So upset right now

[deflationinprogress 17]

I'm so upset right now. I just went for my 3 month appointment and surgeon said I was right on track so happy about that.

I'm unhappy because he said most patients stop losing after a year to a year and a half. This confused me. So I called just now to speak to a nurse to clarify my confusion. She said that most people's bodies get comfortable with their weight at that point and plateau.

If I'm still eating healthy and exercising how will I not lose weight? She also said most people don't ever make it to goal weight and average weight loss is 70-100 lbs, and that I will probably never see 150. My starting weight was 379 the day of surgery. That would only bring me to 279. This is killing me. How is this true? Any advice would be so much appreciated.

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[James Marusek 5,244]

Individuals who have RNY gastric bypass loose weight at a quicker pace than sleeve patients. I had RNY. I transitioned to the Maintenance phase at 7 months. My daily weight loss gradually reduced and my weight loss leveled off.

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.

One thing to do now at your 3 month stage is to assess your protein intake. Your daily protein requirement is met by a combination of the amount of protein you obtain from food combined with the amount of protein from protein supplements (protein shakes, protein bars). Right after gastric bypass surgery, the volume of food you consume is minuscule (2 ounces) per meal. But as you get further along, the meal volume increases. Therefore you have a very important option available to you. If you concentrate on high protein meals,, you can begin to reduce your reliance on Protein Shakes. I went from 3 a day, down to 2, down to 1 and eventually none when I reached 1 cup per meal at a year and a half post-op.

This is important because protein shakes contain calories. If you can reduce your caloric intake, then you can end a stall. At least that was the approach that I used and it worked for me.

[deflationinprogress 17]

7 minutes ago, James Marusek said:

Individuals who have RNY gastric bypass loose weight at a quicker pace than sleeve patients. I had RNY. I transitioned to the Maintenance phase at 7 months. My daily weight loss gradually reduced and my weight loss leveled off.

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.

One thing to do now at your 3 month stage is to assess your Protein intake. Your daily protein requirement is met by a combination of the amount of protein you obtain from food combined with the amount of protein from protein supplements (protein shakes, protein bars). Right after gastric bypass surgery, the volume of food you consume is minuscule (2 ounces) per meal. But as you get further along, the meal volume increases. Therefore you have a very important option available to you. If you concentrate on high protein meals,, you can begin to reduce your reliance on Protein Shakes. I went from 3 a day, down to 2, down to 1 and eventually none when I reached 1 cup per meal at a year and a half post-op.

This is important because Protein Shakes contain calories. If you can reduce your caloric intake, then you can end a stall. At least that was the approach that I used and it worked for me.

Thanks James, at 7 months were you at or close to goal? My surgery weight was 379 so at 7 months out I will not be near goal. Im more concerned with them saying that gastric bypass patients stop losing after a year or a year and a half. Were you ever told that? My thought process would be that even at a year or year and a half if I am maintaining a healthy diet and exercising as I should then I should still lose until I get at or close to goal, but my doctors office is saying different.

[Nella Sonnitah 7]

While the rate of losd may level off, you can still lose weight through nutrition and exercise. Your reliance on the tool alone would decrease. There is no need to be upset I would not necessarily rely on the numbers provided of 72-100 lb. Everyone is different. Most doctors will tell you that the average loss is two thirds of your excess weight. I've seen numerous people meet and exceed this goal in my online FB support groups. Dr. Weiner explains it well in this Youtube video.

[blondie66 271]

You can still lose weight after the honeymoon period wears off which is normally around 9 months but you will need to watch your diet and exercise. From my experience the Drs are talking about the weight lose from surgery, which I think is around 70 % of excess fat. But u can lose additional weight from eating Protein and exercising. You are in control of your body the surgery is a tool that is very good for about 1 year and then after that you need to use your tool but it won't be the complete answer. U will still have a smaller stomach but you'll be able to each Much more. Stay away from soda and sugar and the weight will continue to come off and exercise.

[blondie66 271]

That is why it's so important to follow the eating schedule at the beginning. You don't want to stretch your stomach to soon while still trying to lose. The calorie consumption adjusts to be higher 1 year post op.

[catwoman7 10,846]

those are averages. As with anything else, there are people who fall on either side of those averages. There are people who start at high BMIs and lose 100% of their excess weight. I know several , and I happen to be one of them.

I continued to lose after the first year. It got a lot tougher, but it was do-able. I think one of the reasons people stop is that they start to lose their motivation after the first year, and bad habits start creeping back in. Don't be one of those people. Keep your nose to the grindstone, and continue to weigh, measure, and log everything you eat. Even when it gets tough - even when your weight slows to a crawl - even when the cravings and hunger come roaring back - stick with it!

I, too, was told by my clinic staff that I'd never make it to normal weight. In fact, I read in an article somewhere that only about 10% of people who start out as super morbidly obese make it to normal weight. Most end up in the "overweight" or "class I obese" categories (which is still a helluva lot better than weighing 300+ pounds). But I made it to normal weight, and I know others who have, too. I think they tell you this so you don't have unrealistic expectations, because it's true - most people that start out at really high BMIs *don't* make it all the way. But some of us do. It takes a lot of work and commitment, but people do it.

I personally can't wait to see my surgeon in a couple of weeks. He is going to be shocked when he sees I've lost every molecule of my excess weight. Ha!

[Nella Sonnitah 7]

Congratulations Catwoman7! I hope to say this a year from now. I'm 12 weeks out.

[Nella Sonnitah 7]

I logged into one of my groups and a woman shared that she started at 402 pounds in November of 2015. She is now 152 pounds! Stay the course and be encouraged! [emoji123][emoji123][emoji123]

[Airstream88 361]

My NUT estimated I would lose between 70 - 80% of my excess weight which would leave me weighing between 198 and 222.If I get to either of those numbers I will be perfectly happy. I have no desire at my age, 55, to weigh 145 pounds. I would look sickly and have so much skin hanging off of me that I'd be unhappy. I'm going to be living with that skin a long time since I'd rather retire and travel with my husband than spend 50K or more on plastic surgery. At eight months I'm still losing about 10 pounds a month.

Edited June 21, 2017 by Airstream88

[BooBee66 104]

Thats awesome 10 pds a month

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[GrrlAnn 177]

those are averages. As with anything else, there are people who fall on either side of those averages. There are people who start at high BMIs and lose 100% of their excess weight. I know several , and I happen to be one of them.
I continued to lose after the first year. It got a lot tougher, but it was do-able. I think one of the reasons people stop is that they start to lose their motivation after the first year, and bad habits start creeping back in. Don't be one of those people. Keep your nose to the grindstone, and continue to weigh, measure, and log everything you eat. Even when it gets tough - even when your weight slows to a crawl - even when the cravings and hunger come roaring back - stick with it!
I, too, was told by my clinic staff that I'd never make it to normal weight. In fact, I read in an article somewhere that only about 10% of people who start out as super morbidly obese make it to normal weight. Most end up in the "overweight" or "class I obese" categories (which is still a helluva lot better than weighing 300+ pounds). But I made it to normal weight, and I know others who have, too. I think they tell you this so you don't have unrealistic expectations, because it's true - most people that start out at really high BMIs *don't* make it all the way. But some of us do. It takes a lot of work and commitment, but people do it.
I personally can't wait to see my surgeon in a couple of weeks. He is going to be shocked when he sees I've lost every molecule of my excess weight. Ha!

How did you achieve this amazing results?!! That is statistically really exceptional! Personally, like the original poster, my expected weight loss isn't as low as I'd like to go (I'd like to lose an additional 10-20lbs). Any tips or advice would be appreciated!

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[The 147]

This is really interesting. I'm three weeks away from my bypass and was chatting to my nutritionist about my expectations and hopes for weight loss. In all honesty I couldn't say.

A number feels terribly arbitrary and not very helpful. A big motivation for me is to be able to play and run about more with my five year old as he grows up. My weight gain really curtailed my physical activity and now I'm so keen to live more of my life outdoors that, for me, success will feel like being able to cycle and climb hills without wheezing and sweating (actually walking up stairs without wheezing and sweating would be a good start). Beyond that my self image is important, but I have no idea what weight corresponds to when I look great again.

Watching the numbers is clearly invaluable in terms of what you eat and how much exercise you do - but when you use numbers as your sole measure of success I imagine there's a danger you disappoint yourself even when your achievements are immense.