Perspectives on Losing Fast & Slow

[Greensleevie 451]

21 minutes ago, maluez said:

I’m gaining and just mad and disappointed in myself. I am almost a year out have lost a total of 30#s. Help!!!

Do you know how many calories/protein/carbs you need to be eating to lose? If so, are you tracking your food daily? Drinking 64 Oz of Water or low calorie fluids? Moving more? Cutting out as much sugar as possible and eating mainly Protein and veggies?

Go back to your surgeon or nutritionist for guidance. They should be able to get you back on track. If you can't figure out the reasons you can't get on track, see someone who can help you figure out why. Don't be mad and disappointed in yourself. Turn those negative emotions into positive actions!

[GreenTealael 25,353]

On 06/11/2018 at 01:08, Greensleevie said:

If your practitioner is pressuring you to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific deadline, they are being highly unprofessional and unrealistic. Its great to give you goals, but not at the expense of making you feel like a complete failure because you didn't live up to their expectations. It's ridiculous. They should be thrilled with any and all progress you are making.

I'm trying to understand what is so time sensitive about your health without prying? Are you awaiting an organ transplant or medical procedure you have to lose a certain amount of weight for? If so, I definitely understand the concern, but if you are doing everything you can possibly do, you're going to lose at the rate your body wants to lose. Why stress yourself out about it? And your surgeons or doctors certainly shouldn't be stressing you out about it, either.

I chose this surgery as an alternative (off brand use) to another and it was agreed upon by all of my teams that if it didn't produce desired effect within a certain amount of time (no matter how much weight I lost) I have to move forward with another method of treatment I don't really want. So I'm running out of time, 5% just would not work for my case. But I started this thread for a little look on the bright side or the struggle is real either way perspective because I really only get to see my journey

[apositivelife4me 189]

I have only lost 10 pounds in 5 weeks. I was concerned about it but I just accept it as it is...a slow process.

[apositivelife4me 189]

Maybe I should have had bypass surgery instead of the sleeve.

[MIZ60 1,291]

When I sit here and reflect on how much better I feel than I did on April 18 when I started the preop diet I can honestly say that I have no worries on how long this process is going to take.

Before April 18 I had excruciating back pain that limited my activity. Going to the grocery store was a nightmare for me and other activities were just eliminated. I tried a few medications and even had injections from a spine physiatrist with no improvement. My wheezing and shortness of breath (despite 3 daily asthma/COPD medications) was so bad it was hard for me to walk across the street to the mailbox. My pulmonologist was frustrated with the situation as was I. I was a prisoner in my home and feeling really overwhelmed, sad and resigned to the situation I was in. I have been unable to work for over a year. I honestly did not expect the surgery to help any of this.

As of today I have lost 33.8 pounds. My back pain has COMPLETELY resolved and I am able to do whatever I want without pain. I am OFF all three of the asthma/COPD medications since 2 weeks post op and have used my rescue inhaler exactly 3 times since. I am able to walk 1.25 miles in about 25-30 minutes every morning in the Texas heat and humidity. If these changes had not happened to me I would never believe them.

I still have about 100 lbs. to lose to reach my goal. I do not care how long it takes. This surgery is the BEST thing I have ever done for myself. Sure, I get jealous when I see people losing faster than I am but I can only experience my own journey.

[FancyChristine15 810]

I'm not quite 3 months post op, and I've lost 52 pounds since my surgery (58 before surgery). I'm one that started with A LOT to lose, and I'm not really losing as fast as I thought I would. I'm definitely not complaining though. I've noticed a big change in my clothes. I can still wear the same clothes that I started at, but they're huge! I'm starting to go out and do things that I used to not be able to do. Yeah, I wish the weight would just fall off, but it's coming off at a decent pace.

[Kaylee.char 20]

On 6/5/2018 at 4:49 AM, Tealael said:

Wondering if people wanted to share their experience / success stories / frustrations with losing weight at their personal pace.

Some days i find it hard to not trivialize my success and i think its is because I am losing slowly, which can be VERY frustrating but i did not have any complications, a definitive goal set up yet or loose skin so i should learn to count my blessings. How do you maintain perspective?

@Tealael i started following you because i thought you were crushing it with those numbers! only 20 to go! I'm looking forward to being that close to my goal! Good luck!

[Kaylee.char 20]

On 6/5/2018 at 5:25 AM, AllyJonesVSG said:

I think I had unrealistic expectations. I kept hearing about people who lost 90 lbs in 3 months sort of thing, but I forgot that they were starting from a place with much more to lose, which helps it fall off faster. I'm evidently going to have to be content with ~4lbs per week.

We were sleeved a day apart, and you're losing faster than me! Keep it up! It could always be worse

[Meggs11 32]

On 6/5/2018 at 6:25 AM, AllyJonesVSG said:

I think I had unrealistic expectations. I kept hearing about people who lost 90 lbs in 3 months sort of thing, but I forgot that they were starting from a place with much more to lose, which helps it fall off faster. I'm evidently going to have to be content with ~4lbs per week.

See and I think 4lbs a week is amazing. I could of never done that before surgery!

[GreenTealael 25,353]

5 hours ago, Kaylee.char said:

@Tealael i started following you because i thought you were crushing it with those numbers! only 20 to go! I'm looking forward to being that close to my goal! Good luck!

Thank you for the reminder to stay the course!

[Carlitar 3]

Hi!
I always had been in a slow process of losing, but I was happy for my progress. Without the surgery it was imposible for me to lose weight, so for me losing anything was good news. I didn’t compare to others since we all have different weight loss goal, metabolism, diet, etc...
I already reach a normal weight and normal BMI. But for me my goal is fat %, I am an obese inside a normal weight body. My weight have already stuck and I even gained 5 pounds in June. Now on, I know that it will be a difficult journey to keep losing weight and fat. I am 20 pounds of fat away my goal. I now that I will have to fight it each day to every pound. It is not easy, but not impossible.

[moondoggie1983 202]

I too had unrealistic thoughts because of some of the posts about losing 100 lbs in 3-4 months. But I realized those aren’t the norm. Especially for me. Bypass patients seem to lose a lot more weight much more quickly than sleeve patients. And I had the sleeve. It was what I decided was the better option for me in the long term. So, I’ve lost 26.4 lbs since surgery on 5/10 and I’ve gone through a 1 week stall already. It IS still frustrating at times, but I’m still thankful for what I have lost.
I’ve lost 3 clothing sizes, I’ve lost the issue of struggling to fasten my seatbelt, I’ve lost a lot of my back pain, I’ve lost all the knee pain from my osteoarthritis and I’ve lost all my diabetes medications! That’s a lot of losses!
I’ve gained more energy, I have a neck now, I can run around work in high heels and heeled boots. I’ve gained the ability to no longer be scared of breaking a chair if I sit in it. I’ve gained enough joy that I’m off one of my bipolar meds. And I’ve gained all the love and support and wows from my employees and others that I told. I fit in theater seats comfortably.
So my losses aren’t all about weight, and the gains are amazing already. When I stall or get down about losing slower than others, I try to use the perspective of TRUE gains and losses. Not what the scale says, but how my health and life are better.

[GreenTealael 25,353]

I'm glad everyone has been willing to be honest about how they feel, sometimes I struggle with the pressure to always be positive

[RHCD 241]

On 06/12/2018 at 17:09, Tealael said:

I'm glad everyone has been willing to be honest about how they feel, sometimes I struggle with the pressure to always be positive

There’s being positive and forcing yourself to be positive. I’m 7 weeks out from my sleeve surgery and I have no idea where I’m at on the fast/slow continuum. I find if I’m comparing myself to others it starts devolving into some really unhealthy places for me. Doesn’t mean I haven’t found myself down that path.

And that turned into way more of a lecture than I’d planned.

I’m hoping to get some good guidance in my 8 week check up next week. My goal isn’t to be super fast but I also don’t want to be super slow. I’m already having a heck of a time dressing myself at my current speed.

Hearing other’s journeys is so helpful!

[maluez 0]

Thanks all!!!!