Question:
Can I plateau at 5 weeks post???

I'm 5 weeks post-op. I've lost 30lbs so far. For a whole week, the scale has not moved! I started back to work last week. I also stopped my period last week. Can period weight stick around? I am drinking 40 to 60 oz of water a day. My eating consists of (example): breakfast: 1 boiled egg; snack: 2 oz. colbyjack cheese; lunch: cup of chicken soup; snack 2 oz. colbyjack cheese; dinner: 3 oz of crab meat with boiled egg (salad) on 3 crackers; snack: 1/2 cup of carb smart icecream (Bryers). I drink nothing other than water all day...HELP!    — Cathy C (posted on November 25, 2003)

November 25, 2003
Yes sweetie, read my profile and you will see I plateaud at 5 weeks too. But... now I'm 6.5 months post op and down 112, so these do pass. Your body has been through a lot, and it's resting right now. Please don't stress yourself over this, I know it's distressing, but I promise, you'll be on the move again soon. In the mean time, try a few more ounces of water and keep up the protien. I would possibly forgo the icecream right now for a higher protien snack (maybe a protien supp... shhh... don't tell my surgeon I said that :-). You are doing great though!
   — Happy I.

November 25, 2003
I plateau all the time and Im a slow slow loser read my profile. Im 5 months post op and down 46 pounds. Good Luck
   — Monica T.

November 25, 2003
Have you taken your measurements to see if you are loosing inches? You may be loosing inches and not pounds. According to the latest issue of Obestiy Help magazine, page 18 by Dr Terry Simpson - quote "A plateau is when you have maintained your weight and your measurements for four weeks. If you are loosing inches, you are not on a plateau; you are simply redistributing the weight." This quote is from his very first paragraph of the article. Try not to be discouraged by the scale not moving, if fact get it out of the house, it is your worst enemy. Pay more attention to your clothing and how it is fitting. Have you upped your exercise? That will cause you to gain muscle and your body just needs to adjust to it.
   — ChristineB

November 25, 2003
I was the same way, at 5 weeks the scale stopped moving then about 2 weeks later one day I dropped 3lbs, don't worry it will start again, maybe try drinking a protein shake as well!
   — Saxbyd

November 26, 2003
It seems like a high majority of us "new" RNY patients have "suffered" the same problem at mini-plateauing at 5 weeks. I call it mini because we THINK we're plateauing and maybe we are, maybe we aren't. I didn't lose any weight from week 4 through week 7 and I was thoroughly frustrated. Unfortunately in those weeks, I didn't re-take my measurements, so I don't know if I was losing inches. I know what everyone says: drink your water, eat your protein and exercise, but some days it just seems so hard to do everything just right. Even when you think you are doing it all perfectly, you get on that scale and you either lose nothing or gosh golly, you gain a pound. What the heck!?! The only consolation I have is that I have read other members' profiles that were like me at 2 months out and only down 35 pounds and who are now at like 6 and 7 months out and are down 80 pounds or so. It will kick in, we just have to be patient. It might also have to do with how much you weighed when you started. If you are a "lightweight" (i.e. only like 100-150 pounds to lose), you will have the tendency to lose you weight slower, as I do. (5'3" and 260 at the start of surgery). Good luck - you'll get there!
   — Lynne D.