I still don't get it

Actually, it is a bit more complex than that--and why weight loss is such a difficult thing. The "shock" of the surgery and the drastically reduced intake is a degree of starvation, but there is also a lot of adjusting and healing that the body is doing at the same time.  And, after all, it does have all those stores of fat to feed off of, the very thing they were designed for.  But as the starvation mode continues, the body does begin to adjust.  One of the reasons why people who eat at regular times don't plateau as often as those who eat "whenever" is that the body adjust to knowing energy will be coming and it doesn't need to panic.  But it is always trying to find its own balance.  Also, the hormones that drive digestion, hunger, etc. adjust as well.  It is amazing the role hormones play in all of this.  And of course, there's metabolism.  We know that can be adjusted--somewhat.   The thing is, when my body had 200+ pounds of energy in storage, it didn't need to hold on to every ounce "just in case."  But now that it only has 20 pounds in storage, it will become very miserly about every gram.  Our bodies are not designed to be hungry or starve and will fight against it.  That is one of the problems with obese people dieting.  For some genetic reason, their bodies go into starvation mode at a calorie count that is the same for a non-obese person who won't be in starvation mode.  There is a whole tribe of Native Americans whose ancesters come from a drought ridden area.  They are now obese because their bodies are geared to store energy for the upcoming starvation--that actually no longer comes.   So by eating too little for your body, it will become super efficient at holding on to every bit of energy (calorie) you give it.  Give it enough to not worry about starving, and it can relax.  I think of it like at the end of the month when you know the paycheck is coming, you can spend a bit knowing the money will be there.  But if you don't know if the check is coming, you don't want to spend anything. Sally

Are you having fluid retention issues?  Your steroid comment made me think of that.  Have you had you thyroid checked.  I think something is wrong, but I have not been following your story.  Good luck, Loris

Have your thyroid checked. Mine was hard as a rock and I gained like 15 pounds. I had no energy either and my nails were breaking and had ridges. Even though my counts came in "low-normal" we upped my Armour Thyroid and I'm finally starting to feel human and get my energy back though the doctor said it could take 6 months to a year to get back to real normal again. Also, how much protein are  you getting in?  I aim for 100 grams a day. I find I loose better if I get lots of protein and water in. I drink about 1 gal of fluid a day too. Diona

wow, so much good info from your post.  I've been gaining weight, but after talking to my surgeon office last week, I was told to up my protein and drink water.  I think I'll ask to have my thyroid check!  I'm so glad to be back at OH!