How long to plateaus last? I'm 17 days out from surgery and the scale hasn't budged at all this week. I'm down 30lbs, 16 from surgery. Logically I know that it will eventually move again because I'm hardly taking in any calories. I think my body may be in freak out mode. I've been doing a protein shake for breakfast and soup for lunch and dinner. I've been walking and drinking a lot of water as well. For those that have hit plateaus, how long did it last? What seemed to get you through it? I'm trying not to get frustrated. Thanks for your help!

Jodie,

I wish I could help but I am also in the midst of a plateau. I expected it to happen when I went from full liquids to mushies. I've lost 23 pounds since my surgery, almost 4 weeks ago. I lost 20 pounds quickly but have really struggled with these last 3 pounds. I've gained a pound or two back, then lost it, then found it, then lost it again. Jeez, it's annoying!

I'm hoping it's just the usual 3 week stall that so many people experience. I have increased my exercise level and I am making sure that I'm getting my protein in first, then any carbs. Unfortunately, at this stage I can't eat fruits or too many vegetables yet, although I did have a tiny bit of lettuce today.

I think your body is just in shock and is trying to hang on to every calorie it can find. My body usually holds on to calories for about 4-5 days and then I lose weight for 2 days then back to holding on. I'm sure I have messed my metabolism up from all the dieting and losing and gaining weight over the past 20 years.

Maybe it's time to try a different activity - like bike riding or yoga, that might jolt your body into letting go of some weight! Good luck!

My husband is a nutritionist and he really advised me against eating the minimal calories the liquid diet requires for very long. He told me it would be highly counterproductive so from early on I was trying to get at least 1000 calories a day in. I also started food sooner than I should just so I could get in more calories and I have yet to hit a plateau. The truth is, we should not be eating less than a thousand calories. It's not healthy and it does do bad things to our metabolism. I encourage you to drink more protein shakes and eat more or higher calorie soups to get as close to one thousand calories a day. I know the doctors say one thing, but they have a reputation on the line. They want you to lose as much weight as possible in a short period of time. Dr. Ortiz even admitted when my husband asked about me slowing my metabolism down that that is exactly what would happen. I am sure that's whats happening for you. The same thing happened to NotSoLittleMermaid on this site and Dr. Watkins encouraged her to never go under one thousand calories and she said she has been a steady loser ever since. Hang in there!!!!

My husband is a nutritionist and he really advised me against eating the minimal calories the liquid diet requires for very long. He told me it would be highly counterproductive so from early on I was trying to get at least 1000 calories a day in. I also started food sooner than I should just so I could get in more calories and I have yet to hit a plateau. The truth is, we should not be eating less than a thousand calories. It's not healthy and it does do bad things to our metabolism. I encourage you to drink more Protein shakes and eat more or higher calorie soups to get as close to one thousand calories a day. I know the doctors say one thing, but they have a reputation on the line. They want you to lose as much weight as possible in a short period of time. Dr. Ortiz even admitted when my husband asked about me slowing my metabolism down that that is exactly what would happen. I am sure that's whats happening for you. The same thing happened to NotSoLittleMermaid on this site and Dr. Watkins encouraged her to never go under one thousand calories and she said she has been a steady loser ever since. Hang in there!!!!

omg Olivia -

I feel so much better after reading your post. Even though I know that weight loss won't be a non-stop event and that some stalls are normal, I am starting to feel bummed about not losing my goal for month 1. I wanted to lose about 25-27 pounds and I've been stuck at 23, although I still have 2 days to go!

I've had about 650 calories today and I was really talking negatively to myself about eating too much today. I plan on having about 300 calories for dinner and snack so that fits in well with 1000 calories per day. I've also increased my exercise and have been walking, doing yoga, hip-hop, etc. every day this week and yet I'm stuck at -23. Grrr!

Oh well, my body will release the pounds when it's ready!

p.s. -23 is about what I lost in the first 3 months after having the lapband....talk about frustrating!!!!

omg Olivia -

I feel so much better after reading your post. Even though I know that weight loss won't be a non-stop event and that some stalls are normal, I am starting to feel bummed about not losing my goal for month 1. I wanted to lose about 25-27 pounds and I've been stuck at 23, although I still have 2 days to go!

I've had about 650 calories today and I was really talking negatively to myself about eating too much today. I plan on having about 300 calories for dinner and snack so that fits in well with 1000 calories per day. I've also increased my exercise and have been walking, doing yoga, hip-hop, etc. every day this week and yet I'm stuck at -23. Grrr!

Oh well, my body will release the pounds when it's ready!

p.s. -23 is about what I lost in the first 3 months after having the lapband....talk about frustrating!!!!

Isn't it awesome to know we don't have to starve ourselves!!!!??? It does something to your pysche when you only are getting 500 calories of liquids for so long. I feel so much better now that I am eating more and that to me is better than dropping weight fast. You will get past your plateau, don't worry! I mean sheesh, how can you not with that tiny stomach?

My husband is a nutritionist and he really advised me against eating the minimal calories the liquid diet requires for very long. He told me it would be highly counterproductive so from early on I was trying to get at least 1000 calories a day in. I also started food sooner than I should just so I could get in more calories and I have yet to hit a plateau. The truth is, we should not be eating less than a thousand calories. It's not healthy and it does do bad things to our metabolism. I encourage you to drink more Protein shakes and eat more or higher calorie soups to get as close to one thousand calories a day. I know the doctors say one thing, but they have a reputation on the line. They want you to lose as much weight as possible in a short period of time. Dr. Ortiz even admitted when my husband asked about me slowing my metabolism down that that is exactly what would happen. I am sure that's whats happening for you. The same thing happened to NotSoLittleMermaid on this site and Dr. Watkins encouraged her to never go under one thousand calories and she said she has been a steady loser ever since. Hang in there!!!!

Hiya Olivam,

I am really interested in your post... I am a really slow loser and I seem to hit mini stalls every other week or so and have been doing so since October - I am now 8mths out, was sleeved beg July last year.

I often wonder if I am not eating enough, my dr says to eat three meals a day with no Snacks, and with this sleeve, I find it hard to eat 1000 cals with only three meals? i did start to have one protein snack but that didn't really change things.

Any advise would be gratefully rec'd ... I don't want or like feeling negative but I am really struggling at the moment!

Thanks in advance...

My program has me on food from day three (for me, four) post-op. It also calls for three meals and three snacks per day (in addition to 1.5 - 2 liters of water). I believe this whole program is based precisely on what OliviaM is talking about. I haven't hit 1000 calories, but I've been hovering around 850, just about 10 days post-op. I'm not meant to be calorie-counting, but I too am concerned about hosing my metabolism (more than I already did with eating disorders in my younger days). A 1000-calorie-per-day diet is still very low cal, and I would be fine to hit 1000 and keep it there for a few months.

Jodie,

I wish I could help but I am also in the midst of a plateau. I expected it to happen when I went from full liquids to mushies. I've lost 23 pounds since my surgery, almost 4 weeks ago. I lost 20 pounds quickly but have really struggled with these last 3 pounds. I've gained a pound or two back, then lost it, then found it, then lost it again. Jeez, it's annoying!

I'm hoping it's just the usual 3 week stall that so many people experience. I have increased my exercise level and I am making sure that I'm getting my Protein in first, then any carbs. Unfortunately, at this stage I can't eat fruits or too many vegetables yet, although I did have a tiny bit of lettuce today.

I think your body is just in shock and is trying to hang on to every calorie it can find. My body usually holds on to calories for about 4-5 days and then I lose weight for 2 days then back to holding on. I'm sure I have messed my metabolism up from all the dieting and losing and gaining weight over the past 20 years.

Maybe it's time to try a different activity - like bike riding or yoga, that might jolt your body into letting go of some weight! Good luck!

Genepha, Our story is almost the same. I had surgery on Jan 18th, and the first two weeks I lost 23 lbs... I have been on a plateau, gaining 2 or losing 2 or staying the same for 4 weeks (28 days) so far. I am eating between 6-800 cals a day. I just added back regular exercise this week, walking and dance classes. (I was walking before as well) I just can't believe the scales are not moving! I guess I can try and go up to 1000, kind of makes me nervous, but not losing any weight makes me nervous too! I eat round 4 small meals a day, with maybe a Protein Drink snack. I know I cant stay at this weight forever, Im just not taking in that many calories. Before surgery I was eating between 1600-1800cal a day and losing very slowly, but losing. I a m a vegetarian, and most of my Proteins have some carbs. (40-80 a day)

On the bright side, my BP has been good, I have lost 4 inches off my stomach, and people who I haven't told have noticed Just wish I would get off this plateau!

I think that those of us who have chosen to have WLS have done so because we have issues with food and over eating and that makes us afraid of food. This tool can help us look at food differently and not be afraid of it. Eating too few calories is really the absolute worst thing you can do to your body. Everyone has a set point in how many calories our bodies require to have the energy to get through the day. In other words we each burn a certain number of calories just in our daily lives. We want to get our bodies to burn more than it currently does so that we can eat more freely without watching everything we eat. Have you ever seen a skinny person who eats whatever they want? Those people have done a great job of revving up their metabolisms. Their bodies burn way more calories than ours do, but we can fix that. When you eat too few calories,Initially you will lose some weight, but eventually your body begins storing the calories and then it starts attacking the muscle. Muscle is what increases your metabolism, so, less muscle means less calories being burned. So now, we have not only NOT increased out daily metabolic burn we have decreased it! It takes the reduction of 3500 calories out of your weekly diet to burn one pound. If we normally ate 3000 calories a day prior to WLS and now we eat 1500 it will take us 2.5 days to get rid of one pound. Make sense? As you can see, it is far easier to eat an extra 3500 calories and gain a pound than it is to not eat 3500 calories and lose a pound! Don't sabotage yourself by eating too few calories. Food does not makes us fat unless we over eat it. Know your danger zones, know what you have the potential to overeat and only eat those foods on special occasions. My husband recommends a weekly or bi weekly fast. He says this can be really good for your body to rest from all the digestion and also act as a resetting point, so on Sundays we typically skip breakfast and lunch (drinking lemon water to cleanse) and eat a small healthy meal that night, then we resume our normal calorie instake the next day. This is the only time that you will want to eat less than your recommended calories. I am totally not a know it all, I struggle with all of this just like you guys, but I always feel so badly for those who are afraid of food and starve themselves thinking this is the answer. Don't be frightened if at first when you start eating a healthy calorie amount if you either gain a little or don't lose, it takes some time to get your metabolism revved up again after all the torture we have put it through. Hope this helps!!!

Thanks for all the replys everyone! Olivia I definitely think you're right.. I need to up my calories. Hopefully when I start mushies in a few days it will jumpstart things again.

It's been a while since I posted...I am still losing weight. My surgery was on July 16th I've lost just over 68lbs and I am still going down. It seems that around Christmas/New Year I stalled for a few weeks (3) where the scale did not move, then out of the blue....wham, I was down 5 lbs.....then I gradually lost 1-2 lbs a week and have been stalled for the last 2 weeks, then all of a sudden 4lbs, down.....I guess our bodies have to be reminded to keep losing. I think that I have stalled at every major weigh point in my life....I stalled at 250 for a few weeks....but a few years ago I was 250 for a couple of years, it's almost like my body remembered that is was ok and comfy at that weight....then I tried all the tricks, workout, no workout, carbs, no carbs, more calories, less calories, and then all of a sudden it started moving down again. Same thing happened at 240 and at 238. I am finally down to 234.2 (yes the .2 is important) I will probably stay here for 2 weeks and then finally make it into the 220's....I haven't been there since 1998.....

It feels like our body has check points and we have to somehow remind them that at some point there was another comfortable spot.....a few pounds lower.....

It's been a while since I posted...I am still losing weight. My surgery was on July 16th I've lost just over 68lbs and I am still going down. It seems that around Christmas/New Year I stalled for a few weeks (3) where the scale did not move, then out of the blue....wham, I was down 5 lbs.....then I gradually lost 1-2 lbs a week and have been stalled for the last 2 weeks, then all of a sudden 4lbs, down.....I guess our bodies have to be reminded to keep losing. I think that I have stalled at every major weigh point in my life....I stalled at 250 for a few weeks....but a few years ago I was 250 for a couple of years, it's almost like my body remembered that is was ok and comfy at that weight....then I tried all the tricks, workout, no workout, carbs, no carbs, more calories, less calories, and then all of a sudden it started moving down again. Same thing happened at 240 and at 238. I am finally down to 234.2 (yes the .2 is important) I will probably stay here for 2 weeks and then finally make it into the 220's....I haven't been there since 1998.....

It feels like our body has check points and we have to somehow remind them that at some point there was another comfortable spot.....a few pounds lower.....

You're doing great Carol. I'm at 57 lbs down now. The last 3 months I've only lost about 5 lbs though. So so slow but at least its moving. Glad you're doing well.