Question:
Any suggestions to break this plateaus?

I had surgey on Jan 18. I have lost 52 lbs so far. My Doctor says that this is great. I started with size 34 pants and can now wear some 26/28. I have done a little exercise lately. Joined the local YMCA and been walking the treadmill. I am a Telecommunicator and I work rotating 12 hr shifts. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding exercise and eating when working these type shifts. My stomach really hurts alot when I work nights. I dont know why. I have almost reverted back to soft food. I am not able to eat much of anything except crab legs or tuna. The protein shakes I am still trying to find one that does not make me sick. All suggestions and advise is greatly appreciated.    — Spezzy (posted on March 7, 2007)

March 7, 2007
hey i had my surgey jan 22 i lost 40 pounds..i think ever one is not a like.. well to tell you the protein shakes were making me sick also .. i am on the ATKINS Shakes there really good i try all of them i like the stawberry one the best .. and the atkins bars are also good they have like 17 grams of protein.. in one .. well good luck to u! Roxanne320-40=280pounds 80 to go
   — Roxanne piligno

March 7, 2007
I like the ready to drink shakes by EAS and Extreme Smoothies from vitacost.com. For powders, Walker is good and doesn't make me sick. I got that at vitacost as well. I do the best with soft foods and I'm 17 weeks post op. Sometimes sticking to the basics is the best. Have you tried canned salmon and chicken? Make moist with light mayo....I mix a hard boiled egg with the tuna and salmon, it is tolerated very well.
   — Sheri A.

March 7, 2007
This was given to me when I asked about the dreaded Plateau and it has worked every time. WLS Plateau Buster Do This For 10 Days To Break A Plateau # 1 - Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day, as close to 128 oz. if possible. # 2 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamin & mineral supplements each day. # 3 - You may consume up to 3 oz. of the following high-protein foods, 5 times a day: a.. beef, b.. pork, c.. chicken, d.. turkey, e.. lamb, f.. fish, g.. eggs, h.. low-fat cheese, i.. cottage cheese, j.. plain yogurt (or artificially sweetened), k.. peanut butter, l.. beans/legumes. # 4 - You may also have: a.. sugar-free popsicles (avoid juice popsicles), b.. tea or coffee, c.. sugar-free Jello, d.. broths & bouillons, e.. Crystal Lite drinks (Walmart's Brand is the same but cheaper). # 5 - IF IT IS NOT ON THE LIST YOU MAY NOT HAVE IT! # 6 - Keep a food diary and try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily.
   — Michael Eak

March 7, 2007
Dear Sandra, I had my surgery 11/29/06 and have lost a total of 110#..44 before and the rest since. I had serious issues with my stomach hurting too-and found that if I take pepcid AC complete 3x a day-its so much better. I dont eat close to bed time at all-that helped as well. As far as the shakes-my friends (about 10) and I ALL swear by a brand called Optimum Nutrition (or ON) Gold Standard Instantized 100% Whey-its a powder and you add milk to it-its the best there is I think, and I have tried about 15 different brands and types. You can get this product at Food 4 Less for 1/2 the price it is at the local health food store-a 5# container does 80 some shakes and is less than $27...where at the health food store it is $55...now, if you dont have a Food 4 Less near you-you can also obtain it at Allstarhealth.com-with a flat fee shipping charge of $5.95 and they have the closest price to the grocery store!!! The strawberry and vanilla are my favorites, but everyone I know who has tried like the rocky road and mint etc-love them as well. I have trouble eating as well, and most times, only get to really eat 3-4 times a week-but I do my shakes faithfully-and I eat protein balls in between-they contain about 10-12 grams of protein each and feel like I am getting a treat. If you would like that recipe-let me know and I will send it off to you to help when you are working or whatever. Good luck, girl-and congrats on your weight loss. I think the further out you get the easier it will be to get into your groove. Have a good day and good luck. Janet P.S. this particular shake has less than 3 grams of carbs and 1 sugar.
   — want2luv2bme

March 7, 2007
Hi Sandra, thanks for asking your question. I don't think you are on a plateau at all. When your body takes off 52 pounds, it might be saying, "I need to breathe for a minute". That is not necessarily a plateau. Just because we didn't lose the weight we began with doesn't mean we won't. I am almost 3 years out and took off weight pretty consistantly but slowly, but my friend who had surgery 6 months later lost and waited, lost and waited. She was about a size 12 by a year out and thought that was the end. We had lunch yesterday (and do regularly), but she is now a size 4. If you keep using that tool, that tool will work for you. It just takes time. You have a tool, not a miracle, so use it. In regard to exercise. You get a lunch break, so try and walk or do something then that will increase your blood flow. Working odd shifts can put stress on you and you could be feeling that more at night when the body naturally wants to rest. When you shop at a store, go to one end and get one thing, then another to get another, and back and forth. This will increase your walking naturally. You can go back to soft foods for a time, it won't hurt anything, and it might help. Give it a try for a week or two, maybe you need that. Crab and tuna are great protein sources, but don't neglect iron, you will get tired if you don't get iron in, so be careful there. I don't have any answers for protein shakes. I never found one I liked either. I am determined to work with real foods for what I need, so I am sorry I can't help there. You will push through this quiet time, it is just your body adjusting to things. As spring opens up with better weather, take FULL advantage of this honeymoon period of losing weight by walking as long and as far as possible. If your job keeps you in a chair and confined, you may want to consider a career move. You have to exercise to get the success you want. I don't recommend any drastic changes in your job, just think about it and make the best health decision for yourself. The one thing I don't see mentioned here is water. If you are drinking soda or caffine, you have to back off that. It can cause problems with losing weight, even this early out, and water is your best friend. Drink it often, sip, gulp, however you have to do it, warm, cold, hot, however you can, drink water and lots of it. Keep you bowels moving, and water and exercise will help this a lot. Hope some of this helps, and best to you. Patricia P
   — Patricia P

March 8, 2007
If you are indeed on a plateau, you need to shock your body by doing something different. Try a different low impact exercise (remember not to exercise your stomach till your surgeon clears you to do this as it's still healing) Keep up the great weight loss and Good Luck!!!
   — crystalsno

March 8, 2007
I am 10 weeks out from RNY and have a protein shake every morning for breakfast and take it with me to work. I got sooo tired of the taste that I started mixing it up a bit. Strawberry shake: 5-6 frozen strawberries, 2 splenda packets, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (Isopure) and about 1/2 cup non-fat milk. mmmm Mocha shake: 1/2 cup nf milk, 2 splenda, a couple squirts of sugar free chocolate syrup, 1 scoop protein powder (25g protein), and 2 tsp instant decaf coffee. One of my favorites is: sugar-free coconut syrup, a handful of ice cubes, 1/2 nf milk, 1 splenda, 1 scoop protein powder. I have had a really hard time adjusting to most solid food, so I just stick to the basics; cottage cheese, watermelon, and salad with lite blue cheese dressing (good protein and I can only consume about 1/4 cup salad anyway, so the dressing is about 4 g fat that I consume.) Anyway, I will go a week or so without losing anything and then all of a sudden I will lose a pound a day for like 14 days. It's crazy, and I get discouraged too, but the "big picture" is what I have to keep thinking of. ( down 67 lbs in 10 weeks)
   — airbear762000