Question:
I am today 12 days post-op (surgery May1). I am a little concerned about my

rate of weight loss. I have only lost 14 lbs since preop and nothing in the last 3 days. I am following the diet as ordered. It is strange, because preop I only ate 1-2 meals a day, so it feels like I am eating CONSTANTLY and my mind even thinks I am overeating. Isn't that weird? I should probably throw my scales away, but it sure it hard when that is what we measure everything by. Has anyone out there ever had this problem with feeling like they are eating too much? I am also not used to eating "sweet" stuff like Carnation Instant Breakfast, fudgescicles, yogart..even though they are No Sugar Added, it still seems like a lot of sugar to me. I have been one of those people that never ate at a consistent manner, so when I did, I overloaded it with fats and carbs. Thanks for listening, this site is great. Please give any feedback, it really helps us "new" post ops.    — Amy S. (posted on May 12, 2002)

May 11, 2002
I felt EXACTLY like you did. I had lost about 20 pounds in those first 2 weeks, sounds like you are pretty close to that. I also felt I was eating all the time and that I wasn't losing anything. I bugged people to death with my fears. In those first few weeks the scale didn't move for a few days and it panicked me. I thought "oh great, another thing that I am going to fail at"--our minds are predisposed to that belief. But, people were right. You can't eat what you are eating and NOT lose weight. It takes your body (and brain) a little bit to realize what's going on. Pretty soon the weight just started coming off. I am now 12 weeks post op and down 75 pounds. No longer do I question this surgery or the fact that it is working. You are doing great! Just keep it up-following the plan, etc and you will see the results. Congratulations!
   — Jennifer G.

May 11, 2002
I am 13.5 months post-op. A few weeks ago, I started having this sick feeling I was eating too much, so I monitored every bite I put in myself for 3-4 days. Interestingly, I was only getting in about 1200-1500/cal, and that's 13.5 months post-op. I just FEEL like I'm overeating, I'm not really! You're probably feeling the same. Just because you get really full really fast after WLS doesn't mean you're overfeeding your body.
   — Terissa R.

May 12, 2002
Hi Amy. The first few weeks are difficult at best for most of us. I lost 16 pounds my first two weeks. I was NOT disappointed in the least -- 16 pounds is 16 pounds no matter how you look at it! Anyway, I've found that my weight loss now is pretty much the same as it had always been on any diet I followed. I lose 3 or 4 pounds then nothing for a few days. Then I lose a couple of pounds, nothing after that for a week. Then I drop 4 or 5 pounds. Personally, I just think my body needs a few days to "reset" itself. As long as I am consistently losing instead of gaining -- I'm a happy camper. Try not to compare your pounds lost to others. Every person is different and just 'cause someone else lost 50 pounds in their first 2 weeks doesn't mean everyone will. Follow your doctor's orders, drink all the liquids you're supposed to and hit that protein hard. 14 pounds is GREAT and if you lost it AND felt like you were eating too much -- how GREAT is that!? Hang in there!
   — Pam S.

May 12, 2002
Very perceptive of you to notice. You ARE getting a lot of sugar in with those types of foods/beverages. I do not do milk or yogurt or any of those things, never did, forbidden by my doc. We start on good protein products made with water or sugar free "juices" in the first week. We do 5-6 1-2 oz meals per day. Quite a change from my one mega-meal! But you know, I began to feel more "satisfied" with my several tiny, well savored bites than I did with a huge pile of food. And the spacing (2 hrs or so) between the meals was "peaceful", with no desire to eat more, and yet a need for "fuel" every few hours, right on schedule. Amazing.
   — vitalady

January 19, 2005
hi, i was wondering the same thing. i am 2wks postop. i have lost 19 lbs so far. but this week i am stuck. i actually gained a pound from day to day. i did cheat and ate mashed potatoes, but got scared and didnt eat them again. is this normal to have a plateau so soon?
   — julie O.