Question:
I am in dire need of advice, suggestions and help

I will be 7 mo's post-op on the 24th of Nov. & have lost only 55 lbs. What is a matter with me? I know 2 women that don't exercise, drink lots of water and eat whatever and have managed to lost 90 to l00 lbs. How is this? I know I have not been consistent with the above mentioned but I am the slowest loser ever. My surgeon's nurse told me that the purpose of this surgery is so that I won't ever have to diet again but in my case this isn't true. Please help!!!!! Thanks    — Twin R. (posted on November 20, 2003)


November 19, 2003
Hi there, Have you been taking measurements? When I was not losing i was losing inches. Are you eating lots of protein? Are you also watching those carbs. Don't worry..My feeling is that maybe if I lost it slower maybe i would not have a panni. Don't loose the faith just remember that this surgery is only a tool! Best of luck
   — sarah C.

November 19, 2003
First of all, I can't believe that your Dr.'s nurse would tell you that the purpose of this surgery is "so that I won't ever have to diet again!" I guess that all depends on your definition of diet! Because, yes, you do have to watch what you eat for the rest of your life. If you don't change your eating habits, the weight will not stay/come off. Believe me, I'm NOT bashing YOU, I just can't believe someone would say that. You really didn't say what you were eating, so I'm not sure if that is the reason for the slow loss. Don't be fooled into thinking you can still eat whatever you want, just in smaller portions. While, apparently SOME people can do that, most can not. Don't listen to the people who say "I can eat anything I want and still lose weight" they are truly the exception. I am 10 months out and, while I'm very grateful for this surgery, it has been a LOT of work and dedication to changing my eating habits and having a good exercise routine. I eat NO white carbs and haven't since I had the surgery. I eat mostly protein and vegetables ( and I'm very selective about those). I get some carbs in things like nuts and beans and certain veggies, but none from bread, pasta, potato or rice!! Please don't feel discouraged, the weight will come off if you follow the rules. Remember. . .slow and steady wins the race, and it's really worth the work.
   — Kathy S.

November 19, 2003
You said a couple things that you need to reevaluate. #1. You know 2 people who don't exercise or watch what they eat and they lost more than you. #2. Your nurse told you surgery means you never have to diet again. Those seem to be the 2 things about this that stick out in your mind. Tell yourself this -- everyone is different and #1 and #2 above don't apply to me. Period. The most successful folks who get the weight off and MORE IMPORTANTLY...Keep it off, are the ones who consistently follow the plan (yes you can slip up from time to time but be consistent about getting on track), and EXERCISE. I also do the protein shakes and lots of water too but I don't know the stats on that. Anyway...quit trying to think that this should be easy for you. Change your thought process. This should be the hardest thing you've ever done for yourself. Mentally, physically etc. People that don't exercise and eat whatever they want will eventually defeat themselves. That's just natural common sense. The bottom line for you is that if you do all you're supposed to (barring any medical issues like staple line disruption etc) you will lose weight. Slow, fast, or whatever. It will come off. There were times I was a slow loser compared to my friends, times that I felt like I wasn't doing what I was supposed to etc. Now at 2 1/2 years out I am maintaining my goal and look back and realize that I was consistent even when I thought I was a slow loser (which everyone thinks at some point or another). So...my friend, stop feeling sorry for yourself and trying to compare yourself to everyone else and do what you know you have to. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

November 20, 2003
Hi Twin, I agree with what the others have said. Everyone is different. You profile hasn't been updated in several months, so it's hard to say what my be causing your slow loss. What are you eating? Do you get regular cardio exercise? I noticed about month 5 my loss really started to slow down. I have exercised like a mad woman since 3 weeks post op, and I know that probably has a lot to do with my sucess thus far. Sometimes I think it's not fair - those people who never exercise and eat crap and still lose so quickly! Me, on the other hand, I do everything I'm supposed to do and exercise like crazy and still lose at a slower pace! Barb 4/7/03 5'3" 235/144/130
   — Barbara C.

November 20, 2003
The word 'diet' means deprivation to me. I choose to use the term 'food plan' concerning what we should and should not eat. I was never told I would not have to ever 'diet' again, but I was under the impression that I would never have to feel deprived. And this has proven true. I am one year post op and I have lost 233 lbs. I have 20 more to goal. My obesity stemmed from OVER, OVER, OVER eating. I was not a snacker or an emotional eater. But I ate BIG time HUGE helpings. This is no lie...I could eat TWO double meat hamburgers and two fries and a MEDIUM coke. That is all I would eat until dinner and then I would eat a whole half of a LARGE pizza. So this surgery was the PERFECT answer for me. I still eat whatever I want to eat, but I eat sooooooo little of it now. I am not a dumper and I am glad. I want to have the option of having that HALF piece of pie or birthday cake. I just never could take that mental deprivation of 'diets'. I was NEVER happy on a 'diet'. This surgery is phenomenal in that it has totally controlled the volume of what I eat. I do eat my protein first and I LOVE veggies and fresh fruit and salads, so that gets eaten next. Then I might taste my potato or pasta or rice...just a bite or two. Seems I have lost my interest there. If I desire it and there is room, I might have a tiny taste or two or three of dessert. I always know when I sit down to a meal, I can have what I want and it will be all in control. Wonderful feeling! Total liberation for me. Twin, do not measure your success by that of another. There are practical reasons some of us lose faster than others. One of those reasons is the bigger you start off the faster it seems to come off. However, the 'light weights' get to their goal about the same time, as they have less to lose. Taking measurments is the way to go. That will tell you you are losing. Scales are not a true indicator of how much success you are having. Hang in there. You are doing wonderfully.
   — Ginger M.

November 20, 2003
If I ate whatever and didn't exercise I wouldn't lose, period, so don't feel bad. The woman that told you that surgery means you'd never have to diet again is sadly mistaken. That's only true for the first few months. If someone doesn't change their eating habits, they won't get to goal, or stay there.
   — mom2jtx3

November 20, 2003
Why haven't you updated your profile? Those of us who want to help usually check the profile before providing thoughtful advice. The only clue you give is that you have not been consistent with the above mentioned (drinking lots of water, eating whatever and exercising). If you do not drink lots of water, eat whatever you want and do not exercise, you will lose more slowly and eventually stop losing way before you want to. You need to pay less attention to others and work on maximizing your window of opportunity now. Eat small frequent meals (5-6 times a day) to keep that metabolism burning, add regular heart pumping exercise (just do it) to help boost the metabolism and burn at a more efficient rate, eat protein first, minimize or eliminate bad carbs and sugars, and drink tons of water. It will get you there....but remember everyone loses differently.
   — Cindy R.

November 21, 2003
Hey Twin~ Your doctor's nurse needs a lesson in "verbal cues" when it comes to talking to his WLS patients about their eating habits. Unfortunately, you will be having to watch what you eat every day, for the rest of your life. I have found that since surgery, I am *more aware* of what I eat NOW, vs. whenever I dieted. Secondly, you have to understand that if you don't eat properly and continue the same ol' habits as before surgery, you are not going to lose. Those women are enjoying the benefits of it now, but take it from me, they will have a hard lesson to learn when after their window of opportunity closes...B/C if they continue to "eat whatever they want and not exercise" they are going to gain their weight back. Also, you've lost 55 pounds that you would have not been able to shed in a long time. That's 55 pounds that you can consider gone forever! Unless, you don't get exercising or eating right. I am not trying to preach, but you need to understand that everyone loses differently. Also, depending on how big your surgeon made your pouch may be affecting how much you lose. There are some surgeon's that "tailor make" the pouch to fit the history and co-morbids of the patients. For example, my best friend and her friend had surgery by the same surgeon. But my best friends pouch was made bigger than her friends pouch b/c her friend had out of control high blood pressure, so their surgeon felt that her friend needed to get that weight off quicker. Also, another fact that you may want to consider is this...If they were much heavier than you, they will initially lose faster. I was almost 15 pounds heavier than my best friend and my weight loss was much quicker than hers. It actually took her 2 yrs to get all of her weight off...But she is still maintaining 136 at 3 yrs out. So, you need to focus on your loss and try not to focus on them. That is so discouraging when you are trying to stay focused on yourself. But you are each different and your bodies are all different...Just don't close your window before it needs to be. Here's to Health --->
   — Marni

November 23, 2003
Thank you all for your advice, I have had a slow start, my 3 weeks post-op I had lost only 17 lbs and from there it has not been to good, up until 2 months ago I stopped counting calories and protein grams because I didn't see any changes but when I saw the profiles of other members at WLS my heart sank and spun me into a minor depression. I just feel like this surgery didn't work for me. I don't know what else to do. My surgeon office is 300 miles from where I live so it isn't easy to call or go by for an appt. Thanks again for your advice and suggestions. Twin
   — Twin R.




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