Question:
What am I doing wrong?
I had my surgery (lap rny) on 11/10/03 and have not lost any weight in the past week. I have lost 18 pounds (not counting the weight I put on in the hospital) since surgery. I am so discouraged. I hear of all of the post-ops losing 30 or 40 pounds in the first month and I have not been able to get the scale to move in a week. I get in 60 to 80 grams of protein a day and drink water until I feel like I am going to float away. Is there anything else I should be doing that I am not or am I just going to be one of those slow losers? I really thought I would have lost at least 25 or so pounds by now since I am only eating a tiny fraction of what I was before surgery. I also am walking 2 miles a day and riding a recumbent bike for 3 miles. — CAMFR (posted on December 2, 2003)
December 2, 2003
Hi Carole
You are the first person I've heard mention that they gained in the
hospital. I gained about 11 pounds and it freaked me out. I counted my
weight loss from the amount I weighed on my scales after surgery. Ok now to
your answer. How much did you weigh originally? Maybe you did not have as
much as others to lose. Or maybe you are different than most people and
your second month will be your big loss. I would not worry as long as you
are following your Dr.s recommendations to the letter. The weight will come
off. This surgery does work. For me it has been scary at times because i
kept thinking back to my previous weight loss attempts and i always gained
the weight back and in the last 10 years couldn't lose much before i went
back to my normal eating. This surgery will really help yopu to not face
those issues again. So hang in there. Be patitient and be happy that you
are losing weight. I think you are doing a great job.
— Cherol F.
December 2, 2003
Don't worry about it too much...it'll happen..I'm a slow loser too...I had
my surgery on 8-25-03 and have only lost 41 lbs...I exercise and all that
too...look at it this way...at least your skin will have a chance to keep
up with the weight loss. :o)
— Lisa F.
December 2, 2003
Hang in there Carole!!!!! I know exactly how you feel because I have been
there at about the same time you are at now. It is a plateau and you will
get through it, just be patient. I also hit a plateau at about week 9-11
did not lose for 3 weeks and than some weight came off quick. I had open
rny 8/22/03 and have lost 53 lbs so far so it does happen, but some of us
are slower losers than others. :)
— Lisa W.
December 2, 2003
Carole- I said it on the message board and I'll say it here too... You are
my hero! I'm not kidding. Getting in all that protein and doing all that
exercise at 3 weeks out it simply amazing. Don't be so hard on yourself.
Lay off the scales and keep up the good work. You'll be fine. I PROMISE.
P.S. Count that sugrgey weight gain in your loss total.
— LMCLILLY
December 2, 2003
It is more common than not to plateau around this time. I stopped losing
weight around 2 or 3 weeks post op and didn't pick up again until 6 weeks
post-op. There are clockwork like plateaus around weeks 4 or so and month
6 or so.
Keep on with everything, and you'll start losing in a few weeks (probably
way sooner).
— mrsmyranow
December 2, 2003
First off....Hi my name is Gary! Maybe you are adding lean muscle tissue
with all the exercise and muscle weighs more than fat. I wouldn't worry
about it hon. You will be losing again in no time.
— QUEENS B.
December 2, 2003
Hi Carol, I had my surgery on 11/18, I had lost 16 lbs on my own the last 3
weeks before surgery and now since my surgery I have only lost an
additional 10lbs. so you are not the only one that this is happening to. I
realize that my body has to have time to catch up with everything once in a
while. I have not lost anything for 3 days now. My husband had his
surgery on 11/25 and he has already lost 13 lbs and I had mine a whole week
sooner then him. I know it is discouraging sometimes. So hang in there,
everyone keeps telling me that it will start coming off again real soon.
God bless you.
— Cindy T.
December 2, 2003
Take your time...you didn't gain the weight over noght...it's not going to
come off over night, (although it will be fast). The scale may not be
moving for many reasons: 1) your body is readjusting to the weight loss, 2)
you may be gaining muscle while losing fat, and muscle weighs more than fat
3) you may be at a plateau, alot of people plateau for a short period of
time around four weeks out. Remember when was the last time you lost 18
pounds in less than a month? You are doing great!!!! Try to get in some
excercise, but it sounds like you are doing all the right things. YOU are
different from everyone else. YOU will lose at YOUR OWN pace. Keep the
faith and keep your chin up!!!!!!!
— Dana G.
December 2, 2003
Hi Carol, my name is Allison and I am starting to feel a little discouraged
and anxious myself, my surgery was 10/29/03, Open RYN. I had even started
wondering did I make the right decision. I've lost 21# so far and I feel
that I should have lost more but I realize, as someone else stated, this
takes time we didn't this weight overnight. And your body has to adjust to
fast weight lost so you won't get sick. If we drop the weight too fast you
can damage skin and muscle, and also your immune system will be low, which
make it easy for you to catch infectous disease. We are all in this
together. Besides that, you are doing a whole lot better then I was 3 weeks
out, I just started walking this week and it feels good to be out again.
Keep up the good work, I'm sure that we'll all get where we are trying to
go.
— Allison A.
December 2, 2003
I have a suggestion for you. Throw out your &^%$! scale. Get weighed
once a month at a friend's place. That will give you the biggest piece of
mind on the planet. Our weight fluctuates from hour to hour, never mind day
to day.
Cathy.
— defatbroad
December 2, 2003
Just so dont you feel really bad I had my surgery on 6-27-03 and I have
only lost 46 pounds I pleateau every month I only lose weight 1 week out of
the month if that and Idoallthe stuff im suppose to Im just learning to
deal with it.
— Monica T.
December 3, 2003
I had my surgery 10.25.03 and I've only lost 25 pounds so I know how you
feel. I keep telling myself a few things that maybe will help: 1. when
was the last time I lost this much weight? (never) 2. As long as the
weight keeps coming OFF, I don't care if it takes a while 3. all the
exercise you are doing (you are my hero also!!!!) is good for your heart,
muscles, EVERYTHING! Keep up the good work and keep your chin up!!
— Louise D.
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