3 week stall. Ugh

[Zoumommy 61]

So I started at 314, now down to 274, but the scale has stopped moving completely. I've been at 274 for over a week and I'm soooo frustrated. I only weigh myself on Friday mornings.....how long does this stall last? I'm cleared to start working out again on Monday, can't wait and hoping that will help

[belunos 93]

My stall will be 3 weeks tomorrow. It sucks when you're in the middle of it, and just can't be consoled

[hopeful2 be slim 121]

even I am having a stall....I weigh my self daily since years...I have put on 2. lbs in 3 days...

will the scale be nice to me tomorrow...I hope so...

[Sassy Pants1 186]

These stalls are so hard and frustrating beyond belief. I know they happen. I know why they happen. And it makes me crazy. Every. Single. Time.

[Lulah 18]

Same story here! I'm in week 3 and the scale hasn't moved at all but my clothes fit loose. I can take of my size 18 pants without unbuttoning them! Hang in there it is frustrating but I think it is normal and will hopefully be over soon!

[McButterpants 2,846]

My first stall was between weeks 3 and 4 and it lasted 10 days.

My most recent stall was the entire month of February - GASP!

A couple of suggestions -

Be patient

Be kind to your self - your body is just trying to figure things out

Continue to follow your doc/NUT provided plan with regard to food, fluids and exercise

Take your measurements - this is really helpful when you're in a stall; you may not be losing pounds, but I can almost guarantee you are losing inches

Stay off the scale - weigh once per week. I had to go so far as to have my husband hide the scale and pull it out on Fridays only. If you can go longer than a week without weighing, do it.

Focus on your non-scale victories (although your weigh loss is very impressive!!!!). This past month, even though I haven't lost any weight, I can feel my clothes getting looser. I tried on a pair of pants that I have kept for 17 years - I never knew why I kept those jeans...they went thru three cross country moves with me. I feel like I kept those jeans for that very moment yesterday when I put them on, pulled them up past my hips and yes, buttoned and zipped them. Immediately after surgery, three months ago, I couldn't get them over my thighs. THAT was a victory that the scale will never give me.

[Carlotta1 401]

I am at a stall. Since I have not exercised in two weeks.. My stall began. Going back to exercise for sure. I let my active schedule get in my way.

[Zoumommy 61]

Sassy pants,

Why do these stalls happen?

[Zoumommy 61]

Thank you everyone!!

I'm just a really impatient person, something God is working on in me.....I know losing 140lbs isn't going to happen overnight, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wish it did

[BellaHugz 331]

Arrrg, Yes the stall is a pain in the butt, no other way to put it. I have been on a stall for almost 2 weeks. I have watched my Water, sugar and salt intake and started working out at the gym 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day and still no movement. Sure wish I knew what is going on this can drive and does drive me crazy!!

Now my hubby can eat a bunch of chocolates, beer and then run on the treadmill for a half hour and still loose weight.

NOT FAIR i tell you not fair at all!! ok, i done complaining.. gotta go to the gym

Edited February 28, 2014 by BellaHugz

[McButterpants 2,846]

Yeah, my husband gives up beer for a week and loses 10 pounds!!!!!!!

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Between weeks three and six, I lost the same pound probably five times. Things are back on track. Going into week nine, I just had my second closet flush. My man can eat bread and potatoes all day long and not gain weight. One difference between us is that he is active with man chores all day long, and I am more sedentary even though I am in an exercise program. The human body just was not made for so much sitting. I will be glad when spring comes so I can get outside to move and around more. Even though I have lost fifty pounds since my pre-op program, it just mentally does not happen fast enough. Oh well.

[Zoumommy 61]

Yes my husbaNd is a stick, can eat whatever he wants, get on the treadmill once a year and still just weighs 160

[RebeccaRN 27]

I also hit a stall between weeks 3 and 6 - very frustrating, but I kept doing what my doc and NUT said to do and then this past week lost 5 lbs. I think it is a lesson in patience and commitment to the plan.

[hopeful2 be slim 121]

A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why.
Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.
As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.