Question:
why am I not losing weight

I had open RNY distal bypass surgery 8-4-03, I know I am just 6 weeks out but it seems I am not losing much weight. I focus on a high protein diet, I drink my fluids faithfully and walk on the treadmill or outside 3-5 times a week. I realize everyone's body is different but I feel very discouraged about not losing. In the past two weeks I have lost 4 pounds and I had to fight for that. Does anyone have any answers? any suggestions?    — lisarhodes (posted on September 13, 2003)

September 13, 2003
I've not had surgery (yet! - my surgeon consult is 9/26), but my sister had your type of surgery 8 mos. ago and I've followed along with her very closely. She, too, was intially, a little discouraged as her weight loss hit frequent plateaus. However she is now done 95 lbs. at 8 mos. out, doing well, and still losing. It sound like you are doing WONDERFUL as far as following what you are supposed to do - proteins, fluids, exercise - MUCH better than my sister did, who did NOT drink nearly as much water as she was supposed to, and did not exercise as regularly as you seem to be doing. As you said - everyone's different and with all the good things you're doing, your body will just HAVE to start "catching up". Please don't get discouraged and keep up the good work. I'll bet the scales show the results of your hard work soon. Good luck!!
   — Carly H.

September 13, 2003
I am 8.5 weeks out and not losing much weight. I recently joined Curves and am hoping that will jump start my weight loss again. The one thing I KNOW I am not doing right is my water intake. I do not get in 64ounces a day, not even once. That is my goal for this month, to up my water intake. So far I am doing better but still have a ways go to. I recently have started using www.fitday.com and think that will help me also. If you get any good suggestions please let me know. I could use any and all help. Have a great day and good luck!
   — TheresaC

September 13, 2003
Please do not sweat it. It will all balance out in the end. I had weeks where I lost like 4 lbs in 2 weeks and it was fairly early in the process too. It will go up and down but will add up over time. I was a SMO so in theory should have lost a lot the first month or two, but not the case. But it has all totaled up nicely in 7-1/2 months. <p>Make a committment to follow your post-op eating plan and keep increasing exercise as you are able. I was not able to do much for structured exercise for 9 weeks and even then it advanced slowly. This morning I did 30 minutes of weight training and also walked 2 miles. So it will get better. Starting as a SMO means that mobility etc. may come slower, but it will come. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr

September 13, 2003
When I would find that my weight loss was at a plateau for more than a few days, I would increase my daily protein intake to at least 80 grams and reduce my daily carb intake to no more than 15 grams; using this form of the Atkins induction diet consistently worked to jumpstart the weight loss. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

September 13, 2003
There's hardly any info on your profile, so my guess would be you've hit a garden-variety plateau for a couple of weeks there, which is very, very common at 3-4 weeks post-op and can last a couple of weeks or longer. Actually, many folks hit a true plateau at that point (not losing anything for a couple of weeks -- fortunately, you are at least losing something). The library has scores and scores of questions about this early plateau, so you aren't alone. I suspect it's the trauma of the surgery, combined with a huge weight loss after surgery, that causes it. The big issue is whether you are starting to make the lifestyle changes in eating and exercise that will give you the best chance of success in the long run, not how fast the scale moves during a particular day or week. It sounds like you're well on your way on the important stuff. I suggest staying off the scale and weighing in no more than once a month -- getting on it more often than that will not make the weight loss any faster, but it will make many people impatient and feel defeated for no good reason, and many start to question why they bothered with the surgery (or are bothering with exercise and better eating habits) even though we all know the weight is not going to fall off as fast as we want it too -- these things take time no matter what you do. And, it's not losing weight that's important; it's learning what to do to keep it off that's critical (and *that* isn't a function of how fast the scale moves on the way down). Hang in there!
   — Suzy C.

September 13, 2003
I hit plateaus after every 10 pounds I lose. Whenever this happens, I increase my protein, decrease the carbs, and increase the water and exercise. Then out of nowhere, 5 or more pounds will disappear practically overnight! Plateaus are normal so as long as you're doing all the right things, the weight will start coming off again. If it doesn't, you may need to readjust something you're doing. Hang in there! :)
   — MomBear2Cubs

September 13, 2003
Throw your scale away, or put it where you cannot get to it easily like I did I put it in my storage shed. I found that I obcessed over my scale. You are exercising and your body is gaining muscle in the process. Your body is also establishing a new metabolism and it needs time to stablize. Use how your clothing fits to be your guide that things are changing with your body. Get yourself a tape measure and start measuring yourself and use that as a guide also. I am totally amazed at how many inches I have lost in addition to the weight. I only weigh myself every six weeks when I see my internist and I find that I usually loose about 5-6 pounds during that time. You do not have much in your profile so I cannot see how much you have totally lost. Don't worry the weight will start dropping and your body will set its own pace not what pace you think that it should be.
   — ChristineB