Question:
Why am I not losing weight? - me too!

I am 5 weeks post-op RNY and have only lost 13 lbs. Here's what seems weird to me - I lose 2 lbs and then sit on it for 5 or 6 days. Then 2 lbs, then another 5 or 6 days of platueas. The only reason I lost 18 lbs at all is because I am developing an ulcer (per the doc) and couldn't eat for 3 days and lost 5 lbs. If it hadn't been for that, I would have only lost 13 lbs since my surgery. Anyone else seen this???    — C P. (posted on April 25, 2008)


April 25, 2008
Oops - I need to clarify - I lost a total of 18 lbs, with 5 from when I could eat. I do exercise and watch everything I eat, too.
   — C P.

April 25, 2008
OMIGOSH sweetie! You are starting this journey already a light weight! I just looked at your photos and you are barely even chunky! Your cat is cool! You will probably lose slowly because you really don't look like you need to lose much! Give yourself a break...You'll get to your goal long before many, even at a slow rate...you have a good 100 lb head start on many! ::wink:: Don't worry yourself...really.
   — .Anita R.

April 25, 2008
When I had my surgery I was 272, and I'm about your height, so I lost much quicker, but at your starting weight you are like a person who is losing their last excess weight. I am curious that your doctor would do a surgery since you weighed so "little" comparatively to most. At 272, my doctor said I was really "small', so by comparison, you are skinny...lol; don't fret, just keep doing what you were told and you'll get to your goal. It may be a bit slower but it will happen. Blessings.....
   — Kathy T.

April 25, 2008
Thanks for the replys. For those who think I was too skinny prior to surgery and wonder why I had it done - let me tell you that by the time I had surgery, I had exactly a 40 BMI, high blood pressure, severe knee arthritis, sleep apnea, and one number away from full-blown diabetes. My mom was 300lbs before she died. My dad died at 56, mom at 52. I am in my mid 40's and don't want to die at such a young age.
   — C P.

April 25, 2008
I had a BMI of 40 when I had RNY Sept. 10, 2007. I was a "light weight" too. I have now lost 95 lbs since surgery, 102 including pre-diet. It seems slow. There will be plateuss . But - it will come off.
   — JTR

April 25, 2008
Don't weigh yourself so often. This will only discourage you more, try weekly or every two weeks. The lighter you get the slower you lose.
   — Toni Todd

April 25, 2008
First think I noticed was you were below the normal to start with. Usually, insurance will not consider surgery if you are below a BMI of 40. Now to answer your questions. I had RNY on Dec 5, 2007. The first weight loss was a breaze and now I have to work at it. Yes, I hit those same Platueas you are hitting and I had them last 21 days! Here is some of the tings I tried and I hope they will help you. The Platueas are caused because your body is fighting the lack of food. I tried increasing my calories for just one day and then jerking the calories down below normal the second. I keep a food diarey, so I normally after nearly 5 month eat 800-1000 calories a day in three meals. 70% of that is protein and the rest is fresh Vegatables and fruit. No canned or packaged foods. No bread, rice, pasta or any carbs not from the meat, low fat dairy, vegatables, or fruit. I was drinking 100 oz of water a day. Nothing 5 minutes before a meal or 1 hour after. I have bumped that to 150 oz per day minimum. That is about 9 16 oz bottles of water. I skipped juices, and even crystal light to get this to work. Then I work out at the gym 6 days a week for 1 hour minimun daily. When I hit a Platuea, I skip a day and then do 2 hours the next day. I find that they are not lasting more than 2-3 days at a time now and appear less often. I weigh every day, but people in my support group say that they weigh once a week and they don't see the Plataues. I can go by the scales in the morning without weighing when I get out of the shower. Last suggestion is talk to your surgeon or his nurse and ask them for their advice. I know my doctor gave me a very small pouch at my request. I can not eat more than 3-4 oz without feeling unconfortable. Meat even finally chewed will fill me faster than vergatable and fruit, so sometimes I start with the easy stuff, because I know that I will have problems with the meat with-in about 10-20 small bites. Last, make sure that you are keeping fat to a minimun in your dairy and cooking. Oviously, no sugar other then from natural foods and the natural sugar in dairy. Let me know how you are doing. You really look great already. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 25, 2008
Fogot to tell you to look at the bottom of my profile and there is my weight chart. You can see the platues clearly, because I post my weight every day.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 25, 2008
I lost weight very slowly initially as my body held on to water. I was so upset and felt like I had been through so much to lose so little. My surgeon explained that I had just survived major surgery (I had open hernia repair as well) and that in itself is a big deal. My body was "traumatized" and held on to water to help me heal. It was frustrating and eventually the weight started coming off quicker. Keep doing the right thing as per your surgeon and nutritionist and it will happen. We are in this for life, WLS is not a quick fix. If you started this @ 500#, the weight would fall off. Good luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

April 25, 2008
look dont get discourage ok. remember everyone is different. we all dont gain or loose the same. you have to be patient. i know its a little frustrating , because you here alot of people loosing 60 lb in 2 or 3 months. but thats not the case for you or me. its funny they say you loose the most weight in the first 6 months. it was the opposite for me. iam 14 months out. the first 6 months i had only lost 30 lb. and i cried and i was so upset , depress from the little weight loss. then sudden a yr went bye and i was only 50 lbs down. then i had to learn i had a toool that i had to work and control for myself. when all of a sudden i drop 30 lb. it was like wow. and inches was comming off of me faster now then at the begining. aqnd wwhat is nice i dont have no skin sagging. its better to loose weight slow then fast. no one can look at me a guess that i had the wls RNY, people thought i lost it the natural way. because i look healthy. rember your doi ng good keep your head up. just be patien you will loose. ok .. God bless you
   — yvettetas

April 26, 2008
Carol, I had my surgery the day after you. I've also lost 13 pounds in a pattern of a few pounds over a few days then 4-7 days before the next loss. My doc is very pleased with my progress. I'm also starting at about 40 BMI. I know people say not to weigh daily, but that is what works for me. I also make a point to pay attention to how I look in the mirror and how my clothes fit. It is enough for me to know I'm on the right track.
   — guardiandoula




Click Here to Return
×