<<Help>> Not Sure If I'm On The Right Path

[honeybee72 0]

I had VGS Surgery on April 11, 2012. I have lost 16 lbs since the surgery and I lost 22 before surgery... My question is, is this normal?? I feel like I am not losing as much as I expected to and I also feel like I am able to eat more than maybe I should??? Or is it my mind playing tricks on me??? I do track my calories and I am well below what I should intake for a day, but yet I am not losing... My best friend also had VGS on April 23, 2012 and started at 12 lbs heavier than me and is now 20 lbs lighter than me... I know we are all different, but I struggled to lose weight at all with diet and exercise I couldn;t even barely lose weight... I was exercising an hour and a half every night and eating my proper nutrition and the scale wouldn't budge when I was doing my 6 month diet doc... I finally at the last minute got in 10 lbs before the 6 months was up... I got to the point where I told my Dr that I was convinced there was something wrong with me and that the surgery wasn't even gonna work for me... So now I am getting worried that, that is happening... I hear all of the very successful stories at the support group and wonder what I am doing wrong?? Or am I normal with this weight loss??? I am afraid that I have altered my insides and it isn't going to pay off for me.... If anyone has any words of wisdom they can input or advise they'd like to pass down I would greatly appreciate it!!!

Thanks, Melissa

[mommymar 34]

2 things. First of all, I think when we stress so much about the scale it slows the weightloss. For me, I had to put the scale away. I weigh every one to two weeks. I found I am so much happier without that darn scale because then I focus more on my feelings. Secondly, up your calories to the amount you SHOULD be getting in. Not eating enough is telling your body you are in "starvation" and then your body holds on to the food you are eating. Try eating more before getting too upset. I too have that same worry even though I know this process is working (never as fast as we think it should come off) I still feel like my body is going to stop losing because it's happened with every other diet. I would follow it 100% and still at some point I would just stop losing. Good luck! Keep up the good work! Don't give up. You are not alone.

[Writergirl 230]

Be at peace. Do not agonize.

I've read so many stories on here, I've come to the conclusion that there is no "normal." I think it's wonderful that you are down 38 pounds in a short time. You're averaging 8 pounds a month--about what I'm doing. You would have been THRILLED to lose 8 pounds a month consistently prior to surgery. I spent some time comparing myself to others in the beginning, then I compared what I was doing with what I HAD been doing (when my loss slowed). Now, I weigh myself every day and whatever the scale says, I accept as a normal part of the process. Every day I DO ask myself if I can do better than the day before. If the answer is yes, I try to improve. If the answer is no, then I know that my body is just going to do what it's doing to do. Over time, you will come to be in a great place. Your friend may slow just as you speed up. Any comparison you make will probably just leave you unhappy. So just go with the flow! You'll see those lost pounds add up!

[emily_0192010 168]

((hugs)) Sometimes people just lose a lot slower than others. I know it is frustrating, but instead of looking at the overall picture, take it pound per pound. Make you goal "i want to lose one pound" instead of "i want to lose 100". It makes it easier!

In the meantime, make sure you are focusing on 1)protein, 2) Water and 3)vitmains. Don't worry about carbs, calories, etc. Get those 3 in and don't worry about the numbers. Stop eating after a couple bites, if you are full.. stop. What I do, is I weigh out my Protein for that meal. (that way I know what I need to eat to hit my goal) and I work at it. If I can't get it in one sitting then I put it aside for a couple hours until I finish it.

Also, make SURE you are getting in your water! This is *huge* for me. If i'm not drinking, then i'm not losing!

Good luck Melissa! You ARE doing great. Try to be patient with yourself. And don't stress over it... stress can keep you from losing as well (I learned this the hard way)!

[Mews 37]

I am a slow loser myself. I've only lost about 34 pounds since my surgery on March 15. Everybody is different. My piece of advice is don't weigh yourself everyday. I don't even weigh myself once a week any more. I only do it when I go to the doctor's office. As I go about every six weeks I see the dramatic loss and it makes me feel much better. Also, don't fret about the amount. Think of it this way: at least you've lost weight! Every pound is a victory.