Longest Plateau?

Hi all,

Today I celebrate my 4-month surgiversary.  It has been a great adventure so far.  I've been a regular lurker on these forums and have really enjoyed everyone's experiential insight and advice.  Thank you, everyone.

I post for the the first time today because I have been in a plateau for almost 2 months.  I've wavered between 212 and 216 for that entire time.  I started at 267, so I'm trying not to complain too much - great progress has been made!  But I'm starting to worry that I will not lose anymore and I wasted a ton of money and risked my life just to lose 50 pounds.

Of course, I have basically concluded that my honeymoon period is over - and I'm OK with that.  I have to work harder now.  I am willing and have been doing that.  I let the weight melt off for the first could of months without putting much effort into it, but since this plateau started I've been working out 4-5 times a week - Zumba, step aerobics, power treadmill, elliptical, etc.  I'm WAY more active than I used to be and eat a fraction of what I used to eat.  I eat NO junkfood.  Why am I not losing anymore?!  Weight or inches?!

So, I have a couple of questions, if you guys don't mind...

1.  What's the longest plateau you've heard of?  Am I really on a plateau, or is this just all I'm going to lose?
2.  For those of you who made the transition from honeymoon to non-honeymoon weight loss, what was that transition like?  What did you have to do to keep the weight loss going strong?

Thanks,

TSW

I don't think physiologically your honeymoon can be over this soon. Do you measure and log your food? How many calories are you eating per day?

Can you provide us with a typical day's menu to look at?

Exercise will not help you lose weight like diet, so I'm thinking it's a calorie issue, but it will help with more info!

Yesterday I started with a Pure Protein shake and my vitamins.  For lunch I had a Bumblebee Chicken Salad w/Crackers kit and a sugar-free popsicle.  For dinner I had half a chicken breast and half a sweet potato.  I had some beef jerky before bed.

Today I've had a protein shake, a boiled egg and 

I eat basically the same stuff all week - the list of food that doesn't make me feel sick is pretty small right now.  My staples are the protein shakes, boiled eggs, chicken breast, salmon, fish sticks, beef/chicken/turkey jerkey, berries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, squash and the Enlightened broad beans (http://shop.eatenlightened.com/ - love these, if you haven't tried them).

I haven't really kept track of calories.  My doctor didn't ever recommend or encourage measuring intake.  Maybe because I was losing so well for the first two months?  Now I no longer see him because I moved at the end of July, and haven't found a local doctor to work with.

I suppose I will start counting calories tomorrow.

Thanks for the reply.

I use my fitness pal to track calories. I was staying under  800 but then my weight loss slowed down. I'm now under 700 calories and at least 65 of protein per day. 

two months with no loss is not a plateau, it is maintenance. 

I would say you might be eating more calories than your body needs to maintain. Therefore no loss.

agree with other posters- if it has been 2 months without loss, you are eating too many calories. I would recommend buying a scale and logging all your food.

From 220-200 for me was painfully slow-- and like you stalled often, with spurts of losses. I got my head Back in the game, buckled down an recorded every morsel of food I ate. When I saw I was trending towards 1200 calories I did an about face. There were times I was in the verge of calling my nut to get advice, but I made myself be painfully honest first. Reailty always was I was eating more than I needed to.

what works for me is 4 meals a day, 1000 Calories/day Max (I like when I end up at 900 for the day) and 70 carbs or less.  I noticed on my "stall" days my cabs would be around 100. 

I don't think you are out Of your honeymoon at 4 months. I know mine ended just after the one year mark. Don't accept that this is it- it will mess up your mind more than a stall. 

You did not pay that money to take 50 pounds off, you paid it to KEEP 50 pounds off.  When was the last time you kept off (long term) the weight that you lost. I'm just saying that so that you keep perspective - 50 pounds, if you keep it off, i a medical success.  I get it that you are confused and wanting to lose more. I would too.

I hear your disappointment and this booklet has the best explanation of a plateau that I have found - and you are almost the first person who has posted about a stall to actually be in one - a stall is 4 weeks of no weight loss.

http://webiodir.com/bariatric-pre-surgery-diet-handout

It's the first link - One Bite At a Time.  In the middle of the booklet (page 30) is an extensive section on how to break a plateua. 

Also, check in with your surgeon. You have been patient, assuming that you have been getting 60-8mgm of protein and staying under 800 calories a day.