Week 3 discouragement

[scarletwitch19 302]

I've made the mistake of weighing myself too much lately. I started working out again this week, and I was curious to see how it effected me. As of yesterday I was down 20lbs from surgery. Today it's showing me up 3 more pounds. 3 POUNDS!!!! I know that the first month our bodies are trying to figure out what's going on, but 3 pounds seems like alot!!!

It's my own fault. I know I shouldn't look at the scale. But I've been really overwhelmed with everything and I was just wanting to see some positive movement.

[devillynn 193]

the worst thing you can do is get addicted to the scale. and if you do weigh daily be prepared to see it go up and down. i may get on the scale a couple times a week but i only record my weight on Mondays - that way i have a weekly day that actually record my weight and i have a set date that i go by because it does fluctuate. I bet if you give it a day or two it will go down a few more pounds....keep following your plan and keep a positive attitude - that is - i think -the hardest part of all of this!! Good Luck!!

[ShrinkingPeach 1,291]

Even before surgery our weight fluctuates daily, some days we have more Water retention, some days less etc. It is o different now. I can't help myself I weigh every day sometimes and every other day sometimes but sunday morning is my official weight for the week. I try not to get too obsessive with a sale I wouldn't dare get on before.

Good luck and try to create a stress-free relationship with that darned scale...

Oh! And even when the scale doesn't move you are still losing inches so take your measurements if you haven't already and redo them weekly or bi-weekly etc.

[no onions 258]

This is why I cannot weigh daily. In the past I would weigh multiple times per day and the head games it creates are just not worth it. Pick an interval (for weighing) that works for you. Keep in mind that the overall trajectory (loss) is on a downward slope - you will continue to make great progress that may not show up daily or weekly.

[gowalking 10,790]

I'd like to be able to change my stats to read starting pant size to current pant size instead of starting/current weight. My job is all about metrics so I understand the need to collect and analyze numbers but we really need to not obsess. There isn't a perfect weight nor is there a perfect size. This is about health and the quality of life...including how we look and how others see us.

I keep telling myself I won't look at these threads but I do because I want to try to do what others are doing by saying to stop focusing on the scale.

You are only three weeks out scarlet. How long have you been overweight? Years, right? It won't come off overnight. And even small losses are still losses. I never lost more than three pounds in a single week and yet I still managed to lose over 150 lbs. Relax...and enjoy the NSVs and whatever positive experiences you have while you are going through this change.

Good luck.

[Daisee68 2,493]

Girl, I am so with you!! (Surgery was on June 4 and 14 pounds since surgery date. Luckily more before that!) This morning I decided I had to put my scale away. I am going to try just weighing in on Thursdays which is the day I had my surgery. Join me in putting that scale out of reach for a while!

[scarletwitch19 302]

Thanks All. As cheesy as it might sound, I'm just so thankful I found this site. I'm so lucky to have a very supportive boyfriend and family. But as you all know, no one quite gets it if they haven't gone through it. I've been overweight as long as I can remember. And the idea of that part of me being gone in the next couple years, it's scary. Reading and discussing with people who know exactly how I feel is such a relief. Thank you all for being supportive and inspirational individuals. ♡

[VDB 800]

I also find that clothing size reduction is the most motivating factor around weight loss. I keep smaller jeans hanging in a visible place, knowing that soon I will fit into them. When I do fit, it is a celebration. I only weigh when I wake up and feel like it, usually every two weeks.

[Rogofulm 2,440]

Congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even longer. But don't worry – after that, the pounds will start falling off if you stick to your program. And, the inches will continue to come off even while the scale isn't budging. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again!

(Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)

[Shustar 395]

Thanks so much Rogofulm! I read this article a couple of weeks ago. I have never read a more suscinct and thorough explanation for the stall which I have hit after 2 weeks. It is frustrating since I have only lost 7 pounds since surgery on 8 June. I know what I am eating is good. I just need a sleeve on my impatience! Too bad they can't do that at the same time!

[rosepose 105]

Oh I was really frustrated my first week!!! It felt like I didn't lose anything for days at a time and then only a pound and then nothing again! I think my system was in shock and went into lock down. I'm only 11 days out now but things have started moving. I think I have to put the scale away - the three week stall sounds crazy making.

[jeanniereenie 177]

we have all done this! I am at week 5 and after about week four I dropped 5 lbs like boom!

week one my hubby removed all scales from our house...I weigh once a week at the gym, and I even sometimes forget to do that ...

BURN THAT SCALE!!

go by how you feel and the old jeans that fit (they really did!) and not by a number...being overweight I have always obsessed over that number...now im glad that the scale is moving as slow as it needs to be...and I can wear those sassy jeans and I am sticking with it....

you will get past this stall and be more awesome next week!

Edited June 27, 2015 by jeanniereenie

[KellarsMom 28]

Glad I'm not the only one. I had surgery 6/12 and from the preop to this week I'd lost 18 lbs but the last few days the scale hasn't budged. I was feeling discouraged especially since I'm basically living off liquids and a few ounces of Soup a day. I'm 5 lbs away from 150 and would love to see that soon. Once you start introducing more solids have you noticed a loss?

[hockeyfan7 249]

Yep, exact same thing happened to me week 3. Down 20 the first two weeks and on week 3 up 3 pounds. Now at the start of week 5 those 3 are gone and I'm heading back down.

Hang in there and it will come off. You shocked your body and it has to get adjusted to a new reality. It doesn't like change much and will go kicking and screaming into it.

[KellarsMom 28]

I sure hope so bc it's so discouraging to know you're not eating and then not losing