Scale - NOT MOVING!!!! Could this be related to HRT?

So - I am starting week 8 today.  I am down 22lbs since day of surgery but there are weeks when I will lose NOTHING.  I am sticking to plan eating 60 grams of protein and drinking all if not most of my water every day.  I am between 850-1000 calories a day. I walk at least 20mins a day or ride my bike.  I am on HRT because of a complete hysterectomy and only had a total of 101 to lose but I am VERY frustrated.  I don't know whether to go cold turkey on the HRT (although I don't see the doctor until April to discuss first) but I am again losing faith this weight will ever go anywhere.  I see the before and after pics of people on this website and they look great losing a lot of weight in 6-7 months and here I sit at 22lbs...   

I'm a slow loser too... About 3 weeks after my surgery, I went about 3 weeks without losing a single lb... :(  Then I had another 2 week stall.  I just stick to the plan and know that eventually the stall will stop and the scale will start moving again.  Your body is shifting and redistributing so you may be losing inches while the scale is sticking.

I would suggest increasing your protein a bit... my surgeon has me eating a minimum of 80 g of protein and said more is better.  The same for water... 64 oz as a minimum, but more is better.  How are you doing on carbs?  I keep mine under 40 g per day.  The only carbs I get are the ones in my vitamins, and dairy or other high protein foods.  I don't eat any bread, pasta, sugar or fruit.

I was also comparing my weight loss to everyone else and it was so frustrating to see their large drops and my (what I was thinking at the time) small drops.  But the big picture is that I have lost 42 lbs since starting my pre-op diet on 10/27!  You will get there too!  Just stick with the plan and the lbs will go away.

Thank you for your response!  It is hard for me to get my protein in for sure.  I eat what I can and am full so I stop - then two hours later I am hungry again.  I will have to find more way to get protein in as I just cannot do the shakes for awhile.  I had 120grms of carbs today so I think I could cut those down.  I had cream of wheat this morning instead of my hard boiled egg because I forgot it at home. 

I will just keep moving along and hope the scale comes with me. 

Thank you again - just needed a push from people who know where I am. 

I really struggled with the protein in the beginning... I didn't like ANY shakes!  I finally found the Syntrax Nectar and Syntrax Matrix.  I LOVE the Matrix shakes!!  My diet is VERY boring... Protein drinks, Eggs, Cheese, and meat...  Occasionally I may have something else.  I didn't get into my groove until about where you are... 6-8 weeks after surgery.  I found that just because it has a lot of protein, it doesn't mean that I can eat it.  I look at the protein and carb content.  I want to try the Quest bar, I have heard they are wonderful, but 1 bar has more than half my daily carb allowance.  Now it is getting easier and easier to say no to carbs.  I like oatmeal, cereal, fruit and lots of other things that can be healthy, but they just have more carbs than I'm willing to eat right now.  I figure those will be something I can implement into my diet when I am figuring out maintenance. :)

It might.... I've heard HRT can cause weight gain (or in your case non-losing).  I was going to talk to my Dr until I found this out but decided my hot "flushes" weren't all that bad.  And honestly, for the past 10 days I haven't had any! 

Definitely talk to your Dr.  Perhaps you can be put on a lower dosage.  My girlfriend cut hers in half and got her expected result. 

Thank you for responding.  I might try to cut them down to once a day.  I would like to get off them completly at some point but am afraid of what might happen if I do.  After surgery I could not take them and I got moody and a little scary PMS wise.  Maybe after awhile that goes away?  Something has got to give... 

Thanks!

I had a hysterectomy years ago so no HRT here.  However, I think you need to do some serious cutting of carbs and upping of protein.  You don't say, or I missed what surgery you had but I would up your protein to around 100.  You mention you don't do protein suppliments.  Why? While I was losing, I stayed around 120-150 after about 3 months.  Low protein will cause hair loss and muscle loss.  Even at 4 yrs out from RNY, it takes about 120g a day to keep my protein level where it needs to be.  When I really slowed down around 4-5 months, I found if I cut my carbs and kept the same number of calories, I kept losing.  The carbs/protein really make a difference. 

The other things to think about are that we will lose much slower than our heavier friends.  You need to look at your weight loss in terms of % of excess weight, not pounds.  You have lost 22% of your excess weight in 2 months.  That is great.  If you continue at that rate, you will be at goal in less than a year.  You can't argue at that!!!

Also, stalls are really normal for many folks.  Keeping your protein up will help but you may still have stalls.  Instead of setting weight goals, have a goal to stay on program, get in your water, get your protein up.  Those are things you can control and feel good about.  You can't control if your body decides it needs a break but if you are doing those things, you can be sure that this WILL work for you. 

Post on Miles and Menus and see if you can get some help with what you are eating.  You can do this!!!!

Hi friends! 

So cut back my HRT last two days, got on the scale this morning and was down 2lbs.  Maybe it is just coincidence as I have been very good or maybe it is the HRT?  Going to try to do without HRT meds for the next month and see if the benefits outweigh the issues.  Please cross your fingers! 

Thanks for all the help and comments - it is very helpful and appreciated!

First Congrats on your WLS!!!  Second it would be REALLY helpful if you listed what type and date of your surgery on your signature or information page that prints it at the top of your posts. 3rd I don't know enough about meds to voice my opinion but if your DR. says you need it then I would take them. 

4th and BIG (((HUG))) your probably not going to like this BUT it's important that I say it.  As early out as you are you should not be eating "bad" carbs like cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes etc.  Limit fruit (tons of sugar) to a couple per week or not at all.

My calories were never at 1000 until I was about a year out and almost to goal and even then they increased because I upped my Protein drinks not food.  As early out as you are your calories should be between 600 - 800  and that might even be too high (I was at 500-650 a long time).  Proteins should be quite a bit over 100 and most of that should be from GOOD protein. 

Buy some unflavored Protein (Any Whey at GNC is good) and put it in everything.  Find a protein drink that you are going to be able to live with for the rest of your life.  Here the website for a 15 full size sampler pack ($16.99) of Syntrax:  https://www.si03.com/reg_index.htm

I am over 6 yrs out and my Maintenance calories are around 1300.  That's only 300 more than what you are getting in during the losing stage.  I rarely eat bad carbs and I if I do I the scales are definitely up in the morning.  This not a "Diet" it is our new lifestyle.  Our new found tool helps us get our weight off quicker but it's up to us to keep it off. 

(((HUGS))) again!!!!!

Hi Roz!  I am a newbie so I will see if I can figure out how to add type of surgery - I had a RNY on Dec 17, 201.  My doctor told me when she put me on HRT that if I could stand the side effects without it, I could stop.  So I am trying to stay off to see what or if any side effects I get. 

The only 'bad carb' from your list I have eaten would be cream of wheat (only one packet - no sugar and I ate about 2/3 of it).  I don't eat oatmeal, pasta, rice or bread or anything like that.  Yesterday for example I had 2 hard boiled eggs for breakfast (over three hours); 3 ounces of chicken over salad for lunch; a pure protein shake sipped on in the afternoon and dinner was turkey taco meat, lettuce, sprinkle of cheese with a side of boiled (1/4cup) of beans.  I did have 1/3 of a pure protein bar just to get the protein in.   I do over estimate on my food logs based on what I make for the day but I never actually eat all of it - I can't!  I would just rather overesitmate than under.  This is the eating plan from my surgeon's office. 

Looking back on what I actually ate - it was most likely 650 calories actually consumed.  I also walk/run or bike for 30mins a night too so I know that burns some of that as well. 

I will try the Syntrax - thank you for sending the link and for the support and advice.  It is appreciated an I will try some of the tips/tricks you suggested. 

((Hugs back))