Question:
What can I do when hitting a plateau?

i am 2 1/2 months post op.rny proximal. i have lost 39 lbs. i lost 2 to 3 lbs every week. last week i started excerising with CURVES FOR WOMEN. it mixes aerobics and weight resistance for 30 minutes on a circuit. my panic is now i didn't loose weight this week. i understand muscle weighs more than fat, but i don't want to stop here. should i wait till i am closer to my goal weight?    — ann R. (posted on September 11, 2000)

September 10, 2000
Hi Ann: ride out the plateau with exercise! You will burn fat instead of compromising muscle tissue and it will get you closer to your goal faster and healthier. Read everything on this site about plateaus...they do end when you follow the program. There are a lot of great suggestions about upping your protien and water intake. There are also some very wise words about how your body needs to readjust from time to time. And read the profiles from the people who posted about plateaus - they've all gone on to lose weight! But if you are on an exercise program now, keep it up. You will feel so much better! Good Luck.
   — Allie B.

September 10, 2000
Allie's right. Your plateau will pass! I am curious about your work out. Was it a tape you bought or is this a gym program? It sounds interesting.
   — Paula G.

September 11, 2000
You are doing great. Plateaus are a normal part of weight loss. I'm 5+ months postop and have had a number of plateaus - some lasting over 3 weeks. I've lost 63 pounds and have gone from size 28 to size 20 so far! Keep up the exercise and you'll do great.
   — Cindy H.

September 11, 2000
You mean the SCALE didn't report your progress. That's all. The progress is there. Your thighs are a little looser, your waist is a hair smaller... It's all happening, but OH SO SLOWLY. If you're already at 60g of protein supplement (with water, not milk) try 90g a day for 2 weeks and add a glass of water over 'n above your 64 oz. And check against the checklist: no milk, no sugar, no grazing, no drinking with meals... That's the part you an control easily. The rest is just waiting.
   — vitalady

September 11, 2000
It could be a number of things. You could be retaining water or it could be muscle. YOu are doing GREAT so just relax and enjoy. Plateaus pass. Sometimes the body just needs to rest
   — snicklefritz

September 11, 2000
Hi, I got a great suggestion from someone here to take my measurements. At times of plateaus I can go back and measure and see the positive results that way. I did not know it but the scales are only one way of chating loss. We lose inches even when we are not losing pounds. I only measured a few parts like arms waist and lower abdomen, bust and neck. I do not have scales at home. Doc said my weight is his concern, mine is sticking to his orders. I will sneak a weigh in someplace else every once in a while but I just know I am not gaining( unless of course I am having my period), then its Water. Good Luck, Trina
   — Courtrina Amur W.

September 11, 2000
DON'T stop exercising just because the scale isn't moving...that would be counterproductive. Exercise is important for many reasons. It helps stabilize your blood sugar, helps burn calories and most importantly it helps build muscle (in combination with protein) so your body won't break down muscle for fuel. The post-op notebook that I was given by BTC said that people that exercise reach their goal sooner than people who don't. I know that a plateau is extremely frustrating. You work so hard but the scale doesn't seem to move. Just remember that the number on the scale is not the whole picture. I just came off what I would basically call a plateau where I only lost 12 lbs in two months (it started when I was 3 months postop). But, I've increased my walking and started lifting weights and after a few weeks my weight loss has picked up again. If you can't keep from weighing yourself (which will only make up upset and frustrated during a plateau) then try taking your scale to someone else's house and only weigh occasionally. Good luck to you.
   — Kellie L.