Shamroxx

It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?
I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.
Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.
For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:
What can you do to "break" a stall?
1) STAY OFF THE SCALE
Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.
2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE
In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.
3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY
As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.
If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).
4) EXERCISE
If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.
5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT
If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).
6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE
About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.
7) JOURNAL
One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.
-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.
-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.
-- Write about what life was like before surgery.
-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.
-- Write about your fears.
-- Write about your NSVs.
-- Make a gratitude list.
-- Make a bucket list.
-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.
Just write.
8) SEEK HELP
Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.
The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.
The last, and most important thing you can DO is:
9) EMBRACE THE STALL
Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.
Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.
Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.
If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I bought a pair of size 12 slim leg jeans yesterday as an incentive but....they fit me now!!!! They arent event the stretchy type material or relaxed fit. I am sooo stoked.

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

My issue is that I've shopped at Torrid and the Avenue which are not inexpensive. A pair of pants can easily cost $50.00. I'm considering getting as much tailored as I can. But things that weren't incredibly expensive I'll either donate or sell to a consignment shop. Maybe throwing out your old clothes will force you to work harder to NOT go back to the larger sizes ever again!!

I definitely experienced buyer's remorse from the day of surgery until about the beginning of my second week out of surgery. I was lucky to not feel sick or vomit or anything like that. My issue were my stomach muscles. The only way that I was comfortable and in no pain or discomfort was if I was lying completely flat on my back. For awhile I thought that I would bedridden for the rest of my life! That made me regret the surgery. Then I started feeling better and saw the weight melting off and became grateful for this tool. I've been stalled for a few weeks so it's been somewhat challenging to stay motivated and upbeat but I just keep telling myself that it can't last forever and that I just have to keep doing what I know is right. You're not alone girlfriend!! Go look at some before and after photos - that may pep you up a bit! It sure got me out of my funk! We're here for you! We're all in this together!

I definitely experienced buyer's remorse from the day of surgery until about the beginning of my second week out of surgery. I was lucky to not feel sick or vomit or anything like that. My issue were my stomach muscles. The only way that I was comfortable and in no pain or discomfort was if I was lying completely flat on my back. For awhile I thought that I would bedridden for the rest of my life! That made me regret the surgery. Then I started feeling better and saw the weight melting off and became grateful for this tool. I've been stalled for a few weeks so it's been somewhat challenging to stay motivated and upbeat but I just keep telling myself that it can't last forever and that I just have to keep doing what I know is right. You're not alone girlfriend!! Go look at some before and after photos - that may pep you up a bit! It sure got me out of my funk! We're here for you! We're all in this together!

Leggings are so freakin' comfortable I refuse NOT to wear them! I have all kinds of designs too - from plain black ones to those with flowers or skulls on them!! I have at least 30 pair or maybe even more! Until I'm much smaller they are my go to! I get the thicker ones though so they don't necessarily look like tights. I even have a few pair of jeggings (leggings that look like jeans)!! Sooooo comfy!!! Rock on with your leggings girlfriend! I totally support this movement! :)

Leggings are so freakin' comfortable I refuse NOT to wear them! I have all kinds of designs too - from plain black ones to those with flowers or skulls on them!! I have at least 30 pair or maybe even more! Until I'm much smaller they are my go to! I get the thicker ones though so they don't necessarily look like tights. I even have a few pair of jeggings (leggings that look like jeans)!! Sooooo comfy!!! Rock on with your leggings girlfriend! I totally support this movement! :)

They are pants or whatever I decide I want them to be! People are so quick to tell someone what they can and can't wear at certain weights. Sure, some articles of clothing don't necessarily flatter everyone but I've decided I will not allow anyone to tell me what I can and cannot wear ever again so to Celebrate that new found freedom I'm wearing leggings, My daughter snapped a picture and I'm sharing it!!! Like it or not!! Oh and when my new tall boots show up this week that cover my thick legs I'm going to wear them too!!! Hope everyone is winning their own battles.

Congratulations!! You're the third one that I read about getting preggo today! Makes me nervous I won't lie. I want to wait at least a year and a half before getting pregnant. Better restock my birth control huh?? Were you on birth control?

Congrats on your success!! My surgery is Monday!! I can't wait!
It's so strange (and sad) that some women have great difficulty being supportive and complimentary to other women. I, on the other hand, go out of my way to compliment women. There is a girl at my church that over heard me talking about my upcoming surgery to someone else and immediately started saying negative things about the process and telling me that I'm fine the way that I am. Really??? Or do you just NOT want me to have the surgery because you know what it will do for my confidence and self esteem?? I think that sometimes your awesomeness (my made up word lol) magnifies the insecurities of others! I hate that it's that way but I'm finding that more often than not - it is that way.
Anyway! Yooooouuu, my dear, look amazing! I'm so happy for you!!!!!

9lbs in one week??? Holy moly!! That's awesome!!! Good for you!! :D

Congrats on your success!! My surgery is Monday!! I can't wait!
It's so strange (and sad) that some women have great difficulty being supportive and complimentary to other women. I, on the other hand, go out of my way to compliment women. There is a girl at my church that over heard me talking about my upcoming surgery to someone else and immediately started saying negative things about the process and telling me that I'm fine the way that I am. Really??? Or do you just NOT want me to have the surgery because you know what it will do for my confidence and self esteem?? I think that sometimes your awesomeness (my made up word lol) magnifies the insecurities of others! I hate that it's that way but I'm finding that more often than not - it is that way.
Anyway! Yooooouuu, my dear, look amazing! I'm so happy for you!!!!!

Good luck on Monday.

Yay! New shoes!

My toes are skinnier.

@@Shamroxx
My shoe size went down two sizes. All I needed was that excuse to buy amazing new shoes. Loving heels. I can walk so much easier in them.

My feet shrank a little because they were less swollen. I look at my pre-surgery pictures and my poor ankles and feet were swollen. For the most part I fit into all my old shoes but the ones that I wore a lot are now too big for me. Prior to surgery I was at an 8 and now I'm a 7-7.5, so not a huge difference and I think most of it was just not making my feet carry an extra 100 pounds of weight everyday more so than having had fat feet.

My feet didn't necessarily shrink. I had lots of foot swelling, on and off, when I was overweight. I had to buy a 1/2 size bigger to accommodate the temporary swelling. Since losing 170lbs, my feet went back to my high school size of 10 1/2 and have stayed that size for 2 years now.
P.S. My feet are ripped now baby! I have the feet of a bodybuilder! Too bad I don't have the matching six-pack abs! :-(

Soooo just curious for all those on the losers bench - did your feet shrink along with the rest of your body? I have my surgery on Monday ( emotions all over the place lol) and while talking to one of my girlfriends she asked if she could have all of my shoes (I'm a collector ) once I'm at my goal weight. I thought that was weird and asked her why would I give away my shoes - she said that her cousin had lost about 75 pounds and her shoe size went from an 8.5 to a 7. I was totally shocked! Has this happened to anyone else out there??? I knew that my clothes would no longer fit and I was prepared to make monthly donations to the Salvation Army or my local homeless shelter but my shoes??? How true it this?????

I've heard of this too. Very interesting. I'd like to know.
I don't have chubby feet so I wonder if mine will change.

A few years ago I lost about 80 lbs and I did go down a shoe size. I think it might depend on how chubby your feet are to begin with. Mine are/were pretty chubby and wide and I often had a hard time finding a pair that would fit me right at my bigger weight. It's not an issue when I'm smaller.

Hi there -- congrats on being on the other side!
You asked: "Do I just have to push past this to get my fluids in?"
Short answer: yes. I had the same issue, as have many posters here. It's not easy to navigate, but in a relatively short time things will improve. Each day should get a little easier! Hang in and perhaps try sucking on a popsicle to get in some fluids. That helped me.

15 cc every 15 minutes. More than this will cause that pain and pressure. Slow wins the hydration race. I was sent home with medicine cups to portion out Water and my Protein Shakes. Watch the clock and just get it in. Don't get behind or you will be super dehydrated and dizzy. Each day will get better. You will be able to double to 30cc every 15 minutes in a day or two.

I am a big person with a big personality. I think most people would be afraid to say anything about "easy way out" to me. I'm actually waiting for that day, so I can make my lower lip tremble, produce a small tear brimming on my eye, and say, very quietly, "why would you say something so hurtful and mean?"