Question:
Help!
Hi everyone. I wanted to ask a question. I'm almost three weeks post-op and I'm so-so-frustrated. I have lost weight (almost 20 pounds) but I can't see or feel it yet. I'm doing OK with eating and I'm exercising 6 days a week. I guess I need some encourgement. When.....When.....will I feel full of energy and full of life and so-so-happy I did this? Right now, it's such a struggle to exercise. After I walk my mile I come home and crash. Is that normal? Anyone...please help with any tips!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!! — [Anonymous] (posted on June 25, 2000)
June 25, 2000
My surgeon did not advise any exercise program until after the third week
post-op. Your body has been through a significant "shock" with
anesthesia and surgery and needs time to recover from those experiences.
It sounds as if you may have been pushing yourself past your body's
endurance levels at this point resulting in the fatigue that you describe.
In addition, you didn't say whether you had a laparascopic or open
procedure. An open surgical procedure will take a little longer recovery
period than the laparascopic approach. Twenty pounds is certainly within
the expected weight loss at three weeks, so don't expect too much of
yourself too soon. You'll notice the difference in inches and energy
before you know it. Best wishes!
— Diana T.
June 25, 2000
Three weeks is still so early! I know that when I was at that point, I was
questioning my decision to have the surgery, and I was also pretty
depressed. I had lost weight, but didn't look like it or feel like it, and
I was not a happy camper. Give yourself some time. Make sure you get
plenty of rest. Give yourself a chance to recover from the surgery. Soon
you'll be noticing little things.....like your shoes are loose. Recently I
came across a pair of jean that I wore to the hospital the day of my
surgery. My 10 year old daughter and I can BOTH get into them now. Time
heals all the things you're concerned about, try and be patient. I know,
easy for me to say at almost 11 months post-op and 110 pounds lost. Just
take one day at a time, and soon you'll be amazed at who is looking back at
you in the mirror!
— Jaye C.
June 25, 2000
I too am having the same exact problem that you are. I am 2 weeks and 3
days post-op and I lost 20 lbs my first week and 5 the next few days after
that but I haven't lost anything for 5-6 days now. I don't see it either in
myself that I have lost those 25 lbs. I too am walking every night and I am
so exhausted after I get through with my walk or anything else that I do. I
don't know the solution that we need but maybe someone will. I just wanted
you to know that you are not alone.
— Leslie D.
June 25, 2000
Wow, 3 weeks postop and you can walk a mile! Seriously, I think you are
being a little hard on yourself. At three weeks postop I was proud of
myself if I made it thru the grocery store without collapsing. Remember
your body has just gone thru a major trauma and needs time to recover.
Maybe a couple shorter walks would be more benificial if you feel you need
to do at least a mile a day at this stage.
As far as seeing the results of your weight loss I know how you feel, I
still didn't see much difference when I had lost 50 but other people were
beginning to notice. We just want to be rid of the excess so badly that
the wait is a real killer but it will happen!
hugs, Kandy
— kaydeeb16
June 25, 2000
Be kind to yourself!!! You are doing fine. The best thing you are doing is
exercising but you may be exercising too hard. In other words, if you have
to crash when you get home, you might be overdoing it. May I suggest you
(and everybody else!) read The Ultimate Fit or Fat by Covert Bailey, 1999.
It is probably the best fitness guide I have ever read and his approach is
very practical and uses a lot of plain old common sense. It is also a
fairly short, concise and easy to read book. More is not necessarily
better, especially if we are exercising inefficently. You are are on right
path to maximizing your results and getting the most out of the surgery.
The surgery itself will induce weight loss in almost everyone, but how we
eat and adding exercise optimizes the tool. We become an active participant
in the new process of weight loss. I fee so much more empowered because of
the surgery and have tremendous hope for the future. So when I exercise and
drink my water and eat right I just know it is all going to work this time
(thanks to the operation) so I don't feel the frustration and lack of
ambition about all the extras because I am confident the weight will come
off this time. Hang in there and keep up the good work by building the new
lifestyle changes into your daily schedule.
— Fran B.
June 25, 2000
Did you take your body measurements before surgery? If not, do it right
away. Measure your chest, your bra line, your stomach, your hips, your
thigh, above the knee, the knee, the calf, your ankle, your arm above elbow
and below elbow. Then, compare those measurements every two weeks or so.
This is a great help when you reach a plateau (as I often do) so you can
see that the fat is coming off even when the scale doesn't show it. I was
amazed at the quick loss of inches. Also, you need to rest after surgery
for several weeks then slowly work up your mileage. You seem to be pushing
yourself without allowing your body time to recover from this drastic
surgery which, in itself, was a major shock to your system. Also, drink
your water every day. You are doing just fine! Best wishes.
— Cindy H.
June 25, 2000
The first thing I suggest is to cut yourself some slack. I am 7 weeks post
op and at about 3 weeks, I got depressed and was down on myself for not
drinking enough water, not doing enough protein and not getting all of my
eating habits down perfectly. Then I read a lot of posting of others
having the same issues, and I decided that I needed to relax because it
would all fall into place. As a result, my depression ended. Your weight
loss is great. Be careful about the exercise now. Chack your doctor's
instructions. Besides walking, I cannot do anything until 8 weeks. As far
as not noticing it, what are your expectations now? If you're expecting to
go down a clothing size in 3 weeks, I think that's unrealistic. I highly
recommend you take monthly measurements. Even if you plateau you will
notice a loss in inches. I noticed weight loss in my face within 1 1/2
weeks, and it has spread to other areas since. As of 5 weeks it was 31
pounds. As for other people noticing, they approach me now and say things
like, "Oh, I love your new glasses" or "Did you get a
haircut?". Changes are happening but they can't really pinpoint what.
Eventually someone will notice that it's because I am dropping pounds.
Hang in there. I would really curtail heavy exercise. Your body has been
through a traumatic experience and needs time to heal. :)
— Paula G.
June 25, 2000
Hi. Ok, just take a minute here and re-read your question as if someone
else had written it and come to YOU for advice. Let's see now..."I've
been considerably overweight for xxx# of years, have abused my body over
and over again with various and sundry weight loss methods through those
years, have recently had a major abdominal surgical procedure done on me,
and have forced my body within all of three weeks to relinquish 20# of the
weight it has worked so hard for so long to gain, and now I want to know
why I'm not full of energy, vim and vigor." Dare I
say..."duh??" I'm not trying to be a smart a** here, honey, but
give yourself a break and don't be so hard on yourself. Consider what all
you've been through AND recognize where you've come from. You say you're
not "feeling" your weight loss yet, but 20# ago would you even
had been WILLING to walk a mile a day? You've got a wonderful start on
your weight loss journey...twenty pounds in 3 weeks is phenomenal. The
energy and the "feeling" will come. Give your body a chance to
get used to all that's happened to it. Once it realizes you mean business
and that THIS weight loss effort ain't goin' away, it'll start to cooperate
with you more. Rest when you need to as you continue to stay true to your
weight loss commitment, and increase your activity and exercise AS YOU CAN.
I'm going on 4 months post and even tho' I still haven't "felt"
those "bursts" of energy that others have mentioned, I'm not
nearly as tired as I used to be pre-op, my house is considerably
"cleaner" than it used to be, more clothes have gotten washed
more often, and I'm getting better and better at making it to work on time
AND with all my make-up on! You're doing great. Just cut yourself some
slack and listen to what you body's telling you. Good luck, sweetie, and
God bless. cj
— cj T.
June 25, 2000
WOW! You can walk a MILE? At 3 weeks, I was still suffering the effects
of my obesity and could barely walk across the room! Had enough energy, but
not enough BREATH. While I think you are being rather brutal to yourself, I
naturally have to chime in with my standard questions. How much protein
supplement (in liquid form) are you getting? 60g? How much water? Once
we're in rapid wt loss mode, it doesn't take much to dehydrate us. You can
be drinking 1 qt a day and have it not be enough, so weakness would be a
symptom. So, back to the basics: 60g of protein supplement, 64 oz of water,
no beating up of self!
— vitalady
June 26, 2000
You are doing wonderfully! 20 pounds in 3 weeks is absolutely
terrific. What you are feeling right now is perfectly normal.
It took me 5 or 6 weeks before just moving around and showering
was not exhausting. I am 12 weeks post-op and am just now really
noticing that I am losing the weight. I started out over 400
pounds and have lost 70. The feelings will come, I promise!
— rinnchris
June 28, 2000
I had my surgery in December of last year. I still get tired sometimes. I
must admit I do not exercise like I should. Are you taking your vitamins
and B12 pills or shots like you should. My surgeron told me it would be
times that you will be tired during the day and need to take a 30 minute
nap especially a few weeks post op. Cousult your doctor and good luck with
the continued weight loss.
— Barbara P.
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