Question:
I have been Plateau'ing for the last 7weeks. Could this be related to my lack of BMs?

I, unlike most of the people who post am a male. So I cannot relate to the lack of weight loss attributed to the female periods. I had a Lap RNY on March 25, 2002. I started at 348lbs. In july my appetite increased quite a bit, but I also increased my exercising, quite a bit. For example: My weight loss stopped for about 2 1/2 weeks then dropped 6-7 lbs. But I was walking 2-2 1/2 miles 5-6 times per week fast (30 minutes or less) and doing water aerobics 30 minutes at a time 3-4 times per week. I also do arm lifts, pullups and stomach crunchs. My arms and legs are much toner and stronger. But again, now I stopped losing for the last 4 weeks. I drink 60-80oz of water per day. I get 45-50 grams of protein per day. I eat almost no bread, rice, pasta. But I do eat a few reduced fat wheat thins. My stats from Nutrawatch for the last 6 days (which is the same for the last month) averaged the following: (averages) Calories per day 850 Fat 46g Protein 47g Carbs 71g Sodium 1298 Cholesterol 103 I know my carbs are higher since I intoduced fruit into my diet. I seem to get "backed up for days" with a few BMs then backed up again. After 2-3 weeks or so, things get back to normal, THEN I seem to lose a few lbs. I have not gained any weight, thankfully, but I have great endurance for exersising now. What seems abnormal is my stomach lost 5-6 inches then nothing for about 7 weeks now. I lose upper and lower but nothing in the middle?!! I can really walk fast now, even though I can't run since my back surgery. I did 2 1/2 miles in 24 minutes flat tonite (it was about to pour and the last .75 miles I walked REAL fast)! Any help would be REALLY appreciated. Thanks, Don Andrzejczak    — Don A. (posted on August 12, 2002)

August 12, 2002
Something that I noticed is that even though you are not losing weight, it redistributes itself. Sounds weird, but I went over two months without losing weight and still went down a size in jeans. I'm lazy about measurements so I dont know if that would have reflected any loss. It seems that you are not lazy in that department. You say you have not lost inches in your stomach but did elsewhere. Correct? Sounds to me that it is still coming off, just not like before. You seem to be doing everything right. With only 850 calories and all that exersise, you have to be losing. At least fat! And thats what we want. You are doing great!! Dont stress over the loss...it will come!!!
   — RebeccaP

August 12, 2002
Man am I ticked. I spent around 10 minutes writing and this site did'nt take it. Now I've got to do it again. Pain in the butt to do it twice. Anywho, my surgeon says 90-120 grams of protein for around the first 18 months. You are doing half of that, and you have much higher needs because of the weight lifting. I don't recommend protein drinks as after a couple months you can get what you need by eating. However, you NEED them with the weight lifting. As far as BM's... get some good HIGH FIBER cereal! Some of the Kashis, are good for this. I'm always constipated and a few days ago bought a cereal called "GRAIN SHOP". It's made by Barbara's Bakery. It has 8 grams of fiber. I wrote out all the nutrician stuff last time. Took a long time. I'm not going to do it again as this site never posted it and it takes to much time. If this does'nt give you a BM.. nothing will. lol
   — Danmark

August 12, 2002
I take Citrucel powder in water everyday and it seems to help. If you don't want to try the cereals, this is a good source to use since it is 100% fiber. If I miss a day - I definitely know it.
   — Trish G.

August 12, 2002
OK this is gonna sound strange but I had plateaud for 4 weeks. For the past 2 weeks I increased my food intake, mostly protein and I decreased my exercise...that's right...I did say decrease from about 2 miles a day to about only a 20 minute walk in the evenings...I did that because my energy level was low..ended up being a B12 problem now on shots...anyway in the past 2 weeks I dropped 9 lbs. Sounds unorthodoxed right. I think our bodys go into this conservation mode at times when we are pushing really hard. Maybe if we slow down and take a short break...we actually reset our metabolism. I'm no expert but that is what I think happened in my case.
   — SARose61

August 13, 2002
I think Daniel hit the nail on the head. You are a guy and (although you are losing great!) still a heavy guy. You probably have lots of muscle under there. AND you are building more muscle. You need more protein! I weigh 130 pounds with a lean body mass of 99 pounds and <i>I</i> need 77 grams of protein a day just to maintain that! Go to www.zoneperfect.com to calculate your percent body fat and that will tell you how many grams of protein you require a day.<p>Now about the BM thing, I think that has something to do with it, too. I also go only every few days. I did have a scary experience nearly getting things "stuck," =0 so now I work oatmeal or whole grain cereals/bread into my diet along with fruit. It seems to keep things moving and my weight stopped flipping around so much, too. (You know it's bad when you look in the potty and go, "Well that ought to be worth a pound or two!" ;)<p>You sound like you are doing the right things (and you are doing FAR better with the lo carb thing than I EVER did!) but please make sure you are getting enough protein and taking your supplements (B12, calcium citrate, and multivit) so you don't get sick! The weight will eventually come off. Your body CANNOT sustain itself on 850 calories!
   — ctyst

August 13, 2002
Don, your exercise levels are great! How are you able to do all that with a former back surgery? I ask this as I have had 2 back surgeries and after working out for the first few months at a good pace, I now am suffering from sciatic nerve/disc problems-guess I overdid something. Anyways, I would try upping your calories. 850 for a guy is not alot and I've found that sometimes your body needs a change/shock to get moving again. Up the protein, up the calories for a week or so and see what happens. For the BM's, I eat 1 cup of popcorn each night and trust me, you will be regular in no time!
   — Cindy R.

August 13, 2002
Wow! I was stunned with all the posts! Thanks for all the good advice. Here I am thinking how canI cut more calories or increase my exercising. I own my own company and have a sideline business and two kid, a wife and a house to maintain. Whew. I spend almost every minute of my day doing somthing. I didn't think that my body was in "preserve the weight" mode at all! I almost felt guilty eating a slice of homemade pizza with the lowest calory/zero fat chese I could find. I also found it hard to add more protein and not dramatically increase the calories, but everyone agreed I am to low on both. I will try to double my proteinand add fiber ceral , oatmeal and popconr, not all at once though. And for theposter who asked about the pack problems. I walk almost every day. I take a LOT of vitamins. I feel this helps with my back a lot. Thanks for all the posts, I will keep you informed on how I do. Bless all of you, Don Andrzejczak
   — Don A.