Question:
what should you do if you gain weight, then reach a pateaus? only 4wks post op?

i asked my doc exactly what size was my stomach when i went in for my two week check up because i feel like i can eat alot compared to alot of you. He pointed to a plastic coffee cup and said it was about that size. He told me no sugars and i have been trying to uphold that. But i really get discouraged and scared when i can eat a whole cup of food and i am at a pateau. I am also hungry sometimes. Is that normal? if anyone has had the same problem or has some advice please email me.... Thanks    — Tee B. (posted on March 2, 2003)

March 2, 2003
you have described me exactly!! I can eat a cup at times too..I dont do sugars coz I want this to work so I do sugar free..Im losing pretty slow too im 6 weeks and lost 21 pounds..I get hungry too but when I do I drink more and that helps me out for a bit longer..my dietician said dont worry about the amount you are able to eat coz as long as you are eating healthy and gettin your protein you are fine!
   — christine S.

March 2, 2003
The answer is: wait it out, keep doing the right things like exercise and staying away from refined carbs. I hit plateaus all the time...but...after almost 8 months I have lost close to 90 pounds...not as if any of us would have a success like that on Weight Watchers! Remind yourself how difficult it would be with out your new tummy and have trust in the program/surgery. Good luck, you will do great!
   — missmollyk

March 2, 2003
The short answer is, yes, you are normal. The first of many plateaus usually hits at about 3-4 weeks post-op and can last for a few weeks to a month, then the weight loss picks up again. Just stick with the program and to keep from getting depressed, don't get on the scale every day. Someone in my support group said that for the first 6 months she only got on the scale once a month-that way she was guaranteed with a large and exhilarating weight loss. Your surgeon should have quantified how much is a cup of coffee in oz. Next time you see him, ask how many oz your pouch is. As for being hungry-we all get hungry eventually. You need to distinguish as an early post-op, though, is it actual hunger or head hunger (missing the old days of eating all the time). If it is actual hunger, then eat! Just eat good, healthy, protein first foods. As for the whole cup, depends on the consistency. Foods that chomp down to water, like salad, you can easily eat a whole cup or more, but try eating a cup of chicken chunks and I don't think you'll get down a whole cup. If you are eating protein first, not drinking with or right after meals, exercising, drinking lots of water and lo-carbs/sugars, then you will be successful.
   — Cindy R.

March 2, 2003

   — Linda A.

March 2, 2003
It seems as if I could eat more and had more hunger at 4 weeks than I can now at almost 8 weeks. I also plateau'd at 3-4 weeks. It will get better. Hang in there.
   — susanje

March 2, 2003
I thought I was the only one out there like this! I'm 3 weeks post-op tomorrow and I can eat more than most people on this board. I don't know how big my pouch is but I do eat protein first and I eat about a half-cup of solid food at a time (I eat slow but I am still hungry sometimes.) Are you getting enough water and are you exercising?
   — lizinPA

March 2, 2003
I went through the hunger stage. I'm not sure why, but when I was about 3-4 weeks post op - I was really hungry! Now I am 3 months out and eat between 1/2 - 1 cup at a sitting. I also hit a plateau that lasted 3 weeks when I was about 5 weeks out. I am now 3 1/2 months out and have lost 66 lbs - I just finished with my second plateau, which lasted 2 weeks. Good Luck.
   — kandi S.

March 2, 2003
WOW! 1 cup of food! My pouch would explode. However, my pouch is 1/2 ounce. I'm amazed when it stretches to handle 3/8-1/2 cup. It depends on what I am eating and how dense it is whether I can eat more than 1/4 cup. However, I also have hit a slight plateau as I only lost 2 lbs in week 3 and 5 lbs in week 4. So I'm down a total of 25 lbs. Which sounds like a lot but I am a super morbidly obese that started at 421 day of surgery and have about 240 lbs to go to an ideal weight. So I expected to lose more the first month because of where I started. But then again I managed to lose 21 lbs before surgery on the protein and veggie diet my surgeon had me on for 2 weeks, so maybe this is my 6 week plateau. I'll be 4 weeks tomorrow. He just told me to keep working on getting in my water and the loss will come. He said my body is still trying to figure out everything. I faithfully stay with protein and the only carbs I'm getting are the few that come within some things, but I try and limit that also. Hang in There!
   — zoedogcbr