Question:
Stablizing

I am 7 months out and cannot seem to lose any more weight no matter how hard I try. I know I can't be consuming more than around 1200 cals a day, and that is a high estimate. My initial goal was 120, being 5'2" now I have changed it to 140, which I think would be a good weight for me. But is it possible I am already stabilizing this early on? I am discouraged and bummed about this! Help!    — lesleigh07 (posted on August 8, 2008)

August 8, 2008
I'm at the same point that you are. I am 19 lbs away from goal and have just stopped! I would really like to start loosing weight again, but nothing seems to be helping. I wish you the best.
   — Breathin4him

August 8, 2008
I met a lady at my support group this week and she is one year post-op and still losing weight. Maybe you should decrease your cals by 100 a day and see what happens. I don'i think 7 months is the stablizing period for RNY. I could be wrong.
   — Toby2

August 8, 2008
It may help to change up your work out. I know it helps me sometimes. Keep our head up you will make it. Annette
   — Mrsjhupp

August 8, 2008
You may want to consider consulting with a certified nutritionist. A certified nutritionist can help you to optimize your diet so that you can balance your dietary intake of both protein and carbohydrates and MAXIMIZE your weight loss potential. Often what happens is that folks get EAGER to lose weight, and they try too hard. This sometimes causes the body's metabolism to SET to STARVATION mode and the body REFUSES to lose FAT. It will lose PROTEIN before it will lose FAT. This is not a GOOD thing. The body does not DISCRIMINATE where it GETS the protein FROM. It will take it from a LEG as well as an ARM as well as YOUR HEART! Losing Protein also causes you to LOSE MUSCLE MASS which makes it HARDER to lose WEIGHT because MUSCLES BURN CALORIES and BURNING CALORIES burns FAT! You also have to make sure that you eat enough PROTEIN. If you DON'T, your body will LOSE PROTEIN because it will TAKE it from your muscles (and your HEART) for the functions that it NEEDS it for! This is why it is a GOOD IDEA to CONSULT with a CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST! Everyone should do it FOR THEMSELVES! Using someone ELSE'S diet is a BAD idea. The other person may be BIGGER or SMALLER or the wrong GENDER and that will cause a change in how the diet will be CALCULATED. It also will make a difference in WHERE that person IS in their weight loss JOURNEY! Someone who tries to LOSE weight using the diet of someone who is trying to MAINTAIN their weight, is going to be very disappointed in the results! A 5'4" tall WOMAN is going to be disappointed with the results using the diet designed for a 6'3" tall MAN! Even people who are EQUAL in size can have different TASTES in food. The NUTRITIONIST will take into account your food preferences when designing YOUR diet! That is NOT something you will get with a borrowed diet. I have lost 96 pounds in 5 months with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and the help of a Certified Nutritionist. I don't know what will happen when I get close to my goal, I have about 45 pounds more to go, but SO FAR, things are going well for me. Another option you may want to consider is having your Thyroid levels checked. Having low Thyroid Hormone levels can cause problems with weight loss. Once the problem is FOUND, DIAGNOSED and TREATED, you should be back on track to losing weight in NO TIME, if that is the problem! I hope that this helps, Hugh
   — hubarlow

August 8, 2008
Let me get this right Lesleigh, you have lost weight for 7 months, better than you ever have before and now you are discouraged because you feel you can't lose any more? First, girl, celebrate what you have done, and be so satisfied with what has happened so far! Congratulations on losing weight and gaining confidence in what you have done. Now, you might slow down for a time, but you will continue to lose weight if you fight for it. First, at 5'2" I am thinking that 1200 calories is a lot of food. If it is mostly lean protein and veggies, then you are on a good path. how is the water intake? Are you on track with exercise? Don't change your goals just yet, just be patient. There were times when I lost less than a pound a week, but I still lost 120 pounds in about 16 months. Bump up your walking or exercise to twice a day. I walked 2.5 miles twice a day, and doing it twice changed my metabolism when I stuck to it for a year. Giving up is what we obese people do. When change stops or we get down, we give up. I encourage you to fight this head game, press on, and do everything you intend to. The choice is your, choose well. Take care and Congratulations again! Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

August 9, 2008
Your body will begin to slow waaaaaay down as it nears it's ideal weight. This is the point where you have to make certain you do not continue to eat more and more. You must keep your calories where they are and even begin weighing your food to make sure you are not eating more than you need without realising that you coould be increasing portions. Be careful here... It will be quite slow until you reach your goal...and you might even hit some high number loses here and there...But basically you're right on schedule. Most people lose for a year. I lost for 15-18 months. (Lost 158 lbs and gained back 5-8) That's where I ended up maintaining since. Over 4.5 years now! If you step up the exercise and leave a few bites on your plate (that you might have normally finished) You might see things move a little faster again...but it will never be like newly pre-op ever again...Honeymoon is almost over...but you still have a good ways to go...so don't be too discouraged...You've done wonderful! And you're at the point we all get to as we become "graduates"...
   — .Anita R.

August 9, 2008
I am also 7 months out after losing 70 pounds and have been at a plateau now for at least 4 to 6 weeks. I have been getting very discouraged as well, but I have bumped my exercise up again to see if I can get the last 25 pounds off. I wonder if we are building muscle mass and that is why I'm at a plateau. I lost 6.5 inches last month at Curves so I know I'm still doing good, but want those numbers on my scale to go down as well. Hang in there and don't give up yet! LaDonna
   — ladonna08

August 12, 2008
It all depends on your body and chemistry. Your age and activity and stress levels all play a part too I've been told. I was 57 at time of my surgery and seemed to plateau at the 180's, not my goal of 142 for 5'7". I stuck there at a year through 18 months. Treat yourself to some flattering new clothes and don't compare your rate of loss to anyone. Our bodies are unique.
   — jeanrenewed2006