Question:
Plateaus and Paranoia: Anyone Else Suffer?!

I am 3 1/2 months post-op and am doing well in terms of recovery, weight loss, and labs. However, I am on a plateau and can't help the feeling of paranoia that it won't break and that I have lost all I'm going to lose. I find myself falling back into pre-op habits of dieting - when I see it isn't working, I turn to food. Being an impatient person doesn't help my situation either. I realize this is a psychological issue, so please don't direct me to a therapist. I would like to hear honest first-hand accounts from others on how they have successfully dealt with resolving this issue. Thanks.    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 15, 2000)

August 15, 2000
I think we all had these feelings.. I found it hard to get rid of my old clothes, because in my mind I can't see myself thinner..(even though I'm wearing 14-18 sizes depending on the style) I'm eight months post-op now and FINALLY got rid of all my 5x-4x-3x-2-x 1x cloths...Why, I was hanging onto them I have no idea NONE of them fit.. The shoulders were hanging to my elbows My T-shirts hanging to my knees LOL... It's just now soaking in that I'm really going to make my goal. I had all the desire and determination that anyone could ever have, however, in the deep recesses of my mind I was scared the weight loss would stop.. IT NEVER DID and still is dropping monthly.. The best advice I can give you is TOSS the scales.. weight at your surgeons checkup or PCP checkup.. That way you may never know when a plateau has come and went (and nothing to fret over).. If you're stuck for over a month email me I'll help you...I'm not sure I ever had a plateau if I did...I sure couldn't tell!!! My weight loss has been steady and excellent.. I'm well nourished and never hungry.. I have set times for my three meals and snacks and exercise..And of course WATER all the time,, never ending on water..I take my ProBlend55 religiously ;-)
   — Victoria B.

August 15, 2000
I can sympathize and empathize. I've had 2 plateaus that lasted 15 days. For a while now, I've been weighing once a week because the daily thing was too depressing since I tend to lose slowly when compared to the results I see so many others having on this site and in the chatroom. But, I'm beginning to feel that Victoria is correct about throwing out the scales. I couldn't actually do that - but maybe if I switch to weighing only twice a month would be better. This week, I didn't lose a pound. The way I've dealt with this so far is by taking my measurements. I took them all over my body preop and have kept a record (or chart) of those along with my weight loss. If I don't lose weight, then I take my measurements and happily find that I've dropped in size. Hopefully, these will help you. By the way, I had my surgery on 4/4/00 and have gone from 275 to 221. Best wishes.
   — Cindy H.

August 15, 2000
I am also about 3 1/2 months post op and was doing GREAT before the past few weeks came along. So far I have lost a total of 74 pounds. I have hit a few plateaus that lasted a few days or so, and then the weight loss would jump again. Well, when I hit 205, I stayed there for like two weeks and was so depressed thinking it would never end. Recently I lost another six pounds and here I've sat for about four days now. It is tough ... I only need to lose about six more pounds to be out of the overweight BMI category and into the ideal BMI category. I might not look that much different, but in my head that would sure feel good! I am also impatient and want it to happen NOW! :) Well, I signed my lil daughter up for swim classes (extra exercise for me) and I have really started packing in the protein and drinking as much water as possible ... I'm hoping the advice I got from this website will help push me over this plateau, but I think what you (and I) are feeling is completely normal! Paranoia, yes, sometimes I think, "All that, for this?" and wonder if it was worth it, but even if it stopped here, I would be grateful. I could never have lost 74 pounds in 3 1/2 months before surgery. Good luck and hang in there!!!
   — Beth B.

August 15, 2000
Hi. The first time I hit a plateau, someone suggested that I chart my weight loss pattern on e-diets.com. They have an actual graft chart that they record your weight loss on and I record my weight every Monday. It has helped me to "see" my own personal pattern and I recognize when my plateaus are "due" to start AND "due" to break. And contrary to popular opinion, I do weigh myself nearly everyday. I tried limiting my weigh-ins but I found that I tended to allow myself to over-indulge with the old thought that I'd make up for it "tomorrow". I, too, am an "impatient person" and am very anxious to get this weight GONE! I've plateau-d numerous times in the 5 months since my surgery and yes, I also get discouraged and frightened that this will be all I'm going to lose. But, even more than the discouragement and fear, I get ANGRY! And it's that ANGER that keeps me all the more determined to stick with the program and to NOT GIVE UP! I have learned to not turn to food for my reassurance. I turn to this web-site and to all the friends that I've met here. I read and re-read postings and messages and every question and answer on plateaus that I can find. I sometimes re-evaluate my eating and exercise habits on a daily basis. And I'm brutally honest with myself. I sometimes go back to counting and recording every calorie I consume just to make sure that I'm not "underestimating" what I'm eating. And I try on different "skinny" clothing every week or so just to see how they "fit" now. I consider my weight loss as "slow", but I also see where I'm actually right on track to the average percentages of weight loss within my post-op time frame. Remember that your old "pre-op habits of dieting" didn't work then, and they WON'T work now either. You made a commitment when you chose wls to change your lifestyle in order to help assure your weight loss and to help you to finally keep the weight off. Don't lose sight of that commitment. Use this "tool" in the manner in which it was intended to be used. Make everyday a new beginning because that just what it is. Good luck and God bless. cj
   — cj T.

August 15, 2000
I just wanted to say that I know exactly how you feel. I had surgery 2 1/2 months ago. I have been on two plateaus. Both times I questioned whether that would be it. I have now learned to just wait it out. It is so exciting to see the scale move after that. The only problem, that others have recognized, is watching the scale. I am a daily watcher which I know is bad! It really is better to not watch the scale....Some people are better at that then others. Personally, I find that If I do not watch the scale I watch what I eat better....Good luck. Hang in there.
   — twenc