For The Slow Losers

[LadyIvy 159]

I have to tell you, every day I don't lose another lb I am glad I had this surgery. It reminds me how VERY strange my body is with weight loss. I usually average about 800 calories a day, plus my workout and I usually just net over 400 calories (If I don't include my BMR). I will go a couple weeks and not lose a single lb. Or I will lose 7 lbs in a week. My body loathes to let go of the bad stuff, even as I build up the muscle layer underneath it. I am a slow loser, its okay. Do I have days where I get a little ticked? Yeah. I am working like crazy and watch others losing at twice the rate. Again, is that okay? Definitely, because I see lots of benefits to losing a bit slower too. Less extra skin, less hair loss, faster cognitive recovery, less tired (although some days I am not sure about this last one). I measure myself every couple of weeks and am steadily losing. No, it is not immediate, and I know I am doing everything exactly as I am told to. I look at my choices every day. The way my family and I live life now is unreal some days. I offered my husband the chance to get a cheeseburger and he said "No thanks, I don't feel like being sick for the next two days". Everyone is not only physically healthier, but our family budget is healthier too! Instead of taking my son out to dinner for his birthday, I used the money for him to do Chemistry Camp for an entire week (kid loves sushi and it is pricey). When we do go out, I either order an appetizer or my husband has lunch for work the next day. We actually walked out of a restaurant last week because they couldn't not fry something and the only veggies they had was corn or fried. In short, I know watching other people lose 18 lbs a week is frustrating when you struggle for that healthy 1 or 2. I don't know about you all, but even though it is slow going, one of my biggest motivators is knowing that once a number is gone, I am never going to see it again.

Not in a million years would I trade my sleeve. I get frustrated I can't eat as much as I want sometimes (I miss my big salads). I get frustrated when the scale wants to move slowly (or not at all). However, the quality of life that my family and I now have is wonderful! I get time taking walks or bike riding with my son every day. My husband is making people jealous with the wonderfully yummy food he takes to work every day and yet managed to lose 40 lbs.

Keep up the great work and don't give up.

[DallasMomofTwins 31]

Wow..could not agree more! 9 months out and down 80! I am happier then i have ever been and weigh less than i have in about 15 years..would not change a thing

[LaBelle509 326]

I am a slow loser too, and it does hurt to see others do better:( my friend lost 80lbs in THREE months!! all I wanted to do is cry!!!

[melissamae99 14]

What an amazing perspective on the ups and downs of weight loss. Thanks, I enjoyed reading this!

[tonibugg 64]

What an inspirational post! My surgery isn't until the 29th so I don't know if I'll lose it slow or not but it is one of the things you think about. Your post makes me "ok" with losing slowly if that is how my body wants to lose it =) Thank you for your perspective! So happy for you and your family, afterall we are all doing this surgery to be healthier and if our family becomes healthy in the process then we've gotten back more than money or any discomfort that it may have cost us. God bless you and your family on your continued success with your journey!!

[carbgrl 119]

I'm slow loser too but, I'll take my slow a$$ 1 lb per week over no loss. My hair is thining a lot. Would it be worse if I lost more weight or faster? Who knows? No problems hiding the fact I had surgery though. No one has notice I've lost weight yet.

[Janet53 21]

Great post! Thanks! I am in the slow loser category also. A combo of age, not as much to lose and menopause I think. I have lost 12 pounds in 6 weeks. I just figure like you that maybe I will get lucky with the Hair loss if I lose slower. That way it will be worth it. Hang in there fellow slow losers!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

Very well said LadyIvy! I can't say this enough, and yes I lost fast in comparison to some, but not nearly as fast as some others. Sure it got to me sometimes, but I always did my best to stay positive and remember that as long as I'm doing the right thing, the weight had no choice but to take an exit!

Keep up the excellent work for you AND your Hubby and son.

[favoredone 590]

I really need to read this post today!!!.. Thanks for sharing!!!

[Willow216 91]

Thanks for the post, I also needed it! I basically lose about 2lbs a week since the first month of surgery which I was hoping for some big miraculous change in weight, I can't complain cause I get a little miracle every week.

"I might not be where I want to be but at least I'm not where I was!"

[DallasMomofTwins 31]

"I might not be where I want to be but at least I'm not where I was!"

Love this - this is my new mantra!

[Lissa 2,631]

I think I've spotted something with the rate of weight loss for all of us. Some of us lose slowly to begin with, while others drop weight like crazy. But, at about 9-10 months out, we're all in a similar place. Several posters here posted at the beginning of their journey that they lose slowly, while I felt like the weight rocketed off of me until I hit about 6 months. Earlier this week, Pookeyism posted pictures and her weight loss is about 90 pounds, SandyD has lost 100 pounds, I've lost 100 pounds, and so have several other posters who were sleeved around the same time I was.

I haven't done charts and graphs (not my style) but it seems like we have all lost about the same amount of weight in the same amount of time. I realize that posters who have continued to post may be more dedicated than those who don't post often, but I think that we all lose about the same amount of weight if we follow our plan. What varies is how quickly the weight comes off in the beginning, but we all get to the same results as we get further post-op.

For me, it really reinforces that we need to continue to work our plans, even if it seems like we're losing very slowly. I'll keep watching it to see if the trend continues.

[Webchickadee 716]

Yes, at the beginning it can be frustrating if you feel like you're losing slowly. I was losing quite quickly and now I've hit some mini-plateaus (every few days it stalls for 2-4 days).

I know it's reasonable for my body to be "adjusting". My head knows it, but my emotions are still all over the place when I get on that scale and it hasn't moved down, or worse still, has inched up a tad!

Reading this post has certainly helped me put things in perspective and I'm sure to revisit it over the next several months to help keep me on track!

Thanks for the "reality check"!

[Willow216 91]

I say "Hoorray" for all of us. We are more than what we weigh. The weight will go when it goes but we still have to Love ourselves in every stage of our life (or size) or what will this whole journey be worth.

Be Blessed Everyone!

[Crazyscrublady 3]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. I am 10 days out and just saw a loss of 3 lbs yesterday. I needed to read this and know I'm not alone. To see that I'm not alone makes me feel soooo much. You have made my week.