plateaus' (and weight gain?)

hello all i am six months out tomorrow and down about 83 pounds... however, i have been on a plateau for about 4 weeks. my longest plateau so far was only like 2 weeks... Not only that but it seems that the scale has gone up the last 2 days (about 2-3 pounds). about 2 weeks ago i increase my water and my protein shake to 80 grams - from 60 - (i try to eat mostly protein through out the day, but have my morning shake so i know that no matter what i know i have met the requirements) i am not capable of eating enough to put on weight, so i'm sure it's water retention or something, but i am concerened about the plateau. i haven't been exercising regularly, which i know will help, but i just read on the main board here (2/16 7pm on the main board for anyone who would like to see it) that some people heard that too much protein stores as fat, and stops the weight loss - this goes against everything i have heard, but would make sense 'cause since i increased my protein, i haven't lost, but seemed to have gained. also, it states that i shouldn't be drinking the whole 60-80 grams at one time as it won't work... now i don't know much, but i haven't heard ANYTHING like this before, so i would LOVE to have some input on this. Thanks all Laurie LAP RNY 303/220 (+/-)

I agree with Sunny. I have heard the same thing. So not only are you wasting those extra 30-50g of protein, you are injesting that many more calories with no benefit for it, you know? I was on a plateau for a while, but I finally started losing again. My surgeon told me that I need to work harder in the next six months than I did in the first six. How well you do in the first year will be a predictor of how well you will do for the rest of your life. Get exercising, girl! *~Amber~*

Laurie -I just broke through a plateau that lasted 1 month. I was stuck between 231 and 233 for the entire month. Just this week,I have lost 6 pounds which put me at 225 lbs. I haven't changed my exercise routine or food intake. I did notice that my clothes were getting way too big for me during the plateau, but I don't have a clue where the weight was hanging. My total weight loss now is 68 pounds. So the only thing I can suggest is to stay on basics, know that your body has already lost over 80 pounds and may just be resting. I hope this helps.

My Dr. based my protein requirements based on my weight. So, for me, it makes sense that the requirement would go down as your weight goes down. Hmmmmm?

Wow! What Barbara said really helped me. I have been on a plateau for about three weeks or more, having lost 95 pounds in six months. I have increased my exercise and am working on increasing my water, but it doesn't seem to be impressing the scale. BUT my clothes are getting baggier since the plateau started AND people are commenting on how much I look like I am losing lately. Go figure! Maybe my body IS just resting. Makes sense to me. Karen Craig LAP RNY 350/255

I had lost 75 pounds in a little over 4 months. Then, I went about five weeks hovering 1 or 2 pounds either side of that 75 pound mark. I started increasing water and limiting food intake. I have begun a very gradual weight loss since then, about 1 or 2 pounds per week. It is great to be so much lighter than I was before.