Hey guys! I'm 2 weeks post op and I am on the pureed part of my diet. I am getting my fluids and most of my Protein in. I was losing and now I seem to be gaining. Help!?

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I am post op since 12/19/16 and this same thing has happened to me. I've followed all rules and diet. Frustrated! !

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Weight fluctuates for many reasons. Water retention, constipation, hormones etc....especially if you're weighing every day or several times a day you'll see the fluctuations.

I suspect you're going into your "Dreaded 3 week stall" a little early. It happens to 98% of us, and the cuplprit is glycogen storage due to starvation mode. It causes weight to stall or even gain a little when it happens.

You're not doing anything wrong at all. Just stay the course, make sure your're getting all your Protein and fluids, and if the fluctuations or stalls bother you, try to stay off the scale.

Here's the article that explains what happens. No worries!

A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why.

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even GAIN for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Excellent info Babbs, thanks!

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Thank you for the info

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Are you keeping your pureed food at one to two ounces at the most?

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Add fiber to your diet. I felt like that for about the first three weeks too. After adding fiber (chewables), I had less constipation and was able to go to the bathroom with ease. This made me lose weight again.

No matter what the scale says if you are following your plan you are losing FAT.

Thx Babbs. I was getting worried that maybe I should back off soft foods. I'm beginning week 3 and starting soft foods, so I thought that was what is causing me to stall.

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Thx Babbs. I was getting worried that maybe I should back off soft foods. I'm beginning week 3 and starting soft foods, so I thought that was what is causing me to stall.

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No problem. I think people think that going to solid food has something to do with this early stall/and or gain, but I just think it coincides with the 3rd week stall.

Just FYI, it takes approximately 3500 additional calories to gain a pound. There's no way in hell any of us can eat that many extra calories until we are many, many months out, even with grazing all day! So any 'gain' is usually just Water retention, hormonal changes, food, clothes, constipation, different scales etc. I know it's hard to get out of that 'panic' mode when we see a gain, but try no to knowing that, like @@Aggiemae said, you're still losing fat

I am 3 weeks post op, and I kid you not, I have been in the exact same boat since week 2 started!

The very first week, I lost 13 pounds. Then NOTHING! Until today!

I got up and I've FINALLY lost 2 pounds.

I wasn't expecting to stall (for a whole 2 weeks) only 1 week after surgery, but finally, some progress.

I understand how discouraging it is. Just hang in there, follow the plan, and ride it out. You will get there! Good luck to you! ❤️

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Edited January 2, 20179 yr by haylee_d