Question:
Im only losing 2 pounds a week! What is wrong?
I had the VBG on Oct 3, 2001. Recovery went very well. I lost 20 pounds in like 2 weeks! Then it started to slack off, more and more. Now I am losing about 2 pounds a week with long plateaus in between. What am i doing wrong? I'm trying to include all of the food groups in my diet. I even went back to measuring out my food to 3 oz. even though I never finish it all. I also limit sweets. WHATS WRONG????? — AMEERAH P. (posted on December 7, 2001)
December 7, 2001
You sound very similar to me. I had my VBG on 8/20 and have settled into
about 2 lbs/wk. First off, you started at a relatively low BMI, second,
you have a year! I started at 249 and about 16 wks later I'm down 54 lbs.
That's about half my excess weight in 16 wks! I still have 8 more months
to go! I like slow and steady. My doctor says it's also healthier to lose
slower. 2 lbs/wk is ideal regardless of how you lose your weight, it
allows your body to adjust. When you hit your plateaus, exercise, drink
lots of water, and concentrate on protein. I know it gets frustrating but
it will come off! Hang in there and you are doing great!!
— Amy E.
December 7, 2001
Keep a food diary of every single thing you eat and take it to your
nutronist. The term limit seeets has me wondering how limited limited is?
— bob-haller
December 7, 2001
WOW! Relax! If you are losing 2 pounds a week, that is fantastic! I know
there are lots of people who post these incredible losses, but the fact of
the matter is that 2 pounds per week is a realistic expectation. My surgeon
expects that after the first month or so, patients will only lose
approximately 2 pounds per week, or 8-10 pounds per month (lap RNY). I have
lost 98 pounds in roughly 51 weeks now, so actually, I'm a little behind
the 2 pounds per week, but my surgeon is extremely happy with my progress
and says to just keep doing what I am doing. You are losing at a very
sensible rate. It is much healthier to lose about 2 pounds per week, and I
personally think it keeps you from having so much hanging skin, since your
skin has much more time to adjust to the loss. Plus, it is much eaiser on
your body to lose at that pace than one that is much faster. If you lose
faster, I think you have longer plateaus to let your body catch up. You are
doing wonderfully, and I wouldn't worry about a thing. What does your
surgeon think? Is (s)he happy or satisfied with your progress? Ultimately
as long as you are losing, what does it matter how fast? This is not a
race, it's the rest of your life. Try to be patient and celebrate your
success. Good luck.
— Maria H.
December 7, 2001
I'm going through the same thing, although I had the RNY done. For awhile I
was beating myself up over it, then I thought if I had not had surgery, I
would be losing NOTHING a week, or worse yet, GAINING. Any loss is a good
loss. Don't get too dependant on the scale either, especially if you're
exercising. When I look at the scale and see little loss, I stop worrying
when I remember that every morning I have to put on pants that are falling
off me now, and tops that hang down to my knees. Look at your body and not
so much the scale. And I agree, 2 lbs a week is GREAT! Remember the
"diet" days when we had to starve and cry and fight ourselves
just for a pound a week? Yuck! We're pretty lucky aren't we? :-)
— Anne B.
December 8, 2001
Without being too mean, now is not the time to LIMIT sweets, it's time to
ELIMINATE them! You've got 12-18 months to maximize the surgical results,
THEN you can think about eating like a "normal person"
and limiting sweets.<br>
Here's what works for me:<ul><li>2.5 liters of water a day,
minimum</li><li>60 grams of protein a day, minimum - I have to
do a 30g protein shake to accomplish this since I can't eat enough food to
do it</li><li>50 grams of carbohydrates a day, MAXIMUM (this is
where sweets will get you) - subtract fiber grams from carbohydrate grams
listed on the package to get the number you should
count</li><li>maximum of 15 g fat per meal; try to keep it well
under this</li><li>no soda or carbonated
beverages</li><li>I've added no caffeinated or alchoholic
beverages to my list as well; caffeine dehydrates you and alchohol is pure
sugar</li><li>exercise hard enough to break a real sweat for
30-45 minutes EVERY DAY, no excuses</li></ul>I am down 70 lbs
in less than 12 weeks after Open RNY using these "rules"
and honestly, I don't feel deprived at all. Instead, I feel fantastic!!
I've gone from tight size 32 jeans to loose size 24 jeans, and I can do
almost anything I want now. It's all about maximizing the weight-loss
window you've been given. Do eat a sweet treat every once in a while
(though you will find, if you eliminate them, that you no longer really
like them) but don't "limit sweets". That's the mindset
of deprivation, and it's time to live for YOU by making better choices.
— Julia M.
December 10, 2001
I really appreciate everyone who responded to my question. Apparently I
have "unrealistic expectations" as they call it. You just read
about how people have lost 40 pounds in a couple of months. Since we are
all basically in the same boat I figured the weight loss would be about the
same....GUESS NOT! But I do realize everyone is different. Also I have
started Tae Bo and walking EVERY DAY. Hopefully I can keep this up....:)
Once again THANKS to ALL of you for the support! I guess thats why WE ALL
come to this site huh?
— AMEERAH P.
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