Max Caulfield

I am assuming that everyone at some point experiences stalls in the weight loss process. I'm just wondering for those of you who are post-op when did that first happen? I am 5 months out and it seems like there's been a bit of a slow down. I wasn't expecting that quite so soon. I'm not in this to be thin and don't ever expect to be thin (I ask respectfully that you please don't tell me I can be, because that's not what I'm asking or after here). But I still hoped for more than 5 months of weight loss, so I am hoping this is temporary. I've been sick for a month, so I'm guessing that is probably not helping matters any. I just wonder how common this is.

First, as far as eating out goes don't worry about seeming rude. If people have a problem with you eating small portions that is their problem. Secondly, I am sorry you're struggling so much with food. I am just shy of six weeks post-op myself. I've been fairly fortunate that I'm tolerating most of the foods I'm allowed to eat (the soft food phase is over Monday). I can't do egg whites but I suspect that is because they're pretty disgusting by themselves (without stuff in there to make it interesting). Now, about "normal." The way we eat is most definitely NOT normal, not for someone who hasn't had surgery like ours. Anyone eating this way without having had surgery is most likely not eating a healthy amount of food for their bodies. Eating 2-3 oz (or less) at a time (ALL THE TIME) is utterly abnormal. So I totally understand how you feel that way. The thing is, we chose this path so now it IS our "new normal," so to speak. Which means learning to adapt to things like social situations. I'm fortunately pretty antisocial so in general the only person I have to eat around is my husband. But I will have no qualms asking for a takeout box with my meal when we do eat out for the first time (which will be in just a couple of weeks). I just plan to enjoy the leftovers for a few days after! Hopefully, as you progress with healing and over time you will be able to eat more and not feel so awful. With what you're describing, you're not even eating the post-op "normal" as of yet, and that has GOT to be really frustrating. I spent over a decade carefully undoing almost 20 years of yo-yo dieting, weight cycling and eating disorder damage to cultivate a healthy relationship with food. I love food and have zero shame in saying so. Food should be fun, enjoyable and something we don't have to feel guilty over. And that includes not feeling guilty because you need to eat smaller portions! Be gentle with yourself. Have patience, take the time to get familiar with your uh let's say refurbished stomach. Learn what you can tolerate and what you can't and just take things slowly and meal by meal. PS. I edited to add that if you haven't already, I'd discuss with your surgeon/team about not feeling physically good while and after eating. Post-op 8 weeks I would expect that should not be the case at all times... once in awhile as we learn what we can tolerate (and can't), sure. But ALL the time is - at least to me - concerning. They may have suggestions to help you through this period.

Hi! So I am new. I had the sleeve done March 6th so I had my 1 week post-op appointment today. I was down 16 pounds. My start weight when I began this process (which involved 6 months of pretending to do Weight Watchers to get insurance approval) was 514. I lost 14 pounds over seven months having changed nothing. But I was already in eating disorder therapy for a decade and worked on Intuitive Eating and had stopped dieting in 2007 (this is why I was only pretending to do WW, which my doctors were aware of and fine with, because dieting is a massive ED trigger for me and it's also utterly pointless because it does nothing for me). Anyway, I had to fight the voice in my head saying, wait with everything I just went through in the past 10 days I've only lost 16 pounds? That doesn't seem like very much. I understand this is irrational. I truly do. BUT... what I also realized is, I have NO clear idea of what to expect from this surgery in terms of weight loss in week one... I have a general idea over the course of six months to a year of what's considered average or common, but I don't know if 16 pounds might be a stellar first week... or if it's kinda crappy. So... what do you guys think? My most major fear going into this was that I was changing my life irrevocably and it wouldn't work. Dieting never has, and so I've always feared this wouldn't, either. Thanks in advance. Also, please be gentle with me... I know I'm overreacting and that one week is not enough evidence to suggest this won't work, even IF it was a crappy weight loss for a first week post sleeve. If the numbers continue to upset me, I plan to stop knowing them (and my doctors are all okay with this, too). I'm not aiming to be thin from this surgery. I'm hoping to get to about 350... and I'll be satisfied. I am not a typical WLS patient in pretty much any respect. I don't honestly know if this forum will be a good place for me, since I am easily triggered and need to avoid that. But tonight I decided to create an account and see how it goes. Thanks for reading. <3

Thanks everyone... and just to clarify I will only get weighed at the doctor's office. I won't allow a scale in my home. And I go at 3 and 6 weeks and then I think it's like once a month so I won't have to deal with the weekly numbers and I hope that will help.