JWalker874

I had surgery in April and my longest stall lasted 3 weeks. I'm glad I've been staying positive and not stressing myself out. Knowing that there might be stalls that can last months is helpful to know so when it happens I'm mentally prepared. ???? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Great post. Thank you for sharing this.
My personal experience with stalls:
I had surgery on 4/19/2016 and have lost 48lbs so far. I never did measure before surgery or after but I have definitely noticed it in the way my clothes fit.
Personally, I like weighing often. I weigh in once or twice a week but mainly to make sure I'm not gaining and to boost my morale and be proud of the progress I've made. I've had stalls that lasted as long as 3 weeks, but then the week after that I drop 5 to 8lbs. I've also had weeks where I've gained a pound or two and that's when I change up my routine and check to make sure I'm sleeping enough, I've been on track with my 90g a day Protein intake, it's not that "time of the month" or that I haven't gone back to some of my old eating habits like grazing or eating junk food late at night.
In my research I learned that losing weight immediately after surgery is due to better Portion Control, change in eating habits, and a drop in Water weight. Over some time, our metabolisms will regulate, and this when the stall happens. Once the metabolism adjusts to the lower weight, it will kick in again.
Your post is a perfect reminder that our bodies have evolved to hang on to fat so being patient and remaining aware of our habits and routine is always important.
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I definitely agree that both pre-and post-op, the stall is discouraging.
I certainly remember many times hearing my doctors and weight watcher people questioning why I wasn't losing weight when I was following the plan. That is definitely when I would give up and say, if restricting my food and enduring this deprivation doesn't work, why even try.
Thankfully, now, for me, giving up isn't an option.
Now that I have learned so much more about how my body works I have more patience. It makes me so much more willing and able to see a stall as an important and necessary part of the process. Not something to be feared or avoided. Plus, I don't weigh often enough to actually observe many stalls.
On retrospect, if I knew this 30-40 years ago, I MAY have saved myself from decades of yo-yo dieting and super morbid obesity.

I'm glad I found this thread. I have been having issues. I was stressing over my stall, but then I had some enlightenment. I am addressing the issues that triggered me to mess up and am learning more about myself and how to really change all of the things that need to be changed. Stalls aren't bad things as long as you don't waste the opportunity to let them help you.
We really need to dig in to our lives and find out what caused us to be this way in the first place -- with the same zeal we used to dig into a bag of potato chips! Get me?
It's a hard, slow process, but I truly believe I will be better for it when I come out the other side -- no matter how long it takes!

I think one of the hardest things about a stall, as I'm in one right now, is before my sleeve, this is typically when I would have thrown my hands up, and gone back to my old habits. If I'm not seeing progress, what's the point? I know that things have changed for me and I have to continue following the plan in order for the sleeve to work, but it is still frustrating, especially when the number on the scale increases.

Excellent post! Thank you for the reminders and encouragement!!!
My current stall has lasted about 4 months so I'm just riding the wave and doing what I know I should be doing.

I made a decision at my first post-op follow-up appointment not to share numbers with people. I told my family that I wouldn't be sharing that information so they now know not to even ask that question.
They can see my progress and I am pretty open and frank about every thing else. The number on the scale is no one else's business, and really isn't even mine.

Great advice. Sometimes we want all the weight off so bad, that we don't acknowledge and appreciate the weight that has come off.
I am thankful to be down 74 pounds. And I am earning to change how I communicate that. Over the weekend my cousin asked how much I had lost? My response was I have lost about 70 pounds but I still have 100 more to lose!
I will stop discounting my sucess today. The next time someone asks my answer will be "I have lost over 70 pounds and I look and feel great!" Period. Because that is the truth.

Great post. Thank you for sharing this.
My personal experience with stalls:
I had surgery on 4/19/2016 and have lost 48lbs so far. I never did measure before surgery or after but I have definitely noticed it in the way my clothes fit.
Personally, I like weighing often. I weigh in once or twice a week but mainly to make sure I'm not gaining and to boost my morale and be proud of the progress I've made. I've had stalls that lasted as long as 3 weeks, but then the week after that I drop 5 to 8lbs. I've also had weeks where I've gained a pound or two and that's when I change up my routine and check to make sure I'm sleeping enough, I've been on track with my 90g a day Protein intake, it's not that "time of the month" or that I haven't gone back to some of my old eating habits like grazing or eating junk food late at night.
In my research I learned that losing weight immediately after surgery is due to better Portion Control, change in eating habits, and a drop in Water weight. Over some time, our metabolisms will regulate, and this when the stall happens. Once the metabolism adjusts to the lower weight, it will kick in again.
Your post is a perfect reminder that our bodies have evolved to hang on to fat so being patient and remaining aware of our habits and routine is always important.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Great post. Thank you for sharing this.
My personal experience with stalls:
I had surgery on 4/19/2016 and have lost 48lbs so far. I never did measure before surgery or after but I have definitely noticed it in the way my clothes fit.
Personally, I like weighing often. I weigh in once or twice a week but mainly to make sure I'm not gaining and to boost my morale and be proud of the progress I've made. I've had stalls that lasted as long as 3 weeks, but then the week after that I drop 5 to 8lbs. I've also had weeks where I've gained a pound or two and that's when I change up my routine and check to make sure I'm sleeping enough, I've been on track with my 90g a day Protein intake, it's not that "time of the month" or that I haven't gone back to some of my old eating habits like grazing or eating junk food late at night.
In my research I learned that losing weight immediately after surgery is due to better Portion Control, change in eating habits, and a drop in Water weight. Over some time, our metabolisms will regulate, and this when the stall happens. Once the metabolism adjusts to the lower weight, it will kick in again.
Your post is a perfect reminder that our bodies have evolved to hang on to fat so being patient and remaining aware of our habits and routine is always important.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I agree. I think learning to let go has been the biggest struggle and one of the main lessons of my first 50 years.

I understand the desire to know about other people's experiences, but I think one of the dangers of this is the assumption that we can somehow control results.
I have come to understand that the only thing I can control are the inputs. And even then, trying to manipulate the inputs (by restricting calories, over exercising, etc.) can do more harm than good.

Excellent post! I think the hardest part about a stall, if you've been doing everything right, is accepting that it's out of your control and letting go.

Great post! I have discovered that I have a cycle of losing really well for around 2 weeks and then 2 weeks or so of no weight loss. I have had to remind myself a few times to take a deep breath and just keep doing what I'm doing and not go crazy and try something radical to get the weight loss going again. It all evens out.
And I'd rather have a stall than a gain any day. :-)

You are SOOOO right, as usual! My last "stall" lasted a couple of months, broken today. I think it is most of those who have just recently had their surgery, who talk about the stalls so much. Like you said, it is part of the whole thing. And lest we forget, it is not unusual to "regain" a few pounds here and there on our path. Just the body shifting around, getting used to the new program. It's best to take things one day at a time, and as we follow our individual programs, it is important to remember that everyone is different, and we each, independently, will lose in our own way, at our own time. Your wisdom, Inner Surfer Girl, is spot on!!!! Have a great weekend, everyone!

If you are this far out post-op and don't know what your protein target is or how much protein you are consuming, my guess is that you probably aren't eating enough protein. That could definitely contribute to a long stall.
Eating protein first, and eating enough protein, may be the first thing to focus on to "break" your stall.
Try aiming for at least 80 grams until you talk to your NUT.

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.

Is there any way you can have a sleep study? sleep apnea is usually considered a comorbidity.

@@Admanda Please be careful. If you or your son are in danger - please get help to safely leave the situation ASAP. This behavior is abusive.

You do not deserve to be treated in this manner.
I highly recommend some couples counseling. He does not have permission to abuse you: verbally or physically, EVER.
If this is how he behaves under stress then either he needs help right now and/or you are better off without him.

He is freaking out because of his own insecurity. I recommend a great book called boundaries by Townsend. Twenty pages in and you will learn that it's all him and not you.
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First off I'm really sorry you are going thru this. I have to say that I am all about keeping your family together but not in this case. You need people around you that are going to be supportive. He is not supportive and this is going to be one hell of a ride. You can't have that type of negativity in your life. I was in an abusive relationship in my teens/early 20s. He said some similar stuff to me but worse. He also threw things at me and once choked me when I was 7 months pregnant with our second child. Once as a "joke" he downloaded the uncensored photo of Nicole Simpson's murder and saved it as a screen saver on our computer for the next time I logged in (this was the mid 90s). I finally got up the courage and left him. It was the best thing I could have done for my kids and myself. You can do it alone. I know you can. You are about to embark on a life changing journey and maybe his insecurity is coming out because he knows he's not good enough for you. You and your son are more important than anything else. Put yourself first for a change. Love yourself.
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That's BS. He's putting you down because he's scared you are going to gain confidence and decide you are worth more than his garbage.
I don't know if he's normally a decent guy, and just being a jerk now. If he's typically a jerk, you deserve better. If he's normally a good person, call him on his behavior. Tell him that you have no intention of leaving him, and just want to be healthy so you can be there for your family and future grandbabies (and whatever other reasons you have). Tell him this ugly behavior is beneath him, and you want the caring, supportive man you love back. You may want to consider couple's counseling.
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Hi all. I am now down roughly 60 pounds and seven weeks out from when I started my liquid pre-diet. Am also having some awesome NSV moments. Some are:

No longer wearing 3x shirts. They are packed and ready to be taken to Goodwill. My size 48 (expandable) pants? Gone too. Can button my pants at my belly button. No more "slant pants." I wore a much smaller belt...and it was a new one! Went three days this past week without needing a mid day nap. Three days now without any slimes or throwing up. Joined a local health club to work out. Snoring is all but gone. No more BP meds at all (125/65 is normal now). And BMs much more normal and less stressful. Bought myself an I-touch. That was my 50 pound loss gift to myself. Any suggestions for the 100 plateau? That's a short list, but ones that come to mind.

Please, share yours!

Let's look at the fact that this journey is not just about the weight loss, but about all the wonderful things that continue to happen along the ride!

Is anyone else tired of their weight defining who you are? I exceeded the capacity of my 300 pound scale about 3 years ago. According to my doctors scale I was 315 last April. If all goes well then tomorrow I will have utter glee adding lead to my scale as large chunks exit the back of my scale. It should be quite therapeutic! I've also decided that nobody else needs to know my weight either including my doctor. I have a commercial driver's license that I will have to step on a scale for ever two years as a requirement for my medical card but everyone else can pound sand. All I care about is being happy with myself and that damn scale sure never did.