Hello Everyone,

For the past week I've kept losing and gaining the same 3lbs. So, far I've lost about 40lbs in 6 weeks. I had surgery on 1/29/13. I haven't had my first fill yet. My start weight was 340lbs, and last week I weighed 298lbs. I was super happy. But now it's the same stupid 3lbs up and down each day. It's hard to explain, but I can lose the 3lbs in one day, but it's back the next morning. My doctor prescribed Water retention pills because I gained 10lbs in a week...all water. I lost that 10lbs in a couple of days. I have to drink orange juice and water all day, so my kidneys don't start hurting. The pain is almost unbearable when I don't drink enough fluids.

I exercise an hour a day, but I might boost it up to an hour and a half. I know I'm over doing it. I just really want to get as far away from 300lbs as possible.

I'm not sure if this is still water weight or, I'm doing something wrong. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but I'm getting depressed because I can't lose these 3lbs and move on.

Any advice from my fellow banders would help tremendously!

From my experience this early in the journey a week or two stall is totally normal. Just keep following the rules and ignore the scale for awhile.

This is going to take years and months to lose your excess weight. One or two weeks or even months of no weight loss can be expected and is very normal.

This(lapband) is a math test for you. Not literally, but you have to burn more calories than you consume. You can expect to lose 2-8 lbs of fat a month and gaining or losing 3 lbs in one day is pure Water and not fat loss.

tmf

you said you are eating right, exercising, i do not see a problem. the scale goes up and down all day long....maybe TOM, maybe you didnt go to bathroom or your socks are too heavy. the first 4-6 weeks, you are healing. weight loss will happen if you stick with it. and it seems as if you are. question, are you clothes feeling looser? are they? if so, then you are losing....regardless of what the scale may or may not say.

Thanks guys!

Yes, I know it's Water. I just don't know how to get rid of the water weight and get back to losing fat. I can't take those water pills everyday. I'd lose my mind and my kidneys would go in shock.

I'm probably over reacting because I'm so afraid of failure. I going to accept that I will stall, but it sure doesn't help me feel better.

You're not a failure. You are doing great. I have been struggling for the past 8 months trying to lost 10 pounds that I gained last year. Well I finally did it but look how long it took 8 MONTHS! Since I got my fill last week, I have lost 2 pounds. I am very happy about that. Now in regards to the 8 months of the same weight, I think I was losing inches because I lost 2 clothing sizes even though I was weighing the same. I finally decided to stop looking at the scale and continue with my routine. Keep up the good work.

I gain and loss the 3 lbs daily cause you pee and have BM's and gain under 8 lbs is usually water and will float away.

I don't know if you should even worry about the Water weight. Make sure to drink plenty of water every day as that helps keep you hydrated and will reduce water retention especially as you exercise and sweat. As you are exercising you will also be building muscle, that may also be having impact on your weight as it is heavier than fat. You do want to gain the muscle though as it increases metabolism and will help you loose weight faster in the long run.

Best of luck!

​You'e doing nothing wrong. I stay within 3-5 pounds all the time and I over drink. I know when I have certain foods, there is more water retention. I also go by monthly measurements. Today was my measure day and forgot so i will do it tomorrow morning.

Don't beat yourself up. The weight took more than one month to get on the body and it will take more than one month to say good bye.

I think you're doing fine with your numbers.

6 weeks....40 lbs....that certainly does not add up to failure with my calculations! 3 lbs is annoying but I am sure you will kick them right off the scale just like you did with the other 40!

Any advice from my fellow banders would help tremendously!

Just so you know, I am doing the same thing right now. I hit an all time low, immediately gained a pound and have been rock solid for about a week. My immediate impulse is to start changing things, exercising more, eating less, stop drinking Water, drink more water, sacrifice a live chicken, anything to get the scale moving again.

BUT, I am doing everything correctly and my body is just screwing with me. So, I am paying more attention to my food logging and portion size, and aside from that everything else will stay the same. The scale will move, I just need to give it time.

40 pounds in 6 weeks is amazing. I'm going to say I suspect drinking orange juice all day might be holding you back a little if you are stalled. Before I went on my pre-op diet, I cut out orange juice (which I drank all the time) and dropped several pounds. Great job so far!

My advice is stop weighing yourself so much!

I go up and down 3 pounds all the time. One thing I would suggest is to skip the OJ unless your dr said that you need it. One 8 ounce cup is around 110 calories. Drinking a few of those every day can add up quickly on the calories.

Thanks everyone. I increased my Water and that seems to be working for now at least.

I don't like weighing myself daily, but I only do that to see how much Fluid I'm retaining. If I gain 5lbs over night, I know it's time to take my medication.

I have to drink orange juice while taking my medication because I lose so much potassium. That's my doctor's and pharmacist's instructions. I know it has a lot of calories, but if I don't drink it my kidneys start hurting and my legs cramp to the point where I can't walk. I'd rather just drink those calories to avoid that kind of pain. If any of you have had a kidney or bladder infection then you know what I'm talking about. I'm probably drinking 8oz-10oz a day. I drink 2oz in the morning with the pill, and the rest is diluted.

Does anyone know another way to get potassium to avoid the calories from orange juice?

Does anyone know another way to get potassium to avoid the calories from orange juice?

Yes, tablets. Here in Australia I know of one called slow k. My mum takes it every day because she is on diuretics and that strips her potassium levels.