I am so down in the dumps today - ThinnerTimes

taleci · 06-14-2007, 06:52 AM

I was not expecting this surgery to be a magic bullet, but here I am two weeks out and so far this week I have gained 2lbs. I'm frustrated because I have been following instructions to a "T". I've gotten the protein, food, water and supplements all in just like I was supposed to. I joined the gym and have religiously been working on the treadmill with the exception of the past 2 days because something hurts on my left side.I don't know what the hurt is, but if I take more than a shallow breath, I get a sharp pain, so I am taking it easy for a couple of days.
Since May 16th, I have lost 30lbs, gained back 2 and see it nowhere on my body except that my feet look skinnier. Great.....skinny feet, just what I wanted.
I know that I didn't put all of my extra weight on in a day and that it certainly won't come off in a day, but I guess at this point I feel like the surgery is failing for me and I don't know why. I have never felt full even once since the surgery. I thought that "full" feeling wa supposed to be a huge part of the tool. Besides the fact that I hurt, the only way I know I even had the surgery is that my tastes have changed. Sweet things sound awful to me now.

I did really, really well on the OPTIFAST liquid diet pre-surgery...in fact that was where 1/2 of my 30 pound weight loss came from. For some reason, on that liquid diet I felt more power over food than I had ever felt. Has anyone ever gone back to the liquid diet "diet" after surgery? It gets in enough protein, but the carbs are high. Would I be sabotaging anything by going back to this?

newlife4me · 06-14-2007, 07:01 AM

Ok, take a deep breath......smile, now exhale....I am not sure if that will help but it sounded good.
Had the same kind of feelings you had for about 3 months...I wondered what the heck did I do this for, other stuff worked better ect ect ect. But you gotta look at the facts....You are taking in very few calories, your body is in shock so it has put on the metabolic brakes.....just relax and go with the flow. Our bodies are amazing machines, it will figure it out soon and realize it needs to use all the avalable fuel (nice word for fat) and the scale will move soon. We all have had those nasty negative scale fluctuations but it always moves again. I don't think optifast will help....your body doesn't know the difference in fuel or nutrition just that it gets it. I believe real food is best cuz that is how we retrain ourselves to eat forever but if you can't then suppliments are great....
It sounds as if you are following the rules, be patient and the loss will come....

Good luck
Lori

cnvh · 06-14-2007, 07:25 AM

First of all, if you have pain, call your doctor-- NOW. Sharp pain is not good, especially if it has lasted two days.

Second, stop getting on the d*mned scale. I'm sorry if that comes off as sounding blunt or rude, but too many recent post-oppers torment themselves by getting on the scale every day (or multiple times a day) and go bonkers when the stupid scale says they gained a pound or two or five from one day to the next. Just because you had surgery doesn't mean you are going to steadily lose an ounce an hour for the rest of your life, you know? The numbers are going to go down AND up, and if you get upset at the thought of seeing a gain, then DON'T GET ON THE SCALE. Weigh in once a week AT MOST, preferably not even that often.

Remember that everyone has stalls in the weight loss process, and those stalls happen at different times. I'm six months out and so far I've gone through at least 2 periods where I only lost a pound or two over the course of 3 weeks, and I've had weeks where I lost nothing. It happens, it's normal, it's frustrating, but it's only temporary.

Did you take pre-op measurements and photos of yourself? If so, take new photos at the one-month mark and compare them. It can be practically impossible to "notice" any changes your body is experiencing on a day-to-day basis, which definitely adds to the frustration. I didn't notice any changes until about 1-2 months, when the clothes finally started to get a bit looser-- even though I had lost about 30-40 lbs. I didn't notice MAJOR differences (big clothes-size drops, collarbones, etc.) until about 3 or 4 months out... everybody is different.

As for Optifast, I don't know much about it-- never tried it. If it's high protein, that's good, but if it's high in sugar, then it probably isn't a good idea. Our nutritionist suggests that we avoid products that list sugar (or any version thereof, like corn syrup, etc.) in the first 5 ingredients on the label.

As for not feeling full... you are only 2 weeks out; what foods are you allowed at this point? If you're just on liquids still, then you are probably not going to experience the "full" sensation that you will on full solids. Your pouch is kind-of like a funnel; if you fill it with liquids or liquid-y foods like soups, your pouch drains out quickly, whereas solid foods will sit there for a while.

I'm sorry you're having a downer day, and I hope I haven't come across as too harsh. Again, please call your doctor about the sharp pains you talked about-- anything like that needs medical advice, not forum advice. Good luck!

Baron Patrick · 06-14-2007, 07:50 AM

Hi Leslie;

I had surgery on 5/29 as well. Just like Lori and cnvh have said, don't worry and enjoy the ride. I'm going through the same thing! Your body is confused, healing and doesn't know quite what it's doing - yet. I can't say this is a plateau since we've just started. It's more like our body catching up to what's going on. Keep an eye out - I'll bet we lose inches before the scale starts moving again. I've read countless postings where this has happened.

We just need to keep doing what we're doing, and well be fine.

J & D · 06-14-2007, 09:29 AM

We had surgery the same day as Pat and Dorene is not loosing pounds but inchs. I am loosing inches and haven't lost anything since Sunday. Everybody I work with tells me to get some pants that fit but it does not show on the scale. Just remember like everybody said your body is in a healing and adjusting mode.
Jim and Dorene

LisaBoston · 06-14-2007, 10:10 AM

Key thing right now is don't get on the scale. Weigh in ONCE A WEEK. Follow the rules and thing will work for you. You are making big changes in your life and your body is in healing mode. Some people are fast loosers, others slow loosers....in the end it works out. You will be loosing inches even if the weight doesn't drop right now. Hang in there and get the scale OUT OF THE HOUSE....take is somewhere else and only weigh once a week.

taleci · 06-14-2007, 10:55 AM

Thanks for your support everyone. The kind words and the "kick in the butt" were just what I needed today.

Fat Free · 06-14-2007, 11:32 AM

I know how you feel. I am almost 7 months out from surgery but I remember very well the beginning. I understand what you are saying about feeling full. I never felt full still do not so I have to be careful and measure my food. To this day I still drink 2 protein shakes a day. My nutritionist told me to eat 5 times a day so I have a shake on the drive to work and one as a afternoon snack. I also eat a hand full of cashews and have a carb control yogurt. Last but not least For lunch I do a real meal which could be a chef salad or a chicken Caesar salad, I have had a chili burger with only half the bun. But at your stage you need to be in soft foods so try the yogurt or cottage cheese. I defiantly would do protein shakes!

As for the scale.... this is a tough one. I personally am a scale junkie. Yes I confessed. The night before my surgery I drove to Target and bought a scale to keep track of my weight loss. I have been on that scale EVERYDAY

. I know I should only weigh once a week but the way I look at it is like this, If the scale is not moving I do not get frustrated. Well not always. I just readjust my water and protein intake and check my food. The scale may not be moving because (please don't be offended) the fat is probably turning to muscle and muscle weighs more than fat. I hit the 100 pound mark and was on cloud 50. I have been on my elliptical doing 7 miles in 30 minutes everyday with all kind of floor exercises and then the scale went up by 3 pounds!

You know what, I noticed my body is looking toner. My belly is getting flatter (muffin top be gone) and my legs are bringing sexy back. With all that said this is a long term process. Do not gage your progress just on the scale. I did not see a difference in how I looked until I hit 50 pounds, then it was like OK I see it. Just be patient and before you know it you will walk past a window and see your self and be saying "is that my bootie!" Keep me posted.

P.S.

Skinny feet are sexy.

gottaloseit · 06-15-2007, 02:23 PM

We started at about the same place weight wise and I will tell you that I had the same feelings as you on week two but the weight seems to just kinda slide off once your body adjusts. Remember, our bodies do not handle the stress of surgery and drastic change in diet as well as say, eating too much at Thanksgiving. You only had your surgery two weeks ago and your body is still adjusting and will for atleast another few months. I am now almost 7 months post-op and I feel absolutely wonderful. I am a little bit of a cracker junkie but I AM TRYING HARD to watch that habit. I feel good most every day and have not had any problems. So, the short of it...be patient with your body, it will do what it is supposed to do just like they told you it would. Don't obsess over the scale. Make sure you are measuring yourself too because when the scale is not moving, it is guaranteed that the inches are. YOU GO GIRL!

gottaloseit · 06-15-2007, 02:29 PM

One more thing I forgot....are you supposed to be exercising this early out?? Two weeks and you are already on the treadmill? My doc made me wait an entire month before exercise but a little walking was okay. Hope you checked with your doc, that could cause some pain after surgery. I was soooo tired for about a month after surgery!