Question:
Once upping protein and H20, how long to break plateau? Days? Weeks?

I am 10 weeks post op, down 54 pounds. I keep hitting plateaus for 4-5 days at a time. I am upping protein and H20. How long will it take to break plateaus? Two to three days? A week? Weeks? Also, I walk two miles in 30 minutes almost every day, so I am exercising.    — raye (posted on April 8, 2003)

April 8, 2003
I'm sorry to inform you that not losing weight for 4-5 days is NOT considered a plateau. Plateaus last much longer, weeks to months. You are losing weight the way your body loses, which sounds like every 5 days or so. You will eventually know (if your like most of us) what those dreaded plateaus are like. It is the bodys way of catching up with the loss, so don't despair, just continue what you are doing, lots of protein, water and exercise, no drinking with or right after meals and minimizing sugar and carbs and you will continue to lose. Your right on track.
   — Cindy R.

April 8, 2003
I stayed off the scale, for weeks at a time, in the first several month after my WLS (to avoid driving myself nuts ... which sometimes happened anyway, when I did get on the scale). Towards the end I weighed in more frequently. I noticed that for two weeks, I basically stayed the same (up and down), and then there would be a drop representing a real loss. Then it would start again. I agree with Cindy, if you're seeing this as a pattern, for you, it's not necessarily a plateau -- it's just the way you lose. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

April 8, 2003
I didn't lose weight for almost one week during my fourth week post-op, and I was also doing all the right things. When I discussed this with my surgeon, he explained that I wasn't going through a plateau, but experiencing normal weight loss. During the first few weeks of surgery (maybe longer for some), we are mainly losing water. That is why we lost weight so fast. After the weight loss that I had the first 3 weeks, I wanted to lose 1+ pounds per day like I did at first. When you get the water lost and you start to actually lose fat, your loss will become much slower. I was informed that 1-3lbs. per week will be the norm. If I lost too much more than 3lbs a week, I may be also losing muscle, which we definately need to keep! The best advice to give is what everyone else states, is to get rid of the scale, and keep doing what your doing. It will come off! Good Luck!
   — Jane T.

April 8, 2003
I was driving myself crazy weighing every day and not watching that scale move. I was walking several days a week on the treadmill, and then I upped my water/protein AND switched my exercise plan. I now do some aerobic tapes (higher impact like step class) or the elliptical trainer at the YMCA or swim laps and I'm seeing a more consistent loss. Walking is great, but you get a bigger calorie burn if you change the exercise. Mix things up, so you don't get bored and your body doesn't get used to the same old routine! Best of luck! CB - 1/27/03 - 298/250/175
   — CrystalBroj