Question:
is gaining normal

last week I finally hit 167 aftwer having a month of only five pounds weight loss in May and for June I only lost four. This week I range from 174-170. I have no excuses of water retention this week and I'm concerned and frustrated. Surgery was on Dec. 13th.    — elaine27 (posted on July 9, 2003)

July 8, 2003
I feel your pain! I'm at five and a half months post and my loss has pretty much stalled for the last month. I lost four pounds last week and then regained a pound (!) --hope it's just PMS...it's a terrible feeling, but I must still be losing inches as clothes are still getting looser. I'm coping by trying not to weigh more than once a week, and increasing water while reducing carbs (use Ketostix if you want, to see if you're in ketosis, although it's not necessary)...that worked for me the last time I stalled. If reducing carbs doesn't work, try increasing them, or increasing your calorie count. Apparently if our bodies thing we're "starving" the loss can pause for a time but upping your intake breaks that trend. Also, remember that muscle weighs more than fat so if you're working out, you may be losing inches and gaining weight in the form of muscle. How cool is that?
   — gamboge

July 9, 2003
How much have you lost so far? You seem unhappy with your weight loss throughout your entire profile, yet to me it looks like you've done really well! The "honeymoon period" (first six months post-op) tend to be the fastest, weight-loss-wise. Questions to address now are, how much are you eating (you could literally not be eating enough, which could stall your weight loss), how much and how hard are you exercising (if you can -- I see you've had some chronic pain problems :-( ), and are you eating a high-protein, relatively low-carb diet (which means different things to different people)? Weight loss is going to slow down at this point for most, but it does NOT have to stop and usually continues for quite awhile yet. Try to focus on how much you've accomplished so far, how your eating habits and exercise habits are doing (because changing those permanently is the key to long-term success), and it may be time to leave the frustration behind when the scale is not at *the* number you want yet -- that's diet mentality (we all know it so well). Just my 2c. Hang in there!
   — Suzy C.

July 9, 2003
I am hoping you and I are in the same boat. This has happened to me before and is currently going on. I weigh every day, and about 3 days ago, for no reason, I went up 3.5 lbs, then up .5 the next day! It does not appear to be water retention - that usually shows up in my lower legs and hands, and it is not the case this time. (Not sodium or carb related, either!) I am staying put today (weighed the same). Last time this happened, I dropped about 7 lbs in 2-3 days, so you may drop below the 167 lb mark after a few days. I am hoping I will drop a few pounds soon. (Back when I did a low carb diet, this was called "whooshing".)
   — koogy

July 9, 2003
After reading your profile, I see that you are a lightweight and your loss seems normal to me. You need to be happy with the loss that you have accomplished this far. Your fluctuation could be from a number of things, could even be just that your body is trying to figure out where it wants to be. Could be that you are so near the end that you will now have to put more effort into your weight loss. I would love to have lost 4 lbs. last month, and 5 the prev. month. That is a total of 9 lbs. That makes a pretty nice dent in your total loss. It DOES slow down even more, so expect that and maybe you won't be so disappointed. There will be months where you lose only 1 lb. or NONE. Those days will come. When that happens, be happy that you didn't gain anything. You really need to look at the positve side to your journey. I was a LW, lost slowly, but loved every pound that I did lose. After 6 months, my loss slowed way down. But I expected that to happen b/c I knew that I was a LW and would lose slowly. At 20 months post-op, my body is still finding its place. I go up, I come back down. Its just all part of this wonderful journey. Your window is still wide open, take advantage of it and you can do it!!
   — Cheri M.

July 9, 2003
Darlene, you need to focus on positive! I read your profile and I read alot of negative comments and how your losses still weren't good enough and how your 'disappointed'. Would you rather have the pounds you lost back? Your doing great! Your right on track and don't forget, it does get tougher the closer you get to goal. I was a slow loser too so I feel your frustration. I plateaued EVERY MONTH starting at 3 weeks out. In the begining I would lose 5-7lbs one week and then plateau for 3 or more. Each platau got longer and longer. That was my cycle and I just started to expect it. It took me almost 6 months to lose my last 40lbs! I thought it would NEVER go away! And, stay off the scale for awhile! Your driving yourself crazy. I used to weigh everyday and I would weigh in the morning and then at nite. I can gain up to 4-5lbs in a DAY! Its normal.
   — Kris T.