Stall

ARGH!!!

I have tried really hard to have a good outlook on this.  I know that it happens, I know that it isn't forever, I know that it will end, but I am feeling so frustrated.

I am noticing changes in the way my clothes fit, but the scale isn't budging at all. I'm just over a month out from surgery, how much weight should I have lost by now, I feel like I am falling behind, even though I am following the program really carefully.

I'm trying to remain positive, but the same number every day and really making that hard.

Welcome to the club....I'm in my forth week of a stall...everyone is different so I cannot tell you how much you should have lost...good idea to take measurements it will help get you through the madness!

Hi Cindy;

This is a concern for a lot of people.  I too had some long dreaded stalls.  I finally had to put the scale away for a while because it was causing me to be an emotional mess.  Here is a chart that Diminishing Dawn has posted a few times.

One thing that helped me keep things in perspective was to think that by eating 600-800 calories a day there is absolutely no way you can not lose weight.  Honestly your body is in shock and taking some time to adjust.  In hindsight I think if I lost it faster I wouldn't have had enough energy to do anything at all.  

Keep on doing what you are doing.  It will take time.  I am 130 pounds down and almost three years out.  It will happen, but I understand the frustration.

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS!

While you will lose weight in the first few months after bariatic surgery, you reach your maximum weight loss in 12 to 18 months.  Here is what you can expect to lose post op!

For patients weighing 200 to 250 lbs.
10 lbs. in first 10 days
15 to 25 lbs. in 6 weeks
25 to 35 lbs. in 3 months
35 to 45 lbs. in 6 months
60 lbs. or more in 1 year
70 lbs. or more in 18 months

For patients weighing 250 to 300 lbs.
10 to 12 lbs. in first 10 days
15 to 25 lbs. in 6 weeks
25 to 35 lbs. in 3 months
45 to 60 lbs. in 6 months
80 lbs. or more in 1 year
90 lbs. or more in 18 month

For patients weighing 300 to 400 lbs.
10 to 30 lbs. in first 10 days
25 to 45 lbs. in 6 weeks
35 to 55 lbs. in 3 months
50 to 80 lbs. in 6 months
100 lbs. or more in 1 year
120 lbs. or more in 18 months

 For patients weighing 400 to 500 lbs.
10 to 30 lbs. in first 10 days
25 to 45 lbs. in 6 weeks
35 to 60 lbs. in 3 months
50 to 90 lbs. in 6 months
120 lbs. or more in 1 year
150 lbs. or more in 18 months.

Kristie

I am 1 year out and I remember that around 1 month after surgery I hit a stall too. It took about 1-2 weeks and then all of a sudden I dropped like 8 or 10 lbs.

I believe it happens to almost everyone and it is frustrating since you still feel like crap and you don't understand what the hell is going on... It's normal!

Stick to the plan. Eat what your supposed to and it will sort itself out.

Good luck! and remember to drink and walk as much as you can.

Good for you for noticing the changes in your clothes. That means you're losing inches, and that's just as important as the scale moving. Muscle weighs more volume-wise than fat does, so exercising may be working the fat off, building muscle, and the muscle, which takes up less room but weighs more than fat, could be making you stay the same weight even though you're actually losing volume.

Not sure if that made sense, but hopefully you get what I mean.  Keep your chin up, you're doing great!

Cindy, relax, your body has no choice but to loose.  Perhaps if you look at how you are eating as not dieting, but lifestyle, you will be able to let go and just work at making the protien/carb/ mix a habit and losen the focus on the scale.  How are you feeling health wise, and are you getting regular excerise into your daily routine?