To Post ops feeling depressed - ThinnerTimes

bridgetgirl · 05-09-2005, 11:05 AM

There are so many more of you out there than you realize. I want you to know how much i feel for you, but remember we are all individuals. We are all unique.

Anne said it beautifully in a different thread that it took a long time to put on, give it some time to come off! If you are losing 20-25 pounds a month, that is amazing! Dont expect to lose a pound a day, that is not realistic! If you are a woman dont look at men's numbers, they lose at a rate of almost twice as fast. There are many things to be considered, your age, your heoght, your activity level before and after surgery.. genetics, height. muscle mass.

YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! NO MATTER WHAT!

Celebrate the idae that those measley xxxxx pounds you want to insert here, ARE GONE FOREVER! When was the last time you could say that. I know you want it to be the magic bullet, but it will happen... you cannot mess up your first year. When you do have to do is be patient, learn new habits and keep your eyes on your own paper! Dont look at other peoples numbers.

You know sometimes I feel like Im an idiot because I dont realize when someone hit goal, or century or weighs 199 because I never, ever, ever look at those numbers? Since when do you let someones else success determine yours? You are doing an awesome job! I know it, and you need to know it to.

Please get your sassy lil butts to a support group meeting fast! If not, ask someone for their phone number to talk. You will find that ALL post ops dont have aproblem being there for anybody! We all believe in paying it forward! We are here for you, if you are frightened or intimidated by going to a support group meeting IM someone here and ask if they will meet you prior to the meeting and walk in together, I have donr that for people before and you would never know it huh?

So all you early post ops! Keeps your heads up and know that this time next year you will be bitching about hanging skin and plastic surgery... and at all goal or just about there! Yoou are all wonderful! I applaud you and you courage to be on this board, have this life altering surgery and opening your hearts to us. Now lets all meet up at support group! Love your faces my little sugar peas!

eyesthatkissu · 05-09-2005, 11:12 AM

I would again like to remind everyone, that when you think about say... 30 pounds, the number doesn't seem that great. But that's THREE 10 pound bags of potatoes! That's SIX five pound sacks of flour! That's FOUR gallons of milk. That's a bunch of weight! They say however long it took you to put on weight, it will take that long, plus 10% to lose it. And for most WLS patients they reach goal by 2 years post op. It took me 8 years to get this fat!!! LOL Have faith in yourselves, and the process. And remind me of all this when I start complaining after mine!!

LauraLee · 05-09-2005, 11:14 AM

I know that this post was for me and its easier said then done! Try being 4 weeks post op and for 2 of the 4 weeks not loosing ANY weight! Your mind starts to wonder what the hell is wrong with you and what you are doing wrong! After not loosing and then getting on ths scale and seeing it go up is also very hard to see!

bridgetgirl · 05-09-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraLee

I know that this post was for me and its easier said then done! Try being 4 weeks post op and for 2 of the 4 weeks not loosing ANY weight! Your mind starts to wonder what the hell is wrong with you and what you are doing wrong! After not loosing and then getting on ths scale and seeing it go up is also very hard to see!

Hey chicken I was nt meant FOR YOU EXACTLY, there are many that feel exactly the same way you feel. For instance Janice, I was thinking of her as I wrote this also.... she has lost I think 2 pounds in 2 weeks, and she is very frustrated. I had to take her scale from her because she would weight herself 5 + times a day. Stacie too, she was so crazy about all of it, her best freind Christy took her scale. I told Janice she can have it back after her 6 month post op appt

Girlfriend I know its hard, I know its frustrating, so many folks felt the same way and feel the same way you do too. Am I gonna have to hijack your scale too?

You gotta get your mind off of it, we become so obsessed and Im speaking from experience here! We gotta get you away from the scale and outta of the house chicken! Wanna go to the beach next weekend? Its just what the Dr ordered!

LizardQueen · 05-09-2005, 11:30 AM

bridget, what would we do without you? You are so very right. It will happen! Patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, not one I happen to possess.lol Anyway, thanks for the reminder. I have been trying to stay off the scale (I don't even own one) as much as I can. I will be thin by this time next year! I'm already down 62 lbs and that is a whole lot considering where I started. I already feel like a new person! I need to just take each day as it comes and be thrilled that I have had this chance to make a radical change for the better. No more depression for me when it comes to weight loss. By the way, I'm already complaining about the hanging skin! IF I have to sell off my hubby, the bat wings will be gone someday!!! Your a doll!!!

Amber

eyesthatkissu · 05-09-2005, 11:30 AM

Remember, food was (is) our obsession. Suddenly that's taken away, so what is there to replace it? A scale! I know you are dissapointed Laura. I think I would be pretty devestated myself. We just expect after this life changing surgery things to go a lot more quickly. We hear stories of people being at goal within , say 7 months *ahem*. We can't imagine how we can be at goal within a year if we haven't lost a darn thing worth mentioning. (I'm foreseeing my own reactions here! ) Bridge I say we kidnap her scale and hold it for ransome! She can pay me in Ding Dongs... since I can still eat them! Laura I love you girl.... please keep the faith!!!!

bridgetgirl · 05-09-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizardQueen

bridget, what would we do without you? You are so very right. It will happen! Patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, not one I happen to possess.lol Anyway, thanks for the reminder. I have been trying to stay off the scale (I don't even own one) as much as I can. I will be thin by this time next year! I'm already down 62 lbs and that is a whole lot considering where I started. I already feel like a new person! I need to just take each day as it comes and be thrilled that I have had this chance to make a radical change for the better. No more depression for me when it comes to weight loss. By the way, I'm already complaining about the hanging skin! IF I have to sell off my hubby, the bat wings will be gone someday!!! Your a doll!!!

Amber

Your welcome sugar pea! If your ever feeling down, call one of us... we are happy to chat about anything! We are here for you, 62 pounds, thats the weight of a 7 year old! A whole (little) person! You go girl!

LauraLee · 05-09-2005, 01:47 PM

Amen Robin! Thank you for understanding!

bridgetgirl · 05-09-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyesthatkissu

Remember, food was (is) our obsession. Suddenly that's taken away, so what is there to replace it? A scale! I know you are dissapointed Laura. I think I would be pretty devestated myself. We just expect after this life changing surgery things to go a lot more quickly. We hear stories of people being at goal within , say 7 months *ahem*. We can't imagine how we can be at goal within a year if we haven't lost a darn thing worth mentioning. (I'm foreseeing my own reactions here! ) Bridge I say we kidnap her scale and hold it for ransome! She can pay me in Ding Dongs... since I can still eat them! Laura I love you girl.... please keep the faith!!!!

Okay Robin and Laura Lee, I very rarely state how long it took me to get to goal, but also please remeber I was on TPN, artificial nutrition for 6 weeks, then back to clear liquids for another 10 days, so for more than 7 weeks I was out of it, not on the same food schedule, this occured after 2 weeks post op, so by the time I got to the soft food stage i was puking like crazy and could even keep down water for 2 days before i went back in and went through that whole process. This is why it took me faster. Like I said we are all different. I meant for the post to be encouraging, I know of about 5 people that I am in touch with on a regular basis that have the same "Im not losing fast enough blues...." I was trying to be helpful thats all. I wasnt trying to put anybody down or anything like that..... jeez Im tired.

newbetterme · 05-09-2005, 02:38 PM

How much weight would we have lost on our own with in any given period of time?

My answer would be 2 lbs at most within a month that is if i didnt end up gaining any.

I think right off the surgical table we lose sight of the reality of life. I also would become depressed if i weighed and only lost 2 lbs. One day I was complaining about it and my brother snapped at me and asked how much would I have lost with out the surgery? It was like being struck with a brick. I got it at that moment. ITS WEIGHTLOSS. Doesnt matter how fast or how slow, its coming off thats all that matters.

As for scales, I only weigh in at support meetings (twice a month) early support and general.

The scale number will never be what "society" says it should be. But the image staring back at me is looking better and better everyday.