Re: Hit the 50 lb mark!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/19/01 7:11:36 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< Can I ask how long your common channel is, and why you think (and your

doc)

you are losing slowly?

>>

Tracey: My common channel is 100 cm. My surgeon thought I was 'right on

target' during my three week post-op meeting and I had only lost 15 lbs at

that point. I questioned him rather extenstively about whether I should have

lost 20=25 lbs or so at that point but he kept saying 'you're doing GREAT'

'no problem'! I wondered if whether my stomach was made larger than normal,

etc. because I was always able to eat at least 4 oz in the first few weeks

without any difficulties. I still can eat a pretty good sized amount, but

sometimes go through periods where I am just NOT hungry at all and sometimes

I can't finish something because I feel full quicker than I anticipated.

Then, there are times where I can really eat quite a bit in one meal!

So, I haven't been to the three months post-op yet and things may be

different but since I started out pretty slowing, I think I'm still

continuing at the same rate and he wouldn't be surprised at my weight loss of

54 lbs amost 4 months out.

I have been very good about eating my protein and hav e added some carbs into

the mix. I also indulge in an ocassional (and I mean ocassional) sugar, but

when I went for my three week I didn't have many carbs at all (mainly

protein) and I still had only lost 15 lbs so I really don't think it's

greatly related to what I'm eating. Now, if I had been eating mainly carbs

and/or having lots of sugar I would definately see this as possibly impeding

my weight loss.

I've noticed a pattern where I lose quite a bit (2 lbs in a day, for example)

in about a week's time. Then, my body reacts and the weight goes up by 2-4

lbs. This can take about 3 days to a week. After this, the weight dips down

again. I weigh myself every morning so at first I was really alarmed that

the scales went up at all... but that 2-4 lbs always comes off and even more

when I'm in my 'weight loss' period. . For example, I was 259 at the

beginning of this week --- it had gone up to 262 before that. Now, I'm 254!

That's really bizarre, eh? So, I really have mini-periods of rapid weight

loss that are accompanied by brief plateaus when my body protests the weight

loss.

I did have a one and a half/two week plateau at week 4 where I really didn't

lose much. After that, though, it's been a kind of tug of war with my body

that inevitably leads to losing more weight!

Why do I have these mini-weight loss periods accompanied by mini-plateaus? I

really don't know. Maybe my body's system has adjusted really well to the

surgery and perhaps my intestines have accomodated somewhat (growing longer,

creating more cells in the common channel lining, etc.). Perhaps my

alimentary limb is 'long' for me? So far, so good! As long as I keep

losing, I don't mind it at all. :)

all the best,

lap DS with gallbladder removal

Dr. Gagner/Dr. Quinn assisting/Mt. Sinai/NYC

January 25, 2001

almost 4 months post-op and still feelin' fab!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 " )

now: 254 lbs

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/01 4:07:01 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I'm pre-op, so this is out of my experience, but I keep seeing posts

recommending adding a little more fat to speed up loss -- have you tried

that? Nan E. 386, BMI 71 and hanging around waiting.

>>

Hi, Nan -- I have actually heard this, too. I haven't conciously done

anything to speed up the weight loss because it hasn't been that unbearable.

But, I could try the extra fat just to see what happens... I normally don't

consume really high fat meals so I'll have to think long and hard about what

to eat! LOL

It just seems that when I lose I do it really quickly, then my body rebels

and puts the breaks on the weight loss and I actually gain a few lbs (never

more than 4) and then the process begins again. I don't think it's not

losing weight but my body's reaction or 'mini-plateaus' that kind of 'slows'

the process down.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/01 4:07:01 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I'm pre-op, so this is out of my experience, but I keep seeing posts

recommending adding a little more fat to speed up loss -- have you tried

that? Nan E. 386, BMI 71 and hanging around waiting.

>>

Hi, Nan -- I have actually heard this, too. I haven't conciously done

anything to speed up the weight loss because it hasn't been that unbearable.

But, I could try the extra fat just to see what happens... I normally don't

consume really high fat meals so I'll have to think long and hard about what

to eat! LOL

It just seems that when I lose I do it really quickly, then my body rebels

and puts the breaks on the weight loss and I actually gain a few lbs (never

more than 4) and then the process begins again. I don't think it's not

losing weight but my body's reaction or 'mini-plateaus' that kind of 'slows'

the process down.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/01 4:07:01 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I'm pre-op, so this is out of my experience, but I keep seeing posts

recommending adding a little more fat to speed up loss -- have you tried

that? Nan E. 386, BMI 71 and hanging around waiting.

>>

Hi, Nan -- I have actually heard this, too. I haven't conciously done

anything to speed up the weight loss because it hasn't been that unbearable.

But, I could try the extra fat just to see what happens... I normally don't

consume really high fat meals so I'll have to think long and hard about what

to eat! LOL

It just seems that when I lose I do it really quickly, then my body rebels

and puts the breaks on the weight loss and I actually gain a few lbs (never

more than 4) and then the process begins again. I don't think it's not

losing weight but my body's reaction or 'mini-plateaus' that kind of 'slows'

the process down.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

You know, Theresa, I recall being told an eon ago or so that the body really prefers to conserve effort. So when you use the fat from a cell, the body puts water in the cell for a while, to see if you really are in a famine, then after a sufficient time has passed to convince the body there isn't any fat to put back in the cell, it looses the water and puts the cell on vacation. As we all know by now, we never actually loose those fat cells unless they are surgically removed. They just sit around like layers in a flaky pastry waiting to be put back in use. Maybe that is what your body is doing -- being highly conservative.

As far as high fat foods -- Nuts -- come with protein attached and everything. Have fun today watching that scenery flow by -- Nan E.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/01 8:44:18 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<<

- Congrats. That is great-50 pounds. You are not losing slowly. That

is 12-15 pounds a month. Healthy. I will complete my 6 months at the end

of May and I am down 79 pounds. I am thrilled and you will be there to.

Also, I found that my 4th and 5th months had me losing more than my 2-3

months. Good luck and good health. Please share your bloodwork with me.

Also, I put together my food log for many days and gave it to and she

analyzed it which helped alot. >>

Thanks for the support, Ellen (Pam??? LOL). I guess it really isn't

outrageously slow... and Dr. Gagner has NEVER labeled me as a 'slow patient'

or anything... i just read about lots of other people's stats and I seem to

be pretty relaxed about getting the weight off in comparison! :)

Consequently, I sometimes obsess about not getting the weight all off or the

surgery not 'working', needing a revision, etc. even though I know that

rationally this is most likely NOT the case.

Wow -- I certainly hope that my 4th and 5th months are good months for weight

melting off! ROFL

I definately will share my bloodwork with you and the group. Hopefully

everything will check off. I've been good about protein, getting my vitamins

in, exercising/walking, etc.!

all the best,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/01 8:44:18 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<<

- Congrats. That is great-50 pounds. You are not losing slowly. That

is 12-15 pounds a month. Healthy. I will complete my 6 months at the end

of May and I am down 79 pounds. I am thrilled and you will be there to.

Also, I found that my 4th and 5th months had me losing more than my 2-3

months. Good luck and good health. Please share your bloodwork with me.

Also, I put together my food log for many days and gave it to and she

analyzed it which helped alot. >>

Thanks for the support, Ellen (Pam??? LOL). I guess it really isn't

outrageously slow... and Dr. Gagner has NEVER labeled me as a 'slow patient'

or anything... i just read about lots of other people's stats and I seem to

be pretty relaxed about getting the weight off in comparison! :)

Consequently, I sometimes obsess about not getting the weight all off or the

surgery not 'working', needing a revision, etc. even though I know that

rationally this is most likely NOT the case.

Wow -- I certainly hope that my 4th and 5th months are good months for weight

melting off! ROFL

I definately will share my bloodwork with you and the group. Hopefully

everything will check off. I've been good about protein, getting my vitamins

in, exercising/walking, etc.!

all the best,