Question:
I had surgery on Dec 19th started at 260 I have not been back to the doctors

for an official weigh in put I think I have lost 15pounds in 10 days. I am very happy with that but was wondering if everyone always looses or if some people don't and how long to you think it will take someone at my weight to drop 100 pounds? I saw mentioned before there was a weight loss graph on the site but I cann't find it    — kathy B. (posted on December 29, 2002)

December 29, 2002
Don't stress over the weight loss. That is the number one piece of advice I can give. The first several months you will notice the most dramatic amount in numbers, but it wont be until 6 or 7 months from now that you will truely notice. It takes a while for the brain to catch up. I started at 5 pounds more than you, and had lost 100 lbs in about 6 months. But keep in mind, everyone is different and it make take less time or more time for you. That doesnt make it good or bad.
   — RebeccaP

December 30, 2002
You are going to set yourself up for disappointment if you start this comparison with others. If you have frequented this site, you must have learned by now that EVERYONE loses differently. You can take 10 people that all started at 260 and each of them will lose differently at different paces. Some can do it in 6 months, others a year or more...the point being that as long as you follow the Pouch rules, you WILL lose weight. Just enjoy the ride!
   — Cindy R.

December 30, 2002
The website you are looking for to see the graph is at www.fitday.com... totally free site... You can get a great BMI chart there to see your progress. By my home scales I started at 261 - now 154 surgery date was April 17... that's a little over 8 months out. I gain & loose all over though. Just be patient and enjoy the ride... you'll most likely hit a big plateau about 2 - 3 months out when you think you'll never start loosing again, but have faith you'll get over that plateau... It seemed to me to last longer than any other plateau I've had in the 8 months since my surgery. Good Luck & happy New Year!
   — lindajenkins

December 30, 2002
First of all, congratulations! Fifteen pounds in ten days is excellent! A lot of us actually gain weight in the hospital, and come home heavier than pre-op. I weighed myself one week out and was disappointed to find I had only lost three pounds, but I think I must be one of those people who gains 8-12 pounds of water weight from the IV. I have the URL for the chart you're looking for, but a word of warning: The chart only goes out to 18 months and assumes you will lose next to nothing for the last six months of that. It calculates 65% as an average amount of weight loss. Many people have a very different experience, particularly if they work hard at it. I find it extremely depressing anytime I look at it because it tells me I'll be lucky to lose 60% of my excess weight. It's better to focus on the success, on the weight you're losing, than to get too hung up on how much you MIGHT lose in 12 months from now. Lecture over. Here's the URL! http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/postopplanner.phtml
   — sandsonik