Question:
Is it normal to quit losing weight

I had RNY on April 20th, so about 2 months ago. I started at 316 and for the last week in a half I'm staying steady at 263. Is it normal to plateau and if it is, for how long, and will I start losing again. I make sure that I take my vitamins every day, I get my protein, exercise daily and drink most of the water that I'm supposed to have, but the scale stopped moving. Its frustrating!!!!    — wennybuck (posted on June 23, 2009)

June 23, 2009
Hi Wendy, It is a stall. I got very upset when I first had one. My surgeon says on average you lose 1/2 lb a day, so for your 9 weeks that would be 63 days divide that into the 53 lbs you have lost and that is .84lbs a day. So it seems like you would be above where he says. But your body has been through a tremendous change and it does slow down to re-adjust itself and to re-arrange itself. You may not be losing weight but you have and are probably still losing inches. Did you take your measurements pre-surgery? I did and I take them monthly and as of a month ago I had lost a total of 17" and I measure again this week and I believe it is even more. I am 8 weeks out and have lost 34lbs so you are doing better than me.....good luck....
   — gonnabethinfinally

June 23, 2009
Hi, Don't always pay attention to the scale either. Because you might be losing inches and not pounds. So just take your measurements and that way you will know for sure it is inches you are losing. So you might not have stopped at all. I can't explain how it works, but it is surely a good thing.
   — Kristy

June 23, 2009
Hi Wendy - Congratulations on your weight loss so far! YEs, this is pretty normal - I'm just about 6 weeks out myself, and I had a 2 week stall at about 3 1/2 weeks. It was super frustrating, but when you lose weight rapidly ( like we all are), your body sort of "freaks out" and has to take some time to re-adjust. The best explanation I read on it has to do with your water loss and how much it takes to replenish that. Sadly, I can't remember the exact formula or aything, but the previous posters are correct - sometimes the scale won't move but you are losing inches. the important thing is not to get discouraged and start making bad decisions ( Ex - self-defeating behaviours like thinking that if the scale isn't moving, you aren't do your walking or eating an extra meal). Keep the faith that this is temporary, and believe in yourself. Drink/eat your protein, take your vitamins, and work out like before - it might take a while, but it too shall pass and you'll be dropping weight like before. I also got some great advice to stop weighing myself every day (though I still have a hard time since I'm just so amazed and love seeing the smaller #s) and only do it weekly. Some peple have gotten rid of their scales completely and only weigh at their doc's appointments. It woud certainly help with the frustration of not seeingthe scale move! I fight it every day, and though I want to weigh myself more often, I typically wait 3 or 4 days. The benefit of this is that once your stall ends, you see bigger numbers between weigh-ins. Good luck to you - you'll be fine.
   — stellarsan

June 23, 2009
I am a year and a half out and quit losing for over a month twice. I thought well this is it. Then all of the sudden, I would start losing again. Just don't give up. Stick with the program and eventually your body had to give up!
   — lesleigh07

June 23, 2009
I am 18 month post op I lost 150 pounds ,I lost mine very slow and thats a good thing to this day I dont have a scale in my house I liked going to the dr and getting weighed as of now i am stuck at 190 but I can tell I am still losing inches so just keep on going and doing what you been doing the fun thing is when the cloths you wear get to big I know thats frusterating to cuz u go thru cloths fast Kaye
   — angelscentt