Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Weight loss? Slow? In a Stall?



Recommended Posts

I decided to address some issues with the speed of my weight loss. Not because I'm disappointed or frustrated but to offer perspective and to garner your perspective to help those who are frustrated.

On May 6 it will be 3 months out for me. I'm certainly no subject matter expert. Daily I see a new post regarding the speed of weight loss. Usually it is regarding a stall. Heck, I think I even posted one.

We've heard and read every one hoping to get a different answer. But that new perspective never comes. So it appears that stalls are reality and normal. Slow weight loss is a reality and normal. Fast weight loss is a reality and normal.

I've learned that just because you're in a stall or your weight loss is slow doesn't mean nothing is happening to your body. I slipped right into a size 14 jean at the end of my last two week stall.

1. Help I'm in a stall? What do I do?

Look at your journal. Are you getting 60-100g of Protein a day? Are you staying within your carb limit? Are you drinking all your Water? Are you journaling? Be honest about staying on plan. And understand that even if you do everything right you will stall.

2. Why are others losing weight so much faster than me?

First refer to the answer number 1. If you answered yes to all those then you are probably like me. My husband swears I can live on air:-). My weight loss is slow and I have had many stalls in my short three months. In between stalls I'll lose 3-4 lbs then stall again. There are benefits to being slow losers. That lotion you put on twice a day to nourish and heal your skin actually has some time to work. Don't forget to dry brush your skin before climbing into the shower. My skin looks great and I'm nearly 50!

Did you expect the weight to just disappear and you're feeling disappointed?

By choosing the sleeve you chose one of the slowest of WLS suite of choices. Yep, weight loss can continue for up to 2 years after surgery. Most people who succeed get to goal sooner. In spite of that I feel like I've made the right choice. I feel great, I'm looking pretty great and there is no way I could have dropped 36 pounds in nearly three months any other way. Your frame of mind is important to determining your satisfaction with WLS. In other words,don't look at your daily weigh in as an emotional roller coaster where on loss days you're happy and in stall days you're bummed. You can't eat 800-1000 calories a day and not eventually lose weight. Don't worry, be happy.

You will have stalls. Now I've had more stall days than success days and am thankful for them. The misconception is that this is an easy fix to a problem of laziness or lack of self control. Every one who has done this will testify that this is a lie. This is not easier. It's damned hard to make the decision to surgically limit your body to 4-6 ounces of food at a time. Sometimes it sucks when you've made a rockstar meal and want more. Like that amazing, wild Alaska salmon I made last night that I'm also having for lunch today. Yum!

After all that work to get to a successful surgery date now is the time to Celebrate the successes and the stalls. They are our new reality. Why not make it your new normal.

Take care

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for this post. I've never been in a darker place than I am now. Wednesday will be 4 weeks since my surgery. I've only lost 10 pounds. I've cried so much I have nothing left to cry. I can drink a quart in one sitting I can eat 2-3x the portion I'm "supposed" to. Depressed is an understatement.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How many calories or grams of Protein are you getting? What are you eating? Are you weighing your food? What food stage is recommended by your doc or NUT for this week? More info please?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Between 500-700 calls. Minimum of 60 G Protein (on a bad day). I could eat many more calories, but don't, as it defeats the purpose of surgery. I'm on stage 3B which is moist processed meats cottage cheese Greek yogurt and eggs, turkey chili. I weigh or measure all food.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

500-700 calories is a little low. Try adding a snack or two. It is hard to get enough at first but as your tummy heals it will get easier. Keeping calories too low puts our bodies in starvation mode and it doesn't let go of any excess. For the first 6 weeks 60g of Protein was my goal. Now it's pretty easy to get so my new goal is 100g protein. That usually gets me to calorie goal as well but I really don't even worry about calories. Protein, pleasuring and journaling is my focus right now.

The weight will come off. Just keep plugging away at it.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for this. I'm 6 months post op and have stalled all along the way. It really puts things in perspective.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×