Question:
Why is it that some people loose twice as fast as others?

Am I missing something...are they doing something different. I want to know so I can do what they are doing so I can loose like that. I have surgery Oct. 29th.... Ready to be a LOOOOOOOSSSSER!!!!    — Sabrina Plunkett (posted on September 26, 2003)

September 26, 2003
I hope you will not compare yourself to others. It is so important to celebrate your own success rather than comparing ourself to another person. some one will always be out there who will lose weight faster, make more money, have a bigger house, more expensive car. better body, hair, breasts etc. I just feel so strongly that it is more important to celebrate your own success and beauty and focus obn yor health improvements that to try to measure up against another.
   — **willow**

September 26, 2003
Sabrina, There is no way to predict or really control the way our bodies decide to lose. It will be very important to follow your surgeon's post-op plan closely for at least the first 4-6 months. As time goes on you can experiement more and add things in etc., but make full benefit of the early period. I lost very fast the first 6-1/2 months, but now it has slowed severely. I've only lost 1 lb in the last 13 days. I know I'm not doing anything wrong but my body has decided to take a rest. I am tyring to push more water because I know I haven't been very diligent with this and it does factor in. I am about 70% of the way to my goal weight and it seemed I would easily make that by one year. Now I'm not so sure. The reality is that most end up needing the full losing period (12-18-24 months) to get to their goal weights. Some get there sooner but not because they are doing anything better than the average person. <p>I was very successful in burning fat and lbs by keeping my body in max ketosis for about 4-1/2 months. But it's not for everyone. I did this with my surgeon's knowledge and approval. Only requirement was to push the fluids to flush the ketones out of my body. Even after that I have eaten minimal refined carbs, but do eat some. I still am very high protein as that's just what I have become accustomed to. Lately I do wonder if the lower carbs is working against me or if this is just a resting period. It's really the first plateau I have hit, so I cannot complain. Hopefully when I weigh tomorrow I will have moved a little. 2 lbs and it's a major milestone. <p>Try to get some exercise moving as soon as possible, even if it's minimal. When you are able bring weight training into your exercise routine as well as the walking or other weight bearing activities. Make sure to take your vitamins, calcium citrate and B12 as these will also factor into your energy, healing etc. The main thing is to learn new habits in the early months when it's the easiest to make them permanent. Go into surgery with reasonabl expectations and allow your body to find it's own way through this process and DO NOT compar eyourself to others as it will drive you nuts. Relish every pound lost and keep focused on the future and your new healthy life.
   — zoedogcbr

September 26, 2003
I agree, don't compare yourself to others. To be successful, my surgeon has said to follow the rules/guidelines of eating and exercise to be successful. That's what I plan to do. If you start incorporating carbs and sugars back into your eating, you can and will drastically slow down your weight loss. So I definitely plan to turn over a new leaf for this new life. I'm doing high protein now with low carbs. Down 39.6 lbs, my surgery is in November.
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 27, 2003
I think part of it is age and how long you have been dieting. I found that each time I went on a diet and lost weight, then gained it back, next time was harder to lose it. So by the time I had my surgery at 55, I had been yo-yo dieting for 35 years. I may not be losing as fast as some, but I'm proud of every pound. I also may not be as diligent as some, but I don't feel deprived either. I have the occasional potato/rice/pasta (only a bite or two). It it takes a little longer to get to goat, so be it. Enjoy your journey. 3/20/03 291/214/150
   — lharbison

September 27, 2003
My doctor told my daughter and I that walking would help in faster weight loss in the beginning. He really encourages walking.Surgery wt 230 16 months post-op my wt. now is 126.
   — charanewme

September 27, 2003
Start reading the profiles of those people whom you would like to emulate. I looked and looked until I found people who started with my stats and lost how I hoped to lose. I then started emailing and asking what they were doing. I found one person in particular who really amazed me with her loss and by the way she looked. She is now my angel and I have done pretty much everything she did and have had very similar results. I do know that people who see a nutritionist post op lose faster and more consistently as well as those who use the services of other professionals like therapists. Another HUGE part of this is compliance and dedication. You will find that the people who are losing very steadily do not revert back to old eating habits as soon (if ever) as people who lose slower or plateau often. I rely on 80+ minimum grams of protein a day as well as as much water as I can get in. I did not exercise much until the last 10 pounds (even now i just power walk and lift light weights). I have noticed that people who exercise early also plateau early and often. I think that we do not eat enough to support strenuous exercise in the beginning and my surgeon recommends waiting a few months before starting. This surgery merely changes our stomachs and the way we use this new tool determines our success. I learn this more and more the further I am out. Good luck and YOU CAN DO IT!
   — Carol S.

September 27, 2003
All I can tell you is keep the faith...I thought I would NEVER reach my goal (because I have not been the best about following all the "rules") but I have...you will too. Just keep the faith.
   — rebeccamayhew

September 28, 2003
I really think excercise is a big key. Around 4 weeks out I plateaued at 22 ponds lost. I joined the gym and made it a major priority to go. Now I hate the gym, but when i saw that it made a difference between losing 2-3 ponds a week to 4-5 ponds a week, well I don't have to tell you how motivating that was. I had my surgery on June 3, 2003 and am down 70.5 pounds!!!! I went from a size 24 to a 16-18!!!! It is so amazing. There are two rules that I absolutlly stick bt always... 1) I never drink a carbonated beverages and 2)I never eat and drink at the same time. This keeps the pouch small. I also try to remember on the hard days that I didn't get to a size 24 overnight, and it is going to take some sacrifice to gat where I want to be. You can eat what you want or look the way you want, unfortunatlly for us we can't have both. Good Luck to you!!
   — Dana G.