been 8 lbs a month.  I am one week shy of my 5th month and I am worried that it will slow down even more than this and I won't reach goal.  Did you continue to lose the 8 lbs a month from months 6-18?  When did you stop?  What advice do you have if any?

I continued to lose that amount for about 14 months.  I absolutely believe my loss would have continued at close to that rate, but I got off plan in a very big way.  

Fourteen months post op we had a death in our family.  My husband is the executor of the estate.  As a result, we were required to go out of town every 4 days to deal with estate matters and to remodel a home in order to get it placed on the market.  We stayed in the house, but the kitchen was non-functioning due to remodeling.  All our meals were take out, carb ladden, and that was when my weight loss came to a screeching halt. 

I had always planned to going below goal in order to make maintenance easier.  I had received that advice..." lose as much as you can as fast as you can," and the other advice was "go below goal."  Well I did not go below goal, and I don't feel I lost all too quickly. 

One thing I did do was not try to figure out when I would stop losing.  Some say we stop at 12 months, some say 18 months and others say different months.  I will be 3 years post op in November, and I just reached my goal.

This is a lifelong journey, and I know I will need to keep living on my plan for life if I want to maintain my current weight.  When the scale bumps up a pound or two, I immediately respond.  Maintenance requires a lot more effort - at least for me.

Wow, your story is a lot like mine.   I just hope I too continue to keep up my 8 lb a month weight loss until month 14 - that would certainly get me to goal. 

I lost my father 6 weeks ago very unexpectedly.  He was the light of my life and we were very very close.  The trauma has certainly sent me for a loop - eatingwise.  I am an emotional eater and this sadness has been hard to wrestle with in terms of food.  I am also the administrator of his will so there has been a lot of pressure on me.  Each day I know that to stay healthy I must keep following the rules and that my dad would be so proud of me  for doing so.  He was my biggest supporter when I told my family I was going to have RNY and so I hope his is my Angel now in heaven watching down on me...helping me even make sure to take my vitamins, make the right food choices and getting excercise.

One thing his death reminded me of is that life really is precious.  We need to take care of ourselves.  He wasn't obese, didn't have any medical maladies and just dropped dead at 73.  As much as I have starteed this journey for myself, I am now also doing it for him. 



I will also try to not dwell on when I will stop losing.  I just get anxious abou tit bc I do hear it slows down around 9 months...since I am a slow loser I worry that I won't make my goal by 9 months andits nice to hear there is a lot more losing to be done if I want it.

Thank you for all your help.

I am sincerely sorry to hear about your father's passing.  You are blessed to have had him and to have had the relationship you had. 

I understand the emotional eating aspect.  I am still learning to overcome that habit. 

I wish you the best, and feel free to contact me at any time.

 I'm so sorry to hear about your father's passing. Know I will keep a good thought and some prayers for you and your family. 

I was a slow loser also.  Never more than 2# a week, then it tapered off to 1# then .5# per week the closer I got to goal.

Try to get your protein in 60-80g at least.  I started running in maintenance and actually gained
weight because I was adding in the wrong kind of carbs.  Try fruit--not flour products or granola bars for your snack after running.

You really can't compare yourself to others.  Just doesn't work.  If you are doing your plan, getting in your protein, keeping the carbs low, moving, you will lose.  Start posting on Miles and menus and maybe someone will have some advice.