Question:
8.5 Months Out Plateau Advice Requested

I am 8 1/2 months out post-op and have been hitting plateuas for what seems like the past 3 months. I swear it's because I am exercising now. Seems since I started my weight loss has slowed down and yes halted. I realize that I am building up muscle mass but still the plateaus are frustrating. I get where I hate the scale yet at the same time seem to be obscessed with it. I weigh 217 now and that is after a 2 month plateau. So far I have lost 81.5 pounds. I hope to reach the 200 mark before my 1 year anniversary. Any suggestions from anyone would be most welcome. I really get discouraged during these times.    — scrappenmom (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 4, 2003

   — Linda A.

June 4, 2003
I am 8 mos. out and have been avoiding plateaus of longer than a few days by aggressively limiting carbs and taking in about 60 gams of protein a day. The result: 220 pounds in less than 240 days, with only 30 more to lose to reach my goal. Linda (the previous poster) is living proof of how successful you can be at maintaining weight loss by consistently getting in lots of protein. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

June 4, 2003
Although lots of protein works for Steve and Linda, not everyone is as successful as they have been. Many others concentrate on protein, exercise, drink their water and still experience frustrating plateaus. Everyone is different, and we all lose at different rates, so try not to get frustrated. Revisit the pouch rules to see if you are doing things right-do you know how many calories you are taking in? Do you drink 64 or more oz of water a day- are you doing cardio exercise to pump the heart rate and not just toning exercise, are you concentrating on and getting in enough protein,eating frequently, keeping the carbs and sugars low or eliminating them, not drinking with or right after meals? All the above work together to keep the weight loss moving along, and just doing some of them and not all of them can throw things off. Also, try shaking things up a little to fool the body-eat a few hundred extra calories a day of good protien for a few days, then cut those calories out and a few hundred more for a few days. Alter the exercise routine or add an extra workout session-sometimes all it takes is to do something different to get things moving again. Hang in there, your doing well and your definitely not alone!
   — Cindy R.

June 4, 2003
Darlene, I hit my plateau around the same time, post op.. Oh man I hated it, it lasted for about 3 months, that was until I dove into the Atkins diet, Man the worst diet ever, did it for 8 days and it jumped stated the weight loss from there.... Mix things up, what you're eating vary everything if you can....... that's the only way we're going to trick the body into thinking it's not starving....and to conitue the weight loss.... Post op 12 months down 133 pounds,
   — tannedtigress

June 4, 2003
I am the same out and im doing the same now, this is my 2nd plateau, the first one I just ate more protien, but that is not working for me this time. I am considering trying the Adkins too for a couple weeks!?! I only have 12# until goal and I think im not going to hit. Maybe closer if I get approved for all my nips and tucks:o) I lost so fast and I need to face facts that I can't lose forever. Good luck to you!
   — Sandy M.