5 Pounds lost in 6 weeks?

[RaiderRhode 36]

I had bypass on 2/13, I've always followed the plan very closely. I managed to lose 70 pounds pre-op on the dieticians plans and working out and then 20 pounds on the liquid diet. Since surgery I've only lost 5 pounds. I thought I was doing very well but I guess not?

I stick close to the diet plan, though I admit my calories can go over but my main goal has always been to get to my Protein goal before anything else. I've been working out 4-5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. I do a lot of strength training because I am into strongwoman stuff, so its been weird staying in the weight restriction.

I also hit my Water goals alongside my protein goals.

I made the mistake of posting this on a Facebook support group and.. wow. I don't think I've ever felt worse about myself, there was almost no support and a lot of telling me I'm doing something wrong obviously. A lot of people there were blaming the scant amount of BBQ Sauce I use or the single string cheese. Most were telling me I'm eating far too much. Others were telling me to stop working out entirely? I don't want to be skinny, I want to be healthy and I want to be strong.

Am I eating too much still? When I don't work out I get 600 calories, and when I do its usually more around 800 to be honest. I don't feel like I'm making the wrong decisions.

Meal 1: Oikos Triple Zero yogurt to take my meds with. Meal 2: Fairlife elite core protein in my coffee. Meal 3: 3 oz turkey lunch meat 1 oz of cheeze and mustard. Meal 4: 1 String cheese. Meal 5: 4-5 oz of chicken with bbq sauce (its not sugar free, I live in the country and the rural grocery store doesnt stock sugar free and the next closest is over 50 miles away).

I'm so confused and heartbroken.

[mcipanda 121]

Im sorry the Facebook group was so harsh. Maybe everyone is having a rough week or something. I’d brush them off

I’ve learned the body needs a base level of Protein to function and more if you want to build muscle while working out. Based on what you’ve said, it’s possible you need more protein to support your workouts.

You didn’t mention Vitamins or supplements. Are you getting all of those in as well?

The sleuth in me would keep a daily journal (for at least a week) of everything you’re eating and an honest assessment of calories and such. I’d also start taking body measurements with a cloth tape because you could be trimming up even though the scale isn’t moving much.

Finally, make sure you have a dietician or time to review your food journal with your doctor so you can work together to understand what combination of macros would be best for your new lifestyle.

Im always a little bothered when people try to sum things up in black or white (”it was the bbq sauce”, “you’re eating too much” or “you’re working out too much”). Our bodies are just too complex for that kind of minimization. Anyways, I’m sure others can weigh in here too. There’s so much experience on these forums

[Jonathan Carlson 59]

I agree that you could be building muscle. Measurements might help allay your concerns.

I had my bypass 2 days after you. I don't mean this as a criticism at all, but I am wondering how you can eat 4-5 oz of chicken? The most I can get down is 2 boiled eggs, or half a can of chili (200g). In terms of your Protein it's a good thing, especially since you are working out so much. Calories probably don't matter too much either, even though i think that's more than a standard serving size.

When's your next visit with the nutritionist? I'm curious what they might say?

Hang in there!

[RaiderRhode 36]

39 minutes ago, mcipanda said:

Im sorry the Facebook group was so harsh. Maybe everyone is having a rough week or something. I’d brush them off

I’ve learned the body needs a base level of Protein to function and more if you want to build muscle while working out. Based on what you’ve said, it’s possible you need more Protein to support your workouts.

You didn’t mention Vitamins or supplements. Are you getting all of those in as well?

The sleuth in me would keep a daily journal (for at least a week) of everything you’re eating and an honest assessment of calories and such. I’d also start taking body measurements with a cloth tape because you could be trimming up even though the scale isn’t moving much.

Finally, make sure you have a dietician or time to review your food journal with your doctor so you can work together to understand what combination of macros would be best for your new lifestyle.

Im always a little bothered when people try to sum things up in black or white (”it was the bbq sauce”, “you’re eating too much” or “you’re working out too much”). Our bodies are just too complex for that kind of minimization. Anyways, I’m sure others can weigh in here too. There’s so much experience on these forums

I'm getting my multi and Calcium as my team prescribed. I keep a journal on baritastic and I have a follow up with my surgeon next week. I do think I've lost .. girth? I've had to tighten my pants up (been wearing jeans with a drawstring since surgery). It's just been hard seeing everyone lose so much more in the same time, ya know?

19 minutes ago, Jonathan Carlson said:

I agree that you could be building muscle. Measurements might help allay your concerns.

I had my bypass 2 days after you. I don't mean this as a criticism at all, but I am wondering how you can eat 4-5 oz of chicken? The most I can get down is 2 boiled eggs, or half a can of chili (200g). In terms of your Protein it's a good thing, especially since you are working out so much. Calories probably don't matter too much either, even though i think that's more than a standard serving size.

When's your next visit with the nutritionist? I'm curious what they might say?

Hang in there!

I've been following the surgeon and dieticians plan, they say at this point that's how much I should be getting and taking 30 minutes to eat it. Admittedly I don't always finish the whole meal, so my pups have been very happy about it. I think I'll try to get more protein though, maybe switch to just powdered in the coffee instead of pre-made shakes.

[Arabesque 6,446]

Yeah, avoid the Facebook groups. I’ve never heard of or read a favourable or supportive one ever. I don’t go near them.

One thing you can be certain of is that everyone’s experiences will have some similarities but also differences & there’s no one right way just a right way for you.We are different people, with different bodies, ages, gender height, build, needs, health status & issues, on different meds, etc. so it can’t be exactly the same. Look at the advice & suggestion people give here as ideas for you to consider, maybe try &/or discuss with your medical team.

I’m glad you’re seeing your surgeon soon. They’re going to be best placed to assess your progress in relation to you & your situations & needs. And have a chat with your dietician as well for alternative food suggestions & portion recommendations - you never know what may help. And yes, take body measurements. The scale doesn’t always move especially during a stall which you could have had or be experiencing (they usually last 1-3 weeks).

PS - Two eggs at 7 weeks?? I could just about eat one by 6 months & at almost 4 years I can almost eat two eggs. See lots of differences. Neither right or wrong. 😁

[Jeanniebug 472]

If you're into bodybuilding, then you know that muscle is heavy. If you're going to be lifting weights, you have to let go of the scale. Go by your size (and it sounds like you're getting smaller). Why does your weight matter? If you're not wanting to be skinny, but you want to be muscular, then the scale means nothing. Your measurements mean everything. Remember, a bodybuilder can easily be classified as "overweight" on the BMI chart, but have very little body fat. So, stay off the scale. Stay in the measuring tape. As long as you're seeing progress, you're doing the right thing.

[Sigh 192]

Totally agree- go by measurements— and take some pictures. Compare that vs scale.

[RaiderRhode 36]

On 3/20/2023 at 7:58 AM, Sigh said:

Totally agree- go by measurements— and take some pictures. Compare that vs scale.

On 3/19/2023 at 11:05 PM, Jeanniebug said:

If you're into bodybuilding, then you know that muscle is heavy. If you're going to be lifting weights, you have to let go of the scale. Go by your size (and it sounds like you're getting smaller). Why does your weight matter? If you're not wanting to be skinny, but you want to be muscular, then the scale means nothing. Your measurements mean everything. Remember, a bodybuilder can easily be classified as "overweight" on the BMI chart, but have very little body fat. So, stay off the scale. Stay in the measuring tape. As long as you're seeing progress, you're doing the right thing.

Solid solid point. I think I just expected to still lose weight while gaining muscle, I have been pretty rotund so I wanted to be able to see muscle as opposed to just my own roundness. I have decided I'm not going to weigh myself till next month and maybe check every two weeks after that.

On 3/19/2023 at 10:23 PM, Arabesque said:

Yeah, avoid the Facebook groups. I’ve never heard of or read a favourable or supportive one ever. I don’t go near them.

One thing you can be certain of is that everyone’s experiences will have some similarities but also differences & there’s no one right way just a right way for you.We are different people, with different bodies, ages, gender height, build, needs, health status & issues, on different meds, etc. so it can’t be exactly the same. Look at the advice & suggestion people give here as ideas for you to consider, maybe try &/or discuss with your medical team.

I’m glad you’re seeing your surgeon soon. They’re going to be best placed to assess your progress in relation to you & your situations & needs. And have a chat with your dietician as well for alternative food suggestions & portion recommendations - you never know what may help. And yes, take body measurements. The scale doesn’t always move especially during a stall which you could have had or be experiencing (they usually last 1-3 weeks).

PS - Two eggs at 7 weeks?? I could just about eat one by 6 months & at almost 4 years I can almost eat two eggs. See lots of differences. Neither right or wrong. 😁

Yeah, Im thinking I'll leave the groups. Seeing other peoples posts and the responses in them is really disheartening.

I will say that I took a picture at the gym and compared it to my 1 week pre-op picture and I can definitely see a difference (I'll attach it cause Im so pleased)! I'm still going to talk to my doctor next Monday and get his opinion to make sure I'm going about things the correct way.

[SemperVeritas 24]

Wow, very noticeable difference!! Nicely done and I hope you find that visual progress encouraging! 😁

A few thoughts- 1) you've just passed a month since major surgery and your body is working hard to recovery, repair and get you back out there to your active life 🤗 I'm just a couple weeks from my bypass and working on talking to myself/honoring my body, sometimes with humor 😅 but acknowledging "my body is amazing, and strong, look how well I'm recovering", stuff like that. 2) your food plan looks good to me 3) while you can't actually build brand new muscle without being in a calorie surplus, I wouldn't be surprised if getting back to working out after a lull could cause some micro tissue tears and some Water retention 4) need new scale batteries?

Lastly, I don't know if you'd have access to one somewhere, but a BodPod uses air displacement (something like that) to accurately measure fat vs non-fat. It was so enlightening to me to see that pre -surgery, I legitimately could burn 3000 cals on an active day, even at 5'4 😅 because of my build. Anyhow, I just needed to know that, so when the scale wasn't moving I could say "science!!" If I'm eating 500 cals and burning even just 2000, I will eventually see it on the scale or tape measure. The body is just going to process weight loss and healing in its own sweet time.

All that to say, it must really be disheartening to not see the numbers change after all your hard work and I hope you find some answers. Maybe for now frame your loss since Christmas or New Year's, because you've lost so much! Good luck to you!

[Sigh 192]

Way to go! That is a BIG difference and you should be VERY proud of your accomplishments—remember they’re areMANY ways to win aside from a number on the scale! You are killing it! Congratulations and keep up the greatwork!

[Tomo 1,135]

Looking great. Looking at the pic, it looks like you have lost like 40 lbs. I would check your scale if it's broken lol. Either way, congratulations and good work.

[learn2cook 486]

You look like you are standing taller! Posture can even make you look younger. You also look more firm. You’re doing great! The scale will catch up to you eventually.

[Jeanniebug 472]

6 hours ago, RaiderRhode said:

Solid solid point. I think I just expected to still lose weight while gaining muscle, I have been pretty rotund so I wanted to be able to see muscle as opposed to just my own roundness. I have decided I'm not going to weigh myself till next month and maybe check every two weeks after that.

Yeah, Im thinking I'll leave the groups. Seeing other peoples posts and the responses in them is really disheartening.

I will say that I took a picture at the gym and compared it to my 1 week pre-op picture and I can definitely see a difference (I'll attach it cause Im so pleased)! I'm still going to talk to my doctor next Monday and get his opinion to make sure I'm going about things the correct way.

You're looking fantastic! Keep up the great work!