LzL

I know exactly how frustrating these stalls are. Especially because this was my first stall so soon after surgery. 2 weeks post-op I stalled, BIG TIME. It lasted for 5 1/2 weeks before it finally broke. So far it's working and I hope I keep losing.

It was suggested to me I was in starvation mode. What I did was changed up my pattern and added 100-200 calories to my diet by eating an extra snack. (I know, tough to do when your new stomach is so small). But essentially I was trying to fool my body into believing it was no longer starving.

I also started doing 1 vegie/fruit blast each day. Since surgery, I haven't had the room to eat the vegies and fruits after eating the protien foods, so by doing a blast it seems to take care of a few things. I can now get my vegies/fruits in (plus the fiber) and I add a small handful of nuts to include the protein. It also counts as a liquid. And it's really easy on the digestion and helps things along, which is an extra plus.

I started this 8 days ago. My stall broke 4 days ago and I've lost an additional 3 lbs since my stall.

It works for me...

I can sooooo relate with your weight stall issue. I've been going through the same thing myself. My WLS was in early July. I lost 25 lbs in the 3 months prior to surgery and only 5 lbs during the pre-op diet stage. 2 weeks after surgery I lost an additional 15 lbs. Then HALT! NADA! ZILCH! NOTHING! for 5 weeks... OH MY GOD! What happened... Why did I stop losing! I figured this was some kind of joke someone was playing on me or something. I also know that I'm consuming way fewer calories than the recommended daily allowance. So why was I not losing?

What I came to the conclusion was that there was more going on that needed to be addresses. So like the detective I am, I did some research. I found that the reason for the stall is what they call "starvation mode". It's when your body is in diet mode for a long period of time and your body has adjusted to the new levels of nutrition you are consuming. It's like your body is hanging on to every ounce because it thinks you need to keep it. I also found that because I am consuming so much protein, I also am not getting in the fruits and vegies as much as I like to. So here's what I did:

I started adding a vegie/fruit smoothie every day to my diet. These smoothies can be incorporated with nuts to give you extra protein as well. Because they are a smoothie, the whole vegies and fruits will go through your stomach very easy without upsetting because it is all liquid. It not only helped "move things along", but it gave me a lot more balance. I also increased my calories by 100-200 calories a day. (I know... not easy after your stomach has been shrunk to the size of your fist). But if you add an extra snack in... it helps. Instead of 3 meals/snacks... I increased to 4 meals/snacks... Less time in between meals, so my body does not recognize that I'm 'starving' for food.

Another thing I've done is started logging my food and liquid intake on a calorie/nutrition website that calculates your nutrition values. I use My Fitness Pal. The calculator logs calories, protein, fats and carbs. That way you can tell each day if you are getting the recommended nutrition you need to stay healthy and still loose. If you get too few calories for too many days in a row, the calcualtor will let you know you can be in danger of 'starvation mode' which will possibly inhibit your weight loss.

I've started losing again (3 lbs) so now I'm no longer trying to through my scale through the bathroom window.

Sooo, if I go through a stall again, (and I know it will happen), I know that all I have to do is change up my diet and kick start it with fluctuating my daily calorie intake and change one or tow of my diet choices by either eating a bit more, or more often or drinking more fluids, or eating more vegies or something that will change the routine.

Anyway... hope this helps.

I want to wish you the very best with your upcoming surgery.

Happy thoughts!

I can relate. I'm still having problems dealing with excercise. The femroal nerve pain I've been experiencing is preventing me from extending my LEFT leg while I'm walking, so I limp... badly. And the shooting pain with each step makes it so hard to walk for more than a few minutes at a time.

I have to say, however, this pain is nothing compared to the multiple pains from the last 4 years in my spine, hips and RIGHT leg (which are improving since post-op 2 months ago).

I'm hoping what I'm going through now is just a phase and won't last for too terribly long. I know movement is important, but excercise is still a big challenge for me. I'm really looking forward to get away from handicapped parking and walking in the grocery store on my own instead of riding in a stupid scooter cart.

Maybe I should try a new bed... can't hurt. I've tried everything else.

WAY COOL! I thought our company had great benefits... This really beats anything I've ever seen.

I'm hoping to find a good support group near me, but so far, I only found things for surgery and what leads up to it. Not much available post-op. Don't get me wrong, this on-line group is great, but I think it would be wonderful to have inner action with live folks too.

A sleeve buddy... I really like that idea.

I can so appreciate where you started from. I was also the "fat chick" all my life. My new surgi-birthday is July 6th, very close to yours.

How is it going for you so far?

Me? it's going OK. I have my good days, and then sometimes not so good, but for the most part, I've lost more weight since I started this journey than I every have my entire life. So those not-so-good days... will pass.

I lost a bit of weight before surgery and have lost an additional 15lbs. since my surgery. Yahhh!

Best regards... LzL

I also had my surgery with Dr. Verboonen. He also performs surgery in Cancun. I flew there because there was no way on God's green earth that I would have been able to afford to do it in the US. This was my only hope to get this surgery. Otherwise, I'd be stuck in my heavy body forever.

My decision was a good one. The experience was excellent and I am now 6 wks post-op and home doing just fine.

I know your surgery will go well.

LzL

Last week I was out with a friend who lovvvvves his chicken wings... Well, I'm still supposed to be on soft foods, but I couldn't resist. I took one chicken wing and de-boned it and removed the fat and chewed very, very, very thoroughly. (not easy to do by the way). It took about 1/2 an hour, but I managed to eat the whole wing and was satisfied. Go figure! Me, eating only 1 wing... That's one for the books.

Menallty prepared is what I've been for months prior to my surgery. I have been dillegent with what my pre-op, post-op and now soft food diets. It's been almost 5 weeks post-op and I've only lost 15 lbs. I haven't lost anything for almost 10 days... I hear of so many who lose 30 lbs or more their first month and are elated with this new found energy. I'm still wondering when all this wonderful energy is supposed to kick in. I still can't seem to get up enough steam to exercise regularly. Especially after working all day. I get home and fall asleep before 6:00 pm.

Most of the time I try to stay positive and I'm very glad I've lost some weight, but it's a daily struggle. Being regular is my biggest challenge. It seem like even with as little as I'm eating, that everything goes in and absolutely nothing comes out... I'm not sure if that is a big deal or not, because I don't know if this is normal, but it seems to me that you can't just keep taking in food and lose weight without letting some of it go.

I hope this is only beginner's bad luck syndrome and things will pick up with the progress.