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Three words "three month stall". My weight loss slowed down as I approached my third month and then I had a two week period where I didn't lose a single pound! Then I lost three pounds seemingly overnight and then another week went by with me not losing a single pound! I'm four months post op right now and I only lost 8 pounds in the last month. Your weight loss is going to fluctuate and it will seeemingly drive you crazy (it does to me), so my advice is to just take the small victories and celebrate those and not focus so much on the weight itself. For one thing, if you're exercising you may be putting on muscle as you lose weight and muscle weighs more than fat so your scale isn't going to accurately tell you how you're doing. For another my primary told me that stressing about your weight will increase hormones that will SLOW down your weight loss! That's why I said you should celebrate the small victories. For example: I was finally able to wear the regular sized hospital gown verses asking for a plus size hospital gown. I was finally able to have the blood pressure cuff go on my upper arm like a normal person instead of on my forearm because it never fit before (the cuff would pop off as it aired up). I can fit into 2xl shirts (I was a 6xl at my heaviest). I'm down to a size 22 pants (I was a 32 before). Things like that will make you see that there IS a change in your weight because when I look in the mirror it's hard for me to see a difference. Everyone else sees it, but I don't... I felt great though when at my nieces birthday party my sisters friend who hadn't seen me in 9 months asked my sister what I'd done to lose so much weight (this was in February when I was 45 pounds heavier than I am now). So yeah, take the small victories and celebrate them. Try not to stress as much. The weight WILL come off!

I am 5'6 starting at 267 lbs day of surgery 260 lbs. 2/27 By week three lost 21 lbs. then also hit a stall. Below approx. numbers 2nd month -15lbs 3rd month -13 lbs lost 4 months -10 Months 5 -12 lbs lost.Yay I use My fitness Pal but haven't tracked all the time. My typical day includes syntax nectar Protein shake. Tuna salad, eggs, or Wendy's half salad and coffee Maybe fish for dinner and green tea. My blood pressure went from 170/100 and a trip to the Which i went o the ER felt sick to drumroll 109/76. I recently did the 5daypouchtest.com diet I was 204lbs up 1 pound down 1 pound for 2 weeks. but after test I went down 5 lbs got to 199lbs Yay. Onderland! I'm So Excited, So yea, I kept loosing now I'm 196 lbs. Onderland! Loving my sleeve

I would give anything to make myself move away from the scale!! I'm soooo bad at this. I weigh every two or three days. But I was on a long stall this month and decided to weigh weekly. I'm afraid I cant keep away from the scale more than a week. And the worst part is, I'm not satisfied with the scales at home. My 'correct' weight - atleast in my mind - is the one shown on the scales at my doc's hospital. I go there weekly now just to weigh myself. It is on the way to office, so no biggie. *shrug*

Hello all I thought I’d put my first post up to encourage others as I’m definitely a snail not a hare with weight loss, but getting there all the same. I had lapband surely nearly 15 years ago. Lost nothing. Didn’t work for me at all. Felt like a failure. Saved up again and decided to have the lapband removed and a bypass. Wasn’t that hopeful due to my previous experience but was desperate. Weighed 310 pounds and BMI 45. Surgery was fine with no complications. However I only lost a couple of pounds each week for the first few weeks. On about 500-600 calories a day. As food increases to about 800 calories at week 6, the slow but steady weight loss continued of 1 to 2 pounds a week. About six month stage I was light enough to join a gym. This made a huge difference to my mental health and energy. I took it slow but went three times a week. I was now on about 1000 calories a day and losing (you guessed it) 1 to 2 pounds a week. Sometimes I would lose 4 pounds a week but then nothing the week after. I didn’t really stall at all. I saw other people posting phenomenal weekly weight loss numbers. Not me! So here I am a year out and I’m eating about 1200 calories a day and losing 1 to 2 pounds a week. Lost over 100 pounds so far and feel fine plodding on as I am. So my advice is, keep tracking food, when you can try exercising, and don’t worry if your weight loss is steady like mine. You get there just the same. And, I’ve never felt better!

I am three months post op and I have stalled a good part of the time. I even gained one pound from last week to this week which was new for me. No, I don't like it but it's all part of the journey like the post above states. They are extremely frustrating. I only lost 2 lbs my second month but 8 on my third month. So...hang in there as depressing as it may be. Your body needs a break from the rapid weight loss.

First let me say I feel fabulous! I've lost over 70 pounds in just over 5 months. I went from a 22 to a very comfy 12. The road has not been easy and for all you newbies...here is my list of amazing highs...and of not so sunshiny lows. Disclaimer: This is my experience...it may not be yours. It will be uncomfortable for a few days post op I was not hungry for weeks after surgery I was scared to eat or drink and I didn’t drink enough...thus constipation and weakness I didn't feel normal for about 6 weeks. I needed naps and I took them The weight literally falls off...seriously I was looking for pools of fat in bed when I woke up in the morning I hit the 4 week stall and it lasted two weeks. Expect it and don't stress On day three, I had a massive freak out…seriously threw a four year old fit…pissed off my stomach was gone. No one noticed for months and that irritated me. EVERYONE notices now and it's all they want to talk about. Don’t tell anyone you are going to Mexico to have your stomach cut off unless you trust them completely. I threw up alot...just slime mostly...while I was learning my new tummy. It will scare you and if you are like me…it will happen a lot when you transition to solid foods. food addiction does not magically go away...if you have a problem before..you will still have it. I think about food all the time, but I finally have a way to resist it. I am a sugar addict. I never crave carbs, but I crave sugar like a mad woman. Going out to dinner is awkward. I hate watching people eat Put the lotion on the skin! My skin got really dry. I’ve lost half my hair at 4.5 months post op. Mine came out in chunks. Freaked me out! Our Golden Retriever and I are in a competition for shedding. It will be ok. Take your Vitamins and buy Nioxin. It doesn’t help my hair loss, but I feel like I am at least doing something about it. Don’t take a powerful laxative when you are constipated…especially before your child’s school performance. It may say “See results in 2-4 hours” but it means 30 mins and then you’re stuck on a mini toilet with both legs numb, crying to everything holy to save you. Shopping is amazing! I still feel like people are looking at me like I don’t belong there…but that’s all in my head. My shoes no longer fit. they are too wide now! Your pre WLS Spanx will look huge in a couple months Trust me…put some Granola bars in your glove box and a few packs of mixed nuts. Sometimes your hungry and there is nothing that you can eat. Handy meals from the market or gas station when you didn’t plan ahead. Single string cheese, an apple, mixed nuts, readymade hard boiled eggs, The inside of California rolls- no rice, campbells Soup at hand or ready made soup in a coffee cup. Handy items at fast food places that sit ok on my tummy include: Taco Bells refried Beans or the inside of a chicken taco. Wendys chili, McDonalds oatmeal, McDonalds yogurt parfait I feel guilty in front of my heavier friends. I always try to wear a sweatshirt so I don’t rub the weight loss in their faces. You get drunk really fast...like a half glass of wine. Be careful...it sneaks up on you...and before you know it, you’re waiting for your hubby to pick you up...from less than a glass. Its crazy. I don't really even try anymore to drink. I crave raw fish, cooked fish, broiled fish, grilled fish...any fish really and it feels amazing on my tummy. I cant eat steak I love that I have collar bones I update my Facebook pictures and secretly love the compliments I own a woman's North Face now I can buy bras at Victoria's secret I pack all my food for work in snack bags and the little tupperware containers for salad dressing. I can still have M&M's...its just like 9...instead of the king size bags Take heartburn medicine everyday...don’t wait until you get heartburn. Buy stock in Maalox You can have a full meal at Costco- Samples + WLS = Cheap Date! Food Portion jokes get really old Fast food burgers makes me want to vomit. At 5 months...salad is wonderful. I can eat about a cup of greens...which takes me a while and I feel a tiny bit normal. Post-op, If you can swing it, buy a Vita-Mix blender and make your own soup. Canned soup was nasty right after surgery. Freeze them in 4oz canning jars. It will be two servings. Quit Smoking before surgery. I waited and it slowed my healing. It also gave me terrible heartburn. I am 5 weeks smoke free You don't have to "confess" you had WLS. It's ok to say thank you for the compliment and not feel guilty. I'm just now starting to accept that I had a little something to do with this insane loss. I tell people when they ask now how I lost the weight, that i exercise and use portion control. People will treat you different. Salesladies ask if I need assistance, men hold open doors and the skinny girls at work talk to me now. It's shallow and pisses me off, but it's nice to not be invisible anymore. WLS is very difficult. For me, it’s not physical, but the mental. Sometimes I just want a cheesecake like before. It goes away very quickly, but it still comes and goes. Sometimes I get angry at my sleeve because I can’t eat something I see others eating. Most of the time I have to hide my expression when I see people shovel food in the way I used to. It’s shocking to see when you’re on the other side of WLS. I used to inhale my food like a tiny food thief was going to come in and take it away from me. You will have to say no to your family when they all want to go to a Chinese buffet. I’m still not ready to walk in and be near a buffet. It feels awesome to give your clothes away, however, do not offer them to your heavier friends. It’s insensitive and they won’t return your calls for a week. Last one...I played laser tag this past weekend with a bunch of 9 year old boys. It was soooo Much fun!!! Please feel free to add any other thoughts or tips...

This article might help Hitting a plateau or weight loss “stall” is common for just about everyone. While it’s certainly frustrating, it’s important to understand this is just temporary. The good news is weight loss plateaus usually happen after you have lost a significant amount of weight—so congratulations! During your post-op weight loss, the body will eventually need a ‘time out” to stabilize itself and adjust to your lower nutrition intake, smaller size and increased calorie burn due to exercise. It can happen at any time in your weight loss journey, but is particularly common 3-6 months afterbariatric surgery. Generally, stalls can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, even though you’re staying on track. Expect from one to three plateaus in the first year following weight loss surgery. WHY DO WEIGHT LOSS STALLS HAPPEN? You can blame your body’s metabolism— When you lose weight rapidly, you are losing lean body mass (muscle) and fat. Muscle plays a big part in the burning of calories by keeping your metabolic rate high, so you want to hold onto muscle and strive to build more! (This is one of the reasons we ask you to take in so much protein). A weight-loss plateau usually occurs when your metabolism slows down. Now that you’re thinner, the activities you’re performing may not be resulting in as much caloric burning. An increased metabolic rate is not the only reason for keeping muscle. You want to keep muscle so you can use them to exercise and burn even more calories. Weak muscles make exercise more difficult, so build muscle with strength training and cardio workouts. EIGHT TIPS TO OVERCOME BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS AND BOOST METABOLISM 1. Increase the intensity of your exercise. 2. Weigh yourself less often. 3. Keep food journaling to ensure there are no negative nutrition issues creeping in. 4. Eat all that protein to help retain muscle, even in shake form. 6. Drink 64 ounces every day. 7. Sleep eight hours nightly and keep a set schedule, even on weekends. 8. Talk to your bariatric team during the plateau for an added level of support and guidance. KEEP IN MIND… If you are weight training, consider that muscle weighs more than fat; while you are building muscle, you are still losing inches (girth) even though if it isn’t reflected in pounds lost. USE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK Remember there are several layers of people supporting you during your road back to good health: Your doctor Bariatric dietitians and nutritionists Family Friends Colleagues Live and online support groups. (They understand more than anyone!) If a plateau lasts more than a few weeks and you haven't contacted your bariatric surgeon yet, make an appointment for an ASAP visit to rule out any issues. Meanwhile, stay positive and celebrate how far you have come in a short time. This is a very brief traffic jam on your highway to success.

Another slow loser here. I am now just under four months post sleeve. The funny thing is though, when I look at the whole big picture of my weight loss I am AMAZED!!!! I started at 203lbs and am down to 162lbs. I recently had a three week stall but things got moving again scale wise a week ago. However, during the stall, my body obviously had a good old sort out and my shape changed and unneeded inches left various parts of my anatomy. I didn't have a say in any of the design ideas at all and just kept walking the dogs and getting my exercise. I'm back wearing jeans again and I threw out all my tracksuit pants the other day. I'm loving this journey and accept that as the weight crept on then it's OK if it creeps off. Keep reading the posts on this site and you won't go far wrong. We're all on the same journey.

Hello everyone. I am on here frequently.. Reading posts.. And I have to say there are three complaints/attitudes that I can't stand hearing about on here. Sorry for the rant but sometimes you have to tell it straight. 1. The "oh I just got sleeved a few weeks ago and I've stopped loosing weight.. What's wrong with me??!" Well first off obviously you did not read the hundreds of other posts from people complaining about the exact same thing! Stalls are normal and they will pass. If you think the weight is just going to fall off overnight you are sadly mistaken. 2. The "when can I eat pizza/drink pop or other *insert obviously unhealthy meal item here*??" Really you must have missed the part about this being a lifestyle change! If you continue your same eating habits you are going to get your exact same results. Just because you have WLS doesn't mean all those empty calories you choose to consume are just going to disappear. Your setting yourself up for failure. 3. The "I've stopped loosing weight.. Oh by the way I DON'T excercise" ok now this one seriously bugs me. I am pretty sure EVERYONE was given the same information about adopting some form of physical activity after getting sleeved. It's required to help you loose weight, tone that saggy skin and maintain your weightloss when you get to goal.. If your telling yourself "I just don't love exercising" then you are FOOLING YOURSELF. No one loves excercising! It will get easier after a while and more enjoyable sure. "But my bad knee/shoulder" oh boo hoo everyone can do some form of excercise even if its just walking or even chair excersises. If a 30 year old man born with NO ARMS AND NO LEGS can find it in him to play golf, swim, and play soccer then I'm pretty sure you can do some form of excercise! (See attached inspirational video) So to sum up my rant.. NOTHING WORTH DOING COMES EASY! It takes work and the right attitude to be successful! http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/How-Nick-Vujicic-Triumphed-Against-All-Odds-Video

Sleeved 3/29, down 13 since surgery, 28 total. I hope I'm not in the three week stall. This is the first day my weight stayed the same in a while. If so, I'll just stop weighing for a while.

Are you at a weight that you were stuck at previously in your life? Some of us have had weights we were at for months or even years, that’s why many of us have closets full of two or three....or even more sizes of clothing. If this is the case for you, you may be fighting through a stall that includes one of your previous set points and I feel like that takes a bit more patience to get through. If this is not the case try changing something. Are you eating the same things every day? Are you eating the same amount of calories? Try eating a bit more one day then less the next. Maybe try intermittent fasting for a week. Try some new exercises if you are doing the same ones. All of this considering though, the body will stall out during weight loss for 90 percent of us. It is so discouraging when it is happening, and we all understand that! Remember too as you get closer to your goal weight, it will become harder to lose weight. Try to remain positive, focus on what you are doing to improve your health each day right now rather than how disappointing it is that the scale isn’t moving. If you continue to follow your plan, the stall will eventually break when YOUR body is ready!

I finally feel comfortable posting here!! Down 38 pounds; surgery six weeks ago today. I lost 6 pounds pre-op. The list of NSV's in my life already is huge!! But that's another thread. I can't wait to be below 200 again - it's been so long - and I'm hoping to make my tax day a little better -that's my goal date for 200. Or should I say 199!! My loss has been a little odd lately; I only had one stall to speak of and that was at three weeks out and lasted for a week. Sucked. Then, things started moving along pretty well averaging about a minimum of 1/2 pound per day - 4.5 pounds per week. Perfectly satisfied with that and I could DEFINITELY tell when I went even one gram over 30g's of carbo's - no weight loss that day or a few ounces, maybe. Yes, I weigh every day. Just the way I am and it works for me. Some days - and I can usually feel it that morning when I wake up - I'll have dropped 2 pounds overnight. It makes no sense to me but I love it. Has been happening about once a week for the last three weeks and seems to be when my calories are between 800 and 900 but still with very low carbs. I cringe when my calories end up that high and am figuring out why (cheddar, very fatty, Bubba Burgers - even just the patty, lo carb and yummy but forget it) but my weight seems to keep dropping. Exercise... well, um yeah... need to work on that! I've never been constipated ever before in my life but am experiencing some of that. Gonna have to figure out a good way to get lo-carb fiber in. Any suggestions? I also want to thank everyone that replies to my posts. My internet connection here stinks so I can't always reply in the moment, so to speak. But know that I am sending good vibes and thanks your way. I also wish I could be more of a cheerleader for those of you hitting rough spots. Do know that my heart is with you and I am happy to share experiences via PM or e-mail. Just holler. xoxoxo Carol

None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all experience stalls and slow downs in weight loss and almost everyone experiences a stall about three weeks after surgery. Just follow your program. Focus on getting at least 64 oz of Fluid and reaching your Protein target, every day. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise when cleared. Stay off the scale. And, Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall.

Hey everyone! I'm eleven weeks out today and have lost 48 pounds. However over the last week nothing is settling. It stops at the end of my esophagus and comes right back up in a ball. Always nauseated before and after I eat. I have to lay down to knock it most times and to top it off I have stalled. I've been the same weight for almost three weeks now very frustrating. Any suggestions? Is this nausea and vomiting normal? I'm miserable. Help!!

My stall is also officially broken. I've lost four pounds in the last week, which does wonders for my moods! I'm still not weighing every day, and it really helps me not focus so much on weight. So far I'm down 30 pounds and I'll be eight weeks out tomorrow. That's not as much as I wanted to be down by now, but 30 pounds is the most I ever lost on any "diet" in the past. I did Nutrisystem in 2006 and lost 30 pounds in almost four months. So, to drop that amount in half the time is a definite success, and I can't be too displeased. I hope to lose another 13 pounds over the next month - that will bring me to 199 pounds. We'll see if it's possible. La: I am SO happy to read your stall is broken. I know how relieved I was when the scale moved again! I hope you're doing well. WildIris: It sounds like you're doing awesome! And you seem very happy with your success so far. I'm sure you'll be hitting that goal in no time. Coops: I've only had one cycle but I expect one in the next week. I can tell you that it DID affect my weight. I gained three pounds! It didn't drop off again until a few days after the cycle ended. I also experienced the first (and only) food cravings and "hunger" I've felt since surgery. I wanted to eat everything in sight, especially bread, chips, candy, etc. It was awful. Now that I'm due in a few days, I have the same huge desire to eat, eat, eat. It's GOT to be hormone related. I'm munching on cheese sticks and very ripe fresh fruit when the urge to much hits me. It's not great, but it's not a Snickers, either! Dickson and Kathy: You guys are doing awesome. Why is it the men lose so much more quickly? Unfair! Ellisa: I just did the same thing with my clothes! I have two huge totes of clothing to send to my mom and sister because they're winter clothes and they will never fit me again. Isn't it wonderful? I have a GoWear Fit (like a Body Bugg) and it does the same thing for me as your new shoes - it makes me want to move around and get active. Whatever it takes, right? Lou: You are kickin' butt, buddy! I still get envious when I see how quickly the men lose, though. I'd be happy to have a way to fit a bit more food in - sometimes I still can't meet my calorie goals for the day, so being able to make some extra room with a good belch would help me finish those eggs or fit in a few extra bites of chicken. Keep up the good work, you're doing a great job! Possumtrot: Great job! Huge, HUGE congrats for making it halfway to goal (and in such a short time!) and for losing 50 pounds. Before you know it you won't be shopping in the plus section any longer. That's got to be a great feeling. I bet everyone is noticing, huh? I can't wait until I hit that point. Well, everyone, I'm off. I don't have a tremendous amount of time to post since we're gearing up for a month of visitors and then we're moving in November. I'm busy, busy, busy! ~Cheri

April 23rd sleeved... Starting weight: 270 SW: 250 CW: 213 I just got into size 16!! Woot!! Had one huge three week stall that was horrible but I got through it! I downloaded my fitness pal to help me make my Protein goals! I have between 600 and 800 calories a day! Sometimes I don't make the goal but I get darn close! How is everyone doing? I'm so happy to feel normal again! Went out and had prime rib!! It was yummy!! Of course my son has to eat the majority of it! Hahah

I'm on a stall. Still 205 and hanging. Been working with my trainer four times a week starting this week. I already see a huge difference in the last three weeks in my skin but still not where I want it to be strengthwise but hey I'm a work in progress! So, I'm really happy I started dating. Since meeting Saturday me and "the man" haven't spent but one day apart. I am totally smitten. I still haven't told him about surgery. He has made lil comments about how I don't eat much. He hasn't quized me. I think it may come up tonight. I'm sooo dang nervous. He is on my Facebook and said how great I look now compared to my old picks. I don't know why it's such a big issue for me. If be okay telling him if I had a kidney, ovary, or gull bladder removed. Why is it such a big issue that I had the majority of my stomach removed? It's awesome though that we both love sushi. He orders like three different things and I eat a piece if two of each and he kills the rest. Teamwork. Lol. I'm having a hard time recognizing myself in the mirror lately. I can't believe how thin I've gotten. I'm getting upset having to keep buying new clothes. As a person who doesn't like shopping I feel like I'm doing it constantly. Thinking about finding some stuff I like and buying it in the next three sizes down. How is life everyone? I know I sound negative but life is actually really amazing. I feel so blessed. I'm ok with stalls, I'll tell the man tonight and hey it's my insides that matter, and I guess I'll find someone who loves to shop and pay them to do it for me. Hahaha

I am the day after you, 1/10/18. I lost 23 pounds so far, but this week barely anything. We are at the "three week stall" I looked this up and it happens to a lot of people, but we will get over it like everyone else did. I read somewhere to only weigh once a week now so we don't get discouraged, because the first two weeks we were losing a pound or two a day and now it will be less. I am having trouble getting in everything, the nutritionist said I should do the 3 protein shakes for the first two months and to think of it like medicine, that the food is less important at this point, that we are eating just to really get used to it again. I am still having trouble doing the three shakes and three "meals" so I am usually short one shake and one meal a day. I think I need to make sure I get that third shake in because our bodies need the 60 g of protein to keep losing I heard.

Stalls ate super frustrating.. My order stall was at three weeks and from what I heard it was fairly common that it happens then the dreaded "week three stall" mine lasted like 3 weeks but then the scale was on the go again!!! I hope that the scale starts moving along for you too! Don't get discouraged keep eating right and drinking lots of water!!

Hey Dorrie, I will look at your MFP and see if anything jumps out at me. I eat pretty normal and when I say normal, I mean I have some peanut m'ms and cheetos occasionally. LOL. I am by far not perfect at this. I try to drink a protein drink whether it be muscle milk ready made or unflavored in OJ in the morning. I didnt have any this morning but most mornings I do. I eat peanut butter with mini nilla wafers around 10 or cheese and ritz crackers... not many crackers or wafers.. like 5 mini wafers or 2 ritz. I have been trying to lower my carbs down some so I could get out of the constant stalling too. It has worked for me. I try to keep my carbs down under 40 but definately under 70. I dont worry about the calories and I have yet to go over 850-900. I mostly stay around 750-800 but Its not because I try to. I dont eat lot of snacky things if i want my carbs to be low. Seems like all the snacks I like are carby. I eat roast beef lunch meat or ham and cheese for lunch a lot or sometimes chicken. I eat fish or chicken for dinner a lot. I buy the fajita meat already done andn just add some mixed peppers with it and its really good. I bought the three pack of peppers and sliced them and froze them so I can just get out a few to go with my fajita chicken or beef. Its super good and very low in carbs.. like zero. I hope this helps. I also walk 2-3 miles about 5 days a week and do zumba twice a week. You can look at my MFP which I usually update during the week if you want to. My username is the same as here. HTH Tammi

I stalled at three weeks out for a couple of weeks (like most people). But other than that I try not to see my progress, or lack thereof, as stalls anymore. Reading this thread, and many others, has taught me that I'm not stalling - I am a slow loser, and my body takes time to adjust. But I DO lose. I've lost 40 lbs total, have just hit 199, and have 80 more to go. I'm in it for the long haul, so stalls or no stalls, I'm gonna lose it!

Hi everyone! First time poster, but I've been lurking around for a few weeks. I had surgery on 7/29. I lost 20 pounds in the first 2.5 weeks, and then hit my 3 week stall a little early. It was hard meeting my protein and fluid goals while I was on the liquid diet, but once my dietician cleared me for soft foods 2 weeks post-op, it got a lot easier to meet those goals. However, I've thrown up three times in the past week and I'm starting to lose my mind a little. I am still learning what my new stomach likes and can tolerate, but it's not really food that sends me running to the bathroom. The first time, it was because I thought I still had some food left in my stomach, so I took a medication that requires food in my stomach, but apparently my stomach emptied even faster than I anticipated. The last two times, it was because I waited half an hour after eating to drink water, and I guess that wasn't long enough. Today in particular, I haven't been able to even come close to meeting my protein and fluid goal because I threw up earlier this morning. At least they've been isolated incidences and it's not an all-day thing... I'm also still feeling extremely tired. I've gone out for a few walks/left my apartment for a few hours, and it just completely wipes me out. I was out for a few hours to see a comedy show on Friday, and walking around the area with my friend after the show left me feeling physically exhausted and with sore shoulders lol. That's how I know I'm really tired. I take my vitamins and move around my apartment every hour, but I was hoping that I could at least do a short cardio workout by now. Even the thought of doing that makes me tired. But otherwise, things are going well and I'm glad I got the surgery. I didn't the first two days while I was in the hospital, but things really do get easier every day... now just to get the throwing up under control!!!

I've seen quite a few people around these parts talking about people they know who have lost weight "on their own" while they personally had WLS and I must say, this mindset makes me a bit pissy. Before having VSG, I tried every freaking diet out there. I exercised like a maniac. I tried drugs I knew were potentially harmful to my long term health. I resigned myself to being fat every single time I failed before slapping myself around and trying something new or trying something old again and again. I saw nutritionists, I saw gastro specialists. I considered a hypnotist, but I waved that off as hogwash. (No offense to anyone who tried it, just not my cup of tea.) I lost weight, I gained weight, I lost weight, I gained weight, I lost, I gained, I yo-yo'd myself right into a flucked up metabolism and mass frustration for myself and my family. I finally decided that I had no other options and settled on the Vertical Sleeve after researching my WLS options for almost a year. I went through 4 months with one surgeon before realizing there was no way in H E double hockey sticks could I let him cut me open before starting the process over with another surgeon that I felt comfortable with. I did all the pre-op work with a nutritionist (whack job!!) figuring that if I could concentrate on losing for those 6 months, maybe I wouldn't need surgery after all. I saw the counselor (WHACK JOB!!!) and never got to the root of my troubles other than the fact that I am a greedy piglet. (She swears I am repressing sexual abuse in a past life -- no REALLY, a PAST life, not just in my past. Uhmmm...) I did my pre-op diet for a month instead of the required two weeks because I wanted to. I exercised my fanny off (literally) over the last 7 months. I weigh, measure and log my food. I read labels. I make good choices putting my Protein needs first. I make sure to get in my 10k steps every single day even if that means running in place for an hour at 10pm when I know I have to be up, bright eyed and bushy tailed in 7 hours. I look for recipes that are healthier for my family that I can eat as well but I often cook two meals so they can eat what they like and I can eat what I need to eat. I put the fork down before I want to so that I don't spend the next 30 minutes bent over the toilet even when it took me an hour to prepare a meal and I've only had two or three bites because ,my tiny tummy isn't tolerating more than an ounce instead of it's usual 3 or 4. I read menus days in advance if I know I am going out so that I can order seamlessly with everyone else. I attend parties and conferences and work functions and eat mindfully so I can enjoy the event without calling attention to myself. I suffer through stalls in my head so that my family doesn't have to hear my incessant whining because I know they've suffered enough of my nonsense over the years. I appreciate everything my changing body has allowed me to do over the years despite the abuse I put it through and I appreciate how much it's thanking me as I am relieving it of all the excess weight. I went to kickboxing even when I don't feel like it and now I teach it so I don't have a choice but to go. I joined a high dollar gym and hired a high dollar trainer, not because I am a high dollar girl but because I am now forced to go. I look at my saggy skin and my floppy boobs and my melty thighs and my squishy bum and my hangy arms and while I regret that I didn't do this 5, 10, 15 years ago, I smile that I did do it seven months ago. I am losing this weight ON MY OWN. If you honestly think I'm not, please tell me who is doing it for me. They owe me a whole bunch of money, time and heartache for all the things I've put myself through over the last year+ and I owe them a HUGE amount of thanks for getting me where I am today.

You might be in a stall. They happen. They're frustrating. And they all break. Just keep following your plan. If you're truly stuck for like a month, then ask your nutritionist about shock calories—a week of an extra 100-150 calories to get your body to think something else is happening. Are you measuring yourself? When I hit my three-week stall, the inches kept coming off even though the scale change was pokey.

I was sleeved 2/11 also! And I also hit a stall on day 14. Wa slowing 1-2 lbs. per day and then stayed the same the rest of the week. Kinda glad I’m not alone! I bet (hope) we will start losing again soon!!! I also hit a stall three weeks after surgery. Think it’s normal