Question:
Help, I stopped losing a month ago, now 4 weeks later, I am same weight!

Ok, I know this is a real plateau,, and I just don't know what to do. I was 3 months on Feb 4 postop, and on Feb 6, I weighed 211,, well here it is today, Feb 25 and I still weigh 211 lbs. In the last few weeks, I have fluctuated from 211 to 215 back to 211. I drink 2 protein shakes a day, I eat protein (chicken, steak, tuna, fish, cheese, nuts, etc) and I drink 70 oz of water and I don't drink when I am eating. I even had an endoscopy last week, and it showed my pouch and stoma are normal. I try to get in about 1000 cal a day...so,, what can I do know to break this plateau. Oh yes, I do exercise, walk and curves. I am so frustrated. My starting weight was 267 and I now weight 211. My surgery was on Nov 4, 2002. Help, please....    — DarlinIYQ (posted on February 25, 2003)

February 25, 2003
To be honest, you can't do anything more than what your doing. Nothing will break a plateau until your body is READY to give up the weight. The body is readjusting itself. Did you take measurements before surgery? Measure yourself. I'm positive the inches are falling off. I plateaued EVERY month during my losing phase. I still managed to go from 300lbs to 170lbs in about a year. Don't worry, it will happen!
   — Kris T.

February 25, 2003
Debbi, I know you must be frustrated but like the last poster said, you are doing all the right things. And, actually it has only been a little under 3 weeks and not 4 (6th to 25th). A 3 week plateau, while frustrating is not unusual. Something that may work for you is to vary your calorie intake for a week- try adding a few hundred calories a day for a few days, then taking away a few hundred for a few days. Also, vary the exercise routine, or add one extra workout session a week. Up the water to even more than 70. I think if you try all of those things, you will see the weight loss pick up again. Even without doing any of the above suggestions, and just doing what you are doing now, it will pick up again.
   — Cindy R.

February 25, 2003
Just let your body catch up with itself. Also, one thing that gets neglected in surgery weight loss is SLEEP. Get at least 8 good hours a night. I notice that I lose when rested. Get in your water, exercise as much as you can, and limit your carbs.
   — George B.

February 25, 2003
Hi! Your body just lost 56lbs in 3 months! That is so super! I think your body is just adjusting and you will lose several lbs real soon at a time to get started again. I've found that walking or exercise will help me break a plateau when everything else I'm doing is correct. I've been a slow loser though. Good Luck! and the weight will come off. Just keep on keeping on. Melisa RNY 08/15/02 -79lbs
   — mbradley35

February 25, 2003
Hon, don't worry about it - you are doing fine. Just keep up what you are doing and you will start losing again. What you are going through is the very reason my surgeon asks his patients NOT TO WEIGH between visits. And, he sees you at 10 days post op, 10 weeks and then not again for 6 months - so that is a long time to not weigh. But if you throw away the scales and follow your eating and exercise plan, the weight will go away and you won't be worried about it. You will hit times when your body has to catch up with the loss and sometimes it takes weeks. Just keep up the good work and don't get discouraged - it will come off, I promise. I lost 171 pounds in less than a year and I didn't exercise because of severe arthritis so you will lose too.
   — Patty_Butler

February 25, 2003
The last week of every month i reach a plateau. I am 13 weeks post op and 73 pounds down. I work out at my work 5 nights a week and I am starting my membership to curves in March. I too was getting frustrated until a friend of mine said, according to the scale you might not be losing any weight because you are gaining muscle. Also just because you aren't losing weight doesn't mean you are not losing inches!!! Think about it and keep up the wonderful work. I could almost care less about how fast my weight comes off, it's the inches that are coming off FAST!! :) It is exciting to look in the mirror and see my body slimming down!!
   — Kim S.