Question:
BEEN AT THE SAME WEIGHT FOR 5 WEEKS IS THIS NORMAL/ HAVE I STRETCHED MY POUCH

HAD SURGERY 12-19-06 STARTED @ 230 DOWN TO 178    — MSERVIN (posted on May 8, 2007)

May 8, 2007
sounds like you are doing great. let me know the update on you.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 8, 2007
Your weight loss is wonderful. As for the plateau. I had one that long recently. You need to change your routine. Add a protein shake or change your exercise in some way to shock your body out of the plateau. Same old Same old is not getting it for you right now. Good Luck and God Bless. Oh and yes you are very normal. This happens to all of us eventually.
   — njkbutton

May 9, 2007
A friend of mine explained that plateaus mean that your body is repositioning itself. It's a good thing. You may find your clothes getting loser even though you aren't losing pounds. Do not deviate from your routine...your appetite will increase. As long as you are still feeling full your pouch is probably fine. All pouches stretch a bit. It's normal. You are doing well for almost 5 months post op. I've been losing between 1-2 lbs a week and only had a one week "plateau". Good luck the rest of the way!
   — Sheri A.

May 9, 2007
Wow, Marissa, you are doing great! I lost weight every week, sometimes a pound, sometimes less, and sometimes it was a few pounds, but except for two weeks during the first year I always lost weight. That is wonderful, but not everyones story. I have a dear friend who is like you, she lost weight, and then hovered the same weight for a long time, then lost again. That was her story. Even after a year, she had lost 100 pounds, but was a size 12 and was very happy with that. Over the past two years,, she has lost more and now sports a size 4. It takes time to lose weight and each body has it's own cycle. Be faithful to protein, water and exercise, don't neglect any of these three things, and you will be where you body is willing to settle. Sometimes it settles in a year or 18 months, for my friend it was 3 years. For me it was about 18 months. Now we both sport a size 4, although she is about 5" taller than me. Like I said, congrats, and enjoy your new size and strength. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

May 9, 2007
My surgery was also in December, I was 246 and I am about 189 now. I have also been stuck at this weight for a while. I put my scale away. I have been doing everything that I am supposed to. I am concentrating on getting in all my water and boosting my exercise. I think not weighing for a while and doing what you are supposed to will make you less stressed about it. I also think for those of us who start out in the low to mid 200s will lose slower than someone who is 300 or 400lbs. It is a perentage of your total body weight. I also stopped comparing myself to others. We all lose in our own time. Do what you are supposed to and good things will come!
   — robinmarra

May 11, 2007
Put your scale away and only weigh yourself once weekly. Then make sure that you are getting in the proper protein, proper carbs = low glycemic (google it and you will be given a list or where to find listing), proper water intake and daily exercise.... do all of these things and you WILL lose weight. There are times where you will hit plateaus, I hit one for 6 weeks, then started dropping again. I just figured that my body was doing what it needed to do to stay healthy... and I am again on the downward slope. Keep the faith and if you misstep... don't beat yourself up.. just get back to the way you are supposed to be eating and exercising and you will be fine.... good luck & happy losing......
   — Kari_K