Question:
Plateau at two weeks post-op!!!!

I had my surgery on Feb. 6. I lost 13 pounds the first week and have lost nothing this past week. I know I shouldn't weigh myself EVERYDAY, but I have and the scale is not moving. I had open RNY. I had beef jerky (1 oz) twice, but besides that I haven't cheated. Yesterday I had a can of tomato soup throughout the day and 2 protein shakes. I walk and chase kids. I don't get it. I am a relative lightweight, but c'mon, this is ridiculous. Please send words of wisdom. Thanks.    — M O. (posted on February 20, 2003)

February 20, 2003
My best advice to you is to stay off the scales. Throw them away or have someone hide them. My surgeon asks his patients not to weight except at his office and now you know why. I weighed at 12 days post-op and not again til I was 10 weeks out. I lost 30 pounds the first time and 66 the second. But I didn't get near scales between and it was so nice to see that big jump. He then asked me not to weigh for six more months but I had to see him before then and he weighed me. In fact, he does let us weigh (unofficially) once a month at support group meetings. I am almost 15 months post-op now and have lost a total of 171 pounds. I just had my tummy tuck and things are good. But because I followed my doctor's directions, I didn't worry about plateaus.
   — Patty_Butler

February 20, 2003
I can top your story. I had a complication right after my surgery and ended up on liquids for almost three weeks...when I got home I had actually GAINED weight...then to top it off, I lost a bunch of weight for a week or two, then a plateau. Here's the deal...plateaus are good I have found. It means your body is catching up...means less loose skin down the road! It also means when the plateau breaks, you will see a few pounds gone all of a sudden. I am the queen of plateaus...but overall I have lost 85 pounds (and currently on a plateau) in 7 months. Not to B-A-D. I am a weigh-a-holic too...but please KNOW, I mean KNOW that it is temporary! I have found sticking to a very high protein, very low carb diet for a few days usually gets the ball rolling again. Congrats on your 13 pound loss!
   — missmollyk

February 20, 2003
hi, i can't explain plateau's but just wanted to say i know how you feel. i to went through the same thing. weeks 3 through 6 the scale didn't budge and it's so frustrating, but it will pass. you didn't just have surgery to lose 13lbs which is great for one week. how many time could you say that you lost 13lbs on a regular diet in one week? pat yourself on the back drink as much as you can and beef jerky isn't bad it's protien but at your stage i wasn't allowed to eat something quite so tuff. you should be on pureedd or soft foods right now. best luck and wishes. open rny 11/12/02 -59lbs
   — kimberly T.

February 20, 2003
hi there :) congrats on your surgery! what you are going through is more common than not, your body is still healing and getting used to the new routine, trust me, youll lose weight! this really works! i know its very easy to get discouraged as a new post op, your eating and drinking so very little and it just doesnt seem fair that the darn scale doesnt plummet as fast as wed like it to. i wish you the best of luck, hang in there, and dont sweat it, the lbs are ganna come off :)
   — carrie M.

February 20, 2003
Hi there, I also weigh myself everyday - cant help it. I hit my first plateau at 4-5 weeks and it lasted 3 weeks - it did eventually pass though. I am now 3 months out (and on another plateau) and have lost 64 lbs (down from a 24 to 16). My first plateau really scared me, but now I like them - measure your inches - mine always go down quite a bit during plateaus. Good Luck and you'll be fine.
   — kandi S.

February 21, 2003
Hi. From all I've read on AMOS, it is very common to have a mini plateau at 2 weeks out. I read all about it, because I was there too. I lost 7 pounds my first week, 6 my second week, and then none the third week. That, of course, was the week that I went to the surgeon for a check up! I'm on the pill, and the fourth week was my week off-- and I lost another 6 pounds. As a result I lost 19 my first month, which isn't bad for a "lightweight".<br> If you are doing what you should, the weight will come off. It sounds like you are, except that I would suggest that you make time to walk-- it will help your metabolism go faster, and could help. <br> In the future, don't forget to check the library when you are upset about a problem. You'd be surprised how many times the same questions are asked, and reading the answers can be very comforting.<br> Good luck, Beth (Open RNY 1/15/03, originally 222 lbs down 21 lbs.)
   — Beth S.

February 21, 2003
I am only a month out from you but I can tell you that you are going to be miserable if you stay chained to that scale. I've had a plateau at every week since my surgery but am steadily losing pounds and probably more inches. Get rid of the scale or only weigh once a week. If you're a lightweight and/or slow loser, you're going to torture yourself if you don't.
   — susanje

February 21, 2003
I was a lightweight too and had an early 3-week plateau. I panicked thinking that 20 pounds was all I was going to lose. Well, once my body had a chance to figure out what was going on I went on to lose the rest of the weight. Don't worry about it. Maybe you'll be like me and get your plateau out of the way early and not have another one! :) Be sure that you are measuring as well as weighing. I was losing inches even though the pounds did not come off during that time. When I finally broke the plateau I went down 2 sizes overnight! Good luck and just be patient with your body. 230 lbs/22W/2-3X to 130 lbs/6P/Small =)
   — ctyst