Any success stories that started as slow weight loss? (MGB)

[amylittlelbs 10]

Starting weight: 262lbs

Height 5ft

Hi all,

I'm just over 1 month post-op (Mini bypass). I lost 14lbs on LRD (2 weeks), and since surgery I've lost 19lbs. I've pretty much had stalls throughout this month and I'm so disheartened that the scales aren't shifting much. Literally everyone else I know that's had surgery lost at a fast rate in their first month and meanwhile I'm chugging behind. I healed extremely fast, tolerate anything I'm cleared to eat and drinking as much Fluid as I can. I'm also walking more with my dogs and soon to be cleared to go to the gym.

I feel hunger still as well, and to be honest drinking Water makes it worse for me.

I didn't expect this to be a quick fix but if I have to work out 5 days a week to even go near my target, then surgery was a big waste of money as that just isn't suitable for my lifestyle.

The reason I'm saying 19lbs is slow is because before surgery I could easily lose 2st in less than a month, obviously would gain it back but that was the norm for me.

Has anyone got a similar story to mine where they started off slow but still hit their target?

Thanks

[pintsizedmallrat 470]

19 pounds in a month is fantastic; there are folks on this very board who would love to be able to say they had lost that much their first month. I wouldn't put too much stock in how your body reacted to losing weight prior to your surgery, your entire system has just gone through massive changes and is still very much in a healing phase, so you've got things like Fluid retention, inflammation, etc at play.

[BigSue 1,324]

19 pounds in one month is in no way slow. If you’re comparing your weight loss to others’, (a) don’t and (b) they probably had a higher starting weight and therefore more to lose. The more excess weight you have, the faster you can lose it, but as you get smaller, it slows down. Each pound is harder to lose than the last. Be patient. You didn’t gain all the weight in a month, and you won’t lose it all in a month. There are many factors that affect your rate of weight loss, and 19 pounds in the first month is excellent.

[Smanky 743]

I had the same surgery as you, I lost slowly, stalled frequently and am still losing beyond my goal.

Here's the thing though - don't compare youself to others, expect stalls and stay off the scale. You're losing fine. I know it can be frustrating, but you have to reign in the big expectations because your body will lose they way it needs to lose. For some of us, that means a slower rate, and that's ok. If you stick to your plan you'll be a success story of your own.

[learn2cook 501]

We are such individuals! I heard Dr. Yeo yesterday (Cambridge University weight loss specialist) explain that there are over 200 genes involved in obesity, so we all loose differently. I am loosing slowly and still loosing 18 months out. I am loosing differently than how I lost pre surgery. Lol, I’m not gaining it back like I used to do.

It really is a different way of living and checking my feelings. There’s no magic weight elevator down. Weight loss does take sustained effort over time. I’ve had to really dig deep and get therapy and do the work. You have made great progress. If you’re still hungry, talk with your doctor. Get to the bottom of it. Is it your head hunger and need a therapist or do you have a medical issue like needing metformin? Does your center have ongoing support groups? Are you working through dropping other medications? There’s so much going on, you’re doing awesome weight wise!

[Tomo 1,150]

I lost about 16 lbs my first month. If you want to call my weight loss slow at 16 lbs my first month, then yes, I hit my goal of 140 lbs and then lost an additional 30+ lbs. I don't think 16 lbs nor 19 lbs a month is a slow loss at all though.

[The Greater Fool 1,971]

I lost 40 pounds my first month. If we're looking at percent of total excess weight at surgery you blew my socks off. I lost to below a normal BMI before I was able to manage a regain to a normal BMI though it all took about 2.5 years. I was never happier each and every month.

This isn't a sprint. It isn't a marathon either. It's a lifetime.

Good luck,

Tek

[Arabesque 6,576]

We all lose at our own rate & no rate is right or wrong. But your loss so far is not a slow weight loss. It’s around what many of us lose that first month. Not sure what weight you started at, but unless you weighed in excess of 600lbs (like on the tv show) you are not going to lose large amounts of weight to begin (& even their rate of loss slows as they get smaller). And stalls are very common & almost everyone experiences them.

Does your surgeon say you are losing slowly? Are they concerned?

Maybe speak with your dietician to review your food choices & calories. But remember you are early out & your body is still healing. Your restricted diet is to support your healing & yes it can limit aspects of your lifestyle to begin. You will be eating more & a wider variety of food in a few weeks.

I didn’t feel like I was missing out while I was losing. I went to a 60 birthday 2 weeks after surgery (took my own shake & sipped that), a 40th 6 weeks after surgery, reunions, social gatherings, dinners at restaurants, children’s birthdays, sporting events, travelled, etc. I just made careful food choices. I lost all my weight & more & have maintained +/- a kilo or two (am almost 4 years post surgery). I’ve never been able to do that. My lifestyle still isn’t compromised by how I chose to eat now.

Exercise only contributes to about 10% of any weight you want to lose. Want to lose 50lbs, exercising will contribute to 5lbs of that. Of course there are many other benefits to exercising. Personally I didn’t exercise. Got on my treadmill a couple of times but was so tired I almost fell, off it so never got back on. Even now all I do is some stretches, a few resistance band exercises & some sit ups. I wouldn’t burn 30 calories.

[amylittlelbs 10]

Thanks for the replies everyone, this forum is so much more supportive than Facebook or WhatsApp groups!

It's amazing to hear people lose at the pace I am and hit their target.

I spoke with my dietician and he said I've actually surprised what they expected me to lose so that has made me feel a lot better. I've already lost 25% of my excess weight from my highest weight. He said I should include the weight I lost since the day I contacted them, I was just counting what I lost since surgery

You're all so helpful, thank you

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