BE HONEST SLEEVERS, did anyone think okay they are going to cut half of my stomach off and the weight will just fall off?

[HaddocksEyes 205]

Ha..I didn't think that but I didn't think that I would stop losing weight at a fast pace so soon in the journey. It feels like I didn't get a honeymoon period.

At about 4 months out I stopped losing 2 pounds per week. Then I went to 1 pound per week and by 6 months I was losing about a half a pound per week, which is where I am now - .5 pound per week. Hey, creeping down is a lot better than creeping up. I think I could have better progress if I exercised more.

[beeteroo 166]

I've been out a year now and I have lost 70 lbs. unfortunately I still have another 70 to go and I've been stalled for a long time....months. I know what I'm doing wrong. I need to exercise more and stay away from sugar. I also quit tracking my food intake. I need to get back on the plan! It's very hard and very frustrating. I always make sure to get enough Protein in but those damn carbs find their way to my face if I am near them. It's a definite addiction to food that I have. Lifelong addiction to food can't be solved in just a year though. I find myself wishing I would have had bypass too. I do feel way better and am able to so much more! I rode all the roller coasters for the first time in more than 15 years last fall! Amazing.

[Alex Brecher 10,486]

I think we all at some point hope it’ll be quicker (and easier!) than it actually is, whether we get bypass, sleeve, or, in my case, lap-band. It’s really hard, but you have to keep it in perspective, at least if you want to stay sane and positive. Compare how long it took to gain all that weight (years? Decades?) and how long it’ll take you to get to goal weight (Months? A year? A couple of years?). In your case, you are on track to hit goal weight within months…and that’s exciting!

[RaginCajun 177]

I would imagine - some possible rare exceptions - that those of you who are worried that weight loss pace is not aggressive enough - that if you closely and honestly tracked your food intake, you would see any of the following:

1) Carbs too high

2) Fat too high

3) Sugars too high

4) Calories too high (should be <700 if under 1 yr post op)

For those of you who are experiencing lengthy stall, you should 'shock' your body into resuming weight loss by any of the following:

1) Change activity or exercise routine

2) Go on liquids only diet for 7 days

3) Change mix of foods

4) Cut calories to minimum and go low carb / low fat / low sugar

-RC-

[OKCPirate 5,323]

To add to what RaginCajun just said, I'd also make sure you are getting lots of high quality Protein. You want to keep your muscle and feed your skin. I need 100g or more per day, and it is work to make sure I get it all in.

And to the post topic, no I didn't think it was going to be magic, but it felt like it. My weight loss has stalled, but the caliper tests I use to measure body fat show significant loss in body fat, which tells me I'm muscling up, which is fine with me. My masseuse even wondered if I was becoming a body builder . Nice compliment, but no, not for me.

[verdalilly 28]

Yes I think much of the same. Its been 4 weeks this Tuesday and the weight is not falling off. . Frustrsting

[FancyCakes 46]

@@Kacherry what doctor was this? I live in the DFW area and am so curious. If you don't want to tell me that's fine I just wanted to know.

[scoutmom 63]

I am having my surgery on Tuesday, 5/26 - and I have to admit this topic has me nervous and concerned. More nervous than when I first read this thread. Did I not choose the right surgery? But some of these expectations feel so out of the realm of possibility (I would kill for for a 10lb weight loss in a month!).

I have a fabulous surgeon, a wonderful support system and I am going to trust that this surgery is the right choice for me. I will get what i put into this process.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I think those of you for whom the weight is not just falling off should ask for a refund.

After all, you paid for the surgery. That's all you needed to do.

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

@@VSGAnn2014, come sit by me.

[pinkbunies 359]

I never once thought about that. My biggest worry was... I thought they would put a thing in my weenie...forgive me I can't think of the medical term... but the thing that allows you to pee through a tube... so please find humor in that.

I knew that it was not reversible and knowing that this is what they would do for people who had stomach cancer and it actually worked made me feel a lot better.

I am happy I can't eat two extra large pizzas any longer in one sitting. I'm happy I'm not drinking 6 two litter diet cokes a day. I'm happy I'm not eating 6 double cheese burgers from McDonalds as a snack any longer. I'm just amazingly happy.

As I sit back and look at my progress sometimes I am happy and sometimes I am like REALLY. I know I am not the only one who has had some different expectations of this surgery now that you have it. I knew this was no gastric bypass BUT SOMETIMES I think I should have better results when you can't eat but a few spoonfuls of anything. I know I will get to my goal eventually but I am just hoping it doesn't take forever to get there. I didn't think it would be this hard to lose a dam pound with half a stomach. I know there are others who have had this surgery thinking the same thing.

[lclemur 161]

My weight loss has definately slowed down. Yes, I am disappointed that it has. But, weight loss has not been that much of an issue with me. Maintaining has always been my issue. I have been this weight before, many, many times. I know that I need to exercise more, drink more, etc. I, also, did my research, and understood that it wasn't going to continue to "drop off." I am so eager to see how much easier maintenance might be. Someone questioned my choice the other day. "Weight Watchers worked for me!" "Yeah," I answered, "for how long?" The truth is, less than 5% of chronically overweight people maintain their weight loss, but those with WLS have over 50% success. I will take those odds. (I may not be "spot on" with those percentages...)

[nunya-got-sleeved 36]

I am 3 wks PO and I had a dream last night. I had lost 100lbs yet I looked exactly the same. All my rolls were still in their same comfortable place they've been for years.

That may have come from the fact that I have actually lost 18+ lbs since surgery 30 in total and nothing has changed in the way I can see.

Most concerns with the weight not falling off may be coming from looking at before/after pics. Our minds can really play tricks on us. We look at those pics and think they were taken within moments of each other when in fact it's over months and months of hard work. Give it time.

[devillynn 193]

my surgeon told me exactly what to expect if i followed my plan - he told me how much weight i could expect to lose and in how much time it would take me to lose it and as long as i stuck to the plan he laid out i would meet those goals and prob pass them and he was right - i am almost one year post op and i am 25 pounds from my goal weight that he set at my consultation. Do i allow myself to have some foods that are not on my plan - hell yes i do - what's life without some pie in it? Dang! But i also follow my Protein guidelines and drink my Water and exercise. And i have the best doctor in the state of Texas and his staff is wonderful too. ( i love to brag on him - he gave me back my life so i shout it from the rooftops every chance i get) We have to work this tool we have folks - we all know this.

[Rogofulm 2,440]

Yes I think much of the same. Its been 4 weeks this Tuesday and the weight is not falling off. . Frustrsting

Congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even longer. But don't worry – after that, the pounds will start falling off if you stick to your program. And, the inches will continue to come off even while the scale isn't budging. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again!

(Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)