Hi everyone-

I spent a lot of time on this forum when trying to decide if to go through with the sleeve and really appreciate everyone's opinions and information. I ended up getting sleeved on May 22. I spent 5 years trying to work off weight with every diet and pills available. I was hospitalized for a month with my last pregnancy due to pre term labor and got Magnesium sulfate IV drip 24hours per day. This ended up both stunting all functions including metabolism and causing late onset gestational diabetes because it stunted insulin function. After being thin all of my life- I gained 90 pounds by the end of that pregnancy and was never able to work off the weight. Its been a very long and depressing process.

After my GP suggested I do the sleeve and did some intensive research and a month later had it done. Today is my 3 week anniversary. I have lost 17 pounds- 10 of which happened in the first week, 5 at the beginning of the second week and for the last week and a half only 2 pounds.

I'm very grateful for every pound lost, but I am having a difficult time understanding how at 500-600 calories per day I have not lost more than 2 pounds in the last week and a half. I start to get really nervous that just like all the diets I did before didnt work, this won't work either- and there are no more options after this.

I am trying to stay positive and keep up with correct food intake. 70-80grams of Protein, 500-600 calories and low carbs and sugars.

Any experience that you may have or know of thats similar would really help! Please share.

Thanks for being there.

Guys- Doing my best to be patient and read everyone's advice but 19 pounds in 6 weeks (4 pounds in the last 3 weeks)... is this still normal? I am barely moving at a pound a week since my first couple of weeks where the majority was lost. Can it be that this just won't work for me?

When I stall I have to check my: carbs, Protein and exercise. For me I lose best if carbs stay below 40, protein at 80 and a good 30 mins of exercise a day (more when I can). My cals have been around 850.

Are you tracking your food intake? Sometimes a bit of tweaking helps.

Oops had to edit, 40 carbs, not 49.

@ Sleevemaster, how much did you lose total? My surgery date is Aug 7. I am ok with losing slowly. I want my skin to adjust and tone up. I want to avoid the loose skin.

jenlen- I've been tracking food and exercise. My intake is similar to what you wrote but I can try to go up on Protein...

How long did it take you to lose the 33 pounds?

jenlen- I've been tracking food and exercise. My intake is similar to what you wrote but I can try to go up on Protein...

How long did it take you to lose the 33 pounds?

I a 7 weeks out today. I stalled out for 3 weeks in a row after my 10th day post op. when my carbs creep up I will stall for a day or two. As soon as I cut them back I lose .5 pound a day (knock on wood). I know this will slow down but I am still in the early stages.

Also, my Dr said to expect to lose about 1 pound per week at this stage. So your 4 pounds in 3 weeks is not off track.

What kind of exercising are you doing? I was very inactive pre op due to pain. I have been swimming a lot lately and do some resistance training in the Water and with stretchy bands. I am trying to work up to more resistance training in the 'real' gym as I know building muscle will increase my metabolism. Lots of trial and error and just trying things until I find what works best for me.

A little perspective. According to your profile you started at 225 lbs and your goal weight is 135lbs. That is a "goal expectation" of losing 90 lbs. As of the time of your original post, you had lost 17lbs. Sooooo you had lost 18.8% of the total amount of weight you have set to lose as your goal. Now with an additional 2lbs lost that brings your total to 19lbs which is 21.1% of the total weight you want to lose, not too shabby for 6 weeks out.

The extra weight did not come on overnight nor will it leave that way, even with the magic of the sleeve. As long as you're following your guidelines, just keep plugging away. You're over 1/5 of the way to accomplishing your goal.

A little perspective. According to your profile you started at 225 lbs and your goal weight is 135lbs. That is a "goal expectation" of losing 90 lbs. As of the time of your original post' date=' you had lost 17lbs. Sooooo you had lost 18.8% of the total amount of weight you have set to lose as your goal. Now with an additional 2lbs lost that brings your total to 19lbs which is 21.1% of the total weight you want to lose, not too shabby for 6 weeks out.

The extra weight did not come on overnight nor will it leave that way, even with the magic of the sleeve. As long as you're following your guidelines, just keep plugging away. You're over 1/5 of the way to accomplishing your goal.[/quote']

Well stated !

Paul11011- wow thanks for that dose of perspective! When its laid out that way it feels very different, but its so hard to remember when you go for days and days without seeing a change on the scale. Thanks again

I posted this a last month in response to someone's struggles with an early stall. Some of it seems "on point" here.......

I know it's uninspiring to hear for the nth time....."don't compare yourself to others" and "you are unique". But it really is true. There are COUNTLESS factors that will affect how you lose, how fast you lose it, where you lose it from, if you will stall, etc. Some are genetic, some are environmental, some are based on what you eat, what you do (exercise, etc.), your stress levels, pre-op activity levels, etc. (and on and on).

The next thing to keep in mind is: IT IS NOT A RACE.

Yes, you're excited. You have FINALLY taken this giant step towards good health, and you want results NOW!

But you didn't gain the weight overnight, you need time for your body to let go of it. You have had major surgery and are in active healing right now. Your stomach was cut open, 85% taken out, the rest stapled up. It is VERY inflamed and the rest of your body and metabolism is in shock. Not only did you have a general anesthetic (which is wholly unnatural and throws the body "out of whack" for some time), but you are now suddenly eating a small % of what you ate pre-op (and probably what you ate for most of your life).

You body is saying "WTF is going on here?" and trying to adapt. All the while, it is still keeping you alive, in motion and able to deal with daily life.

That's alot of work for one poor body to be handling right now!

So give it time. I KNOW it's hard when you're excited, motivated and so full of hope for a slim healthy future. It will come, I promise! Just stay on track, do as your doctor directs, start exercising when you can (even just walking is FANTASTIC). Track what you eat/drink. Make sure you're hitting your Fluid and Protein requirements.

If you want to track changes, keep measurements of main body parts (neck, arms, bust, chest, waist, hips, thighs). You will see changes in size in your clothes as well, even when the scale says there is no weight loss. The scale can be evil and plays mind games with you. Don't let it.

It may not sound logical now, but the extra time it takes for you to lose the weight could actually be a good thing...

Firstly, fast weight loss is hard to maintain for multiple reasons. But the biggest obstacle by far is not having time to get your brain retrained. It takes time to learn a new lifestyle and attitude towards eating, exercise and health. After surgery, you will experience "head hunger" for months. You will really believe you are hungry and/or craving things that your body physiologically doesn't want or need. But your brain sure makes you feel like it does!

You will learn to modify you thinking so those cravings don't rule your life (sometimes a support group or counseling is helpful to achieve this). The VSG is only a tool to limit the amount of food you can eat at one time, but it is up to YOU to make good healthy good choices to nourish and fuel your body. It is up to YOU to eat when you need food, not when you want it (snacking is SO hard to change!). It is up to YOU to avoid high carb, low-nutrition addictive foods (rampant in our culture in North America and throughout the world).

You will learn the value of an increased activity level in your life. Be it structured (visiting the gym for classes or weight training); team sports; walking more/driving less; finding new challenges (hiking, biking, obstacle course races, watersports, winter sports); running.......whatever you are interested in! The more you do, the better you body will feel, the healthier you will be, the more "leeway" you will have to eat more (still making good choices most of the time).

I'm not saying don't weigh yourself. Definitely, you should keep track of your progress. Set goals. But stalls happen (to EVERYONE) and the body will go by its own timeline. Just stay "on track" and you will drop the weight, feel great and get to goal.

Then comes the hard part.........staying at goal.

@ Sleevemaster, how much did you lose total? My surgery date is Aug 7. I am ok with losing slowly. I want my skin to adjust and tone up. I want to avoid the loose skin.

I just saw this question, and I believe it was for me?

I have lost more then 140 pounds. My skin is doing wonderfully. It has never been so soft before. I also had a bad problem with acne all over before losing weight, and that is all cleared up as well. I have a little extra skin on my arms, but not so bad that I cover them, or am embarrassed by it. The skin on my belly is terrible,but that is due to stretch marks and having 3 children....soon to be fixed because I have my tummy tuck scheduled on September 10th! Good luck!

I just saw this question' date=' and I believe it was for me?

I have lost more then 140 pounds. My skin is doing wonderfully. It has never been so soft before. I also had a bad problem with acne all over before losing weight, and that is all cleared up as well. I have a little extra skin on my arms, but not so bad that I cover them, or am embarrassed by it. The skin on my belly is terrible,but that is due to stretch marks and having 3 children....soon to be fixed because I have my tummy tuck scheduled on September 10th! Good luck! [/quote']

Sassygirl06. You are an inspiration! 140 is about what I need to lose and it's good to have a first had account of success. Thanks.