Getting Discouraged

Hello, I'm new and generally very private and don't usually reach out for help. But I'm getting discouraged. My surgery date was Sept 21 and I was so excited. I immediately saw progress but now I'm stalled. From the day I left the hospital (Sept 24), I have lost 32 lbs. 15 of that was the fluids they filled me with. So for actual weight, I'm only down 17 lbs. I did lose 33 during my 2 week liquid diet. But for the last week I haven't lost anything. I'm wondering if it was all worth it. I have 179lbs more to lose to get to my goal, but I feel like this is the best it will get. My diet is protein drinks in the morning and afternoon and usually something mushy for dinner like deviled ham or a smooshed up hotdog. I'm exercising almost every day. some days I do an hour of water aerobics and some days I walk for about 20 minutes. I get 3.5 hours of exercise each week. I don't eat stuff with sugar and don't drink soda or eat bread. I follow the rules as best I can.

Any ideas?

Put your information into the Post Op Planner in resources for an estimate of how much weight loss to expect each month.

what's the post op planner? where is it? thanks :)

Hi MargieDTCSC

We have all felt this way its normal. I had over 200 pounds to lose and the first 3 months I had complications to the point I questioned everything. I even thought being 330 pounds wasn't that bad? LOL I took it one day at a time and reached goal and have kept it off for over 10 years. I hit a really bad stress time in my life and put on some weight even after 10 years and knowing all I should do, but had a long talk with myself and got back on track.

You didn't mention what type of surgery you had? Go to the upper left hand corner and click the forum of your surgery type and post this there. Reach out to those that had the same procedure as you and then can give you some suggestions and let you know it happened to them too.

Regards,

Kathy

Member Services

Thank you so much I had the RNY. I weighed 473 (still so embarrassed) in 2013. I am down to 379 as of this morning. WHEN I reach my goal, I will have lost 273 lbs. That is incredible to me.

Look at my ticker. Don't be embarrassed. I weighed 449 in 2013 before I had WLS.

You can only move forward. You can't change the past. I was sorting through old photos last weekend and cringed every time I found a fat photo in the bunch. It is what it is.

Don't be discouraged. You didn't gain that weight overnight. It's going to take time for it to come off. But if you stick with your plan and make permanent changes, the results will be worth it.

I'm not at my goal yet and I'm approaching the two year mark. I haven't given up, but the progress is slower and more difficult the further out you are. Make the most of the "honeymoon" phase and stick to your plan. Find ways to deal with any eating disorders you may have because if you don't, they're likely to stay with you and sabotage your weight loss eventually.

Hang tough. You can do this

Hang in there! What you are experiencing is probably from post op stresses. Work your plan, do the best you can to do exactly what your surgeons team recommends. The weight will come off. Your body is just rebelling , and it will soon fall in line! Find something you really enjoy, and do it... Ideas... singing with the radio, while cleaning or doing stretches... for low key ones and relaxing, find a craft you like...plastic canvass, carving, crochet, knitting, drawing...Bible study, reading... What ever it is, that lets you " Zone out.". Just do it daily for 30-45 min.

You might try adding a set of isometrics at night. They help with stress and metabolism.

.It is what I use to tire me and help me sleep and has the benefit of boosting metabolism so calorie burn continues thru most of the night.

.. Isometrics are done by tensing the muscles in group. Holding for a count of 5, to start and repeating 10 x.. then move up to the next set of muscles... I start wwith feet and calf muscles, next set is thigh, then buttock and tummy/core. then upper arms and shoulders/neck.. people who have a difficult time getting out in the evening or in places it is dangerous..to get out...and it does strengthen and build muscle.

What you are experiencing is normal for the time in your journey...you can expect, if you are following the plan ... to have another large weight loss, it will taper off, as your weight goes down, so make the most of this tool you have been given..in the early stages.

Keep a diet diary.. write it down, so you can go back, show it to the surgeons team, and what you are doing can be tweaked....may need to add or subtract, according to your bloodwork and other symptoms... Figure your protein, carbs, water and calories... it is important to do this regularly at first...later you will be able to eye-ball portions and know if they are appropriate. ( I still do a form of diet log, from time to time.. mostly to check my protein/carb ratio's/ intake... and I am 20 years out.) Be sure to get your vitamins and minerals in...very important for your health as you age.. protects your bones and teeth! Hang in You will get there!

The first few weeks ( of excess food addiction withdrawal) are horrible ... then the adventure begins ! The changes you achieve with this amazing tool are really up to you ...I'm usually very grateful..but.

I'm still a fat person trapped in an ( honestly amazing looking ) body .. but I pick the worst boyfriendz and husbands because my selfesteem is so low.. I'm one of the luckiest people on here economically and healthwise but I still think about ending my life often... and I have to wonder ... is THAT why I was fat ? was I depressed and frustrated literally unto DEATH ? Is it because I ALLOWED abuse and can't deal with that fact ?

There are a lot of young grrlz out here ( unfat looking ones at least for now ) who allow worse abuse than I did... porn starz for a month /forever ,,,,, please share Ur thoughts

Ava, I'm sorry to hear that you're suicidal. I hope you will seek the treatment you need, and soon.

If you're having suicidal thoughts please reach out & get help. Thoughts can turn into actions pretty quickly.