[Brendastarshine]

I am sure that I wil hear "each at his own pace" , but I have to say I am concerned about how slow my loss is going recently. I am at 2 1/2 months and have lost 56 lbs. I know, I know!! ---normally that would be awesome. But, most of that was the first month or 6 weeks. Now it is down to maybe 2-3 lbs a week ( a couple weeks only 1 lb) and frankly , that is less than I'd have lost on a low carb diet pre-surgery so it is disappointing to be eating so little and losing so slowly. Can't help but worry that I will be one of th e ones who dont lose most of their excess wieght and only lose part of it.

I welcome any substantive thoughts about this, I am thinking of going on liquids or something to get the loss moving. ( never was on liquids, started eating when discharged- my doc said "eat whatever your stomach will tolerate" - meaning of course mostly lowfat low sugar low carb stuff - he didnt mean pig out on goodies. I just meant that he didnt say 'do the liquid diet, then soft foods' etc..

Looking forward to any input...thanks

[fr1endly2]

FIRST off welcome to the board brendastarshine!!!!
(((HUG))) this can be a frustrating journey for sure.
AND yes you guessed it we all loose slowly but we all make goals.
ME and my online friend had surgery the same month and lost at totally different rates but guess what she officially as of yesterday weighs what i did at 12 months so she got there and her slo steady pace were i lost rapidly. YOU will get there and i strongly suggest not weighing yourself
everyday...i know for me it was dangerous and had trouble stopping.
WHEN i got the weight looseing blues i always went to stores and tried on the new stores and that got me back up and positive.
HERE is a link to check out about our weight losses:

http://www.renewedreflections.com/fo...omparison.html

AND congratulations i think your doing fabulous! AND honestly a total liquid diet might put your body in starvation mode and cause you to hold on to the fat verse loose more. SO the idea could backfire on you. I would increase your protein and up your water!
hugs and i look forward to getting to know you thru all your posts!

[bren]

Brendastarshine, I hit a slow down about the same time as you. Trust me the weight will continue to come off some days you won't lose anything the next time it will be 3 or more lbs. Your doing fantastic keep up the great work.

[linda5]

You mention that you were told you could eat what ever your tummy could tolerate after surgery, my cousin was told that too. She tried the liquids a week, but went right to eating.

May I ask you about what size serving you are eating and how many times a day? I am just curious, because I am trying to eat like I have had the gastric bypass and I believe you have valuable information that could help me in my weight loss journey.

Thanks....and best wishes.

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Congratulations on your weightloss!!
What type surgery did you have? Depending on the type of surgery, the surgeon may give out different instructions for immediate post op diet.
And yes, you will hit bumps and walls, then hit a slope, then back to bumps and walls.
You really can't compare with anyone else, you are unique, just as everybody is.

As Lisa says, going on liquids is not really a good idea. Right at the moment, your body is trying to adjust to the sudden losing mode, and trying to figure out if you are starving or not, actually. (Keep in mind, our body is geared towards hoarding food for times of famine, so this may be what your body is trying to adjust to, right now.) Up your intake just a wee bit, maybe ad 5-10 more grams of protein--BTW, how much protein and water did your surgeon say you must get in daily? The average is 64oz water, and around 60g protein. So, if your surgeon or nut/dietitian hasn't given you the numbers, and you'r note getting in that much, then try to get that much in. It may just be the kind of kick your body needs.
And what about your supplements, are you getting them all in?

If your scale is not moving much, what about your inches, your clothes sizes. Often, when your scale is not moving, is when the greatest drop in your inches and clothes size takes place.

((((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

[Brendastarshine]

Thanks very much for the input. Let me answer your questions first: I had a Rouen-Y , and yes, was told 64 oz liquids and 60 grams protein. I am getting in all my supplements OK. I am lucky ( I think!) that I have not had problems getting any food down, or getting sick at all. I have had things as treats, mostly to see if I could tolerate them. starting right after sugery, like pizza, bread, steak, milk, sugar etc ---- some of the things I had heard might be a problem. And am happy I can still enjoy them without being sick. But day to day I am careful about what I eat.

Actually, it seems the further away from surgery I get the less appealing sugary things are to me. I have had some successfully a few times - a small pc of birthday cake for example- and other times have gotten a stomache ache for about 45 minutes... so am cautious about when or when I have those little treats. I can understand those who say they are actually glad they cant tolerate sweets anymore- it takes away temptation.

Friday I saw the surgeon for my 2.5 month check up and told him that sometimes I am not hungry and other times I am absolutely ravenous- a gnawing hunger, even when I am very busy and distracted. He said to eat more BREAD. ( what! carbs!) - the whole grain thick types- and more textured things like that-- meat; steak, anything of more substance that will stay in my pouch longer on those days. So I will try that but of course my fat brain is screaming "NO ! Don't do it! Dont eat more carbs!!!!" I have been eating cottage cheese with a big TB of pineapple in it for breakfast most days - and sometimes for lunch..just because I love it and its convenient -- I put it in small styro coffe cups and take to work and then just throw it away...no containers to drag home to wash. But it appears I need more substance.

One of you had asked about quantities..... that was another surprise/worry. I had read I'd be able to eat 'fingernail'size bites" and might not even be able to get in 1/4 c of food for a while. That never happened. So it was another concern: that I am able to eat more - surely that can't be a good thing. But, soft things like the cottage cheese , or tuna salad- I could eat 1/2 if I didn't pay attention. A week or 2 after surgery I was dying to see if I could eat pizza---my fav thing! and I ordered a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.. Ate 1 piece ( they slice it in quarters) and the topping from the other 3 pieces. That had to be at least 3/4 c. I have only had pizza a couple times since then , and eat 1 regular slice ( pie shaped). I think it is weird - but not bad! --that lately I seem to be able to eat less in volume than i could at, say, 1 month. Which is OK with me. The no-hunger only lasted about a month, unfortunately.

So, back to your Q about how much food.. The 'softer', the more I can eat. For instance, I need to measure some things so I don't get carried away and eat too much--- like chili, or pasta ( have only had pasta a couple times) chicken or shrimp salad, SF pudding, jello, ricotta and so forth. Meat, on the other hand, is bulky enough that it fills me fast. I can usually eat 2-4 oz of meat.

Of course, the surgeon thinks my loss is just fine, as I expected, but I am still anxious to lose faster. I guess that is natural. I just had this expectation that I would be looking good by summer vacation ( had surgery Dec 27) and now I will be lucky to be anyhwere near that. On Atkins once I lost 90 lbs in 6 months, eating nonstop- and so I thought this would be at least as fast. I just need to be grateful for the surgery and stop obsessing about it. I worry that I will miss out on optimizing that 'window' of opportunity.

If anyone else is struggling to get in their protein (I just dont get into the shakes, no matter how good they taste) , I finally have found my best way is the clear fruity Isopure drinks at GNC. They are almost $4 each but have 40 gr protein in 20 oz. They come in various flavors which to me taste like diluted kool-aid- but I find that mixing half a bottle a day with half a can of diet sprite or 7 up, over ice, is OK and a big protein boost for my day. I have that several times a week when I need the extra protein and $2 is a small price to pay. After all look what we are saving on groceries and fast food! .

Another tip, if anyone is having a problem getting in their calcium...I was given the gigando chewable ones- 6 a day - blech!! I hate anything even vaguley chalky like tums...hated them.... and didint like taking a bunch of big regular ones either. Finally found the chewable Viactiv calcium ( and WalMart has a store brand) ones that come in caramel and chocolate.. checked with the surgeon about them. ( box recommends 4 a day) - He said they are not quite as absorbable , so eat 5 a day instead of 4. No problem with that!! They taste like candy. I keep them at work and they are either my morning or afternoon snack...and very filling.

I will quit rambling... but I do have one more Q for the doc---- when I asked the surgeon about how much is bypassed ( ie how many calories may not be being absorbed) he said there really isnt much thats not.

Rats! Afterward, I thought - what about all the extra supplements and vitamins then, why do we need them if food is still being absorbed as before? Most of us probably werent getting in all we needed anyway- most of us werent eating an ideal diet before surgery.

Thanks again for all your answers

[DocSanae]

Our body has remarkable power when it comes to adjusting...So, the further out from bypass surgery you are, the more it will be able to absorb. That is, in the end, you will be able to absorb most of the carbs, protein and fat that are in the food you eat.

However, vitamins and minerals are another problem. That is because where and when they are absorbed are limited because of the precise requirements for what enzymes and factors are needed for them to be absorbed--most of which, unfortunately, is secreted or the reaction takes place within the portion that is bypassed. Also, you are eating much much less than before your surgery, and this means that the total of vitamins and minerals that you have been getting in with food is, of course, going to be reduced post op.

As for filling and wholesome carbs, what about potatoes? Either baked or boiled. Not fried. You do need carbs for your brain cells, so unless you are very badly addicted to carbs, you should try to get in at least 100g per day, preferably 130g per day in the form of wholesome carbs, not refined carbs.