I had my gastric sleeve back on March 9, 2016. Started at 221 and now at 6 months post op I fluctuate between 178/180. I've been at a stall now for a while now which is very hard not to be discouraged:( does the fluctuation mean this is probably where I'm going to be stuck at. Another thing I was wondering about is that I thought my stomach looked flatter a few months ago than it does now. Anybody been here???

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@@jennabela It's doubtful you are stuck where you are. Are you meeting your Protein and Fluid goals? Are you constipated, getting your period, etc.? Stalling is very normal.

I am right there with you, 5 months post op, starting weight 220, I hover around 176-178, my weight loss has been very slow the last 3 months. I do feel like I could be eating a bit better than I am so I am going to try to switch up my diet a bit and I also have not exercised at all so looking to add that and see if it makes a difference. I do believe the stall is normal and I dont think we will stay at this weight. I want to lose 28 more lbs!

My Fluid intake could definitely be better. I'm working on that. I just feel stuck in a rut. People have told me things like "oh you've lost more weight but my scale hasn't budged. I guess inches are just as good. I just hear about so many amazing weight loss stories and it's hard not to be in the same spot. Patience has never been my strong point. Thanks for the encouragement

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@@jennabela If you're not getting enough fluids - that could definitely be a problem. Increase Protein and fluids and see what happens! You started at a low BMI compared to most of us - so your weight loss will be slower. Remember to think of it in terms of % of loss - you've lost 18.5% of your weight in 6 months. That's not a bad loss at all! Inches are definitely just as good as pounds! I bet if you increase protein and fluids you'll see the scale move again!!! Stay strong!!!

I was having a hard time with constipation but did start Probiotics and eat one Activia Light daily

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Thanks KristenLe. I think I need to start journaling and tracking my food choices, Protein and fluids

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Best of luck Crochet Queen! I haven't worked out too much either and actually just started a walking video by Lesley Sansone which I highly recommend. I've never been a big exerciser but this is just the right pace. I try to do the 2 mile walk 4x a day just to get moving but I recently got a heel spur and have to stay off the foot for 2 weeks. Another good thing is that you don't even have to buy the video you can just access her videos on YouTube which is perfect! Hope you reach your goal weight!!

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@@jennabela

You have to take your measurements. I barely lost 10 pounds over like 2 months but I lost 10 inches all over and a dress/jean size. Stalls are your body catching up, you can be losing but it won't show on the scale.

Since you eat a lot less, you have to drink a lot to push the food through your digestive system. You don't have the volume of food to do it so you have to do it with fluids.

Also if you are not eating enough calories, you won't lose weight, so tracking your food can really help.

Thanks @@OutsideMatchInside

That's where i messed up in the beginning, I never measured:( I'll make sure to push the liquids. Your post makes a lot of sense and I hadn't thought of that

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One thing I don't think we talk about enough on this board is getting enough sleep. It should be Protein, Water, Sleep. Oh yeah and exercise

I think we all get so stressed out so make sure you get 7 hours of sleep.

Good luck

~LA

Thanks Jenna, I actually have a gym membership I want to start using!

Kristens words are very encouraging, and she made a good point. We started at a lower BMI than most so our weight loss will not be as quick or significant.

At the end of the day down 42 pounds I feel like a different person! I'm wearing clothes I have not worn in years. And it's nice to hear the comments from people about how amazing I look.

I too am discouraged, I'm using a scale which gives weight, bone mass, %Water, and %of body fat. I'm using a fitbit, and meeting my goals. I track my calories and Protein, I've scaled back to 550-650 calories a day. I drink plenty of water, and I gained 1.6 pounds this week. Since September 2 I have lost 4.8 pounds. I feel like the surgery is no help. If I had the discipline to restrict the foods I eat on a long term basis I would never have become fat. On September second I weighed 239.8, today 235.0! Ugh!

I eat plain fish, tuna with mustard, and maybe celery and onion, chicken breast, and egg whites. I also eat diet Soup, rarely a diet mango smoothie, Protein Bars, and protein chips all from Bariatric Pal. I add garden salad mix, zucchini, Greek yogurt, sparingly ketchup, Morning Star Farms vegetable meat subs, and once some peanut powder stuff.

I don't eat bread, cake, Cookies, the stuff that contributed to my obesity, also no crackers, chips, croutons, candy, and not even costco samples unless they are packed with protein, and low in fat.

I use Costco's incarnation of Miralax, and laxatives.

I'm scared. I can eat a lot. I don't dare mix things up too much more, if I play with food choices, just a bite of chocolate, crumbs from a muffin,, just to taste, or anything and I could be 280 again, maybe more. I had my surgery in July. My pre op diet helped me lose 15 pounds in three weeks. Post op nine weeks and my total loss is thirty pounds.

I don't seem to effectively communicate how distressing this is for me.

@@happy2bjcox

I'm sorry. Trust me I feel your pain. I've read on some forums that they were told to increase their calories and add some carbs to their diet to 1200 because if your calories are too low than your body stores it as fat because it goes into starvation mode. I'm not sure though. It seems like I can win for losing. I would make a new post asking about calorie information. I'm sure we'll be fine in the end. Best of Luck!!

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Edited September 21, 20169 yr by jennabela

Jennabela - I know you are discouraged but YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I haven't had surgery yet so I can't relate but even not knowing you, I know you are a strong woman or you wouldn't have made it this far. Just persevere and you will get where you want to be.

As far as the heel spur, I deal with this regularly. The 2 best things that work for me: freeze a plastic bottle of Water, then roll you socked foot back-and-forth over it. It will help relieve the inflammation. Next, stretch your foot by standing on your toes on the affected foot. Stretch it as high up as you can go and then back down. Do this every morning. I learned both of these techniques in physical therapy.

Good luck with everything!

I too am discouraged, I'm using a scale which gives weight, bone mass, %Water, and %of body fat. I'm using a fitbit, and meeting my goals. I track my calories and Protein, I've scaled back to 550-650 calories a day. I drink plenty of water, and I gained 1.6 pounds this week. Since September 2 I have lost 4.8 pounds. I feel like the surgery is no help. If I had the discipline to restrict the foods I eat on a long term basis I would never have become fat. On September second I weighed 239.8, today 235.0! Ugh!

I eat plain fish, tuna with mustard, and maybe celery and onion, chicken breast, and egg whites. I also eat diet soup, rarely a diet mango smoothie, protein bars, and protein chips all from Bariatric Pal. I add garden salad mix, zucchini, Greek yogurt, sparingly ketchup, Morning Star Farms vegetable meat subs, and once some peanut powder stuff.

I don't eat bread, cake, Cookies, the stuff that contributed to my obesity, also no crackers, chips, croutons, candy, and not even costco samples unless they are packed with protein, and low in fat.

I use Costco's incarnation of Miralax, and laxatives.

I'm scared. I can eat a lot. I don't dare mix things up too much more, if I play with food choices, just a bite of chocolate, crumbs from a muffin,, just to taste, or anything and I could be 280 again, maybe more. I had my surgery in July. My pre op diet helped me lose 15 pounds in three weeks. Post op nine weeks and my total loss is thirty pounds.

I don't seem to effectively communicate how distressing this is for me.

@@happy2bjcox You are losing weight - maybe not as fast as you would like but you are losing. It appears that you started at 280 and now weight 235 - there's absolutely nothing wrong with that rate of loss. If I am 235 lbs 3 months after my surgery I'll be thrilled. Your body needs time to adjust. Starving yourself is not going to help - 550-650 calories a day at 3 months out is very low. You don't mention how much protein you are getting but based on what you indicated you are eating - I would be surprised if you're meeting a protein goal of 60-80 gms. Be careful of sugars/carbs - check to make sure the smoothie and protein bars don't have a high sugar content / high carbs. Someone else mentioned the importance of getting enough sleep - which is absolutely true. As I'm sure you have heard - stalls are normal. I think if you increase your calories with more protein - you'll find you lose faster. Change things up a bit. Stay strong - you can do this!!! 45 lbs are gone - and you won't see them again if you stick with the program!!!