Question:
I am 46 years old and started at 325 lbs. I have lost 85 lbs and had my surgery on

11/24/04. In reading posts from others they have lost 100lbs or over by the 9 month stage. I could not start an exercise program until about 4 months after my surgery due to complications(not from the surgery). I have started writing everything down that I eat and exercise 5x weekly. What am I doing wrong??    — ladyd (posted on August 22, 2005)

August 22, 2005
You are NOT doing anything wrong! Your surgery was almost exactly a year later than mine (23Nov03) and I started at the exact same weight! I also couldn't do much exercise to begin with as I had a broken foot LOL I lost slower than most people do also. This is an individual thing and not everyone sees those spectacular weight losses. I plateaued a LOT! It took me almost 18 months to lose 140 pounds and I'm still 15 pounds short of my goal. The only recommendations i would give are: how much protein are you getting? at least 60grams/day? Are you getting enough calories in? This seems funny but at under 1000/cal a day, your body starts storing everything and using muscle for energy. Are you drinking enough? Dehydration will also slow down weight loss. Try mixing up your exercise some . . . I've heard that your body gets use to doing the same thing and it doesn't work well after a while. Are your labs good? Sometimes nutrient imbalances can cause problems also. That's all I can think of right now! Good luck!! Carmen
   — kccjer

August 22, 2005
Are you maybe exercising more calories off than you are taking in? Your body might be in starvation mode.
   — ChristineB

August 22, 2005
I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I had surgery 11/4/04 and have lost 91 lbs. For the first month that I was exercising I didn't lose 1 lb and then all of a sudden I dropped 10 lbs. Just hang in there. As long as you are doing everything right as the other posters said you will lose the weight. Good luck. Teresa
   — tdickson

August 23, 2005
I'm just curious... what ae you doing for excersize?? When I started doing cardio (elliptical machine) 1 hr a day 5x per week that's when I started dropping. I am 5 months out and have lost 80lbs. I started at 280lbs (I'm 5'5"). I'm just starting now to add weights. Also, watch what you are eating keep a calorie diary. I was shocked to find out how many calories I could 'graze' during a day. Stay away from white processed foods. I mostly eat meat and vegetables. I onl;y drink water and tea. That's all you can do. We lose at our own rates. You are not necessarily doing anything wrong. e-mail me if I can help.
   — bettya