Question:
What am I doing wrong? Feel I am on track but scale is not moving.

For the last 3 weeks I have been bouncing between 182 and 179. I am 4.5 months post-op and have lost 80 lbs. I feel that I am getting in all of my protein. For breakfast I eat 1/4 cup of yogurt or 2 thin slices of deli meat. For lunch I eat a small salad with meat or a couple of slices off of a chicken breast with veggies. For dinner usually the same as lunch or what ever the family is having but usually a small portion of meat with veggies. I eat no starches - no bread,rice, pasta, potatoes. I eat no sweets at all, not even fruit. I get in 48 - 60 oz of water a day. I take a mulit-vitamin and iron. I walk for 20 minutes 3 times a week and lift weights 3 times per week. I feel that I am doing a good job of being on track but the scale is just stuck right now. I even accused my husband of doing something to the scale because I have have been losing a steady 5 lbs per week. Am I not getting enough food in or not exercising enough? Any suggestions would be so appreicated because I am so frusterated right now. Thank you.    — Connie S. (posted on February 16, 2002)

February 15, 2002
You are doing everything right, so relax, this is completely normal. I have seen a pattern in my weight loss, lose a bunch, stop while my body adjust for a while, then BAM, instant loss! This is probably just your body adjusting to your weight and taking a break. I bet if you measure yourself you will see some inches gone from all that working out. I used to hear that and think it was nonsense until I started to get measured at the gym,and let me tell you, even when the scale doesn't move the inches come off. No kidding, so try measuring. I am just about at goal weight and when I look back at all the plateaus I had I laugh at how freaked out I got every time. Eventually I got there and it actually only took 9 months, so it will happen for you as well. One last thing...don't be afraid of fruits, at 4&1/2 months post op you may be lacking some important nutrients and fruits are a good source of vitamins. Just eat them in moderation, I usually have maybe 1/2 banana per day or just one apple per day, or a few grapes or a little melon. I wouldn't munch on fruits all day long, but don't be tricked into thinking that you can ONLY eat protein, you need a balanced diet to give your body everything it really needs! Best of luck...
   — Vicki K.

February 16, 2002
Ok you are lifting weights, know that weights are great however muscle is heavier than fat therefore it will seem you are moving slowly in your loss since you have muscle replacing fat. Try taking your measurements as a basis of loss til you pass the plateau, you will see that you are shrinking due to the toning even if weight is basically the same.
   — Lynhira

February 16, 2002
You are doing a perfect job... remember that the pounds are a larger percentage of your total weight at this point and it gets tougher the smaller you get. Just dont get discouraged and keep on the course. I have been on a huge plateau for a month and a half at 168 at 8 months post op and the scale moved for the first time this morning after being away for a long weekend and eating a bit more than I thought was appropriate. So maybe you need to shake things up a bit and eat a little more protein and a few carbs... eat some seafood and have a sugar free, fat free frozen yogurt. I was out with friends at an all you can eat crab restaurant and turned down a salad, bread, appetizers and even the cole slaw and just ate crab legs, with lemon and no butter. I ate an entire platter of clusters... of course everyone else ate 3 and 4 platters so they laughed at me. In examining my dinner, there were no carbs and the crab was solid protein with no fat so it wasnt bad for me, but I did eat more than I should of. The next morning our friends made homemade Belgian waffles... and I ate two squares of one with sugar free strawberry jam spread on them and coffee. Had fried cod and green beans at Cracker Barrel on the trip home... pulled off the coating and ate the fish. I figured that I would gain weight for sure after those three meals alone but I lost 3 pounds! Maybe you just need to do something different every now and then to shake up your metabolism. You will lose it, have faith!
   — SusanMaria

February 16, 2002
I don't see enough protein there, actually. And no complex carbs. WE need SOME complex carbs. Not white bread or saltines, but a good grain bread or cracker. Not much, just a bit to accompany your protein foods. Even half (or quarter) slice of a good 7 grain or 12 grain bread WITH a little butter. Protein needs a dab of fat AND complex carb to "go", turbo charge, actually. And of course, predictably, I will say to just get your protein via supplements & then you can be SURE.
   — vitalady

February 17, 2002
Original Poster here! Thank you for all of your responses. I am looking into a protein supplement, maybe I am not getting enough protein. I have been measuring myself every month. While the inches are coming off, the last couple of months they have been coming off very slowly. I am afraid of bread of any kind. One of the quotes in my handbook I recieved from my doc says "The first bite of bread is the killer, the second restarts the weight gain" According to the handbook I am suppose to be eating 3 tablespoons of protein per meal and 1 tablespoon of veggies. No fruit what so ever. That amount was fine for the first 3 months but now I need more. I find at that amount I am too weak and occasionally get dizzy. My doc has poor patient service and doesn't return calls or send out any updates as to what and how much I should be eating, so I have turned to this site to help. Thank you all again I will try your suggestions, even the little bit of bread.
   — Connie S.

February 17, 2002
I've been told that protien is 7 grams an ounce. From what you've said about your diet, you may be low on it. Like an earlier poster, I increased my food intake at 3 months (I was depressed about slow weight loss) and my weight loss increased. <P>Check your caloric intake. Yours may be a little low. I've seen various numbers, but the most commonly recommended numbers I've seen from doctors/nutritionists in the chat sessions has been about 700-800 a day. <P>If you've had a steady weekly loss, you may be at your first plateau. Don't panic, just keep doing the right things and you'll be fine.
   — [Anonymous]

March 9, 2002
Every patient of mine, and everyone else's undergoes a plateau. This is normal. There are two things to know about the plateau -- first, you probably are losing fat and replacing it with muscle, if you are being active. Second, if you are cheating, your body is a perfect calorie calculator, and those few cookies, or candy, or ice cream, all count. Here are several tips: to increase weight loss, increase activity. If you have an excuse why you cannot increase activity (and some patients have many of them) then you will lose the effect of the weight loss surgery. Patients will say -- "I don't feel good, I don't want to walk." In some measure that is understandable, and in some measure it is an excuse -- only you can decide. Here is the measure of what we need to see for sustained weight loss -- activity three times a week which raises heart rate and blood pressure, and this activity is done for 45 minutes at a time. If you have joint problems then find a public pool and do water aerobics. Another is to not drink fluids with food. Finally, protein first, carbohydrates second, fats last. Do not become frustrated -- if you keep up with this program, the weight will come off. But remember, for most the weight did not come on as fast as it is coming off, so be patient.
   — terrysimpson