Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How Do You Define A Stall?



Recommended Posts

I've been reading the posts and see a lot of people talking about having a stall but I'm not sure exactly what that is. I'm sure it means different things to different people. For me, I know that 2 weeks pre-TOM stops my weight loss and that as soon as TOM kicks in so does the weight loss. So I don't consider that a stall. I know it's hormonal. I haven't had a stall since surgery (knock on wood) but I'm sure at some point I will. I'm thinking at least 4 weeks without a loss would be a stall. That's how I would define it.

So how do you define a stall? How many weeks? Do you factor hormonal issues into that? Or is it just flat out not losing weight with or without a hormonal shift?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I actually define a stall as my NUT has sort of defined it. No weightloss in one week. So I've had two stalls so far at eight weeks out. But, it seems that as soon as I hit that seven day mark (so far), the next day I've lost a pound or two. I'm perimenopausal so my TOM only comes every four months or thereabouts, so hormones haven't played a role - yet!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Your nut defines a stall as no weight loss in a week? I think that's a bit harsh.

I've dieted pre-surgery 6 months pretty seriously at 800 calories 80 grams of Protein and 45 carbs. I had a hysterectomy so I don't get the hormonal issues others get, I watched my sodium everything.

I had days I gained 2 or 3 pounds. Then a few days later lost 6. I don't consider the gain important or a stall. If I know I'm doing what I am suppose to be doing, there are days that you have Water weight gain, or something is not flowing exactly right. There are days your body decides to hold onto everything too. Sometimes upping my calories or adding more carbs will help me eliminate the extra weight.

I have a few days that go by without losing an ounce per my my scale, then I will lose a pound. I am sure I will have days that I go up 1/2 pound because of lack of bm or Water retention.

I would consider a stall 3 or more weeks, then before I call it a stall I will go through my fitness pal and check to make sure I am doing what I'm suppose to be doing, then I would measure myself to see if there is anything going on there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, that's how my NUT defines it. I don't see it as harsh personally, and I honestly don't have an issue with a stall either. But, I might feel differently if I had a stall for three weeks. I am no longer weighing daily because I did have days where I went up a pound or two (discovered that sodium in beef jerkey really makes me retain water). No I weigh every Wednesday, so I had two weeks with not a pound loss but didn't sweat it. Measurements did change those two weeks and I'm doing everything correctly so I know I'll lose what I need to eventually. I'm also over 50 years of age, so I expect the weight to come off a little slower and I'm okay with that too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to consider not losing one week a stall but now that i am almost 11 months out.. I have not lost a pound in 5 weeks! That is a stall for sure. I have gone up and down 2 pounds the whole time. I am still eating the same as I was except for one week vacation and I have now returned to my lowest weight this week but its not lower than four Mondays ago. I am feeling a little depressive about it but I know they are normal and I will start losing again soon. I am going to up my exercise and see if I can break it. Now those few weeks I had with no loss dont feel like a stall to me...just my body adjusting. I know its all part of the process but we, as (prior) big people, are so scared of a diet or new plan not working, we fear these stalls as if they are final. They are not. The loss will slow down and your plateaus will get more frequent and longer.. that's what my Dr. told me and I see he was telling the truth.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This stuff is kind of ambiguous sometimes - the terminology - because a lot of it is just stuff that people made up. As people tend to use it around here, a stall is apparently any period of time during which the scale doesn't show decreasing weight. I've seen people say that yesterday they were 200 and today they're 200, and they're stalled.

I would define a stall as 4-6 weeks or longer with no change in weight or fat, up to maybe 8 weeks or so.

I would define a plateau as months with no change in weight or fat.

Not losing any weight for a day or five is NORMAL. People just seem to misspell it is "stall" a lot, I guess. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been reading the posts and see a lot of people talking about having a stall but I'm not sure exactly what that is. I'm sure it means different things to different people. For me, I know that 2 weeks pre-TOM stops my weight loss and that as soon as TOM kicks in so does the weight loss. So I don't consider that a stall. I know it's hormonal. I haven't had a stall since surgery (knock on wood) but I'm sure at some point I will. I'm thinking at least 4 weeks without a loss would be a stall. That's how I would define it.

So how do you define a stall? How many weeks? Do you factor hormonal issues into that? Or is it just flat out not losing weight with or without a hormonal shift?

This :) Anything less IMO is not a real stall. Especially not if its only a few days.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know it isn't an "official" stall, but if I don't lose in a week, I am freaking out and automatically I think.... STALL!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Completely agree with Wheetsin :rolleyes: As usual. I think she reads my mind sometimes.....

This stuff is kind of ambiguous sometimes - the terminology - because a lot of it is just stuff that people made up. As people tend to use it around here, a stall is apparently any period of time during which the scale doesn't show decreasing weight. I've seen people say that yesterday they were 200 and today they're 200, and they're stalled.

I would define a stall as 4-6 weeks or longer with no change in weight or fat, up to maybe 8 weeks or so.

I would define a plateau as months with no change in weight or fat.

Not losing any weight for a day or five is NORMAL. People just seem to misspell it is "stall" a lot, I guess. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×