Why am I such a sloooooowwwwww loser?

What is a plateau?
Every patient stops losing weight after weight loss surgery and wonders why. They may think their stomach has stretched. Often they just don’t know why they stop losing. But first let us define a true plateau. A plateau is when you have maintained your weight and your measurements for four weeks. If you  are still losing inches, you are not on a plateau; you are simply redistributing the weight.

 You will reach the plateau during the first few weeks after surgery. Some people come back from the hospital and find they weigh more than when they went in. This is generally because a lot of the fluid we pumped in you is still in your tissues, so the first few pounds you lose is typically water weight.

The first six weeks after surgery is a fun time, and it is common for patients to lose 10 percent of their weight during this time. This means that if you weigh 300 pounds you will be down 30 pounds or more. More isn’t bad. Some patients don’t have a scale, or they are looking forward to the time when their scale can weigh them. That is why you should take your measurements—as well as your photograph—prior to going to the hospital.

So, measure your neck, chest,waist, thighs, and arms before going to surgery, and keep watching those at least once a month. You will lose inches, sometimes before you lose weight, and as your body is changing where it is putting things, it is important to know where you are losing.

One of my patients didn’t have a lot of spending money and didn’t want to buy too many clothes until she had a more stable weight. She changed her mind after her underwear fell off as she was purchasing food at the checkout counter in the grocery store. Taking measurements not only helps you chart your progress, it can prevent an embarrassing moment."