Question:
HELP - THIS IS SO DEPRESSING

OK folks, 8 weeks post op today. 28 pounds lost since surgery no loss for 2 weeks. I have tried to be patient. I eat less than 800 calories a day, and am really tryng to exercise hard - 20-25 minutes hard stationary cycling a day (beleive me that's very good for me I'm building it up). It's just so devastating and demotivating to see no loss. Will this ever end.    — Sandy A. (posted on October 14, 2003)

October 14, 2003
I hit many points were my loss stopped. Are you getting in enough water and protein? I was not. I started drinking protein shakes and my loss started up again. Maybe you could try a few protein shakes and see if that helps. I have gotten samples from wlssupplies.com and susans site bariatric something.com (I forget the exact address)If you up your protein and your water that should give you a kick start again. Hope this helps...Mel
   — Melissa P.

October 14, 2003
OK, a couple of thoughts here - first off, you ARE losing! Even with no loss in two weeks, you are still losing at an average rate of 3.5 pounds a week - difinitely not "no loss" as you said. Although I DO understand wanting to see it gone faster! That being said, if you are actually consuming fewer than 800 calories a day, you may be kicking your body into starvation mode, and actually making it MORE efficient (after all, your body thinks it's trying to stay alive on hardly any calories, so it slows the metabolism, conserves energy - does what it can to use those few calories it gets as efficiently as possible. Starvation mode is NOT good for those of us trying to lose weight). It sounds backwards, but sometimes to increase weight loss, you need to increase calories, so that your body no longer thinks it's in starvation mode. Most docs recommend between 1000 and 1200 calories a day (mostly from protien sources) at this stage after surgery. NONE of this is to take away from the depression and anxiety you feel now - it's just trying to point out that you ARE losing, but that you probably actually need to eat MORE calories to step up and increase the weight loss. Meanwhile, take care, be kind to yourself, and keep us posted on how it's going, ok?
   — johanniter

October 14, 2003
Your body is just catching up with the loss you've already had. As long as you continue doing what you're doing, it will come off. There is no way around it. Your body will drop the weight! You may lose like 2 or more lbs all at once. Also, during different times of the month, water weight comes and goes. This is a normal thing for most people. There have only been a couple of folks' profiles that I've read and know about that have lost consistently. Most everyone has plateaus and then they lose a lot at once. I know it's frustrating, but hang in there. Are you keeping your measurements? For me, when I had no loss occuring, seeing the inches going away was mentally helpful. You will lose inches usually during plateaus. Melisa RNY 08/15/02 -108 lbs
   — mbradley35

October 14, 2003
Ditto to the protein. I'm also 8 weeks out as of tomorrow. I have been a slow loser, but also having a hard time getting in at least 60 grams of protein a day. The last week I was finally able to get my protein near the 60 mark, and BAM! I've lost 5 pounds this week. I NEVER count calories. At this early stage it's all I can do to concentrate on getting in that protein. Why drive yourself nuts with calorie counting? Feed your body what it needs and it will reward you with working like it should!
   — keva M.

October 14, 2003
You sound just like me. Good luck in your journey! Everyone keeps saying it will come off "eventually".
   — Eleanore Davis

October 14, 2003
I know this is going to sound like a broken record to you but you are not eating enough. You need to get more protein and more water in. Also, are you losing inches? With the amount of exercising you are doing you may be converting fat into muscle which weighs heavier. Look at that also. So check the sizes, take your measurements, do not stress. You will lose both inches and lbs. You didn't put the weight on overnight, it will not disappear over overnight either.
   — snicklefritz

October 14, 2003
I sympathize with you-- I've been there. You ARE losing. One suggestion that you probably won't like but was a big help to me: don't weigh yourself too often. The scale will drive you crazy. I spent the first few weeks post-op weighing myself everyday (in every room of my house so that I could get a different weight) and to not see a loss every single day made cry. You should be really proud of yourself for exercising consistently-- that's the start of a truly healthy habit that will benefit you for life. Keep us posted.
   — lizinPA

October 14, 2003
I am 8 weeks out as of today also. Guess how much I've lost? 29 pounds. I've figured out a few things 1) I am going to be a slower loser 2) I can have a good attitude and deal with it or 3) I can let it get to me that my peers that had surgery the same time as I are now down 45-50 pounds and I'm "only" at 29. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you are following your doctor's orders to a "T" then it is out of your hands. Has your health improved? Do you feel better physically and about yourself? Have your relationships improved? That is the gauge of success, not a number. After all in 12-15 months, the slow losers will catch up with the faster losers, so don't worry about it. That just adds extra stress that "makes your hair fall out." I'm looking at is this way - maybe if I'm a slower loser, just maybe my skin won't have as many problems and I won't lose as much hair. Keep your chin up. Remember the reason we did this - improved overall health. SUCCESS IS NOT A NUMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   — Denise B.

October 14, 2003
I too have gotten "stuck" several times along the way but each time I went back to the basics - mucho water & protein, I'd also drop a few lbs. I've been getting most of my protein needs from a website at www.i-shophere.biz and they were a lifesaver for me! Lots of variety and everything tastes GOOD! Also, are you keeping track of your inches? I bet you are shrinking in that dept as well! Kathy P
   — Kathy_P

October 14, 2003
My first advice to you is to weigh no more frequently than once a month. The scales can be your enemy. Then, make sure you are getting in plenty of protein (50-60g) and at least 64 ounces of fluids. You probably need to UP your caloric intake (I know this is foreign to all we have done all our lives). At ten weeks, my surgeon told me that I had to have at least 1000 calories a day and he preferred 1200. He said that 80% of those calories should come from protein rich foods and the rest from vegetables and fruits. If you don't get enough calories, your body will think it's starving and hold on to every pound it can. You are exercising and I didn't so you are using more calories than I did so you really probaby need to get more than 800. Keep up with the exercise, the water and the high protein foods and forget about the numbers - the weight will come off.
   — Patty_Butler

October 14, 2003
Sandy - you may not like this answer either, but DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! If your surgoen thought you could only lose 28 pounds from this surgery, do you think they would have done it? Geesh- I wasn't even feeling normal until 8 weeks out. Your body will adjust to the weight loss every so often and "catch up to itself". As long as you are getting enough calories (maybe need more), enough protein and enough water - nothing is wrong unless it's really wrong. AND if you're only eating 800 calories a day, but burning more than that, your body doesn't want to let go of the weight. You need to be eating more calories than you're burning right now. This is the only way your body will let go of the weight - get out of starvation mode! Good luck!
   — toolio

October 14, 2003
I didn't lose thing for 3 weeks until I got above 800 a day.
   — mrsmyranow

October 16, 2003
Hi Sandy, May I suggest to stop worrying about the numbers! When else have you lost 28 lbs in 8 weeks? Your body is adjusting to all it's been thru lately. Give it a break. You will lose. You may or may not loose like others but you will lose weight. As long as you know you are doing everything you're supposed to and you don't need to make any adjustments than your fine. Remember to get your fluid in! Very important. You will also loose inches when you don't lose weight so don't forget to take those measurements! Best wishes and continued success Linda Mickel open BPD/DS 4-11-01
   — Linda M.

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