Fighting for every pound....

[Marie from Michigan 11]

Hi All:

I have been active on this board since my surgery last April. Tomorrow will be my 6-month sleeviversary, so to say. I have been reading tons of posts from those are discouraged because two or three weeks after surgery their weight loss has stalled. I had a stall that started at 2 weeks after surgery and lasted for about a week. I am down a total of 77 pounds since my first doctor visit, 60 since surgery (surgery weight was 254). So I have averaged 10 pounds loss per month. However, for the last two months I have lost less than 5 pounds each month. My calories range between 900-1100 per day. I average 70 grams of Protein. I have about 50 grams of fat per day.

I feel like I have fought for every one of the 60 pounds I have lost. They have come off 2 ounces at a time. I have never had a day when I have lost more than 1/2 of a pound. The weight has come off slowly, but surely.

My question is.....how typical or atypical am I? Are other's stories similar? I am still 50 pounds from my goal. At 5 lbs per month, that means another 10 months. Do people at my stage continue to lose past the first six months?

Any suggestions for kicking it into a higher gear?

Marie

[Chimera 644]

I have not had my surgery yet but what my doctor says is that with vsg a patient can expect to lose 50% of their excess weight within the first 6 months following surgery - then the next 25% in the following 6 months, and the final 25% in the next year - so that is two years total. I am a dreadfully slow loser as well - but the thought of even getting under 200 is such a pipe dream that I wont care how long it takes

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I have fought for every pound as well. See my chart for the last 4 months... 10 pound total loss. I am almost at 10 months out now. I am 14.5 pounds from goal. It may take me a year to lose it at this rate, but I already feel like a success. You are too!

[To Be Thin 2011 80]

Hi Marie!

I hear ya sister!!! It is an ongoing fight to lose every pound...

It can be very challenging, especially when you read others posts that weight just falls off, or they are not ever hungry and have to "remind" themselves to eat! LOL!! For others it is just not that easy.

Keep fighting... you only have 48 # to go to goal and you can do it!!!

[tntransplant06 20]

I am fighting for every pound, too. And you know what??? I'm SOOOO happy to hear from you slow losers! I was getting very discouraged reading some of the stats of people on here that brag about losing so fast and not being hungry and how everything is so frickin' perfect for them. I don't think they are "typical" patients, I think we are. I've spoken to my doc, nutritionist, and other vsg'ers and have learned that I am normal. Yes ME. My losses are GREAT and NORMAL. I think we, myself included, are so used to instant gratification, and are worried that it's NOT WORKING because we are losing so slowly. All bodies are different. Keep eating low calorie and getting at least some exercise and the weight has no choice but to come off. I haven't really lost anything in the last 6 weeks. Up 2, down 2. But this week, I lost 3. So -1 in 6 weeks. Yes, that sucks on paper...BUT you know what? I dropped a size in clothing. So, I did lose inches. My body is trying to catch up with it's weightloss and is working on thinning me up, not concentrating on dropping another pound. Hang in there girls, we will all be fine.

[Eureka-C 20]

I was at 50% loss at 6 months (about 75 pounds). From months 6 to 101/2, I have lost 13 pounds (total 88 pounds). That's about 3 pounds a month. My RDI is 1800 at my current weight for no loss and I average about 1200 calories a day. Many people choose to keep to 800-1000 calories, with super high Protein and super low carbs, watching every bite. I choose not to do that and accept that it means I am a slow loser. The point is I am still losing. This has never happened on a diet in 38 years. I always end up falling back into old eating habits and gaining. Welcome to the slow losers club, with the emphasis on losers, because it means you are still losing.

[jb14075 10]

The closer you get to your goal the harder it is going to be, thats just the way it is. Its easier to lose when you are 100+lbs overweight .... not so much when you are 10 lbs over. Its going to be a daily fight from here on out (and even more so once you hit your goal to keep your weight there). Don't let yourself get disouraged, hang in there & stick with the plan.

[coops 1,790]

And there was me thinking that flying the flag for slow losers was a lonely old job!

I can relate, and I agree with all the above!

yep, I am a slow loser and have been since abt mth 7... I am 15mths out now.

Try not to dispair with the slow weight loss... try not to compare yourself with others... both hard, I know! You will keep losing. You will keep getting smaller. You will keep hetting healthier and fitter... win - win!

Being a slow loser makes each and every loss sooooo gratifying for me now! I have learnt not to take anything for grantide and that includes 'myself' and my body.

keep up the good work, enjoy the benefits... keep us posted on your progress ...

[samnyc 5]

I have not had my surgery yet but what my doctor says is that with vsg a patient can expect to lose 50% of their excess weight within the first 6 months following surgery - then the next 25% in the following 6 months, and the final 25% in the next year - so that is two years total. I am a dreadfully slow loser as well - but the thought of even getting under 200 is such a pipe dream that I wont care how long it takes

My loss seems to have mirrored what your doctor said almost exactly.

[queenmab 1]

Thanks for sharing! I am a slow loser, too. After 3 months, I am down 34 pounds, and with 100 left to go, it's easy to get frustrated and not to remember to count every pound lost as a victory...

Today, I am victorious. Thanks for that!

[juzmejnee 9]

Just wanted to say im right there with you guys. I feel like my weight is sooooo slow. But we can do this. Its ok to be a slow loser DOn't be discouraged , just keep goin!! Hang in there!