Hi all

I am just about 2 months post op and have lost 45 lbs total (20 pre-op and 25 in the 5 weeks that followed surgery). At week 5 post op, I started working out (Pilates 5 days a week, walking 2-3 days in addition) and since I started working out, I haven't lost a single pound. I understand that there are stalls and your body needs time to adjust, but I've read some posts about working out too much and of course Im not hungry so it seems odd to me to increase my calories (I take in roughly 700-800 a day). I get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water without issue, but I was just wandering if I should change anything? Add in more cardio? Or just ride out the stall?

it might just be a stall. I wouldn't increase my calories

For me, 700-800 calories is on the low side. My Protein target is 100 grams.

How much protein are you consuming? How much Water? If you are exercising regularly you may need even more water.

Embrace the Stall

http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

For Protein, I get in 70-80 grams. Water is 90-110oz,

This happens to me on every "diet" I've ever gone on. I generally lose a bunch of weight, and after weeks or months, I start adding in exercise. There always seems to be a period right after that where weight loss stalls.

It was the same with my gastric bypass.

Just keep following the program and everything will work out fine.

My personal theory is that by the time I start working out, I've depleted most of the glycogen in my body, then I start working out, and body says "HOLY CRAP, I really need that quick energy store if I'm going to be put through this", so it starts piling glycogen back on, which is stored at a 1:3 ratio of glycogen to Water, so I am very rapidly adding water weight with the glycogen storage.

I have no idea if this is true, just my personal theory.

This happens to me on every "diet" I've ever gone on. I generally lose a bunch of weight, and after weeks or months, I start adding in exercise. There always seems to be a period right after that where weight loss stalls.

It was the same with my gastric bypass.

Just keep following the program and everything will work out fine.

My personal theory is that by the time I start working out, I've depleted most of the glycogen in my body, then I start working out, and body says "HOLY CRAP, I really need that quick energy store if I'm going to be put through this", so it starts piling glycogen back on, which is stored at a 1:3 ratio of glycogen to Water, so I am very rapidly adding water weight with the glycogen storage.

I have no idea if this is true, just my personal theory.

I read an article the other day that said exactly the same thing. It explained that when we plateau our bodies are actually burning fat stores and converting them to glycogen which needs water for storage ... and this amounts to about 10 pounds in weight. So when you seem to get stuck take comfort in the knowledge that this is when you are losing fat. The quick weight loss you have early on is just the release of glycogen and water as your body panics and sends all its resources to giving you energy.