Question:
Five months tomorrow and on a plateau for about a month

Hi all, I am in desperate need of your advice. I am 5 months out and have lost 80 pounds (yeah!)and have gotten my energy back, but I have been on a plateau for over a month. It also seems that now, I can hardly tolerate anything to eat as well. Everything makes me feel sick to my stomach. I tried protein bars with small amounts of sugar at the advice of my dietician, because the sugar alternatives make me sooo sick. But all of a sudden I can not tolerate any sugar at all (which is definately not a bad thing). But I can't tolerate cheese, yogurt chicken, beef, or hardly anything else for that matter. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm scared to death to eat, because it takes hours to stop feeling sick. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!    — Stacy T. (posted on April 4, 2003)

April 4, 2003
HI, Stacy I'm 8 months out and have lost 78 pounds, congrats on your exceptional weight loss. I have so far hit 3 plateaus. Don't worry it will happen, I stood still for weeks and then all the sudden by doing nothing any different I would loose 5 pounds in a week and go on from there. I have been on this plateau for a month now and it does get to you, but I am confident we will both break it and loose again. I to can only tolerate certain foods, so that is what I eat mostly, just the things I can tolerate, and stay away from the things I can't. This to changes from time to time. I have resorted to eating a lot of beef jerky to get my protein, it doesn't seem to bother me to eat it and I can not tolerate any other beef. Good luck and I hope this helps. Leeann Norton [email protected]
   — leeann N.

April 4, 2003
I am having the same problems and they are pretty sure it is an ulcer and possibly a stricture. I am taking Carafate and now have no pain but still can't really eat.
   — Sandi O.

April 4, 2003
Hi Stacey, I will be at 5 months on Sunday. I have lost 75lbs (30 to go) and I have not lost anything for over 3 weeks. Someone suggested going to fitday.com and tracking. I did this on Tuesday of this week and was amazed at what I learned. I found out for the amount of calories I consumed, I was intaking too much fat/carbs that I was unaware of. I started watching that (stoped using ranch dressing) and exercised a little different. Normally I walk 45 to 1 hr nightly. Wednesday I did the hour then also fit in a Richard Simmons "Sweating to the Oldies" in. I noticed today I went down 2lbs. So I guess switching it up and being educated on the breakout of my calories (the pie chart on fitday) really may help. Just a suggestion.
   — Sharon F.

April 4, 2003
I am guessing that you are on a plateau because you are currently unable to eat anything. For me, once I increased my calories by increasing the amounts of quality protein and complex carbs, my weight loss increased. I would check with your doc to see what is happening that is the cause on not being able to eat-ASAP. Maybe a scaope would be in order? I hope that you feel better soon. Best wishes in your process.
   — Heather N.

April 4, 2003
I just posted a similar response to another question. Why is there no info on your profile? At 5 months post-op, your profile should have up to date info that we can use to help you with our responses. I would urge all new post-ops to try to keep their profiles updated-it is especially helpful for us that want to provide the best advice we can to help you. For instance, I wanted to know if you were able to tolerate cheese, beef, yougurt etc at one point and now you can't...if that is the case, then perhaps you do have an ulcer. What can you eat and not feel ill? Is this the reaction you get from all foods or just the ones listed? Sorry, I couldn't be more help..as for plateaus they happen to all of us, frustrating for sure. The good thing is that they all pass as long as we are doing the right things...
   — Cindy R.