How am I not losing weight?
katematt313
Posts: 624 Member
I just had VSG on 6/9. My diet is 2-3 sugar free protein shakes per day, with some sugar free popsicles, broth, water, and 1 cup of coffee with skim milk in the a.m. My calories are about 400 per day. I do some light exercise everyday - such as walking around the neighborhood. How is it possible that I am not losing weight? I have actually gone up a couple of pounds since surgery.
On the one hand, I am worried that VSG won't work for me. On the other hand, I think to myself, anyone who eats 400 calories per day is going to eventually lose weight. Impossible not to! Right?!
Is my "body in shock" from the surgery? (I've heard this can happen).
I see the MD on Wednesday, so I will talk to them then. I think I will get permission to have soft proteins at this appointment.
In the meanwhile, anyone have any information that can help me?
On the one hand, I am worried that VSG won't work for me. On the other hand, I think to myself, anyone who eats 400 calories per day is going to eventually lose weight. Impossible not to! Right?!
Is my "body in shock" from the surgery? (I've heard this can happen).
I see the MD on Wednesday, so I will talk to them then. I think I will get permission to have soft proteins at this appointment.
In the meanwhile, anyone have any information that can help me?
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Replies
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You are in a stall. Super common in the 1st 8 weeks or so after surgery. When mine happened my husband hid our scale from me for a month. I became so obsessed with the scale that I was weighing myself multiple times a day and frustrated because I was still eating only a few hundred calories a day. I couldn't understand how in the world I wasn't losing. It is a stall, it happens to everyone. It will be the 1st of many (I'm 2 years post op and 180lbs down). It will pass and the best thing you can do is ask a friend to take your scale away for a few weeks. Concentrate on the process right now and not the number on the scale. It will resolve itself with in a week or two.0
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Take away the scale??!!
I guess I can do this.0 -
I was told to weight myself no more than once a week. Part of that is to keep us from obsessing on the numbers and concentrating on the behaviors and eating that will get and keep the weight off. So I agree with Dannadl, put the scale aways for a bit. Also, a couple of pounds up could be water weight or constipation. Check the sodium level on your protein shakes and if you are constipated, ask your doctor about a laxitive. Really, sometimes a couple of pounds can be water and stool rather than actual weight.0
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Thanks
You are both right. I am going to put the scale away and focus on the rest.0 -
It happened to me too. I didn't lose any weight for 4 weeks after my surgery. It was very frustrating! Hang in there. It will pass and you *will* lose weight soon 0
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I gained 11 pounds after surgery, in spite of zero calories for three days, and it took over a week to lose it. Then, almost everyone hits what is commonly called the three week stall.
It's perfectly normal. Stalls will continue to happen, and if they freak you out, maybe you should put the scale away.
To be successful, the only scale you need is the one with which you should weigh your food portions.0 -
Great responses here from some very successful people, not looking forward to these stalls but if it's all apart of the process I am READY! You got this Kate, sounds like your doing pretty good so far with sticking to your program Good Luck on Wed!0
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I gained 10lbs from the surgery, and after the first month I had only lost 5 lbs from my pre-surgery weight! Talk abut freaking out! I am 8 months out now, and just coming out of a 6 week stall. It can be incredibly frustrating. The funny thing is, I really started walking a lot as exercise, and although the scale didn't move, I started getting tons of comments "You've lost weight haven't you?" My body composition is changing even though the scale doesn't show it. As many have suggested, sometimes stepping away from the scale for a bit is a great thing. It allows you to focus on how you feel physically without relying on the scale as a measurement of your success.
The first year is going to be more hills and valleys. When the doctor said I'd be projected to lose X lbs during the first year, I think I heard that in my head as "steadily". I wasn't prepared for the stops and starts. MFP members have been a great help, as it looks like almost everyone goes through it. Then I see the amazing results posted, and I keep plugging away and logging my food.0 -
I also had the thought that the weight loss would be more "steady", and I wasn't anticipating hills and valleys. Oh well!
People also keep commenting about how wonderful I look, and I can see a difference in the way my clothes fit, though my weight is static. So, that is a good thing!0 -
i only weigh once a month so i dont have to see those demoralising little gains and stalls
i cant see the weightloss on my self but others have commented on how im changing
today im wearing a size 22 dress insted of a size 320 -
I'm currently experiencing my first stall. It's more heart breaking than I thought it would be. My rational brain knows that I will lose weight but my emotional brain is freaking out. I have decided to stay off the scale for a week. Today was day one. I made it through. I wish I could offer you words of wisdom and advice. Since I'm right in the middle of it, all I can say is I understand what you feel.0
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I had my surgery almost 4 month ago and I weigh myself almost every day first thing in the morning. Now, this is not because I'm hoping to see dramatic weight loss, but to understand how my body loses weight and what causes me to gain weight. For instance, during that special time of month, no matter how fiercely I work out, the scale won't budge. Water retention has me on lock down at that time and when I eat salty food. I've had my share of stalls and I use NSVs to get through them. Understand what percent of my weight I've lost, packing a bag with weights to feel what my legs were carrying around, measuring myself and trying on old clothes. Sometimes the scale doesn't show what your body is doing. I understand what you're going through, so hang in there.
In the mean time, if you value the scale a lot, simply lock it away. Weighing yourself can be good for some people and torment for others.0
