Day 8 and a Stall Already?

[Sunnybaby 95]

I am 8 days post-op and got on the scale this morning and it said I had GAINED an ounce instead of losing like I have been doing. In the first week I lost 11.5 pounds no problem. Is it common to have a stall so quickly? I am still in the liquid phase and I have been getting in between 400-500 calories per day. I really don't get why there was no change on the scale today?? Has anyone had this problem?

[PdxMan 4,292]

Can you tell me what you define as a stall? Also, what are your realistic expectations for your weight loss process? Do you really expect to see a loss EVERY time you step on the scale? Have you searched the site for the word "stall"?

[BigGirlPanties 957]

PUT THAT scale AWAY!!! you are going to drive yourself crazy if you weigh yourself constantly...stick to once a week at the same time and place... some doctors don't want you to weigh yourself until you see them!

Every day your weight will fluctuate...that's life... you are not at a stall or a real gain... relax... it will work itself out...but PUT THAT scale AWAY!!! for your own sanity!!!

[NMJG 1,266]

Good lord, girl, put the scale away and weigh yourself once a week MAX. Every two weeks is even better.

[Sunnybaby 95]

Can you tell me what you define as a stall? Also, what are your realistic expectations for your weight loss process? Do you really expect to see a loss EVERY time you step on the scale? Have you searched the site for the word "stall"?

Maybe I am naive because yes I was expecting to see a change every time I get on the scale, at least in the first 2 weeks while I am still on liquids. Apparently I am wrong in my expectations....I am still learning! I do understand what a stall is and to be honest it scares me a little bit.

As for not putting the scale away, my doctor told me to weigh everyday and record our weight.

[BigGirlPanties 957]

Wow, you are the first person I've heard that from...most doctors (in the beginning) want us to wait....but you do what they tell you...but don't panic... you will be fine... trust in the program!

[PdxMan 4,292]

Can you tell me what you define as a stall? Also, what are your realistic expectations for your weight loss process? Do you really expect to see a loss EVERY time you step on the scale? Have you searched the site for the word "stall"?

Maybe I am naive because yes I was expecting to see a change every time I get on the scale, at least in the first 2 weeks while I am still on liquids. Apparently I am wrong in my expectations....I am still learning! I do understand what a stall is and to be honest it scares me a little bit.

As for not putting the scale away, my doctor told me to weigh everyday and record our weight.

No, you are not naive. A lot of folks come into this thinking everyday the scale is going to show a loss and are shaken to discover that is not how this works. I know it is exciting at first to see the scale moving, but this is not like other diets you have been on. Your body is going to go through periods where it retains fluids. If your body is functioning correctly, it will also go into somewhat of a starvation mode where it tries to retain body fats as it thinks you are stranded on a deserted island somewhere and needs to conserve.

My initial question was what do you define as a stall? I ask this, because this is something else where our expectations are greater than our reality. Is a stall where the scale doesn't go down every day? So, if I don't lose weight for one day, is that a stall? For 3 days? The week Aunt Flow drops by? What does that mean, anyway ... don't lose weight ...? Is that what I am here to do? Lose weight?

Not me. I wanted to lose fat and the scale only measures weight, so right there should tell you the scale is useless. What I know is that my clothes were fitting better and I could tighten my belt by a notch. That is what I wanted. Weight loss is not discretionary, by any means. You will lose fat AND you will lose muscle. So, are you so willing to lose weight that muscle loss is OK? You are going to have to eat and exercise to lessen this cannibalistic process of weight loss.

It's funny. It was a post very similar to yours which made me go from weighing daily to weighing once a month. About 1 month post-op, I read a thread from someone writing in all caps about how they had gained 0.3 pounds from their morning weigh in. They lamented how they knew they would be a failure at WLS, too. I knew I had the ability to go over the edge like this, so I went to only weighing once a month. When I did this, I always saw a loss and was always encouraged.

The bottom line is, deep down in your heart, you know that if you follow the guidelines tightly, you will be consuming fewer calories than you are burning, therefore you are going to lose weight. If you accompany this with exercise, your efforts will be well paid off. Just keep doing the right thing and pay attention to how you look and feel. That is what matters in the long run, isn't it?

Ditch the scale. It lies.

[2muchfun 8,928]

If you understand how your body works you can weigh yourself every day or twice a day like me and not be discouraged. I know if I consume too much sodium or too many carbs my body is going to retain some Water which is going to show up on the scale. Much of the weight you're losing now is simply fluids your body is holding back.

Your journey or whatever you want to call this, will be like a saw blade. There is not a linear line from day 1 to your goal weight for most WLS patients. So, just relax and don't sweat the small stuff like daily or even weekly setbacks. Maybe once you don't lose any fat for two or four weeks you can panic just a little.