I've got the Plateau Blues

Hello everyone-- hope all are enjoying the weekend. Raining here to start us off. I am a little bummed because my weight has stayed the same ALL WEEK even though I am only 4 weeks postop. If I was 6 months postop I wouldnt be as bummed but I guess I expected to lose continuously and a lot in the first couple months, then slow down. I reviewed my meal plan, fluids and activities with my dietician and she said I am doing "super!". She said my body is just taking an adjustment period after the stress of surgery, new eating, new digestion, and losing 31.5 lbs since surgery. I know she is probably right (sigh) but it's hard to be patient when I am working so hard and following all my guidelines and eating baby food!! LOL (not really, I puree my own, but you get the idea). So has anyone else had a similar plateau in the first month or two after surgery? and how long did it last? Thanks in advance for your advice. Let's keep this NH board active and lively!! We have the ability to know each other so much better on this smaller board than on the big main board. Hugs to all Valerie

Hi Valerie. I am almost 3 weeks out and the scale certainly isn't moving as I thought it would! I've lost 11 pounds since my surgery. I try not to stress about it too much. As long as we get in our protein, drink the fluids, take the vitamins and exercise...it will come off. It has to! I tell myself that pre-surgery if I consumed the number of calories a day that I am now and walked like I am doing now, the weight would be coming off. Therefore, it must simply be my body reacting to the surgery and readjusting. It will come off! I agree, it is so difficult to be patient. Especially when you read about others who are losing 30 pounds or more in two weeks! Sigh! But I'm not anyone else. I'm me and I must try to let my body do what it needs to do. When I break it down, 11 pounds in 17 days really isn't bad at all. Keep your chin up girl! -Stephanie

A quick hey. She is right. I only lost 21 pounds in the 4 weeks after surgery. Then only 12 pounds the next 4 weeks. So relax slow but steady is good. And slow but steady at 10 plus pounds a month is awesome! Our bodies react like we react to trauma. We shut down. But our bodies are just resting from the shock and will get back into gear. So please smile and embrace your plateau's. The only reason I say that is because you lose MAJOR inches when you slow down on weight loss Good luck and I wish you the best. Hugs Mary

Thank you both for your support-- it really helps. I went 7 days with no change in weight then today I lost 1 pound. It's really just a mental issue for me. As long as I am losing (or at least not gaining) I am ahead of where I was before. And maybe if I lose slow but sure and use my special body lotion daily I wont have to have plastic surgery on my stomach? That would be nice! So we all hang in there and help each other. Don't worry, even when I move to NC I will still stay in touch with my friends on the NH board. I love getting to know all of you and your stories; good and bad times are all helpful to those of use who are traveling the same/similar road. Hugs to all! Valerie

You know, I have seen it written on this web site more than once and the suggestion is if you can't throw away your scales, at least set a time - like once a week or every 2 weeks to weigh and then you will not become so frustrated. I had surgery on the 13th and 10 days later at the doctor I had lost 14 pounds. So I promised myself to try and only weigh on Saturdays. Today is Monday and I have gone since Saturday without weighing! It is TUFF!!!! But maybe that is better than the frustration of looking and not seeing the dial move!!! Barbara

Valerie, It will move again, don't worry. I have been tracking everything from my weight weekly to my infertility problems, and I have found something very interesting. I plateau about once a month, and it is around the time of the month when I am fertile. On average I lose about 3 pounds a week, the week after I plataeu I lose 6 pounds. Just keep up your protein and your water, get in your exercise and it will keep coming down, plataeu's are normal. Blessings, Jennie