Question:
I know I am a light weight, because I only weighed 230 lbs when I had my surgery

but it seems like it is taking me forever to lose weight..I am 11 days post-op and I feel great, but I have only lost 7 lbs...I have read people's profile who have lost 30 lbs and 40 lbs in 3 weeks...Just because I am small from the start does it mean that it is going to be harder for me throughout this whole process...Please help...I am going crazy....Am I going to lose weight like everyone else?    — Ang B. (posted on April 11, 2001)

April 11, 2001
I am 15 days post op and have lost 12 pounds. I have not lost a pound in 5 days. I am following the rules to a "T" but not losing. I know it will come in time. There is not a sole on earth that could eat as little as I am an not lose eventually. I am not hungry but I am always thirsty. I sip water all day long. My main focus is protein which I get through liquid supplements. I am 5'5" and started in January at 282. Pre-op dieted to 249 on the day of surgery. Surgery was 3-28-01 and I am sitting on 237. I have taken the approach that I will keep doing everything my doctor has told me to do and it will eventually drop off me like everyone else. Keep the faith and just follow your doctor's guidelines.
   — smummert

April 11, 2001
I started at 223, and it has been slow going for me too, all I can say is weigh once a week for the first few weeks, start walking, my second month it seemed as if I didn't loose anything, but I was loosing inches. Now at 3 1/2 months I have somehow lost 60#. It will happen try not to get too frustrated comparing yourself to others. I try to make 5-10# goals for myself and that has helped me.
   — [Anonymous]

April 11, 2001
I was also a light weight 5' tall and weighing in at 236 lbs on surgery day. Weight may come off slower for us but believe me it does come off. Because of the water gain during surgery you actually may have lost more than you think. Don't get discouraged... sometimes because we are eating such a small amount of food our bodies go into a starvation mode and they loss doesn't show for a while. My surgery was on January 15th of this year and I am now down 54 pounds. The best to you.
   — marlene R.

April 11, 2001
Here is something for you to try to keep you motivated. As several people have said, when weight is coming off slow or stalled you are usually losing inches. Get you a pair of "reference jeans" or any other outfit that is currently too small. Try it on once a week and take note of how far you have to go til it fits (3", 2" or whatever) and each time you try it on notice the progress you've made. Once you can wear it, rejoice and then get another pair of reference clothes. After all, inches is what it's all about when you really stop to think about it isn't it? Good luck!
   — Kellye C.

April 12, 2001
Hello. I have experienced the same thing, even during weeks when I ate very little due to nausea. Most of my weight loss (half) was in the first 2-3 weeks also...... I think that, besides starting at a lower weight, we are still not all on a level playing field as to metabolic rates,carb tolerance, exercise needs, etc., and how we got to be obese in the first place. Some people suffer from satiety disorders or severe emotional issues, and will freely admit they ate WAY more than normal--whole pizzas, etc..... Others say they KNOW they don't eat more than their thin peers, and I believe them. (If you have insulin resistance, eating a high percentage of carbs will keep you fat. If your metabolism is just really slow, then your "margin of safety" is WAY smaller than the average person's.) Finally, there are people like me who eat at least as healthily as the general population much or all of the time, but splurge a bit too often for OUR metabolisms, or have bad habits like eating all our food at the end of the day, or too many carbs and too little protein........ I think that having obesity surgery doesn't alter these differences. A person who has simply a satiety disorder, and ate huge amounts of food pre-op, may have a decent-rate metabolism and drop the weight at amazing speed post-op...... But we will all lose the weight eventually, if we follow the program. Some of us will take longer and/or have to work a little harder, and what is new about that? Life is not, and has never been, fair...Who's to sy which is harder, having had a satiety disorder and being driven to eat to a ery large weight, or losing more slowly post-op because we never had to suffer being over 300lbs?..... .I find I lose less when I exercise less, eat too LITTLE in general, or fail to get enough protein and water. Even so, my body shrinks first, and eventually the scale numbers follow. Don't despair, it'll happen for us, too!---Jesse, down "only" 48 lbs at 11 weeks.
   — Jesse M.

April 12, 2001
I was 5'2" and weighed 263 the day of surgery 12 weeks ago- open RNY. I certainly didn't feel like a "lightweight", but I guess I was. I was expecting to lose slower than some, but I am happy to report that I have lost 75 pounds with 50 to go. While, the weight has literally fallen off, I am having some other problems that are usually associated with being further post-op. I do feel healthy and energetic. I am proof that not everyone under 300 pounds will lose slowly.
   — [Anonymous]

April 12, 2001
Hi Angie~ I'm a lightweight, too. I had my surgery on 2/28/01. I weighed 252 at 5'6. As of today I have lost 45 pounds. I don't really think that it matters if you are a lightweight or a heavyweight... I think it is how your body deals with weightloss....JMHO.....Good luck and don't worry .. It will come off soon... H.G.
   — Heather C.

April 12, 2001
Hi Angie!! I am also a lightweight. I'm 5 1/2 months post op. I started at 229 and am 5'1". Every single day after surgery for the first 3 1/2 months I told myself "It's coming off too slow - it's not going to work for me, etc." On the day of surgery I wore a size 26 jeans. Today 5 1/2 short months later I wore a size 14 jeans!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! It was truly one of the most exciting and rewarding moments of my life. I also had a lady tell me today "You really don't look like you need to lose any more weight". I could have kissed her on the lips!! (But I'm not into that, ha ha). The thing is - I've "only" lost 68 pounds. I have 32 pounds to go. But, looking back, it seems like it's come off so quickly even though while I was first losing it seemed so slow. Hang in there!! You'll make it. If I can do it, ANYONE CAN!! Best wishes!
   — ronascott

April 16, 2001
Don't worry about time... I was a light weight too. I'm 5'6", weighed 252 while waiting for my date. I started dieting and exercising prior to surgery and lost some weight. My surgery date was 9/11/00 and I weighed 222. I weighed myself this morning and now weigh 150 (20 from goal). Try not to weigh yourself too much. I drove my husband crazy initially with the weighing so he got tough on me (he threw out my bathroom scale). The only way to weigh myself was by visiting my mother (once per month). She appreciated the visits and I appreciated the chance to enjoy my progress. I've never hit a "plateau" that I was aware of because I didn't weigh myself all the time. I've been loosing a steady 8-10 pounds per month. GOOD LUCK and HANG TOUGH. Stop weighing yourself to relieve some of the internal pressure you may be feeling. It will happen.
   — Mary A.

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