Hello all,

I'm 6 weeks out from my VSG surgery and am getting depressed by the second. While I was completely aware that the weight loss results were slower than the bypass...how much slower are we talking about? In the 1st 3 weeks, I've lost a total of about 15-17 lbs (scale varies from docs office to mine) and have been literally stuck there ever since. I have been following my physicians plan of introducing new foods when due and am wondering if the intake of the new solids in my diet could this be the culprit? Due to some incision complications, I have not been able to be as active as I would have wanted to be however as I read through blogs, most patients don't really start an exercise program until well after the 4-6 week mark. I spoke to my doc n he doesn't seem too concerned. Enough where he scheduled my next appt in 2 months! I need help from my fellow VGS's with any advise that could give my weight loss a boost! I don't regret my choice of surgery but please tell me that this is not the end and that maybe I am doing something wrong...Thanks! Chloe

Hey there! Hows it going with you Raine? Have you been to the doc lately? Your doing fabulously!

Hi! Other than the stall I am really doing great. I had my one month post op and my next scheduled visit is 3 months post op. How are you?

It happens to a lot of us. My scale just started moving again yesterday after 3 wks of the same weight. But I can tell with my rings and clothes and peoples remarks that I was still getting smaller. I knew pre-op that this is how it would be. I had lost 35 lbs before surgery and had a very very long stall. What makes it harder is everyone keeps asking me everyday how much I've lost. I hate to keep saying the same amount!! My hubby has assured me they keep asking because it looks like I've lost more. I just stop weighing and focus on getting the Protein in, have faith it's gonna happen, and think positive.

I feel you Kelly! I lost a lot of mine pre surgery too. My hubby is saying the same thing. I try not to get frustrated lol it just sux. I know and will keep the faith. You are doing great! I have to hide the scale!

Me too!!

I have been about the same weight give or take about 3lbs for 2 weeks. However, my new pants are already getting too big and everyday people tell me how skinny I look. So, I know the process is working!!

Don't get too discouraged. Trust it, IT WORKS!!

Kelly

So glad I found this thread!!! Thanks to you too Kelly! I get comments too and try not to think about the number. I think I'm going to throw the scale out. Yeah, thats what I'm going to do! LOL

I didnt throw it out but I did have hubby hide it.

No weight loss but how about this, a month ago I bought a new bra in a size smaller from 38B to 36B because my 38's were getting loose, well came home tried it on and it was way too tight and couldn't wear it. I tried today and it fit perfectly. Made me feel so much better. Between now and then I didn't lose a pound but the fact that the bra fit was good enough for me!

Just a thought here - if you are worried because friends and co-workers ask how much you have lost, and you feel bad if you keep telling them the same number - tell them you only weigh once a month (or once every two months - whatever you feel like telling them) - it is part of your program. Then you could say - last time I weighed - I had lost X pounds - but I can tell I am smaller than I was then. If you keep telling everyone this - they may quit asking you the same question every time they see you.

First of all -- once you are sleeved and following the simple instructions (thin liquids for 2-3 weeks; mushy foods/purees for 2-3 weeks) and then when you are eating solid foods -- eating Protein first, followed by "good carbs"/fruits & veggies and lastly whole grains (if you have any room in that teeny, tiny tummy) -- you are going to lose weight.

Will you lose 100 pounds in three weeks (extremely DOUBTFUL), in 90 days (pretty DOUBTFUL), in 6 months (DOUBTFUL) in a year -- much better shot at that happening. You can handle the weight loss part of being sleeved several ways -- you could jump on and off the scale 10-20 times daily. Record how much you weigh before and after every time you use the bathroom, weigh your self only standing on your left foot vs. how much you weigh only standing on the right foot. You could pull out every article of clothing you own and see which outfit has you weighing the least. Obviously if you are missing eating compulsively, obsessively, and need a new OCD behavior -- chronic weighing is probably a good one.

If on the other hand, you chose to get sleeved because you wanted to get a grip on your health, weight, habits, lifestyle, longevity etc. Then I suggest either pasting your goal weight on the scale so that is what you weigh every time you get on it -- or deciding that there are a lot of NSV that will be happening during the course of the next few years. Stop focusing on the scale numbers as the only measure of "success". Stop communicating that to your friends and family. Losing and maintaining a 100lb or more weight loss is a LONG HAUL JOURNEY -- there are going to be ups & downs along the way -- what you weigh during any one point in the journey doesn't define the journey. What else have you achieved? Have you learned to take better care of yourself? Have you learned that you are allowed to say "no" and take care of your own needs first? Have you learned that moving your body can actually feel good and feel even better when you are trying to sleep, relax, stop thinking about work, money etc. Learning new behaviors are just as important if not MORE important than scale victories.

I have a few not that close friends and several relatives that ONLY want to hear NUMBERS -- the chorus of "how much have you lost" makes me a little crazy. One thing I realize is this THERE OBSESSIVE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT I HAVE LOST ISN'T ABOUT ME -- IT IS ABOUT THEM. My 49-year old "MLF" hottie cousin is obsessed with her own looks -- she fears getting fat, aging, and not having "ENVIABLE LOOKS" more than death and taxes. When I got home from the hospital and spoke to her on the phone her first comment was "you sound sooo skinny"! Yes, it made me laugh -- but I realize a) she could NEVER have lived a minute as me in my obese body; she would have committed suicide; looks are the only thing she values period. She is smart, capable, funny, loving etc -- but she sees her own value as HOW GOOD SHE LOOKS. My struggle for my health etc is secondary to how I look -- from her point of view -- it is her obsession not mine. For her the "unweighed life" is meaningless!

Most of the other "friends" who are obsessed with my weight loss have similar issues. Value is a number -- be it a weight or a size. When I tell them "I can feel I've lost weight by how my clothes fit" it just isn't as good as saying "I've lost 40 lbs". Once again -- that is their issue, not mine. I am not going to change how I deal with measuring my success in order to satisfy their obsession. You know when they see me they will either figure it out or not.

Which leaves me with MYSELF. I know I am burning fat. I feel like I am "melting" because everyday my clothes feel looser. Does it always get reflected in the scale -- NOPE. Does that mean I'm not losing inches? Hell no! If my weight stays the same but I wear a smaller size -- that doesn't count? Who wrote those rules? Why am I paying attention to them?

This isn't a race. It is the rest of my life. How ever long it takes me to lose whatever percentage of my weight comes off - is how long it takes. As long as I'm alive and kicking while it is happening is good enough for me.

Amen sister! And thats all I have to say.