3 weeks in and I am starting to freak out - I haven't lost any weight since surgery

Hi Veronica - I agree with the others - don't worry - it will happen! I put on 7kgs post-op from water retention - I have now lost 16kgs within the 7 weeks of pre-op and 4?weeks post-op. Everyone is different - maybe you also have some water retention? Your whole body has been through the mill before and after surgery - it takes a while for your body to respond and let go of water / fluids / fat etc.

. I am going to try lymphatic drainage massage for my water retention - has anyone else tried that and found that it helps?

Good luck and just think longer term / bigger picture positive vibes!

Hi Veronica,
Try not to worry about not losing the weight that you feel you should be losing, as every body is so very different.
I am coming up to 12 months on 30th July.
I was so scared at the beginning, just like you, that once again I would "fail" yet again...
I said this to my surgeon, after my sleeve, and his words were, "The weight will come off... WHY? It just will, that is why"
And guess what?
It has!
Another thing he said was NOT to compare yourself to other people... Wise words, indeed!
ALSO...
R U not thrilled at losing 13 kilos in 5 weeks and 1 day..... That is fantastic.. Actually is amazing, really!
It really is fantastic!
Later you will look back at this time and wonder why you are concerned, trust me, you will!
This is what I would be saying to that so and so of a dietition :562:They make their bread and butter from all us fatties, and personally, I would never be casting a shadow over her door frame, ever....
I went to a group meeting, with a "highly recommended" dietition she gave me heaps of paperwork to take home and read.....
ON GASTRIC BANDING!
Anyway, as I come up to my 1 year since surgery, I just thought I'd say, that this is one of the best life choices I have done. I have ab no regrets.
I have just come back from a month in Italy, eating so much more carbs and gelati than I have in over 12 months, up and down 50 million steps, as you do in Europe! Had the best time, so much fitter than I think I have ever been, and just Loving my life!
Have you thought of writing a diary on here, it is a good thing to do, at the start, as you can go back, on the tough days and read how things were, and how far you have come...
There is also the monthly groups which is great to talk to others that are at the same stage as you are.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
AND
:35437876:oopsie, didn't mean to do 2, but what the, I reckon maybe you do deserve the 2 for being strong enough to make the decision to have this massive operation... You are a champ!



Life truly is great!

Hi Veronica,

I'm with the others - don't panic.  I lost very little in the first few weeks but my dietitian had those special scales that measure everything inside and out.  He explained that even though my weight hadn't changed, he could see that I was still losing fat. He told me that is because part of the pre-op diet preparation is to shrink the liver and he could even tell me that I still had another 1/2 to 1kg of water still to gain which might negate any fat loss showing up on the scales.  Once the liver has rehydrated, you should start moving on the scales :)

It might be worth considering the suggestion below of changing dietitians, not necessarily because they are not supportive (although that is super helpful and important) but finding someone who specialises or has experience with bariatric patients would probably be of more benefit.

Best wishes,

Yep, I totally agree with Shrinking Violet and BOJ.

I have seen so many posts from people who actually gain weight after surgery just from the IV fluids they pump you full of during surgery. They deliberately give you plenty because they know that a lot of people will struggle to get in their oral fluids for the first week or so. If I had a dollar for every post on all the sites I belong to that start with "I am 2 weeks post-op and already in a stall!" I would be living in a mansion in the Bahama's. This is the wonderful thing about belonging to a group, you find out all the tips and tricks and it's comforting to know that what you're going through most other people are as well. By the way, this might be TMI but are your bowels regular? Constipation can cause a stall or even weight gain.

Medical research shows that 95% of people who lose significant amounts of weight through diet and exercise regain within 2 years. While Bariatric surgery isn't a wonder cure it's success rate is much higher. (excluding the Lap Band). Tell your Dietitian to educate herself. But  lets face it helping people to lose weight through diet is their bread and butter, its how most earn their living. Are they going to say no, we can't really help you long term, have an operation? I don't think so, lol. 

Keep to your plan and it will start to come off. Some weeks will be better than others so don't get discouraged. Just look at the big picture. 

cheers Nini

Don't worry about it...the same thing happened to me and I've now lost over 47kgs which is over half my body weight. It WILL start coming off..just have faith. Your liver and other organs are just regaining the fluid they lost on opti.

That dietitian is wasting your money in my opinion....I think you should find another one or just keep looking to this forum for support and advice.

Here here! I agree with BOJ! Couldn't have put it better!

1. Get a new dietician!

2. I'm thinking a lot of the opti loss was just water and bloat, and that it wasn't a true reflection of fat loss.  12 kilo in 2 weeks - it doesn't seem feasible to be all fat.  Since then, you've probably been losing actual fat and holding on to more water.

Lets reframe it - you've now lost 13 kilos in 5 weeks and one day.  
Sounds pretty good to me!  

3.  Get a new, supportive dietician.  You don't need negative, uninformed Nellie's on your team.

Hi.

I am completely new here and not even sure I am posting this in the right section but I just have the need to talk to someone. I am probably being really silly but I am feeling scared and worried.
I had my surgery 3 weeks and 1 day ago and since surgery I have only lost 1 kg. My biggest fear is that I will have done all this and it will not help me lose any weight.

So far I think everything has gone really well, I have had a very good recovery with minimal pain and discomfort and I have not thrown up or had any issues even once. I am still on mostly liquids, soups and scrambled eggs and not a lot of that either as I feel full very quickly. My hunger is still there somewhat, I have read in other posts on here that most lose the hunger feeling completely, I have not, but that's ok, because even if I feel a little hungry, I also feel full and satiated after a very little amount of intake.

My fear is, that I will not lose weight. I know it has only been 3 weeks, I lost 12 kg in the 2 weeks of optifast prior to my surgery, but I have only lost 1 kg since, it just doesn't make sense, with the minimal intake I have I should be loosing more shouldn't I? Also my Dietitian keeps telling me that it is possible to not lose any weight after having this surgery and it just keeps ringing in my head. My Dietitian does not believe in this surgery and was not very accepting of me having it in the first place as she thought there were better ways such as diet and exercise to lose weight and now I am so scared she is right, maybe it won't work for me.

Does anyone have any similar stories, most seem to have started loosing weight straight away....... 

Thanks.

V