WHY am I not losing weight fast like everyone else? - ThinnerTimes

Bella · 03-06-2007, 01:29 AM

Hi guys,

I'm sooo bummed out.

This is my 6 week surgiversary and I've only lost 24 pounds. Certainly this can't be normal???

I had a dream that truely I WOULD BE the first person the surgery would not work for.

)

I get about 50 - 60 g of protien in ... sometimes less, sometimes more. My water has been difficult to get in the last 2 weeks. Mainly because I've been in the office so it's hard to remember.

But ... even so ... can it be that I will stop losing after 6 weeks if I don't get in enough of the above? I eat very little - especially in the last two weeks because again, I'm in the office and my appitite goes out the window.

Typical morning last week.

B - 5 or 6 spoonfuls of cornflakes and low fat milk - glass of water
S- one of those yoplait sized yogurt cups with no suger, no fat
L- 1 fried egg and 68 grams (maybe 1/2 cup) of egg salad
S - another yogurt thingy
D- a medium portion of pork liver with chopped onions, small portion of mashed potatos and spinach
S- tablespoon or so peanut butter on toast

I might get 4 glasses of water in during the work day - but after work I get a good liter or so of water.

Yes, it's not much.

Exercise - I get to the club about 3 times a week - wish it were more.

I only weigh in every 2 weeks so the last time I weighed in and had only lost 19 pounds in 4 weeks .. everyone says my body was in shock - so that's why I was losing slow.

But I was eating MORE food and drinking MORE water in the those first 4 weeks because I was home ... than I am now because now I have my long commute to work etc.

Is this procedure gonna work for me? Or will I be the first person to fail on this surgery so I have wasted my savings? (I was self pay).

I know I'm just being a baby ... but this is frustrating.

On the other hand .. I AM physically smaller ... of that I am certain. I only wear a handful of my 'big girl' long and lose tops over my same couple of black stretch pants so they are definitely loser and even some friends have commented that I look smaller.

I refuse to buy any more big girl clothes so I just rotate through the same small wardrobe.

Examples:

Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk and felt my breasts sticking out a bit. I looked down and that SAME big girl top had shifted down my chest so now I have to be careful I don't expose myself! This felt great because that top hasn't hung that lose for a LONG time.

My bras FIT!! I had gotten to the point that I only wore ONE bra because it was so old andstretched out that it was the only one that fit. Now I can wear my others and that's a miracle.

Now, I'm a tall girl with a lot of muscle - even the health club teachers are shocked when I flex my bi-ceps because they are huge! I CAN work out ... I just used to eat like a pig.

So I'm thinking the scale is not reflecting my weight lose because of my build.

Wat denk je? (What do you think?)

Dyann · 03-06-2007, 04:23 AM

We all had a slow down or pause between 4-6 weeks. I think you need to increase your protein and fluids. It will work for you. When I charted my loss the first 4 months, I was on track to lose only 50-60% of my excess weight. Look where I ended up. We all lose at different rates. You being tall, you don't have as much to lose as some and the percentage loss is the same, but the actual pounds is less. Go by percentage of excess body weight, not just pounds. It evens out the playing field when looking for comparisons.
You will be great and have the results you want.

ready4achange · 03-06-2007, 04:53 AM

Not every one loses at a fast pace. I myself seem to be one of the slowest losers around. I am 18 months out and finally hit the Century mark ! Are you tracking what you are eating on www.fitday.com or www.sparkpeople.com ? I know even now when I eat I try to keep my carbs down. Protein, then veggies, then startches if I have room. I think the only time I eat a potato is when it is baked and I have half. I keep away from breads as much as possible ( ok I lied I sometimes have a french fry or two

) You may want to try upping your protein and water. I know in the beginning my surgeon said I should be getting in about 60-80 gm protein but I found out that when I get in more I lose a little faster. I hit stalls quite often. Have you measured yourself lately ? I found when I stall I am losing inches. You are doing well, figure out you are losing ( I think) about 4-5 lbs a week which is nothing to sneeze at. Don't beat yourself up. Take each day at a time this surgery does work ( it is a tool ) you just have to take it easy and don't worry.
Sandy

cnvh · 03-06-2007, 05:07 AM

I agree with Dyann, increase the protein and water... If you can't get the protein via food (which IS hard, especially early on), supplement with protein shakes or something similar-- I liked Profect vials; it was less to have to get down than a regular protein shake.

My typical day at that stage was:
Breakfast: Scrambled egg w/ cheese
Snack: Profect vial
Lunch: "taco mush" (2 Tbsp. FF refried beans, 2 Tbsp. lean taco meat, LF shredded cheese & taco sauce)
Snack: 1 stick LF string cheese
Dinner: 2-3 oz. poached fish
Snack: SF pudding cup

I also had a major slow-down around 4-6 weeks, where I was only losing 1 or 2 lbs. a week for about 3 weeks... and of course I went into a major panic... But then Week 7 came and WHAMMO, I dropped 5 pounds.

As hard as it is to do, just try to relax... it's been said a thousand times on here before: your body has been through a major transformation, and it takes time for the metabolism to catch up. Just keep getting in the protein and fluids, and exercise as much as you can, and eventually things will start moving again... But remember, WITHOUT enough protein and water, your body CAN'T lose the weight (at least not in a healthy way, anyway), so START SIPPING!!!

Hunnyblonde · 03-06-2007, 07:57 PM

Oh, my poor podmate Bella! I'm sorry you feel that you're not losing fast enough or having too much of a slow down! Thursday is my 6-week surgiversary and so far I've lost 24lbs too! Think about it girl! That's an average of 4lbs a week!

Now, I know you're back at work and having a hard time getting in your water and protein intake, but it's essential for your weight loss and emotional well-being that you get in both those things! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was whining about my plateau? I figured out I was getting too much protein and not enough calories (400-500 cals and 100+ protein). I decreased my protein intake so it was suitable for my activity level (I don't workout like Mrs. Universe, uh I mean Gina in NY) and increased my calories to 700-800. I can't say for sure that my changes were what broke the plateau, but I started losing .75 to 1lb a day within a couple of days.

Hold out your hand Bella-dear and I'll reach up to see if I can pull you off that plateau!

ajmoe · 03-06-2007, 11:34 PM

I had a slow down around that time and have only been losing about 2 lbs a week since. Last week I finally lost 4 lbs for the week. I attributed it to exercising more. I am not sure what the difference was.
I would say track your protein make sure you are getting in at least 60 grams. I am shooting for 70 but that is hard to get in for me.
Also track your calories if you are not getting enough calories in your body is going to hold on to the weight and it will be harder to lose.
If you are shrinking in size but not on the scale it could be that because you are going to the gym you are gaining muscle mass, which weighs more than fat.
I know it is frustrating. I weigh myself weekly and it is so hard when the number is not as low as you expect or want it to be. I just keep doing a meditation when I step on the scale. "The surgery has worked for me and will work for me and the numbers will never reflect how good I feel." It does not help much yet but maybe the more I say it the more I will believe it.

Good luck you are doing great, an average of 4 lbs a week is great.

MiladyB · 03-07-2007, 04:25 AM

As odd as it might seem you really need to try to increase your protein, fluids and calories! You send your body into starvation mode when you don't eat enough and instead of losing it hangs on to everything for dear life. It isn't uncommon to slow down at around the 4-6 week mark so don't panic too much. The surgery will work for you too. Just go back and look how many people panicked at your stage and look where they are now.

Don't worry, the weight will come off.

Haveaball · 03-07-2007, 05:54 AM

My doctor says to eat every 2-3 hours to make your body know it is still getting food in, even if it is only a bite of cheese. As been stated here, 4-6 week mark is when your body is saying "hold on!" Just step up the exercise part a bit, and try and eat as much as you can, protien first. I commend people who work outside the home, I honestly think eating, drinking and exercising on schedule each day is a full time job. Four pounds a week is super! I have not done that. When in your whole life have you ever lost 4 pounds a week for 6 weeks? Think about it......you are doing great and this is just the begining!

austingrrl · 03-08-2007, 04:42 PM

Welcome to the club. I just got off of the scale and had a MAJOR meltdown on the bathroom floor

. I'm 3 weeks post op and have only lost 16 lbs. It's frustrating when you read everyone else's stories on how they've lost so much weight in the beginning. I'm convinced that my doctor didn't do the procedure correctly, lol. I track everything I eat and am only taking in about 300 calories a day, so I don't understand why I'm not losing anything. Everyone's saying more protein, more protein so I guess I'll give it a try. I've got nothing else to lose I guess. I'm not very happy with this surgery at the moment.

VanessaSFL · 03-08-2007, 05:21 PM

Bella~

@ 6 weeks I had lost 30.I think your right on track.We stared out close in weight and height.

You are doing great HOT ma'ma.

V