Question:
What am I doing wrong?
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? IT'S BEEN EXACTLY 4 MONTHS AND I'M DOWN ONLY 53 LBS. WHY? A FRIEND'S WIFE HAD THE SURGERY AFTER ME AND SHE'S DOWN 80 LBS! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I'M EATING TO MUCH OR MAYBE NOT ENOUGH OR IS IT THE COMBINATION OF WHAT I AM EATING. I HAVE LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SURGERY VIA WEBSITES LONG TERM POST OP AND EITHER THEY ARE TO BUSY OR THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH QUESTIONS AND GIVING PEOPLE ADVICE. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO'S HIT MANY PLATEAUS, WHO HAS SOMEWHAT OF A ROUTINE AS FAR AS WHAT THEY EAT AND WHAT THEY AVOID IN ORDER TO LOOSE WEIGHT FASTER, IF THEY CAN GIVE ME EXAMPLES, OR IF ANYONE CAN DIRECT ME TO A WEBSITE OR A BOOK THAT I CAN PURCHASE THAT WILL HELP ME. SO FAR ALL THE WEBSITES THAT I HAVE GONE INTO DEAL WITH PRE-OP AND QUESTIONS RE: THE "BEFORE" BUT I NEED SOMETHING IN DEPTH AS FAR AS "AFTER". THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE STAFF ARE SO BUSY THEY JUST TELL YOU TO AVOID THE WRONG KINDS OF FOOD, BUT THEY DONT GO INTO DETAILS. YOUR ADVICE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS DESPERATE — ENEIDA R. (posted on December 11, 2001)
December 11, 2001
Hello Eneida, I am 3 months postop and I've lost a total of 40lbs. Compared
to alot of people on this site, that's not alot of weight loss but I am not
everyone, I am Darline and my body is losing at its own rate. I must
remember this because otherwise I too would become frustrated. You also
must take into consideration that those that started out with a larger
weight size seems to lose the weight faster. Also, I understand that we
need to eat as much protein as we can and take in as much water as we can.
(64oz). Try to not compare yourself to others and understand that the
weight really will come off. Also, that's still alot of weight to have been
lost in 4 months or even 5 months. Lots of people with dieting and
exercising do not lose that much weight in a year. I guess what I'm trying
to say is eat your protein, get in the water as best you can and exercise
or walk as best you can and the weight will come off. Even if it's not
moving as fast as you want it to. I'm just trying to relax and do the best
that I can and learn how to eat with this new little stomach of mine. It's
not easy. You'll learn and adjust. You're also not gonna do and eat
everything perfectly. Perfection is just not possible nor reasonable. Pray
for strength, guidance and patience. It'll all come together. That's what I
believe. I am also sometimes feeling what you're feeling and I have to
remind myself just the same things that I've told you. My husband says for
me to be patient that I didn't gain all this weight in 6 months or a year
and that its not gonna come off that fast either. Love yourself and just
do your best. That's all you can do. Love, Darline Harrod
— Darline H.
December 11, 2001
I don't know if I meet the criteria of hitting many plateaus because I
don't weight myself between doctor's appointments, but I would like to
offer some words of encouragement. You may not be doing anything wrong.
Some of us are just going to lose at a slower rate than others. The woman
who had surgery two days before me has lost double what I have - she's also
about half my age. Your profile doesn't have much info, so I don't know
how old you are or how many times you've lost and gained weight.
My loss started slow, but has actually picked up recently. I have stuck to
three meals a day, no snacking and lots and lots of water. Protien first,
then veggies and fruit. I limit carbs because I've found if I eat them I
get hungrier (and eat more) than if I don't. I have added a protien shake
or glass of milk occasionally if I feel hungry after my evening meal, but I
don't drink anything else (like juice, diet sodas, tea, coffee, etc.). I
saw my surgeon today and we discussed the fact that at my last appointment
I was very depressed and concerned about my weight loss (so slow). He
asked what I thought the problem was. My reaction was "my age is a
factor (I'm over 50) and my metabolism is probably not in the best shape
from all my previous dieting. I also think I wasn't eating enough - I was
taking in only about 500 or 600 calories a day." He agreed with all
of those comments. I had stopped in his office about a month ago just to
weigh myself. Since then I've lost 15 pounds. He was very pleased even
though percentage-wise I'm not where he expected me to be - I'm close, but
not quite there. I have actually increased my food intake (up to 700-800
calories a day). Physically I feel better. I also feel that if I'm hungry
enough to drink a protien shake or some milk late in the evening, it's my
body's way of telling me that I need the nutrition. You may want to write
down what you're eating for a few days or a week, then review it to see if
you can identify a pattern such as not enough protien, too many carbs, not
enough water, etc. You didn't mention how much you are eating. Like I
said, I think my slow initial loss was because I was eating too little. I
suppose it's possible to over eat at 4 months, but my guess is you may not
be eating enough or not enough of the right thing. You have to get in your
protien or you body thinks you're starving it. Hang in there - last night
I went to the library and looked up every question about slow weight loss
and printed all the responses. Try it - you'll find that you are not alone
and probably not doing anything wrong. Just follow the rules and you'll be
fine.
— [Anonymous]
December 11, 2001
I'm lucky to have a nutritionist in our after care program. They are very
busy but email seems to work when I can't get through directly. Anyway, it
sounds like you have enough questions to warrant a nutritionist's time
through your doctors office or surgeon's office. Everyone else is getting
care there. Why doesn't the help you need count? It does count.
Apparently, the wrong people are trying to answer your questions. (They
could've given you those vague answers long before your surgery. Those
vague answers have helped all of us through the years. Sure. I'd love to
say, "Wow, eat good foods, I never thought of that!" Duh!) You
deserve qualified help. I would ask, (tell) them you want an appt with
someone completely qualified to understand (or willing to inderstand)your
new plumbing and nutritional needs.
— Sharon M.
December 11, 2001
I am 7 months post-op and down 70 lbs. I loose weight in little
bursts--nothing for three of four weeks then 10 lbs gone. I don't consider
myself as being on plateus anymore I just except that this is how I loose
weight. I am 40 lbs from goal and I am happy with the results.
— Laura R.
December 11, 2001
Every BODY is different. I know, I used to compare myself to everyone
else. I am a slow *winner*. There are a ton of advantages to not losing
super fast, body gets a chance to catch up, head gets a chance to catch up,
skin can draw up as the lbs drop (don't sag as much, saggy yes but not as
bad as some). I am almost 8 yrs post op, I am now at maintenance, I lost
278 lbs. hang in there, drink a lot of water, eat protein first then
veggies and try not to graze (I eat 6 small meals a day so I don't graze)
Hope this helps a bit
Hugs
Rita - open rny 3/31/94 - 463/185
— vt_rita
December 11, 2001
I am only four and a half months out and I have lost 106 pounds. I want to
start by saying that I weighed 370 at the time of surgery and bigger people
lose faster. I do want to comment on the plateaus and what to do if you get
stuck. I plateaued twice for one week and almost 3 weeks after that. I had
to look at what I was eating, cut out carbs, plan my meals and exercise
like a mad man. Every day that I stick to the program 100 percent I lose a
pound or more EACH day! I do not do protein shakes and alot of others
recommend that so there may be different opinions. This is what my one
pound losing days look like...I get up a exercise (walking, stepper,
eliptical cross trainer, whatever) before work for 35 minutes on an empty
stomach. I want to burn fat on my body, not food I just ate. I shower, go
to work and have a boiled egg at my desk. If I dont drink anything for the
next 3 hours, I will stay full. If I drink a drop, I get hungry faster.
Before lunch (about 1 hour) I drink 3 glasses of water, it may take me an
hour, but I drink it. Lunch--some type of protein with NO CARBS. This means
piece of salmon broiled the nite before, seafood, whatever you stomach, I
even had a pork chop once. I do not drink for at least 2-3 hours so i can
remain full! I put on my workout clothes before I leave work and go
directly to the gym. There, I drink tons of water while I am working out.
Probably another 4 glasses worth. I do 30-45 minutes of cardio, I really
push myself to the limit, I am learning to slowly jog now. I do a little
muscle work every other day. I come home, shower, stretch, drink a glass of
water, and eat some more protein. It is gettin close to 8 pm now, and I
know I should eat earlier,but I gotta get the workout in. If I get hungry,
I get another boiled egg, jello or just get a scond portion. I have learned
that we will stay full longer if we dont drink after meals. I had a hard
time understanding about the eating and drinking, but if effects how long
you stay full and how much more you can eat. Good luck and I hope this
helps you!
— Courtney W.
December 12, 2001
I love an article that I reread at least monthly to keep me on track. It
talks about how to use your new pouch. Its real long and can be boring but
it goes over some real important things. Like I said, I consider it my
bible.
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastricpouch.htm
Question- how many times have you lost over 50lbs in 4 months? Its still
impressive weight loss.
— Helen B.
December 12, 2001
I am going through a similar situation. I have lost 62 pounds in 7 months.
That is NOT what I expected in the beginning! My doctor told me I could
expect to lose 12 pounds a month for a while, but my average is only about
5 or 6. Still, I feel great and lots of people tell me I look great. I
started out at 256, and my doc says that larger people lose faster. A lot
of people tell me they can't believe I was big enough for the surgery in
the first place. Still, I know of people who had surgery a few months
before I did who are in sizes 8 and 10. I'm still in a 14 or 16. However, I
was in a 22 before surgery, and my eventual goal is a size 12. I have 38
pounds to go to reach 100, which was my original goal. So, when I look at
it from that perspective, I'm doing pretty well. And so are you! One thing
I did to help my depression over not losing as fast as some other people
was to join a gym. I absolutely love it! I lift weights, spin on a bike,
and walk on a treadmill. This has been the best thing for me because my
flab is firming up, and it makes me look like I've lost more than I have.
So don't give up! You are not the only slow loser out there. The important
thing is that you are still losing and you are not alone.
— Roxanna
December 12, 2001
7 yrs out here. My criteria has changed only slightly from the wt loss
stage to the maintenance stage. I take in more protein supps than I'd
expect anyone else to take, but aside from that, it goes roughly:
at least 60g of protein supps (I do 150-180g)
64oz+ water (subtract any caffeine beverages from that)
no milk
no sugar
no grazing
no drinking with meals
6 one oz meals per day (at 7 yrs, I do 4 meals, a little more food)
I don't avoid fats, but I avoid sugar like the plague. I don't count
calories, but I do count sugar g and keep an eye to volume. I lost 150#,
and they have not found me yet.
— vitalady
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