Slightly Depressed- 3 Weeks Post Op and Gaining Weight

[MyssJones 84]

I'm very perplexed about how I can be gaining weight. I eat 90% Protein with some carbs (yogurt, watered down gatorade, etc). I consume less than 900 calories a day right now. I can only eat about 3-4 bites of anything I do eat 3-4 times a day.

How can I be gaining weight?????

This is depressing!

I've gained about 3 lbs in the last week. I know it's not much, but the scale should be going in the opposite direction.

[Elode 8,093]

@@MyssJones Hummm, are you drinking enough fluids? What kind of yogurt are you eating? Some yogurt is really high in sugar! Of course if it's close to time for your monthly you can easily gain that in Water weight . Do you need to drink some "smooth move" tea to get things going? (I now tmi) but Constipation can add the pounds too. Do you track your food?

Edited January 6, 2015 by Elode

[Babbs 14,680]

No worries! What you are going through is COMPLETELY NORMAL. You just had major surgery, your body is in shock and adjusting. Like you said, you know you aren't eating enough (it's physically impossible) for you to gain. It's a combination of Water, shock from the surgery, the dreaded 3 week stall (search the forum for "The Dreaded 3 Week Stall" and it will give you an idea of why this happens.

One thing I will say is stay off the scale right now. You have more important things to worry about right now like getting your liquids and Protein. Try really hard to not weigh yourself every day, it just causes undo anxiety that you don't need. Hop on in a couple more weeks and you will be pleasantly surprised. I promise! Hang in there!

Edited January 6, 2015 by Babbs

[MyssJones 84]

@@Elode I drink at a minimum 6-8 cups of Water a day. My yogurt is regular flavored greek yogurt, so I know it has sugar and fat in it (but it's like 4oz a day). My bowels are very regular (1-2 per day). Which is actually quite low for me since pre-op I was like 3-4 times per day.

@@Babbs I will take your advice and stay off the scale. I almost teared up when I saw that gain. Lol. I'm going to save myself the anxiety and put it away for a few weeks. Lol

[babelfish5 78]

I had the same thing at the 3 week mark. I gained 2 pounds and stalled there for almost 2 weeks. Another question, Are you exercising as well? If so, how much?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Someone explained this earlier I wish I had saved the post. Basically the first 2 weeks your're losing Water weight and you're body is in shock from the surgery. By week 3 you're body is settled into your new eating routine. I'll echo what everyone else is saying, stay off the scales. I actually don't weight myself more than once a month. The scale will make you crazy. Look for other NSV(non-scale victories). For example now would be a good time take your measurements. I just did mine today and I'm down 3 - 4 inches all over.If you must weight yourself only weigh once a week at the same time of day and in the same location.

[MyssJones 84]

@@babelfish5 Only a 20-30 minutes of cardio every other day. I do plan to increase that this week. I had a back injury a couple months prior to surgery and since I can't take any anti-inflammatory meds, I have to be careful not to agitate my injury or I'm really in big trouble.

@@BLERDgirl Yes I fully plan to stay away from the scale for a couple weeks!

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@MyssJones - If you can get to a pool, Water aerobics is the best thing for bad back.