Question:
I am 5 weeks post op- today. I am, or was down 32 lbs.
But for the last couple of days I haven't lost anything. I know- put the scale away. Anyway, this morning I weighed and I seemed to have gained a couple of pounds. What is going on? I seem to be craving cheese and crackers, my protein I assume. Could that have made me gain?? Now what? Help! — Cindy K. (posted on February 20, 2001)
February 20, 2001
I too have this problem....my kind of flucuates (sp?) Anyway, I try to pay
attention...does it seem to go up after you eat more salt? (Crackers)...is
it perhaps nearing "that time of the month"? Mine would go up
like 2-3 lbs, stay there fora while, and then go down 5. Also, when you do
weigh yourself, make sure things are consistent...same time of day..same
pattern (for example - first thing in a.m., after bathroom, before
breakfast). I find that I sometimes gain 6-7 lbs during the day, and by
morning it's gone....I'm not quite sure where it goes...I'm just glad it
does.
— tlg6056
February 20, 2001
Your body will need to catch up with the loss of lbs. Also you
maybe starting your cycle, that always seems to throw me off.
Try not to worry, and you already know that you are going to be told to
stay
away from the scale- I won't do that because I know how I am,
but give yourself a break- try on clothes that tells us more then
the scale does. That is really how I measure now by the way
my old clothes fit. Best of luck to you and take care!
— [Anonymous]
February 20, 2001
How long do you think your body can take breaking down a pound a day before
it need to take a rest? You've lost almost a pound a day and you think you
haven't lost enough?
I lost less than that my first two months! You must not be weighing
yourself enough. Are you sure you're doing it every four hours?
— [Anonymous]
February 20, 2001
I want to thank you all that posted to my question. I appreciate the
support and compassion. I am not sure if "anonymous" was try to
be funny or just plain mean- that I do not appreciate. Anonymous- you have
to understand ( why you don't, I don't know) that being obese and having
this surgery is scary. We have put alot of thought and research into this
surgery, not mentioning our lives. I do not want to sabotage it in any way.
I would have thought that for someone who has had the surgery, you of all
people would understand this type of concern. Thanks again to those of you
who posted supportive and understanding answers to my question. I do feel
alot better. Thanks, Cindy
— Cindy K.
February 20, 2001
I guess I need to clarify which anonymous I was referring to in my post. I
was referring to the one who asked if I was weighing myself every four
hours, not the Anonymous who was helpful in pointing out some reasons for
the weight gain. Thanks again! Cindy
— Cindy K.
February 20, 2001
Cindy, I understand exactly what you are going thru. I also am on a 2 week
plateau which will not break after only 4 weeks of surgery (I crave
everything including cheese and crackers) I drink my protein and walk and
the only thing I can think of is that I do have Carbs - or im pregnant!
Its not explainable otherwise! Anyway if you want to talk more email me. I
know the common advice is hang in there it will break but its very
different when its happening to you! PS I also thought Anonymous (weighing
every 4 hours) was a rude and insensitive post.
— Anna B.
February 20, 2001
Cindy, First, congratulations on your great start on your weight loss!
Try not to panic over the weight flucuations, they are very very normal and
to be expected. Everyone's weight varies by time of day and day to day.
One suggestion I read about weighing was to weigh DAILY, BUT use average
weekly weights to measure your progress. (I'm a strong believer in
weighing every day, myself - it keeps me honest with myself.) Anyway, weigh
each morning at the same time, after bathroom, no clothes, before
breakfast. Write down your weight. Then at the end of the week, average
the weights for that week. If you weighed 7 times, add up the seven
numbers and divide by seven (use the calculator..save your brain!). If you
weighed less than 7 times, just add up as many weights as you have and then
divide by the number of weights. Then, compare your "average"
weight for the week with your "average" weight for the preceeding
week. This should give you the "trend". You'll be able to see
those numbers going down over all. I think that one of the people who
responded perhaps misunderstood your concerns right now. I don't believe
that you are concerned that you haven't lost "enough" weight; I
think that like most of us, you've noticed a change and are hoping to heck
that it isn't a new trend (the scale going up instead of down). Your
concern about this is universal in this community of post ops, believe me.
Eat the cheese, but skip the crackers if you can; the longer you can keep
those type of carb snacks out of your post op life, the better - they are
the type of food that can go down "too easily" later and haunt
you. Crackers don't have anything "good" for your body in them.
Try to nourish your body with your food choices whenever possible. You're
doing GREAT!!! It will work for you if you work it!
— BethVBG
February 20, 2001
Cindy...I'm 5 weeks postop too....you've got me beat I've only lost
28lbs(what are we saying "ONLY" 28lsbs)...I force myself to only
look at the scale once a week...and in fact I've been adjusting so much to
my new life that I haven't even gotten excited at the weight loss yet....as
for the crackers and cheese...Have a bite or 2...I refuse to deny myself, I
have to learn to live with this and if it means having a little cheese and
crackers than that is what I will have...good luck
— Debora H.
February 20, 2001
I know exactly how you feel!! I went through a long plateau at 5 weeks.
My doctor was a bit unsympathetic and went so far as to tell me that the
only reason for a plateau was "eating too much". NOT SO!! His
kind nurse explained to me that he had people who really did eat to much so
if you didn't have weight loss he'd tell you this as a scare tactic. I
have found that if I get stuck on a plateau I will start losing again if I
INCREASE my calories by about 200 calories a day until I start losing
again. This may not work for everyone but it works for me. I also find
that if I exercise TOO MUCH and eat TOO LITTLE I will retain or even gain
weight. This is the body's means of protecting itself from starvation. I
guess it boils down to finding a balance in all things. There are some
days when a small piece of candy or a few extra pretzels mean the
difference in sanity or going completely nuts. If cheese and crackers will
give you peace of mind then have some cheese and 2 or 3 crackers. The
trick is to not have a pound of cheese and a box of crackers. :) I think
you're doing just great. What you are experiencing is completely normal -
the fears and concerns. We just have to find a way to get control over
food and that doesn't happen overnight. I'm almost 4 months post op and
have lost 55 pounds. I want to lose another 45 pounds and with each
additional pound I seem to learn something new. Don't give up - you
deserve to be happy!!! Good Luck!!
— ronascott
February 20, 2001
Today, 2/21 is my 1 month anniversary! I lost 23lbs
in the first 3 weeks and then nothing for 5 days. I started walking
on my treadmill, real slow, but 40 minutes 3 days ago and have lost
1lb a day for 3 days. My doctor also said the throw away the scale, or
at least not weigh in every day, but I can't help it! I would not worry
about it. Over the long run we will be down about 100 lbs this year!
— Jacki Z.
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