Not losing fast enough

June 27, 2003

Beth, you are loosing fine. I started almost where you are (about 260) and

the first month, I lost about 28lbs and the next month, only about 5lbs. I was

freaking out as I plateaued most of the second month, but then I started

loosing again. By month three, I had lost about 48lbs and then plateaued again

for about 3 weeks. I just broke a plateau this week (dropped about 5lbs this

week).

Try not to worry too much about your short term loss. Just know that by this

time next year, you'll probably be at goal. I really feel ya, cause I want

to be at goal yesterday.

Marina (Los Angeles, CA)

post-op 3/12/03

262/208/155

June 27, 2003

Hi Beth

I am in the EXACT same predicament with the exception that I started

at 367 and am down only 43 to 45 lbs. Today is 2 months exactly

since surgery for me. I have been having a hard time getting enough

food in and am only eating about 400 calories a day on average.

While you started eating more often, were you getting in more

calories? Perhaps this is the problem? Also, are you eating high

carb foods at all?

Hoping the two of us will be able pull through this!

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/322/150

> Hello Everyone,

>

> My name is Beth. I had rny on April 29, 2003. I

> weighed 266 just before surgery, and now 2 months

> later I have only lost 32 pounds. That is only 16

> pounds a month. It just seems like I should be

> losing faster. After 3 weeks I saw my doctor and he

> said that I need to eat more often, every three hours,

> that I probably wasnt eating often enough. At three

> weeks, I had lost 15 pounds. Well, since then I have

> been eating mostly every three hours, I have been

> eating low fat, and absolutely no sugar (I'm scared to

> even try that), and I am still losing too slow. I

> have been as heavy as 285, lost some, gained some,

> even lost down to 200 pounds. What scares me the most

> after having this surgery, is that I wont lose enough.

> I have lost weight at this pace before with many

> other diets. Am I crazy and this is normal? Has

> anyone else thought these thoughts, and if you were

> losing slow too, was there anything you could do to

> lose it faster?

>

> Beth

June 30, 2003

The surgery is a tool NOT because it stops you from eating certain

foods so much as it severely limits HOW MUCH you can eat at any one

time. I so hope we can get past this discussion as it keeps rearing

its ugly head it seems. As one person said before, if it were as

simple as " following dr's instructions " , then why do you need the

surgery to begin with? (as you would be able to get and stay healthy

by following a healthy food and exercise plan).

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/322/150

> Well if your doc told you can eat anything except those.. I guess

you should

> listen.. Doc know best.. So they say.. But I will tell you. Every

surgeon

> seems to instruct differently.. We are on a strict diet for the

first month.. And

> after that month, our foods are still greatly limited.. But this

is for my

> life.. For my daughter. So, I'm going to do what I've been told..

I was told no

> sugar, low-fat, and PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN.. This is what they

push at the

> facility in which I'm going under. Also to take your supplements,

as well.. Or

> you'll end up mal-nourished.. So it may be hard, but I'm going to

do what I've

> been told.. But I have to admit, I am pretty shocked at what

others say they

> are allowed to take in.. Hmmmmmm.. I don't knowwwwww..

>

> Kim, pre-op 328

>

June 30, 2003

Hi Lori Anne

Just wanted to thank you for all your true caring and support for

all of us here!!!

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/322/150

> Hi Beth

>

> I am a pre-op so I have no advise that I can draw on from

experience, but in

> all the postings and reading the Pouch Rules for Dummies article

are you

> making proper choices with your protein? Protein is supposed to

constitute the

> majority of your meals like chicken or turkey breast (skinless)

and then if you

> have room an appropriate carb like a vegetable and if you still

have room then

> a sugar free type item. Have you been doing your water loading in

between

> meals? If you have been eating and drinking at the same time that

could slow

> down the weight loss too. To me there seems no reason to dump

with sugar since

> just about everything nowadays is also made sugar free and in most

cases the

> sugar free tastes better than the regular sugar loaded foods.

Please remember

> everyone loses at their own rate and you just can't go comparing

yourself to

> others ... sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to

losing

> weight.

>

> Don't worry so much you have the tool and that is your means to

get to the

> goal weight you want. You are doing just fine so don't despair

YOU WILL NOT

> FAIL THIS .. just educate yourself and find what works best for

you.

>

> I have taken these months since I started this journey to WLS by

deciding

> what can possibly work for me, although I know my tastes will

change. I am a

> working mom and I will carry sugar free low fat yogurts to work

with me I figure

> one yogurt will make two or three serving for me throughout the

day. I also

> have a supply of Crystal Light beverages that are sold in the

bottles already

> to keep in my desk. I will drink the water from the water cooler

to help me

> hydrate myself during the day. These are simple changes in my

eating habit that

> will help to use my tool effectively. Perhaps you can review

exactly what

> you are eating and keep a small journal so you can see what

patterns have

> developed and where if any you might need to make changes. If all

else fails I

> would revert to my eating habits of just after surgery and go back

to a clear

> liquid diet for a week and see how that goes maybe that will jump

start your

> metabolism again.

>

> Good Luck and you are doing just great please be patient with

yourself )

>

> Lori Anne

> pre-op lap RNY

> 8/25/03

>

June 30, 2003

Hi Lori Anne

Just wanted to thank you for all your true caring and support for

all of us here!!!

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/322/150

> Hi Beth

>

> I am a pre-op so I have no advise that I can draw on from

experience, but in

> all the postings and reading the Pouch Rules for Dummies article

are you

> making proper choices with your protein? Protein is supposed to

constitute the

> majority of your meals like chicken or turkey breast (skinless)

and then if you

> have room an appropriate carb like a vegetable and if you still

have room then

> a sugar free type item. Have you been doing your water loading in

between

> meals? If you have been eating and drinking at the same time that

could slow

> down the weight loss too. To me there seems no reason to dump

with sugar since

> just about everything nowadays is also made sugar free and in most

cases the

> sugar free tastes better than the regular sugar loaded foods.

Please remember

> everyone loses at their own rate and you just can't go comparing

yourself to

> others ... sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to

losing

> weight.

>

> Don't worry so much you have the tool and that is your means to

get to the

> goal weight you want. You are doing just fine so don't despair

YOU WILL NOT

> FAIL THIS .. just educate yourself and find what works best for

you.

>

> I have taken these months since I started this journey to WLS by

deciding

> what can possibly work for me, although I know my tastes will

change. I am a

> working mom and I will carry sugar free low fat yogurts to work

with me I figure

> one yogurt will make two or three serving for me throughout the

day. I also

> have a supply of Crystal Light beverages that are sold in the

bottles already

> to keep in my desk. I will drink the water from the water cooler

to help me

> hydrate myself during the day. These are simple changes in my

eating habit that

> will help to use my tool effectively. Perhaps you can review

exactly what

> you are eating and keep a small journal so you can see what

patterns have

> developed and where if any you might need to make changes. If all

else fails I

> would revert to my eating habits of just after surgery and go back

to a clear

> liquid diet for a week and see how that goes maybe that will jump

start your

> metabolism again.

>

> Good Luck and you are doing just great please be patient with

yourself )

>

> Lori Anne

> pre-op lap RNY

> 8/25/03

>

June 30, 2003

I tried Egg Beaters scrambled with a piece of non-fat cheese by

Kraft today and it was pretty good (and stayed down too

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/322/150

> > Thank you Lori Anne, I appreciate the encouragement.

> > I do need to eat more protein, I guess I am eating

> > more vegetables than anything else. It seems to be

> > easier to eat. It hurts when I eat meat, I chew

> > everything up so good, and take small bites, and it

> > still hurts. I guess I just have to get used to it.

> > Its not like a pain hurt, just like its hard to get

> > into my pouch. And I think I will try what you said

> > at first about going back to a soft diet for a week,

> > that didnt hurt at all. Thank you again. And good

> > luck to you when you have your wls.

> >

> > Beth

June 30, 2003

Okay here we go again. Yes, I agree with you. The surgery is a tool.. It is

not a " quick fix " . You have to work at it.. You have to strive to succeed. And

you do have to push yourself to get the protein in.. I know this.. Or you can

end up malnourished, lose your hair, and end up nothing but flab... If your

looking for a fight Caroline, you are not going to find it here.. Look

elsewhere.. I am here for support, and to learn others' experiences.. I know

that I

am " pre-op " and have not experienced all what others " post-op " have but where

there's a will, there's a way.. And surgery is my last resort.. So here I am..

I'm not a know-it-all.. I'm just telling you that we've been instructed

differently.. And that's okay.. But if you've noticed, some do have more success

than others.. And I do believe it has alot to do with what a person's doing or

not doing.. But I'll keep you posted with my post-op experiences.. Thanks

again for your support.

Kim

June 30, 2003

Caroline,

And the same would apply to you as far as why don't we just do what our

doctor's instruct in the first place. Let me remind you that you are post-op,

and

you have had wls, because it was your last resort. So let's move onto another

discussion like you suggested. Thank you..

And P.S.

Everyone still needs an exercise regimen to help meet your maximum results.

Kim

June 30, 2003

Sorry Caroline.. I guess I should wait until I'm post-op before I " EAT " my

words.. Everyone's body is different.. and everyone's instructions and

situations differ as well.. I'm not singling you out.. You just responded first

to my

e-mail.. I appreciate your feedback.. Alot of what you say does make sense..

I'm nervous about surgery, and I'm trying to go by the book, (because I don't

want to fail), but from what others are saying, sometimes I think you might have

to bend the rules a little.... But I wish success on everyone.. not just

myself.. So thanks and good luck.. I'm not picking on you.. I appreciate your

input.. Really.. Later.

Kim, pre-op, 328 lbs.

July 1, 2003

Hi Beth,

Thank you sweetie for your feedback here. Seems the last three of

the four times issues " broke out " in the group, I was feeling like I

needed to defend what's right and then got attacked for it. I am

beginning to think that maybe it is me LOL

Way to go on breaking your plateau by the way Did it just happen

naturally, or did you change something that you think might have

helped? I woke this morning to find the scale dropped 2 lbs and am

hopeful that I am breaking this plateau again, but I've been

plateauing so much that I am losing hope that I will not plateau

again and really soon.

Each time I've plateaud, the plateaus began right after getting my

period. Then the week and a half before my period, I lose about 10

to 15 lbs. Of course, this has only been going on for 2 months so

perhaps this coming month will be different. Sure hope so! One thing

I can say for certain though is that the first two weeks when I lost

the 23 lbs, I hadn't had any Crystal Light to drink - just plain

water. So perhaps there really is something to this thinking that

aspartame contributes to plateaus?

Caroline

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/321/150

> > > I am from Va Beach, and three weeks after my

> > surgery,

> > > I was told I could eat anything except red meats,

> > > bread, and rice. In fact they told me that salad

> > was

> > > one of the easiest things to eat and it was not as

> > > harsh on my stomach as lots of other things. I

> > was

> > > told to eat protein, but mainly the most important

> > > thing was to stay under 20 grams of fat a day.

> > And of

> > > course absolutely no sugar. I guess I am curious

> > why

> > > my doctor told me to eat those types of things if

> > it

> > > was going to prevent me from losing as fast as

> > others

> > > are. As a matter of fact, during my first three

> > > weeks, I was able to eat soft potatoes, fruits

> > like

> > > watermelon and peaches, grits, and poached eggs.

> > I

> > > had my surgery on April 29th, so it has been two

> > > months. Can anyone tell me what their daily menu

> > is

> > > like? What do you typically eat in a days time,

> > like

> > > for breakfast lunch and dinner. I am a manager of

> > a

> > > Dairy Queen, and I get so busy at work, I mainly

> > work

> > > 2-10 every day, and two things are so hard. One

> > is to

> > > eat a few bites every three hours because I dont

> > have

> > > time to stop to eat. At first three hours would

> > come

> > > and go and I wouldnt even realize it. Now, I have

> > set

> > > an alarm to go off on my cell phone every three

> > hours

> > > to remind me to eat. It helped at first, but now

> > I

> > > just ignore it. The second problem is getting in

> > the

> > > water, for the same reason, I am so busy and I

> > cant

> > > concentrate on eating or drinking. I hope someone

> > can

> > > please try to help me. Thank you.

> > >

> > > Beth,

> > > 4/29/03

> > > 266/229/140

July 1, 2003

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your apology and I am sorry too if I came off as

strong in any way.

I think we all share this fear of failure with the surgery. I know I

sure do even now being post-op. God only knows I have done so well

with diets only to fail them in the end and gain all the weight

back... But as I write this, I am thinking that perhaps it wasn't me

failing the diet but the diet failing me. And perhaps the surgery

will be different because while some don't do well with the surgery,

from everything I've been reading, MANY more people do do well with

the surgery than don't do well with it (something not true of diets).

Absolutely about " bending the rules " , but not so much because " rules

are meant to be broken " but because in the case of gastric bypass

surgery, the rules aren't very clear in all areas. Some are more

clear than others like the " don't drink while eating " one,

and " don't push it " (meaning eating until full), but many of them

change from surgeon to surgeon and from moment to moment. Even the

rules for an individual person changes from day to day - what worked

for me yesterday may not work for me today and vice versa. So we

just have to do the best we can with what we know from experience

(ours and others' too and keep pushing forwards .

I can imagine you are very excited and nervous too about your

upcoming surgery. One of the things I found extremely helpful was

checking out all of the before and after photos in the

as well as obesityhelp.com. And of course, knowing that you

certainly are not alone also is very helpful...

Caroline

www.tinyurl.com/bkld

Lap RNY 5/2/03

367/321/150

> Sorry Caroline.. I guess I should wait until I'm post-op before

I " EAT " my

> words.. Everyone's body is different.. and everyone's instructions

and

> situations differ as well.. I'm not singling you out.. You just

responded first to my

> e-mail.. I appreciate your feedback.. Alot of what you say does

make sense..

> I'm nervous about surgery, and I'm trying to go by the book,

(because I don't

> want to fail), but from what others are saying, sometimes I think

you might have

> to bend the rules a little.... But I wish success on everyone..

not just

> myself.. So thanks and good luck.. I'm not picking on you.. I

appreciate your

> input.. Really.. Later.

>

> Kim, pre-op, 328 lbs.

July 1, 2003