Just really need some encouragement if anyone will

[Dchonlee 38]

So I’m two weeks postop and I know that’s early but I went from 217 to currently being 189. I know everyone’s like you have to give it time “Be patient” but emotionally., i wish that results were more rapid. I’ve been at 189 for three days and I barely eat anything. I enjoyed Tomato Soup recently, but the creaminess of it, kind of upset my stomach so it just feels like Protein Shakes are the only thing that will help and sustain me. I guess I’m writing for some support and encouragement that in time I’ll see more changes. The 28 pound difference did make me happy and I want to continue to see changes, but I guess I’m just not being patient enough. Please share some support😔 here.

[Nabih_bawazir 8]

I think you need non-eating another hobby while you waiting the result, for me it is calisthenic and sewing. My callisthenic skill go fast because my bodyweight is less. I like resizing my old clothes and measure every single part on my body, only resize one look every 2 weeks.

[FifiLux 162]

Well done on the loss so far, 29lbs is great.

Everyone's body will react in different ways and your body is just trying to recover from the surgery and process the changes it is coping with. The loss can be big one week, then nothing for a few weeks, they can be slow and steady throughout, it is different for everyone but you will get there in the end.

If the Tomato Soup was an issue maybe try less creamy Soups, like a broth, if you want a change from the shakes and make sure you are getting enough liquids in as well.

You will get through this, I think just about everyone who has gone through the surgery has had a low day or more, and it is just about being kind to yourself, not stressing and just realise that you have already had a substantial loss in just two weeks.

You have got this 💪

Edited June 20 by FifiLux

[catwoman7 11,011]

first of all, most people who aren't the size of the folks on "My 600 lb Life" tend to lose somewhere in the 15-25 lb range the entire first MONTH. So at only two weeks out, you are way, way ahead of the game.

secondly, you are starting out at a MUCH lower BMI than most WLS patients, and starting BMI is one of the factors that determines your rate of weight loss those first few weeks and months. So your rate of weight loss would be expected to be at the lower end. So again, esp given your low starting weight, you are way ahead of the game.

third, you have likely hit the infamous "three-week stall". The vast majority of us have our first major stall within the first month or so after surgery. It's usually the third week, hence the name, but it can happen any time during that first month or so post-op. It usually lasts 1-3 weeks. I had mine during weeks 2 & 3. After it broke, I dropped like six or eight lbs practically overnight.

so first, you need to manage your expectations. You are not going to lose like someone who starts out at over 600 lbs. But again, you are currently WAY ahead of most of us even "normal" WLS patients at this point. Secondly, the stall: you just have to ride it out. The only thing you can do is make sure you are following your plan to a "T", and stay off the scale. Stop weighing every day. Just weigh every few days or once a week until it breaks. And it WILL break as long as you're compliant with your plan.

if you want more info on the three-week stall, do a search on this site for it. You will find over 17,000 posts on it. And no, I am NOT kidding.

[catwoman7 11,011]

4 hours ago, Dchonlee said:

So I’m two weeks postop and I know that’s early but I went from 217 to currently being 189. I know everyone’s like you have to give it time “Be patient” but emotionally., i wish that results were more rapid. I’ve been at 189 for three days and I barely eat anything. I enjoyed Tomato Soup recently, but the creaminess of it, kind of upset my stomach so it just feels like Protein Shakes are the only thing that will help and sustain me. I guess I’m writing for some support and encouragement that in time I’ll see more changes. The 28 pound difference did make me happy and I want to continue to see changes, but I guess I’m just not being patient enough. Please share some support😔 here.

P.S. Tomato Soup. It could be the creaminess, but it could also be the tomatoes. Tomato things are very acidic. Even now at nine years out, some tomato products still bother my stomach because of the acid.

[NickelChip 933]

I think the best encouragement I can offer is to help manage your expectations. WLS is a treatment with results measured in months and years, not days. For perspective, my day of surgery weight was only 6 lbs higher than yours. I am 4 months post op as of tomorrow and I hit 189 lbs...yesterday. That's 17 weeks to lose 34 pounds. And I promptly bounced up to 190 this morning.

Barely eating anything has very little bearing on how much weight you will lose in the beginning. Your body is going through some stuff. Like, a lot of stuff. We don't even know the half of all the systems that are recalibrating in the first weeks and months. Calories in and calories out is just not a useful equation to describe what is happening to you right now.

The weight on the scale is a single data point, but it doesn't even tell you what type of weight you have lost. Fat? Water? Muscle? No idea! And the smart scales aren't actually very smart because they give you averages, not actual measurements. I only lost 2.8 lbs the entire month of May, but I went down a dress size and a bra size during that time. Then I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks. Why? Who knows!

So, for long term sanity, I suggest focusing on the things you can control and not worrying about what you can't. Focus on meeting Protein and Fluid targets. Add in a sustainable exercise routine (for me, that is just walking consistently every week). Do some reading and watch videos about good bariatric nutrition (I recommend The Pound of Cure videos on YouTube to start with). Collect and try new recipes as you move through the food stages. Take your measurements and a monthly progress photo. You may see the changes better in photos than you do by looking at yourself in a mirror.

Basically, you are only 2 weeks into a 52-week-plus journey. You'll get there, but it will take time. And you will drive yourself crazy if you're like the kid in the backseat asking yourself "Are we there yet?" from the minute you pull out of the driveway.

[NickelChip 933]

Oh, and if it fits into your program, try a butternut squash bisque instead of Tomato to see if that is better for your stomach.

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,109]

I would definitely switch up the Tomato Soup. That can cause havoc on your stomach. 29 pounds in 2 weeks is awesome. That's about where I was. If you look at my signature, you can see I was someone that responded EXTREMELY well to the surgery. But even with that, I had to learn to manage my expectations.

Stalls happen. They're real, they suck, they will continue. It's important not to obsess over the number on the scale and pay attention to NSVs (Non Scale Victories). How are your clothes and rings fitting? How is your mobility? Are you able to get off any meds? Can you fit in booths and chairs with arms better? How do you look? When stalls happen, stay off the scale for a while and pay attention to NSVs.

In the beginning, you lose the most weight because of Water weight, inflammation, and your body's general "OMG wtf just happened??!?!" response to the surgery. The rate of the loss WILL slow down. It's inevitable. That doesn't mean it won't be a success. It just means that you have to change your expectations and relearn the process for what it is, not what you saw on tv or read online that it would be.

The higher your bmi and starting weight, the faster you initially lose weight. As your bmi and weight get lower, the weight loss slows down. That doesn't mean it'll stop, it just gets slower. Be very mindful of what you eat, how much, how often. Pay attention to actual hunger vs head hunger. Avoid slider foods. This is the stage where you work on your mindset and relationship with food. No cheating. No alcohol. No junk food. Stick to your diet religiously. Listen to your body.

[ShoppGirl 3,494]

Sounds like others have pretty much covered what I was going to say but just know that you are not alone in this. Keep posting here and keep doing what you’re doing. You’re doing great.

[AmberFL 348]

I ditto what everyone else says, but I dropped in to say WOW YOUR DOING AMAZING!!! I am with @SleeveToBypass2023 I am someone who is responding to the surgery very well and the weight is melting off. Sounds like you are too! Try not to weight yourself everyday its gets to be daunting. I know it works for some but I know for me it becomes an obsession and its not healthy. Maybe try to squeeze in an extra walk or start with light weight lifting. Something to get your body moving really is a good distraction

[Dchonlee 38]

On 06/20/2024 at 00:21, Dchonlee said:

So I’m two weeks postop and I know that’s early but I went from 217 to currently being 189. I know everyone’s like you have to give it time “Be patient” but emotionally., i wish that results were more rapid. I’ve been at 189 for three days and I barely eat anything. I enjoyed Tomato Soup recently, but the creaminess of it, kind of upset my stomach so it just feels like Protein Shakes are the only thing that will help and sustain me. I guess I’m writing for some support and encouragement that in time I’ll see more changes. The 28 pound difference did make me happy and I want to continue to see changes, but I guess I’m just not being patient enough. Please share some support😔 here.

Thank you everyone. Im going to trust the process and lay off the scale lol because im torturing myself. Ive been seeing the “stall” and i didnt think i’d reach it so early but here we are. Our bodies are going through so many changes that hormonally im more emotional lol. But this feed back encouraged me

[JennyBeez 123]

Ditto the ditto, and I also wanted to say WOW. 29 lbs in 2 weeks is actually pretty incredible when you think about it. Most non-WLS diets average 1-2 lbs per week at most, after the initial water-retention loss. Think about it -- can you think of any time in your life that you even managed to lose 5-10 lbs per week? 14 or 15 instead is amazing. ^___^

I think it's really important in WLS groups to remember that while we're all here to chime in and give support, share common trials and tribulations -- actual comparisions of weight or inches lost can be a little unhealthy / unrealistic. Everyone starts from a different place -- different surgery day weights, different co-morbidities, different physicalities. Even where we carry our weight can make a big difference in how it comes off. So while it's great to find common ground with others here, please please please never judge your own journey by how others' have gone before you. It's not a contest. The only winner is you, the individual who wakes up every day and makes conscious healthy choices (often difficult -- especially at the beginning) to work towards your goal. ❤️

[RonHall908 125]

@Dchonlee I first went to the Bariatric clinic October 2023. I was 363 lbs. I had my gastric bypass surgery Feb 7th. I lost 79 lbs. from October to my surgery date. Since, I've lost 50 lbs. Right not I'm in a big stall, and I've actually gained a few pounds. I did find out I have an ear infection in both ears. Currently on meds to take care of it. So, i assume the gain is from that. But the stall is nearing a month long. I've lost a lot of weight since October. I know it's slowing even being only 4 months post-op. The stall is still concerning. But, in saying that. I can tell I have other changes happening. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Just keep doing what you're supposed to and you will be fine.

Edited June 21 by RonHall908