Trying to stay encouraged....

This is more of an accountability post. I am feeling a little discouraged and when this happens, I have a tendency to withdraw from my support systems. Being so early out (almost 7 weeks) this would obviously be a huge mistake, so I decided to post today....Here's the scoop...

Presurgery loss = 7 lbs (245 to 238)

Surgery Date: 8/27/2012: 238

1 month post op (9/27/2012) : 215 .....23 lbs lost

Okay, so here I am in my second month.....10/27/2012 is right around the corner and will mark 2 months out  and so far, I've lost only 7 lbs. I am at 208 :(

My goal for the second month was another loss of at least 20 lbs, doesn't look like it's going to happen.

I wish I knew what I were doing wrong. I am exercising 5 times per week 45 minutes each time (walking/jogging)...drinking plenty of water, getting sleep, and eating very low carbs....high protein.

I am eating around 3 oz. at each meal....for solids, sometimes less, and for something like soup or chili...probably 4 oz. I have 70 grams of protein at a minimum per day. Am I eating too much? I am weighing all of my foods each meal! A typical day's food:

Protein shake (2 scoops for 52 g of protein)

Breakfast: Greek yogurt (4 oz)

Lunch: turkey chili (3-4 oz) OR 1/2 LC tortilla (5 carbs) with Hummus

Dinner: healthy choice soup (3-4 oz)

Sorry for complaining. I'm happy about month 1, but month 2 probably will be discouraging given results thus far. I'm staying off the scale for 10 more days...I can't take the feeling of defeat. I just feel sad that I went through so much and the loss is slowing so quickly :(

Whoa! As a lightweight you don't have that kind of weight to lose that fast. Most of us lose more like 20 pounds the first month, 10 the next few and so on. We just don't have that much to lose. 

You're doing just fine but do stay hooked in here with us.  ; )

--gina

^^ What Gina said...I lost 23 my first month and all of ELEVEN the second...by month number three I was down to 8 and after that plodded along at about 5 a month til I got to a normal BMI...In there I stalled several times but my longest stall went from Sept 2011 to Feb 2012...Then down another 5 lbs.

Liz

Lots of folks have an early stall where they don't lose anything for a few weeks.  You are still losing.  This will work as long as you work it.  It does take time.  You will go through times when you can't believe how much you are losing and others when you can't believe you aren't losing.  Your surgery put you in this game for the rest of your life.  So, if you lose 20 lbs or 10 lbs a month, it is ok.  You will continue to lose as long as you continue to play the game.  Diets are short term, this is not. 

It doesn't look like you are doing anything wrong.  You are just impatient.  Give yourself some time.  Don't compare you to anyone else.  Everyone is different.  Up your protein some, be sure you are getting your fluids in and relax.  It will happen.  Just relax and do your part and let it happen.

Don't get discouraged!!  You are doing great.  Like everyone said most people drop around 20 the first month and then anywhere from 7-10 the next few months and then it even gets less.  Just keep plugging away

I might add a snack or protein drink in the afternoon and at night to your daily plan to keep your metabolism going.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Linda

 You are doing great!!!  

Enjoy the journey.   

I was a slow loser and felt a lot like you.  It's going to be okay.  Don't withdrawl.  

You will get there.

I don't think you are eating too much.  

K

My highestt physician recorded pre-surgery weight was either 244 or 246.  I gained a few more by the time I started my pre op diet.  On my last appointment 4 days before surgery on Nov 17, 2009,  I weighed 238 when I completed my pre-registration at the hospital.  I just checked my health tracker, and on January 9, 2009, I weighed 207. That was 31 pounds in 7.5 weeks. Our numbers are almost 100% identical.

I never want to sound discouraging, but the truth is we do not continue to lose at the same rapid rate as  we did immediately following surgery.  Not too many month(s) post op the weight loss slows.  It slows at different rates for different people.  For me, I averaged 8 pounds per month - sometimes 10 - but usually 8 or so.

I measured success according to progress.  I never set a specific number to lose each month.  My dream was 10 pounds, but I quickly learned my body would respond in its time.  I tended to stall every 3 to 4 weeks.  I did not have a scale in my house and chose to weigh at the doctor's office or  at the gym.  I tried to weigh once monthly while in the losing stage, but it averaged every 3 weeks.  I decided to take it one day at a time.  I did not want to set goals because at my age I had experienced too many failures and simply did not know how my body would respond. 

I think you are doing great. 

This has got to be the BEST forum on OH...no doubt.

You ladies are some of the nicest around. Thanks for the encouragement you have given me so far along my journey. I will continue to heed your advice. I trust you all, because you have been there.

I will press on towards the mark, and try to do so with a more positive attitude.

I am so grateful to have found this forum :)

Don't get too frustrated!!!  I was a slow loser....but I finally became happy with the fact that slow and steady was ok---in fact I think it was better for the skin not to lose it all too fast.  Maybe we will have less sag!!!

My starting weight was 218 and I think I only lost 12 the first month and then averaged 5-8 a month after that. In the beginning I was fearful that the surgery wasn't working....that I would be the only person that had surgery and didn't lose weight!! But put those fears aside and keep at it and you will be sooooo very happy at all the changes you have waiting for you. 

You are doing great!!