Question:
Help!! I am 5.5 mo. post-op from a proximal RNY. So far I have lost 70#

but have not lost even 1 pound for 5 wks. I am 5'6 tall, my starting weight was 284# Currently I weigh 214#. Is this all I am going to lose? I still have 65# left to lose. I drink all my water, and walk 3 mi./day. Granted I am able to eat more these days, but A LOT less than before. I am depressed thinking this is all I am going to lose. Anyone else gone through this?? Is it normal? HELP!!! Thanks, Dani    — Dani J. (posted on June 20, 2000)

June 20, 2000
Have you tried exercising? If you are, increase it an additianal amount of time, and and additional day. And if you are not, begin doing it and make it a lifestyle! Make sure you are drinking your water.
   — [Anonymous]

June 20, 2000
I've been going through the same thing. My RNY was 7/28/99. My starting weight was 329#. My current weight is 227#. Last month I lost 1#. The month before that I lost 3#. The month before that it was about 2#. The last three months, I don't even think I've lost 10#. I'm afraid this is it for me also. I'm afraid I'll always be Morbidly Obese. No way out of it, not even surgery. I was afraid I'd be one it wouldn't work for and I was right. Granted I lost 100#. I'm grateful there, but I'm STILL MORBIDLY OBESE! I'M THE ONE THIS SURGERY FAILED FOR! I'm trying to diet, using old ways of losing weight and I just can't seem to lose anymore. Dieting, after all was never the problem before, it was keeping it off. Now I can't even diet to lose. Anyway, no you're not alone.
   — [Anonymous]

June 20, 2000
I'm right there with you. Can't get below 207# (more according to the surgeon). I lost 3# last month and the surgeon accused me of eating too much. He never says the word plateau, just says I'm eating too much. I don't graze, eat 3 meals a day, walk, drink and drink and drink. I'm wondering the same thing myself...'is that all there is?'
   — kaydeeb16

June 20, 2000
Actually, you all are putting way too much emphasis on the actual number, rather than on your body fat content. If you have spent a good portion of your life heavy, your muscle and bone mass are going to be more dense. Also, your genetics are going to dictate your final weight. If you are concerned, have a body mass weighing. This is done under water to determine your actual body fat content which should be about 25%, give or take a couple of percentage points. I expect that my final weight, minus the excess skin that I will have removed, will be about 180 to 200 pounds and I am 5"7". To be fixated on a number is going to drive y'all batty. Fondly,
   — merri B.

June 20, 2000
Just another point...most surgeons do not know about the body mass weighing. I will have to go to a special center that specializes in the MEDICAL (as v. surgical) treatment of weight loss to have it done. Do not allow yourself to be brow beaten by a, shall we say, less than fully informed physician. Just to give you an example, my 5'4", 150 pound sister was constantly in trouble with the Army for being overweight until they measured her body fat content, which was 26%, well within their requirements. She just happens to be of peasant stock like the rest of the Busch's with no aristocratic litheness.
   — merri B.

June 21, 2000
Dani, please do not get discouraged. I also say this to the individual who posted anonymously below. We need to stop beating ourselves up over plateaus. With all of our many dieting experiences, we have ALWAYS thought of plateaus as dieting failures - that we are not doing our part. In fact, plateaus in ALL of us who have had WLS WILL happen, and it is perfectly normal. It is our body's way of saying "whoooaaaaaaaaa, lots of changes have been happening, and we need to play catch up for a bit". Plateaus can last days, weeks, or months. Increase your exercise, water and protein, and make sure you're not eating too many carbs. This isn't the end of your weight loss, it's just a break. Also, be sure to take monthly measurements. You will find that even when you are not losing pounds, you are still losing inches. And you should still be noticing changes in your clothing. Muscle is heavier than fat but is leaner and looks better. Hang in there! You might want to make an appointment with your nutritionist to go over your food intake if you are still really concerned. This could help pinpoint if you have a particular problem that is causing the plateaus. Good luck. Smile. You're doing great!!!
   — Paula G.

June 21, 2000
Dani, I have heard that a plateau can be broken if you either eat more than you have been or take in only proteins for a few days. I have been there but I increased my exercise and/or food intake until I started lossing again. Hope this helps!
   — [Anonymous]

June 21, 2000
Try strength training. Don't be afraid that you'll bulk up like a man because you won't (not unless you do it to the extreme!). Some people still insist that aerobic exercise is the only way to lose weight and that strength training only bulks muscles, making us look bigger. While it's true that strength training does tone muscles, adding muscle will increase metabolism and cause the body to burn more calories. It's not really the act of lifting weights that burns calories it's the muscle that is added which burns much more calories. Strength training and aerobics are a perfect combo. Now, my other piece of advice about plateaus...resist the urge to weigh yourself. I've only been weighed when I went in for my follow up appointments (I'm almost 3 months postop) and it's made all the difference in the world. I don't have a scale at home right now so not weighing myself is easy. After my 3 month follow up I will probably get one because I don't think I can go 3 months without finding out if I'm losing weight. I think I'll have to keep it at my mom's house though to resist the urge to hop on it every day!
   — Kellie L.