Question:
I had surgery July 12. I have lost 15 pounds so far. The last week and a half I have

only lost one and a half pounds. Is this normal? Do not get me wrong I am grateful for the 15 but A lot of peoople I talked to say they lost lots more than that. they say about 30 their first month. are these high weight losses and am I typical in what I am losing? Am I just to anxious to lose and think the weight is coming off to slow? Lynne    — Lynne K. (posted on July 31, 2002)

July 31, 2002
not to worry lynne youll be ok! yes its normal your body is adjusting to what its just been through i think i remember thinking the same thing i experienced this as well but now at 6 months out im down 113lbs or more i weigh tomorrow so ill see what ive lost for the week through out this youll notice that your ganna have really awesome weeks and then some not so awesome for example ill have like one week with an 8lb lose one with 5 next with 4 then bam! the next i either only lose 1 or stay still for one week its just the body catching up and adjusting metabolism has to adjust too best of luck to you and congrats on your surgery!
   — carrie M.

July 31, 2002
My suggestion to all you new posties (and older ones too) is stay off the scales. My doctor asks his patients to only weigh at his office or at support group meetings. That means you only weigh once a month at the most. And, because of the infrequent weighing, you don't tend to notice the plateaus. I had lost 30 pounds when I went for my first post-op visit 12 days after my surgery. At 10 weeks, I had lost 66 pounds and at 5 months, 1 week, it was 100 pounds; at 6 months, 1 week, 120 pounds. Now, I am 8 months post-op and have lost only 5 pounds since the 6 month weigh-in. I hope this plateau will break soon, but I'm not worrying too much about it. The only reason I know exactly how much I weigh now is that I saw my doctor last week and was I disappointed. So, again, my advice would be to not weigh more than once a month - scales are NOT your friend.
   — Patty_Butler

July 31, 2002
It happens. Especially in the beginning. In my first four weeks I was down a little over 30. Four weeks later I had only lost an additional 8 or 9. Such a little amount in only my second month? When I was supposed to drop bucket fulls in the beginning?? I was devastated!! Well, I guess my bod get back in order and for the following three months I was dropping an average of 20 each. At five and half now I am down 104 pounds and once again struggling with the dreaded plateaus. It's pretty stinky, but it's a part of the deal. Don't worry...you will lose lots and lots and lots of weight. It's truly unbelievable. And remember, this - "Time is the beauty of the road being long". Just wait, it will come. Congratulations on your surgery! Best wishes!!
   — PaulaM

July 31, 2002
Hi. As all the others have said this is normal. I am 10 weeks post op and 5'3" started at 225 now 175! thats 50lbs in 10 weeks!! But it wasn't 5 per week thats for sure! I lost 25lbs the first 2 weeks, and by 3 weeks it was 30. then nothing for 2 weeks, then i would lose 1 pound, nothing for a few days, etc. the plateaus were killing me i almost got depressed but then I would remund myself of how great i had lost altogether. Then again i would think well hey...i didn't have this surgery to just lose 30 lbs...at some point it is going to have to come off. My 9 pound pupy dog eats more then me and yet i wasn't losing! For 3 weeks the scale went back and forth between 3 lbs. Then i just went to visit my mom for 10days up north and i got home, went to the scale (of course) and saw that i lost 5lbs the 10 days i was gone. My Dr wants us to eat all protein only! I have been cheating. a few pretzles here and there, a french fry from my kids lunch, half a piece of toast with my eggg in the AM, etc. Good luck....just relax....have fun. this is forever and you don't have a deadline~
   — robyn R.