Are you a New post op and stalling???

At last month's support group meeting, I only spoke for a half an hour to intro the group and do the "round robin" around the room. But I let something slip that got a lot of reaction in the room. I can't even remember WHY I said it but it was like an "a-ha" moment across the room. It slipped out for the tiniest reason but hit home with a lot of the newbies in the room.

I keep forgetting that so many people go into surgery not knowing as much as I did when I went into surgery. I need to remember this and remind the members of things that they might not know in the future.

When I was going through surgery, I was ready for and expecting the inevitable 3rd to 7th week stall. I often forget that some newbies don't know to expect it. They should. You should be expecting it when it happens so you know that it is coming and you are mentally prepared for that period when the scale doesn't budge early out.

(and don't forget to take your measurements every week early out too so that you have something else to measure yourself by other than the scale).

When your body first goes into surgery, it knows shortly afterward that it is starving. It needs food but you are taking in such little nutrition after surgery that it tries to sneak your glycogen stores. Glycogen stores are the "quick energy" stores that allow you for instance to run out quickly if a mouse is on the floor. It's your "instant energy" in your body.

So your body thinks "hmmm...it's just a little hurdle, I'll get my energy from the glygogen stores".

Well after a few weeks of this, your body realizes that this is not a short term thing anymore. It realizes that using energy from your glycogen stores isn't very efficient and very long term. So it has to THINK a bit.

(This is where the stall comes in).

Then it says "A-hah!!!!". It realizes that it has a lot of fuel on your body - your fat stores, so it's going to start burning some energy from there and shrink those fat cells.

Then the body will resume into full burning mode and guess what? The scale will start moving again.

This is a GREAT things when it happens. Although it sucks that the scale doesn't move, it means that is going to start burning the stored fat you have (especially the stuff in your butt! LOL!).

So be happy about that inevitable stall - it's fat burnin' season!

Dawn

I am so glad you posted this, thank you. I had surgery 6 weeks ago and the scale hasnt moved in 3 weeks. I thought i was doing something wrong and maybe eating more then i should be. Phewwwwww good to know i will start to lose again. thanks

Hi,
Looks like I am in the same boat you were.  I am 6 weeks out and so frustrated!!  I have not lost a single pound in three weeks or more.  I am losing inches but its just not the same.  Have you started losing again?  I would love to chat about it some more.  We can support each other!

Polly

 I had that at my 4th week and just know notice a few pounds drop at nearly 6.  It didn't upset me because I read it here and in my books.  This is a great post.  Thanks!

Thanks for the post!!! I wish I had read it 2-3 weeks ago, I finally got out of my first stall this weekend and the scale has been slowly moving down.  I think you should repost this once a week for all the people that missed this or it didnt apply to yet!  GOOD STUFF!

What a great post, thank you.

Thanks!  I sure hit that stall on week 3............now I am at week 6 and the weight is coming off again!!  The measurements however, were sure coming down!!!  So when I stop losing on the scales I get the tape measure out............hmmmmmmmmmmm..........inches were creeping down!  Oh yes!!  All normal!!

Hi Holly,

I am in that stall right now and so frustrated!  I havent lost a single pound for about 3-4 weeks.  Is this how long you were stalled too?  I am losing inches but I still want to see the pounds come off too.  I would love to chat with you about this if you would not mind. 

Polly

I literally went ahhhhhhh, while reading this at work. Thank you THANK YOU for posting this little tidbit of information.  I really thought I was doing something wrong, but after reading your post it all makes sense.  Thank you again.  I too, second the idea to post this once a week to help those newbies who don't know that this stall is inevitable.  Thanks again!!

Thank you!!!!  I thought it was me...I am in my fifth week and the scale has not moved in a week.  I've read a lot, but I guess not enough because I had not heard of this.  Thanks again....I'll keep on doing what I am doing now!