Question:
Why do we plateau so soon after surgery? FRUSTRATED!!!!
I am 10 wks post op 12-17-99 RNY Open and I cant count how may times I have been stuck I have lost 54lbs and have been stuck at 54 lbs for almost 2 weeks I am so tired of this I know it happens but I'm getting depressed is there any thing I can do to help this awful stage pass? — Ann F. (posted on March 3, 2000)
March 3, 2000
Ann, I know this is heart-breaking for you, but as you say,
it will pass. Your body is sure you are starving it to death,
so it is going to try to hold on to everything it can. I
know you get tired of hearing this one, but, exercise more.
And another thing you can do is eat more. Eat protein
especially. When you eat more, your body thinks, O.K. she's
giving me food so I'm not going to starve. It will then let
go of some of it's reserves. For example. Let's say you're
down to your last roll of toilet paper. It's going to be a
week before you can get to town to get more. Are you not
going to be a little stingy with the t.p. when you go potty?
Sure you are! You can't run completely out! Then you go buy
a big supply of t.p. and you start to use it just like you
always did. Same principle. Hang in there.
— Tina H.
March 3, 2000
Ann: My surgeon described plateaus as the body refusing to let go of
any more stored fat..(for fear of starvation) It will eventually have
to let go.. These times of resting allows our bodies to catch up to
the rapid weight loss.. Look at it this way the more our body stops to
rest for a bit..maybe the skin will catch up faster.. you think? We all
have them.. I'm sitiing on one now.. So I know your fears.. This will
pass though... so hang in there..
— Victoria B.
March 4, 2000
Hey Ann, Boy do I hear you!! I was so frustrated to be on plateau's
starting at about 2 months. I posted a lot about it and found that it
happens to all of us. Now, I don't weigh as often and when I feel I am
really stuck, I really excel on drinking my water. I almost always see
results though not always immediately. Now that I have 70 lbs. gone, I am
not as concerned at losing it as fast. My skin is sagging only in my arms
and stomach so far and I feel I am giving it time to catch up--like Vikki
said. It really is frustrating, but remember how much you have lost which
is amazing. Someone also posited recently that they lost inches even
during plateaus. I have never measured--don't know why, but I think it is
true because my sizes are going down steadily--Size 24 to 14 now!! Good
Luck.
— Dot W.
March 4, 2000
Eat the protein part of every meal first.
limit snacking to one small well defined snack in the am and one in the
afternoon.
exercise in the morning early, a brisk walk for starters.
do not drink high calorie liquids like shakes or supplements or ice cream.
get your protein and calories from solid food.
— Bruce B.
March 4, 2000
"SETPOINT", the dieter curse. I'm sure you have heard the word
if you were ever on a diet. Our bodies hit a plateau whenever it reaches a
previous setpoint where it was comfortable, and where we stablized for a
condsiderable length of time before we finally progrssed beyond and began
to gain more weight. Now your body is reacting in reverse.
All the previous messeage responses you have received are true. Sometimes
we just have to admit our bodies are smarter than our brains. LOL Jeanie
— Jeanie W.
March 4, 2000
Hi Ann: Plateaus are the most frustrating part of this, aren't they? They
do end, however. And that setpoint theory....how true! The weight I am at
now is the weight I was for about 2 years, before I gained the last of my
weight. I've been here, or within 4 pounds of it, since the new year.
Make sure you get your water and protein in. Being patient is difficult,
but we don't have a choice, do we? Walking helps, too! Good luck, and
congratulations on your 54 pounds, it's quite an accomplishment! Jaye
Carl, RN, open proximal RNY 7-29-99, 94 pounds gone forever!
— Jaye C.
April 24, 2000
From someone who has lost all of her weight, I thought you might like to
hear that I too, had definate, long plateaus...I had my surgery in June
1999 and after 2 weeks, I hit a plateau...for 2 weeks...then off came 15
pounds within 10 days....In October I hit another LONG plateu which lasted
till the end of December...then another 14 pounds off. This brought me to
within 28 pounds of my goal weight. From December till March I lost
nothing again then off came 20 pounds and a plateau of 3 weeks....I finally
lost the last 12 pounds this month though...these plateau's are frustrating
but after awhile, I learned that all of a sudden I would have a big loss
after the waiting. I do have to tell you though that I think that the
longer it takes to lose, the less problem you will have with saggy skin. I
lost all my weight within 10 months (152 pounds) and I have saggy skin
galore so....there is an advantage to the slow process...good luck to you
and hang in there...it will happen for you too.
— BARBARA R.
Click Here to Return