Question:
How long before I may stop losing weight?

I am 3 months post-op lap roux en y. I have about 120 lbs to lose overall and have lost 42 lbs. Can anyone tell me when I will stop losing the weight? I know it should be around 9 to 12 months after surgery, and some say it is usually 20 lbs from goal weight. I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who stopped losing before 9 months out.I am walking at least 5 times a week,and feel like I am doing good with my food intake, but my loss seems so slow.I know everyone is different- just wondering!!! Thank you!    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 17, 2000)

November 17, 2000
Your weight loss seems to be right on target. My surgeon's "rule of thumb" is 20 lbs the 1st month, and 10 lbs. a month after that, but acknowledges that everyone has different experiences. My daughter had lost 50 lbs. at 3 weeks and I had only lost 20...that was pretty disgusting! :-) Now, at 10 months, she has lost 170 lbs, and I have lost 110 at 8 months. Things have evened out somewhat and we're both still losing just about 10 lbs/month. It seems as if the plateau periods come a little more frequently and last a little longer now, but we've learned to simply trust the process. Weighing only once a month really helped us, too. Weighing more often than that just increased our anxiety about whether we were losing "fast enough" and made us crazy. We're told that the RNY gives patients an approximate 18 month "window of opportunity for optimal weight loss post-op; after that continuing weight loss depends primarily on the patient's ability to stick with the diet and exercise regimen. Just keep up the good work...I think you're doing great!
   — Diana T.