Question:
How slow is too slow to lose weight at 1 yr post op?

I am 13 mo post op and have lost about 120 lbs but have stayed within that range for a month now. I notice a lot of diarhea when sugar and fats are in my diet.That part is normal I know. Dumping! Yuck! Will I ever get down another 50 lbs? It seems like I'm not losing much anymore!    — Patti H. (posted on July 21, 2003)

July 21, 2003
You say "not losing much". So are you still losing a little? 120 pounds in a year is awesome and it does slow down as we get further out. I started as a lightweight (277 at 5'7") and after the first 4-5 months it has slowed down considerably without my changing much at all. I do however still lose, just not 15 pounds a month anymore. More like 7-10. I do hear people say that they are not losing when indeed they are still losing a pound a week. It is just not the stunning loss that we get early on and seems like nothing but it sure can add up. I can encourage myself by adding up what I have lost in a month now as opposed to a few days or a week. I am down 100 pounds and have 30 to go and these are definitely much slower going but they will come off as long as I stick with it. You must feel great! Good Luck. :)
   — Carol S.

July 21, 2003
I'm the queen of slow losers but it's OK with me. I'm 15 months out and have only lost 91 pounds. And no, I did not start out as a lightweight. I am 5'3" and weighed 321 at surgery. The fact that I'm a revision, diabetic, in my mid-forties, hypothyroidic and have severe spine damage hasn't helped me speed up the weight loss any, but I'm still thrilled with what I've lost so far. One thing I have noticed is that even though I'm not losing much weight I'm losing tons of inches. I've gone from a very tight 34/36 to a well fitting 20/22 and sometimes a tight 18. That's just fine with me. I make sure I get at least 80 grams of protein, less than 50 grams of carbs, and at least a gallon of water a day. I work out at the gym at least 4 days a week. I still want to lose at least 70 more pounds but have resigned myself to the fact that it is just going to take a long time. I don't believe in limiting myself with a window of opportunity with the surgery. That puts too much pressure on me with an 18 month time constraint. I'll just lose as I lose - follow all the rules - it'll come off. I'm so much healthier than I was before the surgery and feel fabulous. We have visitors from out of state and we have been on the run for 3 days now and, although I get tired at bedtime, I can keep right up with them with no problem. Don't put too much pressure on yourself and, for goodness sakes, don't compare yourself with others. I did that for the first 8 months and nearly made myself crazy. We're all different and we all lose at different rates. Just make your eating and exercise plans distinctive for you. Good luck.
   — Vicki H.

July 21, 2003
Eventually, it's up to you whether you lose to goal. The surgery alone does alot, but as you get closer to goal, you need to work harder. Get rid of ALL white flour and white sugar until you're at goal. Make sure you're following the "pouch rules". You'll get there!
   — mom2jtx3