Question:
Another question on slower than hoped for weight loss

I had lap RNY three weeks ago today. I lost 11 lbs. the first week and 3 lbs. week two and three for a total of 17 pounds. While I am ok with this, it does seem that others that had surgery the same day that I did are way above that. My question - SInce January, I lost 25 pounds prior to surgery, most in the first three months. However, I did keep all of it off with no regain before surgery. Has this affected my weight loss since surgery even though it was a few months ago? My husband says yes because I had already lost the "easy" weight. What are your opinions?    — Denise B. (posted on September 9, 2003)

September 9, 2003
I don't think so. Plenty of people hit a "plateau" at two to four weeks post-op, after experiencing a huge drop right after surgery. It happens quite often, regardless whether the person gained weight while awaiting surgery, or lost it. In your case, you're not plateauing, but not losing at a rate that you perceive others to be losing at. Others may have more to lose than you do (and therefore, will lose at a greater rate, because they started higher ... but they've also got further to go).<P>Scale-watching in the first two to three months is really a self-defeating exercise. You're eating very little at that point, because you really can't eat much that soon after surgery. So at that stage, the scale isn't really measuring anything that anybody has a whole lot of control over, at that point, and yet everbody obsesses over the scale (and what the heck is "easy" weight loss, by the way ... does your husband mean water weight? Sheesh.) Weight loss in the beginning is almost never a measure of whether you're eating "right" (as nobody can eat much, "right" or "wrong" at that stage, and plenty of folks who aren't eating right are losing a lot anyway in the beginning ... for *now*). What's far more important is whether you've begun re-training your eating and exercise habits. It's those changes that will make the difference in weight loss from four-six months and onward, when what you bring to the table in terms of improved lifestyle choices (in food and exercise) start to make a difference. 'Til then ... work on changing the habits, but try not to be hopping on the scale for affirmation. Hang in there!
   — Suzy C.

September 9, 2003
I lost 11 pounds in the two weeks prior to surgery and my initial weight loss was slightly less than those around me but if you added the 11 in I was way ahead of the game. I have since been a very steady loser with no plateaus. Hang in there and don't forget to include those first 25! They were probably the hardest ones you will lose this time around. Don't weigh yourself all the timew and trust that if you are trult compliant with your post op regimen the weight WILL come off. Lap RNY 1/15/03 277/166/150ish
   — Carol S.

September 9, 2003
I "only" lost 16 lbs in the first 2 weeks and then nothing for the rest of the month. I also had lost weight before surgery (43 lbs). The next month I lost 16 lbs again and I thought that I was the only one that this was not going to work on. Well I am now 7 months out and down 85 lbs, is that slow??? For some, but not for me, I am still losing at about 10 lbs a month! Hang in there you will be ok!
   — Haziefrog