I need some encouragement

[gmacy 22]

So I am 7 weeks post op from the gastric sleeve ... I have worked to be diligent, but, I am facing the challenge of lactose intolerance and it is still hard for me to get the Water down that I am supposed to.

so far, I have lost 60ish lbs ... which, I know is great, but, I am bummed this morning as I only lost 4 lbs this past week ... I don't cheat, pretty much eat only Protein (get close to 100 to 125 grams of Protein daily), lift weights 3 days a weeks and cardio 6 days a week ... I know about the 3 week stall and I experienced that, am I just being too hard on myself, will there be weeks like this where I don't lose as much? I know everyone is different, but, what is a realistic goal to lose each week pound wise .... is 4-5 lbs great or should I expect more? Thanks everyone for your continued support.

Edited January 12, 2015 by gmacy

[Miss Mac 6,262]

To be down 60 pounds already is fabulous! It took me a year to lose that much while meticulously following my program.

Do you just don't like veggies? It would not hurt to put some sauteed peppers and onions in your omelet, have a Tomato with your chef salad for lunch, and a few green Beans at dinner - just suggestions for incorporating vegetation.

I would not be surprised if you are constipated, which will cause you to hold several pounds of poo. If so, you could have an apple at bedtime (I frequently have 2 tablespoons of PB with a sliced apple as an evening snack). Too much cheese can gum up the works, too.

The best way to get fluids in is to have it nearby and handy at all times.

Sip, sip, sip all day long. Keep Water (or tea or coffee or whatever you drink) in the car, by the bed, near the sofa, near your workplace, and where you exercise.

I hope this helps. Don't under-estimate yourself.

[pippinleicester 78]

Hi I am 8 weeks out and have lost 32 pounds and I thought I was doing well.I would be cock-a-hoop if I had lost 60lbs.I am told that it takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose 1lb in weight.So you just can`t be losing 1lb a day even if you starved yourself . Relax and enjoy the journey you sound as if you are doing just fine.Best wishes.Pippinleicester.

[ProjectMe 909]

Wow, you've lost 60 pounds in a few weeks! That is amazing! So yes, I think you are being hard on yourself. I would be celebrating! This is your journey and it doesn't compare to someone else. I'm sure others who read your thread would practically sell their first born to lose 4-5 pounds in a week let alone the sixty you've already lost. Keep up the good work!

[gmacy 22]

Thank you everyone ... to answer the questions ... I haven't tried veggies yet as my doc just released me on them last week and I have been hesitant ... in all honesty, I am scared to try new foods as most seem to cause diarrhea or I just feel like crud for 5-6 hours ... I am not constipated as I can just eat something dairy and it like a good cleanse

Thank you for the encouragement on the loss ... I will continue to work on getting the Protein, drinking more Water and adding vegetables. I know I should eat more ... my diet today will consist of ...

Breakfast = 1/4-1/2 cup of cottage cheese for Breakfast depending on how my stomach feels following all of the Vitamins in the morning

lunch = usually salmon or fajita chicken strips with a small amount of guacamole or ranchero Beans

around 4 I will usually drink an EAS myoplex Protein shake ... it is 17 ounces and gives me 42 grams of Protein plus all of my daily Calcium ... this is full of milk Proteins so I have to take lactaid prior and it still usually tears me up some, but my NUT says I still get most of the protein

tonight I will do cardio and lift weights, so, I will probably have an Isopure RTD for dinner ... that gives me another 40 grams of protein .... after that maybe I will try some green peas or green Beans to add some veggies.

One thing my NUT and doctor stated is that as long as I am getting the protein and taking the Multivitamins, I am getting what my body needs ... it will pull the calories from the fat tissue ...

I have thought about adding a juicer to my routine to get a healthy dose of vegetables ... any thoughts on that?

[pippinleicester 78]

I have been having juice but not shop bought fruit juices as they have a lot of calories.If you have a juicer try spinach or kale with cucumber then I like to add an apple or some carrots to sweeten it a little and perhaps some fresh ginger which is great for the digestion and some lemon,but just play around until you get something you like(beetroots are excellent) that way you get all the Vitamins and trace elements from the veg.Pippinleicester

[gmacy 22]

My sister is a huge fan of juicing with vegetables with a touch of fruit added to get the fresh minerals and Vitamins from the fresh produce ... at the same time, my NUT states that it will add unnecessary carbs to my diet and that I would be better off focusing on Proteins and some vegetables and skip the fruits ...

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

No, don't juice. At that point you'll be drinking calories. Slippery slope.

And 4 pounds a week is unbelievably amazing. I hope you can realize that.

It sounds like you're starting to make yourself a little nuts.

Just do what you're supposed to do. This is not a race. Even with some imaginary you.

[alwaysvegas 702]

@@gmacy You are being much too hard on yourself and not letting yourself feel good for all you've accomplished so far. You are doing SO well! Changing our lifestyles can be very challenging and bring about alot of emotions. If you've ever read the stages of loss...you can go through any or all of them. These stages do not apply to losing a loved one, they can apply to any loss in our lives.

I know it's not easy, but try to focus on the positives. Every day it will get better, you will continue to lose weight, and it's not a race to see how fast you can lose the weight. The goal is to make changes that we can adhere to for a long, healthy life.

Best of luck on your journey!

[BitterSweet* 835]

I think it's great to have expectations but being realistic is also very necessary. 60 lbs in less than 2 months means that you have lost more than 1 pound per day. More than a pound per day.

That rate of loss was bound to slow down at some point. You're obviously doing the right thing so just keep pushing through; you'll get there! Congratulations on your success so far!

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

You are being too hard on yourself. There is no avg loss. As long as the scale is moving in the right direction you are doing well.

Do not juice. Juicing only gives you the sugars from the veg and fruit since the Fiber is in the pulp that gets discarded. An easy veg to start with is chopped spinach. Easy on the tummy, a good source of Iron and Protein. Good to eat whether frozen or fresh. Try adding just a quarter cup with lunch or dinner. If you eat eggs, you can mix it into your eggs as well. Then branch out one veg at a time.

Step away from the scale for a bit. Do not let it rule your life and make you crazy. Look for other Non-Scale Victories(NSV) take your measurements, look at how much farther you can walk, run, etc....

[gmacy 22]

Thank you everyone - amazing feedback and very uplifting, besides and amazing wife that has made this possible, making it through this has been in large part due to you guys and this forum ... one of the best things I have found to date.

I am at times way too critical of myself and I need to remember to enjoy the daily victories that some may consider small but I consider major ... stupid little things that a person that isn't morbidly obese wouldn't otherwise consider.

Last night at the gym was a very uplifting time as I was able to do more reps with more weight than I have since surgery ... still nowhere near where I was prior to surgery, but, heading in the right direction. The cool thing is now that I have dropped 60ish lbs of fat, you can actually see muscle developing. It is still weird to look in the mirror and see parts of your body shrinking daily ... I think that has been my favorite part so far ... being able to see changes quickly.

A question on eggs, it seems like I have read a lot on the forums that some people really struggle with them after surgery ... would it be "safer" to start with boiled eggs and only eat the egg whites and skip the yolks?

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Eat the egg.

You're still making this too complicated.

(This is me being encouraging.

[gmacy 22]

lol - yes ma'am ... I will try the egg tonight and maybe even some spinach later in the week

Eat the egg.

You're still making this too complicated.

(This is me being encouraging.

[gmacy 22]

okay, you will be proud, I had 4 egg whites last night and did pretty well ... no issues afterwards and was glad to get the 13 grams of Protein