It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?

I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.

Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.

For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:

What can you do to "break" a stall?

1) STAY OFF THE SCALE

Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.

2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE

In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.

3) TRACK YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY

As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.

If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).

4) EXERCISE

If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.

5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT

If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).

6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE

About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.

7) JOURNAL

One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.

-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.

-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.

-- Write about what life was like before surgery.

-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.

-- Write about your fears.

-- Write about your NSVs.

-- Make a gratitude list.

-- Make a bucket list.

-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.

Just write.

8) SEEK HELP

Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.

The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.

The last, and most important thing you can DO is:

9) EMBRACE THE STALL

Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.

Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.

Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.

If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

Since we are all in the stall together! Punintended! Do you think there is any evidence or studies done on patients who had revision surgery from lap band to RNY or any other type of revision and stalling?

Since we are all in the stall together! Punintended! Do you think there is any evidence or studies done on patients who had revision surgery from lap band to RNY or any other type of revision and stalling?

I have no idea. I am also not sure what you are asking exactly.

Stalls are part of the weight loss process, so I don't think the type of procedure you have would impact the fact that you will stall.

Have you asked your surgeon or NUT about your specific concerns?

You are SOOOO right, as usual! My last "stall" lasted a couple of months, broken today. I think it is most of those who have just recently had their surgery, who talk about the stalls so much. Like you said, it is part of the whole thing. And lest we forget, it is not unusual to "regain" a few pounds here and there on our path. Just the body shifting around, getting used to the new program. It's best to take things one day at a time, and as we follow our individual programs, it is important to remember that everyone is different, and we each, independently, will lose in our own way, at our own time. Your wisdom, Inner Surfer Girl, is spot on!!!! Have a great weekend, everyone!

How long ago was your surgery?

@@ShadowCub67

No offense, but you know you're a newbie, also?

I don't care if you've done 50 years of research. Until you've actually had the surgery, what you think you know goes out the window.

It's kind of like the people who say they know all about how to be a parent because they're a nanny.

I mean, I'm 16 months out and still don't know sh*t.

@@ShadowCub67

No offense, but you know you're a newbie, also?

I don't care if you've done 50 years of research. Until you've actually had the surgery, what you think you know goes out the window.

It's kind of like the people who say they know all about how to be a parent because they're a nanny.

I mean, I'm 16 months out and still don't know sh*t.

True enough. But I've been the "new kid on the block" in enough different situations to recognize the pattern of the newest people to seemingly ALL make the same mistake, do the same thing, etc. before becoming more familiar with the setting.

I was just extrapolating those experiences to the comment that "Newbies never change."

That's all. No offence meant.

@@ShadowCub67

No offense, but you know you're a newbie, also?

I don't care if you've done 50 years of research. Until you've actually had the surgery, what you think you know goes out the window.

It's kind of like the people who say they know all about how to be a parent because they're a nanny.

I mean, I'm 16 months out and still don't know sh*t.

True enough. But I've been the "new kid on the block" in enough different situations to recognize the pattern of the newest people to seemingly ALL make the same mistake, do the same thing, etc. before becoming more familiar with the setting. I was just extrapolating those experiences to the comment that "Newbies never change." That's all. No offence meant.

Understood

I love this quote, we need to b kind to ourselves and our bodies and continue to eat, snack, take our vitamilns, drink, and exercise rt as well as eat and keep our lives balanced in order for our bodies to be healthy and put out the results we want. I know we r human and try to substitute and tweak with our alignment but we need to not b so hard on ourselves. I'm getting back on track slowly but surely and am not beating myself up anymore. I'm realizing, as previously mentioned, "I am only human".

Edited December 14, 201510 yr by lramirez29

I'm not bemoaning the stall; I know it's part of the journey. HOWEVER, I would like to know from others at what point they stalled and how long their stalls lasted. And yes, I'm aware that everyone is different, but it's helpful to me to hear about the experiences of others.

exactly!

I stalled weight wise on Nov. 17 and still stalled! BUT - my clothes keep getting looser, today I ran an entire mile on the treadmill instead of walking fast. I still eat and drink healthy and I feel dam good. I still weigh every day and chart it, mainly cause I'm a statistics kind of guy and love to predict trends and control numbers and all that geeky stuff. Plus I'm ahead of schedule still on percent lost.

i am at the end of my weight loss journey, although I would like to lose twenty more pounds. I have been at my current weight for four months and am learning how to maintain it. in a few months I will work on the last twenty, right now I am loving me as I am.

i am at the end of my weight loss journey, although I would like to lose twenty more pounds. I have been at my current weight for four months and am learning how to maintain it. in a few months I will work on the last twenty, right now I am loving me as I am.

I am not there yet, but I have observed that stalls may lengthen and become more frequent the closer people get closer to goal. It makes sense as our bodies seek an equilibrium point.

Thank you, I needed to hear that.

Bumping this because we seem to have a lot of folks who had their surgery recently so may be fast approaching their first stall.

It was a great post. I just wanted to know if it was normal I have been between 227-224 since October just thought I could do something to start it going again. I just started to walk on my treadmill again trying to do a mile a day to start???? thanks for the read

It was a great post. I just wanted to know if it was normal I have been between 227-224 since October just thought I could do something to start it going again. I just started to walk on my treadmill again trying to do a mile a day to start???? thanks for the read

I think our bodies like variety whether it is food or exercise. It wouldn't hurt to shake things up a little as long as you are meeting your basic requirements.

Have fun on the treadmill!