Losing TOO much weight!

Okay, so I almost feel bad about complaining about this, but I'm losing too much weight. I had set an original goal of 140 lbs, but when I got to 150 I seemed to stop losing and I was happy at that weight. However, I've been fighting a sinus infection for over a month (i'm finally on anti-biotics) and working in a new job that is so physical and requires so much walking and stair climbing each day, that I don't need to do any other physical exercise. Now, i'm afraid to anyway. This morning I weighed in at 139.6...I'm 5' 6.5 ". I know some of the recent loss is due to my body fighting this infection and 139 wouldn't seem so bad but I also know that about 8lbs of THAT is loose skin (at least) so i'm probably really at about 130-132 without the excess skin. I look like a wrinkled anorexic. I eat plenty of protein and get all my vitamins in. Other than symptoms of the infection which some days can make me feel exhausted and just generally "ishy", I feel wonderful. But I'm TOO skinny and look ill. How ironic is it, that as someone who constantly worried when I had my surgery last December 31st, that I'd be one of those who would gain the weight back, i'm now struggling to try and do just that...okay, not ALL the weight, but a good 10 lbs of it anyway. I'm adding extra protein shakes to hang onto as much of my muscle mass as I can because I need it for my job and i've lost much of it along with the fat during the honeymoon period and more so with this infection. I've reached the point where I risk dumping by eating junk, just to get calories in. Has ANYONE else struggled with losing TOO MUCH and have any tips how I can stop this and actually put some muscle weight back on? I know I need the extra protein but the pouch limits how much I can take in at a time and I simply can't graze all day long with my job. HELP!

In my opinion, you are well within a normal weight. I have similar stats. You're also still in the honeymoon phase of weight loss surgery. The reality is that most people don't really lose too much weight in the long haul. My guess is that in 3 years you'll be longing to be this weight again. Sorry not much help - I'm too afraid to say "eat more calories."

Everything she said....

You are within normal limits.

Enjoy it. Embrace it. The malabsorption will stop and then you will stabilize.

You really haven't lost too much. You are at a healthy weight. You're only four-tenths of a pound below your goal weight, and you've been sick for a month.

You are still in the honeymoon phase. You are still malabsorbing calories. Whenever I've seen posts like yours in the past, and the person starts eating more in order to gain "just a few pounds and not look sickly," that few pounds very soon becomes 20, 30, or 40 pounds.

We all look odd after losing so much weight. Over the first year of maintenance, everything moves around, though your weight doesn't change. You'll look better, honest.

We were obese. We will never, ever, ever, need to TRY to gain weight. By your second and third years, you'll start eating more, even without trying. Things creep back in, old habits return, some personal crisis rears its ugly head. And you'll hit the panic button because you'll be gaining weight and can't make it stop.

Do yourself a huge favor, and don't try to intentionally gain weight.

Thank you all for your replies. I've followed people on here enough to listen to the advice of those with more time and experience behind them. Although I'm concerned with my protruding ribs and bony tailbone when I sit, I won't panic and will take your advice to heart. I'm not 100% convinced that 140 is a healthy weight for my body structure but at least that I can discuss with my surgeon and bariatric team at my next appointment. For now, I'll continue to follow my plan, eat healthy and focus on getting the proper mix of protein and my vitamins and water. Hopefully these antibiotics will kick the infection and perhaps I won't look so sallow and ill. Your replied have helped ease some of my fears and believe me, i'll be sleeping better tonight!

I would be very surprised if you had 8lbs of excess skin. I had about 8oz after losing 120lbs!!!!

I was too skinny for the period between twelve months after surgery and thirty months. My surgeon advised me to stay 20 or even 30 pounds under my goal weight.

At 30 months I started gaining again and went from 128 to 142 over three months. NO CHANGE in food or exercise, just my body absorbing calories again.

There are many people who are too skinny during the second year after surgery. It is very rare to find someone too skinny by the third year. Bounceback is real. Accept your skinny body and enjoy being small.

Never try to gain weight. It will find you soon enough.

It is normal to lose weight when you are sick. But since you are closer to an average weight it looks a little different. When you weigh 300 and drop 10 for the flu you think "give me another week of this weight loss!". I think it is something we all have to get used to, what normal feels like. When you are feeling better your body will do its thing.

Do not get in the habit of grazing all day if you want to keep your weight off. It is a bad habit to start. I have around 20 close friends who had surgery the same time as me (7 years ago). I am the only one who got to goal and is still at goal. Most are struggling to maintain their loss.

Looking at your pictures you look healthy and fit. You definitely do not look too thin. It takes time to get used to our new "normal".

As Kim said, I'd be surprised if you have more than 2 pounds of excess skin. It really does not weigh that much.

Congrats on your success so far. The hard part is just beginning.

I got too skinny. I bounced back eventually. So will you, unless you have something medically wrong.

Audrey