Question:
13 weeks lost 34 lbs depressed

I have a Dr.'s appt. in 3weeks but at 13 weeks post op I have only lost 34 pounds. I eat all my protein and stay in the protein food choices, I get 100-120 ounces of water, I drink protein supplements, walk 6-7 days a week and exercise with weights 3-4 days a week. I know I started a lightweight but I've never heard of anyone loosing this slow and it has been slow from the start. Even my nutritionist says it is slows and we've made changes but still slow loss. I know people that has lost more than this on their own. Also, My husband has never mentioned my weight prior to surgery and was leary of me having it done, but now he doesn't understand why Im not loosing faster. Every week when he ask how much I lost I just see the look on his face. I hate it, but it is not that he wants me to be skinny he just doesn't understand for what I eat and the procedure I went through how I could not loose faster. I got so discouraged. Today was weight day and I was down 1 pound and he said you need to talk to your Dr. and I have and I plan on it in 3 weeks. I feel like I can't take any more.....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    — Noreen M. (posted on August 10, 2003)

August 10, 2003
at 4'1" and 338 lbs I was hardly a lightweight, but my beginning WL was abysmally slow- at 20 days out I had lost TWO lbs! Now, 19 mo out, I have lost 188 lbs and am almost at goal have surpassed my goal and am almost at drs' STop losing point of 135. My pointis, don't be discouraged! GIve your body a chance and tell your husband you don't understand either, but you need to have faith in the process and HE needs to have faith to support you- talk to your doctor but don't WORRYT- that doesn't help- trust one who knows.
   — jomu

August 10, 2003
Hi, I just wanted to say that it's my understanding that everyone loses at their own pace. I'm still pre-op, so maybe it's easy for me to say, but I think that as long as you're losing and doing all the right things, you're on the right track. Those people that lost more that you have on their own...Have they KEPT it off??? Do you know how many inches you've lost? Lastly, how do you feel, physically? Are you noticing that you have more energy, that you don't hurt as much? In my humble opinion, that is more important than the numbers on the scale. I hope this helps, and maybe some post-ops have more advice. Good luck, sweetie! I think you're doing great!
   — Moysa B.

August 10, 2003
Sorry for your slow loss, but be proud of loosing 34 pounds! I was a slow looser, and I thought I was doing everything right I was only getting 650 calories a day and 3 protien drinks, and my water. I had read on here many people use the site fitday.com and keep track of there foods, this charts your intake of foods and also gives you a pie graf, showing the amount of fat protien and carbs. the first time I entered (what I thought was good) what I eat, I was amazed at the amount of fat in my diet, and it far out did my protien, and carbs. The fitday.com has made me see my mistakes and has helped me plan healthier foods and keep the balance right. I keep my calories under 700, fat grams under 20 grams, and carbs between 30 and 50 a day, plus my water intake, and vitimins. Just give it a try and see if you can find your problem area. Good luck and I hope you find your answer.
   — wizz46

August 10, 2003
HI Noreen, I had surgery on 05-27-03, open-rny. I will be 11 weeks on Tuesday and I have struggled to lose every pound! I went 4 weeks w/out losing anything! I have lost 44 lbs. but I got on the scale today and it says I have gained back 2 of those lbs! So I am down 42lbs. I was discouraged but I am just glad I am losing! I also think losing slow may be good in the end because maybe we won't need as much plastic surgery for hanging skin. Keep your head up and remember we ARE losing! Mindy TX
   — Mindy B.

August 10, 2003
I know you must feel very discouraged, but try to remember this: if you continue to limit calories and continue to expend energy... the weight HAS to come off! It has no choice but to come off. Another thing, it seems to me that people who are slow at getting the pounds off tend to KEEP them off longer. I am not sure why, but it seems that way to me. So, keep your chin up & know that you will lose the weight (maybe not quite as fast as you want to, but you will do it)!! Take care!
   — Lisa M.

August 10, 2003
Hi Noreen, I had surgery the day after you, May 14th, and I have lost 34.5 lbs as of today, so you are not alone. I am also a light weight. I started at 227 and am 5'0". Nothing I do speeds it up, so I have just learned to ralax. It will come off, don't stess about it. Don't compare yourself to other people. We are not in a race. Your not going to lose weight as fast as someone who needs to lose two hundred pounds.
   — Robin T.

August 11, 2003
Aw Sweetie, Do I ever know how you feel. I was a very slow loser at first. My first three months were so frustrating to me. At my first post op appointment, my nurse sounded so disappointed in my loss and that made me very upset as well. Here's what I did. I told my surgeon that what I needed was support and that I knew that people lost weight at different speeds...Once I was told that it was all good and that I was not abnormal, I relaxed...Once I relaxed, the weight came flying off. I had surgery last June and I lost every pound of what I needed to (104 pounds) by February and the bulk of that was in my SECOND three months. Honestly, keep doing all the right things like you are, enjoy the loss that you have experienced, relax, relax, relax and it will be just wonderful - I know it! Take care. Best of everything. Cathy
   — Cathy K.

August 11, 2003
You say you work out with weights a lot. Are you losing inches but just not pounds? You may be simultaneously losing fat and building muscle resulting in a low net loss of weight but significant reduction in size.<p>Relying on the scale alone will get you nowhere. Look at the total picture: inches AND pounds lost, clothing sizes lost, and percent body fat lost. And THEN if you are not making any progress in ANY quadrant I would worry.
   — ctyst