Question:
Like to hear from people who have multiple plateaus.

I had a lap R&Y, 7.5 months ago. I have lost 115 lbs. I am happy about this; however, I do have a concern. I started around 360 and I was sure I would have more off than this by now. I have had 2.5 months total of plateaus during my post op time. This worries me, as I have a long way to go, and my window of opportunity is starting to shut. I have always drank plenty of water, I do cardio and weight lifting five days a week. I eat three small meals, and most days a small planned snack, i.e. pretzels, or V-8 juice, or occasionally a small amount popcorn. I always strive to eat my protein first. I guess I am just scared about this. I have only lost one pound in the last three weeks. I better get on the scale this week and lose a small child. :) Anyway, I don't know what else to do. I am thinking about replacing my morning meal with a protein bar. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Oh yes, I don't see my doctor for another couple of weeks, but he seemed okay with my weight loss so far. But, I do remember him saying I would probably have 2/3's of my extra weight in the first 6 months. If this is the case, I am in trouble! Thanks in advance.    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 30, 2001)

October 30, 2001
I plateaued for a month at 4 weeks post-op. I had another 2 week plateau at 6 months. I lost slowly from 6-9 months. It picked up when I began to exercise. At one year-out, I plateaued for a solid three months. Read my profile for the full story.
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 30, 2001
I am sooooooooooooo sick of my plateaus. I had such good intentions when I decided to have this surgery. I was very goal-oriented and did everything to the T. I had open RNY on June 18, 2001. I am also experiencing plateau after plateau after plateau and am VERY discouraged and depressed. I started out weighing 304-1/2 pounds, so I'm also tired of hearing how everyone else was bigger than me. Bull!! Everyone around me that has had the surgery the same time as me and months after me has lost more than me. At 4 weeks postop I was on a 3-week plateau. The first of September I took my daughter to Sea World. I barely ate that weekend and walked my legs off. On October 9th I went to a support group meeting and I hadn't lost 1 single pound since my trip. I talked to my doc at the meeting and he also is perfectly happy with my weight loss..but hey..I'M NOT!! That week, miraculously I lost 7 pounds...BUT I haven't lost anything since. Actually, I have GAINED 2 pounds..I've been going back and forth with the same 2-3 pounds up and up and down since then. I am very discouraged to say the least. I have lost about 62 pounds. But I'm almost 5 months postop!!!!!!!! To me this is unacceptable. I did everything right. I had the protein, no fat, no sugar, drank all the water, did the exercise, etc. I am so distraught when I read or hear about Joe Blow who has eaten Doritos and drank pop and never exercises and never drinks water and they have lost more than me. I had to go see my PCP because it was really taking its toll on me and she put me on Wellbutrin for depression. That's how bad the plateaus are affecting me.
   — Tracy B.

October 30, 2001
Ah yes, plateaus! You are now talking to the queen of them. At least compared to all of the previous posts. I am now 10.5 months post op, and have only lost 93 pounds. I say only, but I still consider that a major accomplishment, one that I would not have been capapble of without WLS. Yes, it is agonizingly frustrating to see the scale stay at the same place for weeks on end, or even to gain and lose the same four to five pounds over the course of a month or so. Well, I've come to the realization that it just doesn't matter anymore. The number on the scale doesn't mean a thing anymore. I am MUCH happier and healthier than I was before. I focus on the fact that I can do so many things that were darn near impossible to do previously. I am NOT a skinny by any means, in fact, the chart says I'm still "very overweight" at 4'11" and 159 pounds, but it IS MUCH BETTER than 253 pounds. My surgeon is still happy with the rate of loss, and I don't believe for a second that I'm finished losing. Yes, MOST PEOPLE lose fastest during the first six months, but I've heard of people who are two years post op and still losing, so I wouldn't exactly panic at 7.5 months. At that point (7.5 months)I had only lost about 65 pounds, so your loss of 115 is just incredible to me. But please, don't obsess about what EVERYONE ELSE is losing. My goodness, did you really go through all of this to keep obsessing about weight loss? I know I sure didn't! I wanted to get healthy, fit more comfortably in my world, and live to see all our nieces and nephews grow up. I have gained all those things already (well, still working on the living part), even though I'm still about 24 pounds from my personal goal, which by the way is still considered overweight for my height. I'm not trying to knock you in any way, but please realize that comparing your rate of loss, number of plateaus, total loss, etc. with others will only make you angry, or fearful or upset. There WILL be people, maybe even many people who will lose more, or faster, or with less work. Well, really, so what? They are not you, you are not them. Just as all of our personal problems are unique, so it is with weight loss. It is a very personal thing and has much to do with genetics as well as behavior. So, I'd suggest cutting yourself some slack. Yes, it's fine to be disappointed, that's normal, but don't get too down about it. I'd also suggest evaluating every aspect of your regimen. If you KNOW there are things that you aren't doing that you should, or doing things you shouldn't, then change that. Be proactive! It won't guarantee faster weight loss, but will take your mind off the plateau. Finally, if need be, THROW OUT THE DAMN SCALE!! It's great advice I've read here many times on this board and it still applies. I apologize for all this rambling, but you did hit a nerve with me, it's an issue I've been dealing with almost from day one post-op. Now that I can cope with it much better, I hope to help others do the same. Good luck, I'll be sending my very best wishes for you to break your plateau!
   — Maria H.

October 31, 2001
I had a lap rny on 1/16/01..I am losing very slowly also...BUT SO WHAT!!!!! I am down 100 lbs and I stil weigh twice a day...yes I stare at the same number for the most part for a couple of weeks..But I don't care..as long as it eventually gets there..who cares? It took me 25 years to gain this weight..a year or two is a drop in the bucket.
   — Debora H.

November 9, 2001
DON'T WEIGH YOURSELF!!!!!!What difference does it make? You are still losing and still healthier that ever. I am 8 months post-op and I have only been on the scale at my drs. appts. WLS was 3/13/01 on 09/30/01 I was down 90 lbs. I haven't weighed since then and have no intention of doing so until my next drs. appt. The scale is just a big mind F!?#. For years my self esteem was based on what the scale said that day, today it is about how I feel inside, not about what the scale says. If you are doing what your dr. has told you to do and are following protocol then your body is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.
   — [Anonymous]