Good morning everyone. I am so bummed this morning. I hate the scales....HATE! HATE! HATE!
I just don't understand - I had my surgery on December 3rd and it just seems like I'm not losing weight like everyone else. I make sure and get all my protein in each and every day, I exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, and I always exceed my water intake. What am I doing wrong?
I took someone's advice on not just using the scale and taking measurements also. This past week I've lost 1.5 pounds and 2 inches.
I don't know if I'm not eating enough or I'm eating too much.
Here is my standard day of eating:

4 oz. protein shake (Unjury mixed with Hood milk)
cup of decaffinated coffee - sweetened with Splenda and 3 tsp. lite creamer
16 oz. water
4 oz. protein (Unjury mixed with Hood milk)
2 oz. white fish & less than 1/4 cup cottage cheese
16 oz. water
4 oz. protein shake (Unjury mixed with Hood milk)
16 oz. water
1/3 cup scramble - made with egg beaters, low fat ham, onions, green peppers and mushrooms and 1/4 lite multi grain english muffin
16 oz. water
4 oz. protein shake (Unjury mixed with Hood milk)

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I always get in the wrong forum. I don't know how to change it.
Sorry

Terri, I think I see what you are doing when you post. I moved this one down to the WLS Chat forum which I am assuming that is where you wanted it? When you go to post in a forum, the top section is mostly 'pinned' threads that are permanent. When you get ready to post a new topic, just scroll down a bit further and get past the pinned topics and you will be posting where you intended.

As for your food, I am certainly no expert and I am sure others will be able to pick out exactly what to say. What I see just glancing at your menu is that you aren't eating enough protein. Four 4 oz protein shakes is only 16 oz total. Most people have at least 8oz shakes, three times a day. Just an observation on my part and I could be dead wrong. I do know however, that the more protein you can make yourself eat, the more weight you will lose if you are getting in all the water you need.

More importantly, you are doing fine. You may not be losing as fast as you think you should but you are losing and you are losing INCHES. This certainly means something is going on and you will get up one morning soon and see a larger loss and for several days running you will see a loss while the scale catches up to your changing body. Don't fret and forget that darned scale! You are doing fine!

Celadon,
Each 8 oz of my protein add up to 28 grams of protein. So the shakes alone make up 56 grams a day. My doctor says I need to hit 70 grams a day. I thought the other 14 I was easily hitting with the food I eat.
It would be OK for me to drink 8 oz. of protein at a time? I could easily do it, I just thought it was too much. I love the protein shakes.
Thanks for moving my post for me, one of these days I'm sure I'll figure it all out.
Thanks too for the encouragment.

Terri, the only problem there is with protein shakes is that your body won't absorb more than 30 grams of protein at a time. So if you are already getting 28 grams, it wouldn't do you much good. I do know however, that you could add one more shake to your day and really load up on it to see if the protein kick helps you. It helps me when I feel like I am slowing down my weight loss to add a shake or two a day for several days. The protein thing really does work! Just hang in there. All will be well!

If you're losing inches and slowly losing weight, you're doing really well. This is the best way to keep from having bags of loose skin when you're done. Slower is better. It also gets your head to wrap around the idea of adopting food changes to your life. This is no diet, but your head is going to keep playing that game. The more slowly you lose the weight, the more frustrated your brain will get.

Don't let this slow down depress you. Just pretend you're already at your goal weight and start living the way you want to live then.

You're doing great, your food choices look very reasonable and I think that if anything, I'd mix the protein shakes with less milk and more water, get rid of the creamer in your coffee and up your walking to 45-60 minutes per day.


Other than that, I think you're doing mahhhhhh vellll ous! Don't give up, and don't let the depression make you do goofy stuff with your program. Keep working it, it's still working. Slow downs are normal.

Think, "this is not a diet, this is the way I'm eating for the rest of my life. it does not matter if it happens this month, this is forever."

OK?

I just read a post in Bama's blog about how, if we are keeping our caloric intake too low, our body will think we are starving & go into preservation mode. It makes sense. I think you may not be getting enough calories. I only see 2 meals, with the rest all protein shakes. Maybe try to have 3 meals (some people do 6 small meals) & just use the shakes to supplement your protein intake? I have days when I don't have to use protein shakes at all because I'm getting enough in my food.
Are you logging into any program that will help you see if this might be the problem? I use fitday.com and it helps me to see it.
Personally, I don't think 1 1/2 lbs is bad. I lose slower than I would like, too. Right now, I haven't had a net loss since 1/29. But I know I have done what I'm supposed to do, so I'm not going to let it defeat me.
Hang in there! You're getting all of your protein & water & you are exercising. Many aren't getting this right, but you are. The weight will come off.

I think 2 inches is great!! I dont know when Ive lost 2 inches in a week. Thats pretty good when you think about it!! Good luck with everything and give yourself a break. Dont watch the scale so hard! It will start moving just give your body time to adjust to all the changes. You are still seeing results so thats encouraging. Hang in there Honey!

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a little better about it now. I'm going to make a few changes and see how it goes. You guys are the greatest!!!

During the first year, it's pretty darned hard to take in a decent amount of calories. We're just too brand new to take 'em all in and it's why the weight falls off so fast. Yes, it does mess up our metabolism and yes, our hair does fall out...but it's part of WLS.

I think that you're doing just great. Get your 70g of protein in like your doctor says and keep drinking water. I wouldn't even say that you need to extend your exercise time. If you do 30 minutes every day, you are doing what I did at this point in the journey. Now, here is the thing...make those 30 minutes powerful. Dig in and feel your heart pump! Don't stroll...walk like there is a guy with an ice pick behind you...MOVE!

Hi Terri!
Don't fret -
Repeat after me "Everyone loses differently, Everyone loses differently, Everyone loses differently"

I had to hold onto that every time I got on the scale and felt I wasn't doing "good enough".

What I did discover is that my body had a cycle of three minute weight loss weeks
than one BIG loss week. *shrug*

Our bodies will do what they want - you are doing it right - the weight will fall off!

Keep up the good work!!


Hugs

What you are doing now is fine IF you're getting in your protein gram and fluids requirements given to you by your surgeon. DOn't worry about the calories....you can't get them in right now. You WILL lose....I promise.

I remember in the first 6 months, I hung out on the OH website (didn't know about this one). I freaked out comparing myself to everyone else, especially with the speed that some others were losing. They eventually would lament months later about being on plateus that lasted forever and I was dropping like crazy. Eventually, I tried to avoid posts that would promote this "competition like" thinking.

concentrate on protein and fluid intake, use vits and supplements advised by your surgeon and start thinking about permanent behavior modification....exercise, self esteem and value issues, etc. Soon....you will be recording WOW moments (in addition to weight loss numbers)! WOW moments....those mean more than numbers do!

Stephanie

Terri,

In 2 months, you've lost almost 40 lbs! Rock on!

When I had my surgery, I STOPPED weighing myself weekly for this exact reason. I put my scale away and only weighed and measured 1x per month. I was losing 8-10 lbs per month - which was about 2+ lbs per week. Not a lot on a weekly basis, but it adds up quickly.

8-10 lbs x 10 months = 80-100 lbs.

I know it's hard, but be patient and let your body do what it's going to do. If you're following the rules, the rest will follow.

yeah 35lbs in a few months is great!!!! dont get down look at it like this u didnt gain. i would suggest that maybee u should bump up the excersize a little bit more that should help. remember we r all different and loose at different rates. u heard the saying slow but steady wins the race.... good luck

Terri,

I understand your frustration but the biggest thing that you have to realize and that I still struggle with is to NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS! It is so easy and then you fall into depression and things start cycling. Everyone loses differently. You might be hitting old plateaus. You might still be healing, your body is getting used to the new way that you are living and eating. Everything takes time. You are doing well, keep doing that and you will keep losing. Remember the turtle ~ slow and steady wins the race!