I really haven't been blogging much about surgery stuff anymore. It's like nothing is really too different so I haven't felt like I had a lot to say. But I realize I do have things to say, I do have a lot of thoughts that go through my head around surgery and weight loss and I really need to start getting them out a little more often!
Right now I'm in a little bit of a funk. Weight loss has really slowed down this month. I expected this to happen but I didn't think it would happen so soon. I guess it could be temporary and things could pick up again, but I am not sure what to expect. I'm not really stalled or anything, but this month has definitely been different. When I came off my two week 'stall' during my Chicago vacation, I lost 4 lbs the next week which is awesome... then it stayed the same for another week. Then I lost 5 more lbs over the next couple of weeks but now it's stopped again. So far this "month" (meaning since my surgaversary on Sept 20th) I've lost 6 lbs and now I'm stuck. With less than 2 weeks til the end of my "month", I don't see myself losing 15 lbs this month like I have been, unless things REALLY pick up. I am okay with slower loss, and if that's what I'm slipping into now, I will deal with that... it's just the unknown that I guess has me a little worried.
There's a lot of things going on. For one, my body has been all messed up since surgery... I had to go off my birth control for surgery and wait 6 weeks after before taking it again. I had no period from the time I went off the pill 6 weeks prior, to the time I went back on it 6 weeks after. After being on it for a few weeks I got my period and I have basically had it EVER SINCE. I think I am going on about 7 weeks of having it at this point. It gets lighter, then heavier, almost like I am still having a "period week" when it's heavier, but it never completely goes away. I really miss being so regular like I was before... and I am so tired from all the hormonal changes. I'm off the pill this week, and start up again on Saturday... really hoping THIS will be the cycle that my body gets back on track. Please?
My other issue is this week (which I guess my body thinks is period week) I feel so hungry all the time. I'm eating a lot more. Not more amount at a time, but more often. I just can't seem to stay satisfied. I am hoping and praying this is hormonal and will fix itself too... but I'm scared to death that what if it isn't?! What if I stay this hungry? It will be sooooo much harder and sooooo much slower to lose the weight if that is the case.
I'm still working out 3-5 days a week. This week was 4. But nothing is happening on the scale at all.
This is the first time I would say I have felt freaked out about the scale not moving. Most of the time it doesn't phase me at all. But this time because of the hunger I'm feeling, and because I'm working out as much as I am, I don't know... it's making me nervous.
It is probably silly to think the loss could be stopping or at least slowing way down this soon. But I can't help but be scared. There is that part of me that still doesn't BELIEVE that all of this is real. That part of me that thinks I'll start gaining it all back now. I think that part is getting the better of me today. I just really want to see things start moving again.
I'm getting all my protein, I'm eating well. I have noticed my water intake going down so my focus today is hydrate hydrate hydrate and I'm going to try to stay focused on that each day. Not sure what else I can do but just WAIT. :) Hopefully patiently... lol.
So sorry to hear your cycles are all out of whack since stopping & restarting the pill. I know how frustrating that can be.
ReplyDeleteDid you end up having to stop the pill mid-cycle before your surgery? Or were you able to finish a pill pack and then stop? If you stopped mid-cycle, that could be one reason things have gone all crazy. Your body is confused.
Have you mentioned the endless period (or is it really just spotting most of the time?) to your doctor? It could be that with your much much lower body weight, your birth control pill hormone requirements might be totally different now. Maybe your doctor can switch you to a different BCP pill to try for 3 months?
Or it may be that you just need to wait it out. :/
What do I know about weight loss stalls...except that I'm on a permanent one (LOL)...but I'd say that at the rate you've been losing, this is just totally normal. You've been going at it full force for a few months now and your body is going to naturally need to adjust. You're still losing weight though, so I think you have nothing to be concerned about. Of course it's easier said than done. Being hungrier than normal might be a sign of adjusting too, as of course your body is in a what-the-heck mode after losing a huge amount of weight.
ReplyDeleteI've been eating 1000-1500 calories a day and I don't lose weight except at a SLOW snail's pace...I do bet our bodies adjust at some point to where the amount is what it needs. I guess we just have to mix it up a little. ;) Whenever my husband needs to lose weight for the military, he eats very few calories for a few days (I'd guess 500 or so?), then pigs out one day, then back to the low calories. I don't know how, but he loses weight really fast!
Definitely see your doc about your periods...don't want to end up anemic. When I used to take BCPs mine would go haywire every so often and the dr would have me take the pill for 2 months straight (no breaks) and then take a break...sort of resetting things. Maybe you need a stronger estrogen for a few months? Not sure--but I hope it fixes for you soon. no fun. ;)
Hang in there! I'm almost willing to bet your scale will be moving quickly again soon! :)
--ChristineL, WA state
One more thought on the BCPs... is the pill you're taking a tri-phasic or monophasic? Tri-phasic pill packs usually have 3 different colors of pill, one for each week, and then the week of sugar pills. This means you are getting slightly different levels of hormones each week. I remember hearing that sometimes the monophasic type can be better for some... keeps your hormones at a stable level for all 3 weeks until the week off.
ReplyDeleteThat's a long time to have your period, you should check that out. But I know what you mean, I had to stop my BC before my surgery and now that I'm back on it's a little screwy...I guess we'll adjust! Don't worry about the slowing loss...you're still losing right! Just keep eating like you know you're supposed to and you'll keep losing!
ReplyDeletemaybe your body is retaining a lot of water with the hormone fluctuations. i agree with previous posters, perhaps a mono pill might be better now that you have a smaller tummy and are smaller yourself. your body could also be handling the hormones differently since you have lost all this weight to begin with!!!
ReplyDeletekeep up the awesome work. if you kept losing the weight you lost at the beginning there would be nothing left of you!!!
Oh honey...please don't be down about it. It happens. Your body has to readjust and catch up, and sometimes its hard for your brain to get around that.
ReplyDeleteAnd your body is releasing tons of hormones - they have no where to hide anymore. My period has been off for a while too - I am not able to take birth control because of my heart issues, but I do have an IUD. I was always regular, but now my periods last two weeks at a time.
And six pounds in a month is excellent. But hang in there. *HUGS*
Like I said on the forum. I'm praying you feel much better soon!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing ok. I miss your frequent posts.
ReplyDelete-Dana