Is the weight loss ever going to stop?

Never in my lifetime did I ever think I would reach a point where I was worried about losing too much weight and not being able to stop it. Before I had my gastric bypass I worried that I would be the one person in the world who has bariatric surgery and then doesn’t lose any weight at all. Obviously this wasn’t the case.

I set myself a goal weight of 65 kilos and my starting weight was 132 kilos. This meant I had 67 kilos in total to lose and I wasn’t sure that even with bariatric surgery I would ever meet my goal. To take my focus off just the number on the scale I also set myself a size goal and I really recommend you do this if you have an upcoming bariatric surgery.

I lost 15 kilos before my surgery and then it took me nine months after my gastric bypass to reach my goal weight. I was so stoked to have reached it because, in my mind, I was never guaranteed that this was going to happen. When I met it I decided to let my weight go down a couple more kilos so I had a bit of a buffer if I had some regain.

I lost a couple more kilos and was happy with that but my body just kept losing weight. There wasn’t really anything I could do to stop it and I started getting comments from family and other people close to be that I was looking quite small. I had a dietcian appointment around this time and my dietician assured me that my weight loss would slow down and it wouldn’t keep up forever.

It was honestly the strangest feeling in the world for me not wanting to lose any more weight. I had spent my entire life wanting to lose weight and to have the opposite worry was really weird. I got down down to 62 kilos, which is the point I’ve decided is too small for me, and said to my husband if I got to 60 I was going to go back to my team and get them to help me stop losing weight.

It turned out that just as I reached this height of worrying my weight loss slowed down and it started to balance out. If you have had bariatric surgery and have dropped enough weight that you’re worrying about this you have my sympathy. If you are really concerned about it and think that you really can’t or shouldn’t lose any more weight then please get in touch with your team and they will be able to advise you on how to deal with it in a healthy way.

While bariatric surgery is a fantastic tool the initial effects it has in terms of how quickly and seemingly easy it is to lose weight don’t last forever. You may go past your goal and get to a point where you think you have lost too much weight but I think for me it was good to get to that point and see where my lower limit is weight wise. It worried me so much at the time but it did even out and now I’m glad I had that buffer because I’m sitting a couple of kilos above my goal weight and I’m starting to wonder if this is where my body is happy and has settled.

Did you reach the goal weight you set yourself after you had bariatric surgery? Did you worry that you wouldn’t be able to stop losing and maintain your weight at a point where you were happy with it? Comment below and let me know I’d love to know how you found it.

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There are 8 comments for this article
  1. Tinks at 2:34 pm

    Not there yet – still in the “I’m going to be the only person who never reaches their goal weight” stage!! But I suppose with all the stages, trust the process and follow the directions of your surgical and post op support team.

    We all need to quit it with the worrying don’t we?!

  2. Nigel Pearson at 5:46 pm

    Hey Melissa, Timely and excellent write!
    I have never really set a hard and fast “goal” for my post-surgery weight, except I wanted my BMI to be more like normal. Dr Hammodat said that for my height I ought to be around 72 kgs. Well pre-surgery I was about 105kgs. That was early December, and now 8 months out I am 75kg. For a while I seemed to be stuck at 80kg and I thought that was going to be it….but since I am just taking ONE optifast per day (formerly TWO) I have continued losing a bit more.
    My partner is worried that the loss won’t stop, and there are mixed comments from others about my appearance (looking younger vs looking older!). I know my body is still adjusting, and overall I am so so pleased with the amazing results. Just had another clean out of clothes that were too big.
    Sometimes I am a bit surprised with how little I can eat at meal times – especially when I compare my portions with what others eat….But also I have been able to snack/eat between meals with no apparent effect on my diminishing weight.
    I am healthy and I’m keeping up with exercise routines, so all is good.
    I have a new job and will be moving to Hong Kong in a couple of month’s time, so I will be watching the scales VERY carefully! This is not my first time living and working in HK, but being this weight instead of 120kg+ will definitely make my life easier in the heat and humidity.
    Nigel

    • Melissa Peaks Author at 8:31 pm

      Hi Nigel, I’m glad to hear my timing was great for you! It’s good to hear you have done so well and are almost at the goal your surgeon set for you. Be careful of the snacks. You’re still only eight months out and still enjoying the honeymoon phase post surgery. I got away with it for ages too but it’s biting me on the ass big time at the moment and I’m having to work very hard to kick the snacking habit. Just be mindful and if/when things change you know where to look to start making changes. That’s great you’re keeping your exercise up, it’s a fantastic feeling being fit and healthy isn’t it. Congratulations on your new job, that sounds very exciting moving back to Hong Kong! Good luck with your move!

    • Melissa Peaks Author at 8:47 pm

      I’m really glad to hear you’re going to see your surgeon Wyn. They are the best person to help you and will be able to give you the most appropriate advice for your situation. Good luck at your appointment, I hope there’s some easy changes you can make that will make all the difference for you.

  3. Keri at 9:31 pm

    Hi Melissa I’m glad to have found you thru BR & am loving the read I’m currently struggling with my weight & hAve hit my heaviest at 120kg I’m 5ft3inches but there’s always a but I have stong will power but also has ston mind that can stick to the negative thoughts which is a flaw of mine. I want to ask about the gastric bypass from my Dr what are my requirements? I’ve just done my full bloods today.

    • Melissa Peaks Author at 9:41 pm

      Hi Keri! BR is so great, I recognise so many lovely ladies online through interactions I’ve had there. It’s hard to break out of those thought patterns isn’t it. Talking to your GP is the best way to start. The requirements and qualifications vary greatly depending on what DHB you fall under but I think the very basic qualifying criteria is a BMI of 35 or more if you have co-morbidities or 40 or more if you don’t have any. I know some DHBs filter this further and won’t take people who don’t already have diabetes or other health issues. Speak to your GP and if you fit those basic criteria ask for a referral. You never know what might happen and if it’s not accepted the first time you can always try again. Good luck, let me know how you get on.

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