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@NickelChip I agree! You look great. WTG! And my weight loss graph looks very similar to yours over the last month also except I stalled a little earlier than your recent one and am now back losing again after a little more than 2 weeks. Just keep on keeping on, you’ll get over the hump. 😉

My skin broke out right after my surgery! Omg. I am on week six postop and it is cleared up, but wow, it did not like the change.

I totally get it. My brother had surgery about 15 years ago and his first few months were dramatic. He was losing so much weight daily, and went on to get from 310lbs to 150lbs in the first year or so (he's since regained to about 230lbs). But when I am tempted to compare myself to him negatively, I have to remember he was a guy (they lose 20% more on average) and in his early 30s at the time. I'm female and 50! Plus, his starting BMI was 6 points higher than mine. All that can make a difference. And even with friends who may seem a lot more like you (similar size and age), there are things you can't see like how much inflammation or water weight a person had, or how much muscle. But yeah, it's hard. Especially as most of us had tried and failed so many times, having a few good months and then coming to a halt and regaining everything plus some, time and time again. When you are a slower loser, it messes with your mind and plays up your fears. But I definitely second the idea of measurements. In the past 3 weeks, I have barely budged on the scale, losing only about 3 pounds and doing a lot of bouncing up and down. But I took my measurements and I've lost almost an inch in my bust, over an inch in my waist, and an inch and a half in my hips. At the start of April, I was wearing a size 20w in jeans (albeit roomy, but they stayed up). Yesterday, I had on a 16w and they were comfortable, not even skin tight! I haven't worn a 16 in years! So if the scale is messing with you, see if you have a piece of clothing from your skinnier days that you could try on. You might be amazed.

Thanks, @RonHall908! I should probably say, the 48lbs lost stretches back to last summer when I was at my highest ever weight and started incorporating the Pound of Cure guidelines into my daily routine. I lost 13lbs just with that over about 6 months, and then I lost about 13lbs more during the 2-week pre-op diet. So 26 of it was pre-op and 22 is post-op. Which kind of feels weird. I thought the surgery would ramp things up, but it feels like it slowed things down! I know there's a lot more going on metabolism-wise that will make it easier in the long run to lose more and keep the weight off, but it still can do your head in sometimes trying to balance expectations and reality. This is also the weight where I plateaued during my last serious weight loss attempt, right around losing 20% of my starting body weight. I know that research shows that most people can lose 5-10% of their body weight, but once you get to the 15 to 20% mark your body usually rebels. I assume that may be what's happening here as everything has to readjust, and the surgery changes will eventually make it possible to push past that plateau where I couldn't do it before. Fingers crossed!

I have thought of taking measurements instead. Something I was going to talk to my nutritionist this coming week. Thank you 😊 I do appreciate your comment

You look Great! A few weeks from 90 days out and your halfway there. That's a great accomplishment. Congrats! I think I figured out my stall phases. I'll stall for 2 or 3 weeks, then lose a few pounds. Stall again... rinse and repeat. That seems to be how my body is reacting. The Doctor in the online support group I attend, said our body believes it may be heading to starvation. Because of the mal-absorption of having Gastric bypass. So it has to adjust, I think these stalls are the adjustments. At least that seems to be the phases my body is going through. Again you look great!

I swear, if this stall doesn't break soon... I did some research and found that indeed, 3 months is a common time for a stall to hit. It's just frustrating to see that nice downward trend come to a halt, especially when the "experts" tell you the first 3 months are the fastest weight loss. It really is a marathon, isn't it? Here's what my weight has been doing the past 30 days:

I am also a slow loser and was diagnosed with PCOS in my 20s. I'm also 50, so perimenopause probably comes into play, too. While I've lost 48 lbs in the past 9 months, only 22 of that is post-surgery (almost 3 months). It's frustrating for sure. First, though, 13 lbs in a month is great, even if you hoped for more. And it really shows in your photos. Second, your body retains fluid for several weeks after surgery, so it's hard to say what's really going on. But most importantly, this is a journey that will take 12-18 months. You're only 1 month in. And while your doctor can talk about trajectories and averages, each person is unique. Each body does what it wants to do when it wants to do it. Try not to focus on the scale (hard, I know). Focus on your health, developing good lifelong habits, and nonscale victories like loose clothing, getting off a medication, or improved lab results. Just because you started off slow doesn't mean you won't make it to a place that makes you happy.

Today marks 1 month since my surgery. Little back history for me, my start weight in March during diet for surgery: 280#. My surgery day: 269#. Today, I'm at 256#. I started and am currently still at at class 3 obesity. Posting before and after pictures. I read and hear so many positive stories on how others lost 30+ pounds their first month. I should be happy with the fact I am losing weight but super slowly. I'm considered a "slow loser" apparently. I'm down 13 pounds in 1 month. I go 5-6 days plateaued same weight before I drop another pound. It's quite annoying. I've been drinking/drinking protein shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese and when I'm not working, I drink between 64-96 oz of water. When I'm working (I work as a warehouse worker and does get to heavy lifting at times), I can hardly down 16 oz of water. When I work, I get excited thinking, "I'm burning so many calories, I'm bound to finally lose that pound!" Just to be disappointed. I weigh daily, I have a separate nutritionist outside of the place I got my surgery as the nutritionist there hasn't helped much, doesn't respond or pay much attention when I try talking to them. So, I found a different one. I tried not weighing in each day, went a week, only to still be disappointed with the same weight. I do occasionally lick unhealthy items or chew and spit out just to get some flavor again. It's not often. Something different about me is I have a lot of muscle naturally. I also have PCOS. I've read PCOS can stall weight loss. I do for sure see changes in my stomach, not so much in my face or my arms...but why can't I be happy about this? Is this like a depression thing others have gone through? I'd love some others opinions, stories, how you're feeling right now.

Yes exactly this. This is so very tiring. Your brain is going a mile a minute and must be burning so many calories. I get B12 shots every 3 months at my doctors. If you have bariatric surgery here it seems to be the norm. These are like liquid energy and I don't need to check my calendar when they are due for renewal. The last two weeks are hell, I drag myself around. I had similar issues to you in my first year. I really struggled to eat and my calories were so low. I tired easily too. My team and I decided that it would be best for me to eat tiny meals, 6 times a day. My menu would be, meal 1, protein yogurt 2, homemade lentil and veg soup 3, scrambled egg 4, Fish in a sauce 5, Some jerky or cheese 6, a latte or some watermelon. This, in my mind gave me everything, I nutritionally needed but my calories were about 500 a day. I started to do full fat everything and upped my calories to 800 slowly. You will feel regret, its a lot to deal with. Every week gets easier. Once you master drinking enough you will leap forward.

Just about to fly home and will anwser everyones posts then. Thanks all for your support and words and suggestions. Loving the new profile picture @NickelChip and @RonHall908 What an amazing transformation! Here are some of me, pick tracksuit is 2 weeks post surgery, brown dress is yesterday.

Okay, so I've done other meal prep services before but hadn't heard of this one. The salads look lovely, but holy moly, the price tag is a shock! Not to say I wouldn't do it if I had the means, but have you considered just ordering reusable cups of this size from Amazon and meal prepping once a week? Given how simple their ingredients are, you could probably recreate these easily, and for a fraction of the cost. Plus less waste, which is my big complaint with all the meal service companies. So much trash. In fact, since each of their items tells you exactly what's in it, I may have to try this approach out myself in a few months when I can more easily tolerate raw veg. I love the idea of salads on the go.

First, congrats on your weight loss. Wonderful! Second, is it a stall, a very normal & important part of your weight loss, or is it just your body slowly down the loss to seemingly nothing as you’re nearing or at your body’s new set point weight? If it is your new set point, you will constantly be fighting it to try to lose more. This is where your body is happiest. If your weight loss has slowed/stopped at this weight that means you will need to continue to eat the 1000 calories you are eating now to maintain it. Or less to lose more. Is that sustainable? Is it healthy in the long term? There’s the weight you want to see on the scales & the weight your body wants you to be & is compatible with your life & lifestyle. This alone can take time to accept & wrap your head around. Just some things to consider. Not everyone has a bounce back regain. I didn’t. I still weigh about what I weighed when I first stabilised with the same fluctuation range of about a kilogram/2 lbs at almost 5 years out. And I consume more calories now than I did when I first stabilised (1300 then & 1600 now). I don’t do any real exercise, am a little shorter than you & quite a few years older than you I expect. Also, look at increasing your fluid intake. You should be aiming for 2 litres a day & more on the days you’re more active. Your weight loss isn’t over until it’s over. A stall doesn’t mean it’s over. Just your body taking a break to reassess your current needs.

That’s such silly advice. Make high protein choices. We make those choices every day. Okay up your protein but also up your calories. Your calories or volume of food you eat should be slowly but steadily increasing as you progress until you get to the point you’re maintaining. Until that time, you will keep losing but the rate slows & slows. Like many of the others above I kept losing for almost another year after I reached goal so about 18 months in total. (Wasn’t intending to lose more but it took time to increase my portions & calories to a point it the loss stopped plus it was obviously where my body wanted to be as I’m still there.) And the loss in those last months was grams a week (or none) not kilograms. It’s not over until it’s over.

Thanks for your response. I am drinking fluids as much as I can. If I take just one to many sips, I’ll throw up. I’m not taking in a lot of calories reason being I’ll throw up. It’s a balancing act for me right now. I am still doing my infusions couple days a week. It does help but it last only a day or two. I suppose this will just take prayers and time.

Week 4 Post op Sw: 155kg /341 lbs Stats to date: - 13,8kg / -30.42lbs One month post op today ! I’ve been back at work for a full week and feeling great. I work as higher management in a corporate environment so except the daily and expected stress it’s not too strenuous. I had promised myself i wouldn’t go for long hour days unless i felt ok about it and i do. I am working as per usual and managed to get back into the swing of things after 3 weeks off. The only difference has been i actually take the time to take snack breaks. My daily eating schedule looks like: - breakfast + around 300-400ml water + coffee with milk and stevia - mid morning snack - lunch - water all afternoon - dinner I have adaptes super super well to the « real food » stage and i can eat absolutely everything i’ve tried. The only thing that does make me feel slightly uncomfortable is raw vegetables (lettuce, beetroot, carrot) or certain fruits (watermelon). It’s not that i feel pain i just feel super bloated when i eat them. I think the most shocking thing has been the fact that i went from being unable to eat more than 30-50g in the early days to actually being able to eat a (dessert) plate of food. I took what my surgeon told me about not measuring and ran with it: no more weighing food i just eyeball my dessert plate and i’ve learned my limit so i know when i’m full. I actually think it’s crazy when i think back to the amount i used to put on a plate … It did scare me to be eating more but i have understood that the actual goal is to be able to eat a « normal » portion. Because before i used to serve 2-3 in one sitting ! I have family friends that are visiting for 5 days and don’t know i’ve had surgery (we’re not specifically close enough to discuss this topic) and they actually haven’t noticed anything (or at least haven’t mentioned it haha) but i can sit and enjoy a meal with everyone without restrictions on anything other than the quantity. I’ve been able to eat carbs for a few days so i made a delicious bell pepper tomato and chorizo tart served on a bed of baby spinach - i had 1/6 size tart, and served everyone else the standard 1/4 size slice. Even though i know i’m eating much less i do feel guilty about eating more than 3 weeks ago at times. I feel like my surgery isn’t working because i feel hungry if i miss a snack mid morning … but, i know from having logged all food and drink for a while that i’m’at 600-800 cals per day So i’m reassured by the fact that it’s scientifically impossible to not lose weight eating so much less. Hopefully this slight panic, scared feeling subsides with time.

Yeah, I wondered because my dietician gave me this same goal at my 4 week post-op appointment. She recommended 80g protein and that for now, protein should be about 40% of my calories, which means a goal of 800 calories per day. But she definitely said the goal would be shifting over time. I have an appointment with her next Wednesday and I'm curious what she'll say about my targets now that I'll be almost at the 3-month mark. For what it's worth, I've only lost 22lbs since surgery, so mine has been really slow going. If I hear anything interesting from my dietician next week, I'll let you know.

No it was never explained its just the amount given since I went to solids. I even confirmed it at my 6 month when they increase my protein to 80 grams. I questioned how I was to increase protein yet stay on the same calories...I was told "make high protein choices." Thank you everyone for responding, I knew to keep keeping on..since as Ms.sss stated weight loss is weight loss. Its just frustrating, to be right back where I was before surgery; hungry all the time and only losing a pound a week despite eating healthy, cutting back and being hungry 24/7! Yes, I've lost 90+lbs since..I was just hoping the struggle would have been a bit easier ..at least have gotten the "honeymoon" period of not being hungry and losing a lot the first few months. Thanks again everyone!

Yea sometimes it’s the way they dissolve. There was something about tablets that have a special coating on them too that I vaguely remember reading about. I did this research three years ago before I had the sleeve because I am on meds too. People definitely do have issues with certain types of meds commonly and then a much smaller percent have issues with other types of meds that are fine for most people. I guess it’s kind of like the small percentage that have more issues getting enough vitamins no matter what they try. You will Just need to keep working with your doctor until they will figure it out. In the meantime just try to remember that it is just a medication issue and you will feel more like yourself soon. 💜

Hi everyone, I have a question. Has anyone been totally fatigued with absolutely no energy daily. I was hospitalized for lack of fluids, an 2nd time for depleted potassium. I do IV infusions twice a week, still barely helps. I do the protein daily as well as water. Any ideas ?? Dr. says follow program, as I do..so far regretting surgery.

I was looking at my weight scale app and so far for this year, 2024 I've lost 23.2 lbs total or 5.8 lbs a month from January 1st to May 1st; 5 months - 23 pounds! That's my total weight loss for months 4 - 9 post op. I understand everyone loses at different rates, but isn't this too slow for only being 4-9 months post op? I'm almost at only a pound a week! I was under the impression that about 2 lbs a week is normal at 9 months - 12 months. Then after 12 months po1 pound a week is normal... I could also understand if I were eating more calories, I'm sticking to 800 max a day - what I've been told to stick to by my dietician, 80grams protein, under 50 net carbs, under 20 sugar grams... Anyone have any ideas, comments etc!? I don't mean to complain, but heck I was hoping to lose more than a pound a week following surgery at this point in time, Most can accomplish that without surgery! Again, anyone have the same problem at this point in their timeline? But if so, did they continue to lose or am I getting to that point my body says I'm done? Anybody?

I agree! I never went through the not hungry phase and I hate hearing the its just " head hunger" statement as well. I know the difference between cravings and stomach growling hunger! I've been hungry from before surgery, weeks after and now 9 months ...I've just decided feeling hungry is better than being fat! I also don't understand dieticians and people here saying eat deli meats, most have nitrates, salt and water added to them - not exactly healthy! I guess in a pinch they're better than nothing...

Love the term onederland 😂 @NickelChip @BlueParis don’t get discouraged, you’re so much smaller than a lot of us and I would expect it to take longer or for you to have more prolonged stalls than when you weighed more. I know it can be frustrating but you’re doing great! 😘 Weightloss always slows way down when you’re closer to a “normal” weight. Whatever that may be. Oh and WTG on the no drinking! Maybe you can try high protein snacks like quest protein chips or roasted edamame to up your protein? @RonHall908 you look great! hope ev1 is still doing well, I can’t stop myself from weighing everyday, even when I try not too, I end up on the scale anyway. But that’s ok, I go up and down also but I know intellectually that it’s most likely water weight. I stop losing or gain briefly every time I do any exercise and I’m pretty sure it’s water weight. I also agree with @NickelChip that I do think the “stalls” are often related to not enough calories ( also over carbing it, I don’t really exercise much and have PCOS so I don’t metabolize carbs well and try to avoid simple carbs as much as possible) Your body going into starvation mode is truly a real thing and does happen. I seem to notice my most steady weight loss when I follow my diet 95% of the time and then have a cheat meal/day and eat crap I’ve avoided all week like fattening restaurant yummy food like chips and queso or chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. I might stay the same or gain a pound right after then drop several pounds. Plus for me it keeps me from craving all the unhealthy food ALL the time, bc I LOVE food and know that eating only healthy food 100% of the time is unattainable for me. I’ll eventually cheat and fall off the wagon hard! Oh and for anyone feeling disappointed in the slow losses take @LisaCaryl’s advice and go by how your clothes feel or better yet,take measurements if you can. My hubby helps me take my measurements and I log them on the Baritastic app. Even when my scales not moving I’ve lost lots of inches and my clothes are big. Plus I’m back into my small “fat” pants lol 😁 oh and @NickelChip, I feel you on the sweets, I use light and fit Greek yogurt and Russel Stovers sugar free chocolates for desserts! My hubby even likes the Russel Stovers chocolates and can’t tell they’re sugar free. Keep on keepin on guys! 😘

Traveling is hard. I used to travel a lot for work and by the end of a week of restaurant meals, I would be craving fruit and veg so much because I could never seem to get enough of that. I have found ordering simple chicken dishes in restaurants with a veg side and skipping the starch has been the best way to get something well-balanced when away from home, and that won't upset my stomach. Can you stop at a grocery store to get Greek or Icelandic yogurt and fresh berries when on the road? I'm not sure how common it is to have a small refrigerator in your hotel room in the places you're going, but a serving of unsweetened yogurt with fruit and a sprinkle of sliced almonds is a great start to the day that requires no cooking or blending. You could also try raw veg and hummus (if you are able to tolerate raw veg). Does your job require going out to dinner with clients? If not, you might see if you can travel with a small electric hot pot to heat your own meals in your hotel room. Maybe bring small containers of your favorite spices to make simple go-to meals on the road. A few times I recall staying in hotels that had true kitchens and being able to buy groceries when I arrived. That was such a relief. It's funny that when you start traveling for work, you think it will be such a treat to go out to eat all the time, and after you do it for a while, it's not fun at all. Congratulations on making it 12 weeks with no alcohol! That's a great accomplishment. I had a single sip of a friend's cocktail this weekend and I have to say, it didn't taste good to me anymore. Maybe it was just a bad cocktail, but hopefully my tastebuds have changed for that. Sadly, I was not cured of my sweet tooth from the surgery. It was such a disappointment when chocolate was just as delicious as before.

it's an individual thing, but most of us are supposed to shoot for 60-80 grams of protein a day. Calories are all across the board, depending on your body composition and activity level. There are people on here (well, women - men can usually eat more) who maintain on 2000 a day, and others who can only have 1200 a day. It takes some trial and error to figure out your maintenance level. Log your food for a couple of weeks (if you're not already) and note your average calorie intake. If you're gaining weight, slowly reduce your calories. If you're losing weight (and don't want to), then gradually increase them until you reach a point where you want to be - and are maintaining that.