Question:
My starting BMI was 43. Am I doomed? I'm very disappointed and feel like a failure.
— Melissa B. (posted on October 20, 2001)
October 20, 2001
I am preop and have a BMI of about 39. I have lost and gained so much over
my life time. Your weight loss seems to me like it is going very well to
this point and you should not be disappointed. Try to remember the times
before your surgery that you did not lose an ounce after starving
yourself.I know that when I was on weight watchers it took me 6 months to
lose 25 lbs with exercise and I only gained it all back after I was
done.The weight you lost is GONE forever now and you are only going to go
down from here. You are doing so great.Keep your chin up..
— garyzgurl
October 20, 2001
I mean this in the most loving way: don't make me come over there and
smack you!!!! If I am reading your post correctly, you are disappointed
that you have lost 23 lbs. in a month? Don't be - this is a wonderful
weight loss, and you should be inordinately proud of yourself for coming
through your surgery well AND losing weight. I started at a BMI of 44.5,
so pretty close to you, and actually, I did not feel very successful until
I had lost 60 lbs. (which I hit at about 6 months). At 16 months, I
consider myself very successful. I have lost 85% of my excess, for a total
of 104 lbs., and I continue to lose verrrrry slowly. Please be gentle with
yourself - you will do this! -Kate-
— kateseidel
October 20, 2001
Melissa, I started out with a BMI of about 42. I had a slow start also. I
would read about all these people losing 50 pounds in a month and I think I
lost about 25. I had an early plateau, too. But after that things really
started moving! I lost everything I was hoping to lose, and more, by about
the 10th month postop. I wanted to get to 150 and I ended up at 125. I'm 2
years potop and have been stable at 125 for a year. Relax; you will be
fine. I know it's frustrating now... but hang in there, follow the program,
and you'll be on here complaining about no clothes to wear in no time!
hugs,
Ann
— [Deactivated Member]
October 20, 2001
The weight you've lost in the amount of time you've lost, is great. Number
one, and I have seen this many times on here, people that have more to
lose, lose faster. It's even that way with regular non surgical methods.
But that does not mean that they are greater than you or you are a failure.
This how you your body wants to respond to this. You are only one month
post op, give yourself a break. Now if in a year this was the case, I'd
say be worried. You've got plenty of opportunity time, and if you do what
your supposed to,, the weight will come off. I hope you didn't think you
were going to wake up thin :), LOL. That is one of the biggest
misconceptions about this surgery. There is TIME involved. CHEER up, you
are not a failure! Next month, you'll be much thinner, and you'll laugh ,
thinking of how upset you were about this. Best of luck to you!
— [Anonymous]
October 20, 2001
I read this on a website, it's kind of tough, but very true! - "Quit
-- and this is big -- QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF! Do not write in and say so
and so loss 50 pounds in six weeks and I only lost 40. What you will get
then is one of us post ops telling you to get a reality grip! Consider that
you are losing weight fast -- and if you were dieting you would only lose
maybe 3 pounds a week tops! Most people would only lose 1 or 2 pounds if
not gain! This is not a race. Your only competition is you! Base yourself
on where you were last week, month, year FITNESS wise. I have seen
hundreds of posts from post ops over the time I have been on this list
lamenting that they are only lost 20 pounds since surgery three weeks ago.
HUH? Since when is 20 pounds in less than a month too slow? QUIT RACING!
Who are you in competition with?
Another thing, weight loss and how quickly you lose depends on a variety of
factors including age, starting weight, how the weight is carried, gender,
how long you have been overweight, calorie input, energy output,
metabolism, medications, and hundreds of other factors. The best thing you
can do to maximize weight loss is get your protein in, drink your water and
exercise. If you are doing all these things then you are doing the right
things. So don't worry that you have only lost 20 pounds since
February."
— [Anonymous]
October 20, 2001
We ALL LOOSE at different rates, what matters isnt the rate but where we
arrive. My angel Peg Shuffstall had surgery one week before me and I zoomed
past her loss. But at the last suport group meeting she was closing in on
catching me.
Could you be loosing this fast without surgery? Once your more active your
rate may climb, I know thats what peg says happended to her.
— bob-haller
October 20, 2001
I like what Lucyann said below...so true. Can you ever remember a time
when you lost 23 lbs. in one month! That is fantastic! Each body is so
exquisitely different and unique...there's no one like you on the face of
this earth. So go at YOUR own pace and be very proud of this wonderful
accomplishment. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
October 20, 2001
If Kate doesn't come over and smack you, I will!! Like previous posts say,
this is not a race. Get rid of the scale and only weigh at the doctor's
office. Focus on eating correctly and following the guidelines your
surgeon gave you for post-op. 23 lb. is great! Just let the weight come
off at it's own pace and relax. I know this can be easier said than done.
I had to listen to someone who had the surgery the same day as me complain
about her "slow" weight loss in support group meetings. She had
lost 90 lb. in three months. About twice my rate. But, I decided I wasn't
going to cause myself unnecessary stress and get into a race. I am now 20
months post-op and have lost 110 lb. and feel great!
— Gina E.
October 21, 2001
I am the poster of this question. I just want to say thank you to everyone
who posted words of encouragement. In fact, this morning when I stepped on
the scale for my official one month weight, I am down 26 pounds my first
month and I feel a lot better now! I'm not a patient person, so I'd like
the weight all off NOW - but I know I didn't put it on overnight either.
Thanks again, everyone!
— Melissa B.
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