Search the Community

I'm at 3 weeks and HAVE hit the 3 week stall. That being said, I've lost 24 lbs in 2 weeks so I can't complain. If I don't lose next week, I will say I will be PI**ED! I am not hungry, but I do feel like I'm obsessing about food. I think about eating every hour and find myself nibbling here and there. I have to reign that in. I don't like eating a bite every 90 min. It literally is a1-3 bites of food every 90 min. I'd much rather eat 6-10 bites every 3-4 hours. I think I'm eating too many carbs but I like them and I can't eat just protein. That being said, I never eat a carb w/out a protein. (that goes back to my diabetic diet) Eating carbs alone means I want more to eat and want to eat more often. I may eat 4 TBS Tuna Fish and then eat 2 ritz crackers with it. I think that's a good balance. Same with soup, maybe 1/2 cup soup w/ 4 crackers. I haven't had bread yet as I cant' try that for 2 more weeks. I don't know that I will eat it again. Although, a turkey sandwich sounds really good.

While it is frustrating IMO it really isn't a bad thing. I feel my 6 month diet gave me the extra time I needed to REALLY research what to expect from the pre-op diet, the surgery, recovery from the surgery and my diet after surgery. It gave me time to start to practice eating better. It gave me time to wean off of caffeine and soda. I attended one of my programs support groups. It gave me time to figure out what Vitamins and shakes I wanted to have on hand for pre-op diet and after surgery. Too many times I have seen questions from people that are quickly approved by insurance and quickly have the surgery are on the boards asking about what they are allowed to eat at the various stages after surgery. They are the ones that are surprised that they shouldn't be eating simple carbs. They are surprised by the 3 week stall and the initial discomfort after surgery. They are surprised when they are moody after surgery. There was nothing I went through that surprised me. I read a ton of people's personal experiences here on this board. My insurance required 6 consecutive months sometime in the last 2 years. Since you only had 4 months you would have had to do it again. My insurance allowed Weight Watchers, dr supervised, LA Weight Loss, Medi-fast. Any commercial program that I could document 6 months of monitoring.

Omg I am so so happy 6 pds this week after 2-3 week stall up and down yessssssssssssss !

Well after being sleeved in November I had managed to keep things trucking a long really well. No typical 3 week stall, good strong weight loss, etc. Well it's now been 2 weeks since the scale moved. I really can't complain as I am down a lot (over 100lbs) which isn't bad for 4 months out. But I've still got 24lbs to goal and I wanted to get there by my birthday in late May. I know it's still achievable but I really had hoped not to deal with the stalls. Strangely even though I'm 4 months out my sleeve is still pretty tight, I don't think I'm clearing 4 oz per meal, well I know I'm not. Diet is about the same it was 6 or 8 weeks ago when I was still losing pretty rapidly. Honestly I went into this figuring if I even lost 60lbs I would be happy, and I'm well past that. I feel good and look pretty good where I am now, but after cruising along thinking I'm almost to goal it's mildly frustrating.

great advice... i am 3.weeks out - weighed at my one week appt and that is it. I agree on the fad diets - I did it so much I had to have gallbladder surgery. I am worried about the 3 week stall. i havent exercised much - i have a broke foot. Darn it!

Great! I love that this is here. I for one promise to look here first when I have my "3 week stall" before I start freaking out and starting a new thread lol

Havent lost any weight in 3 weeks im 6 weeks post-op i get bout 60 grams of protien and 64 oz of water a day..i do my exercising. Dr wants to see me monday to see what going on...anyone have any advice???

Hi. I'm new to this site but had my VSG 8/14/14. With the liquids, you are doing the right thing with trying different temperatures. You may want to take smaller sips. At one point my sips were just getting the tip of my tongue wet. What really helped me was walking while I drank my Water. I don't mean a stroll. I was moving my legs! The moving helped the water pass without feeling like someone kicked me in my chest. May I suggest that you put the scale away. You are three days out from surgery. Standing on the scale every day will do nothing but drive you batty. I still don't have a scale in my house because I am compulsive. I would weigh several times a day if it was right there in my home. In the beginning I just waited until my surgeon visits to find my weight. I was never disappointed. I didn't have that dreaded 3 week stall everyone gripes about. I weighed in the doctor's office during the week 1 visit and weighed again during the week 3 visit. Guess what....the weight was down. No stall. After a few weeks, I picked Monday as my official weigh in and just plot my weight once a week on a graph. Some people plot their weight once a month. This way I don't get caught up in the day to day fluctuations your body will make. Before surgery I wrote a list of NSVs I wanted to achieve. This way I could Celebrate something in the event the scale doesn't move from one week to another. Who cares that I didn't lose 1 pound this week because I was able to button a pair of pants that I haven't worn in yearssssss!!!! Just find other ways to celebrate.

@@Fancynancy37@cox.net 3 week stall. Search for it on this forum and take a deep breath.

I started losing 2 weeks before surgery as they had me on the optifast liquid shakes, that was honestly the hardest part of all this for me. I gagged every time I had a chocolate one lol. It's been a pretty steady decline since day one. I have had a few 3 week stalls but it started to fall off without changing anything. I have been steady now for a few months but would have lost more if I weren't gained muscle back. I'm happy with 220-230 and am concentrating on strength training. I suspect ill trade some fat for muscle over the next year. I have my eating habits down to second nature, and this working out thing is becoming habit forming as well. I found that losing became expected after a while and stalls would take the wind out of my sail, but the stalls are I now believe a healthily way of our bodies resetting and getting use to the changes, kind of a recouping period.

Oh i so know what you are going through. I hit a 3 week stall at 2 weeks post op. This is very common. I am exactly 3 months post op and have lost 55 pounds. I have trouble getting all of my protein and water in. My skin is dry, my hair is coming out and i am having trouble with constipation. But with all of that being said, 55 pounds is amazing in 3 months. I promise you it will get better. I think once your constipation is resolved, a lot of the other issues you mentioned will resolve as well. Drink 1 capful of Miralax daily in 8 ounces of fluid. Your constipation will improve, your stall will break and your tummy will allow you to eat and drink what you need to to meet your protein and water goals. Smile, it gets better, I promise! I know from experience. Smile!!!

I didn't think about working out and gaining weight. I have tried hard to make it a daily regime and keep moving. My wife is completely taken back by all of this. To be honest the first few weeks after the surgery when It was stall after stall. She kept saying it's just a fluke don't worry it'll start coming off. Then as the weeks kept going by she just couldn't understand why I wasn't losing. My first stall was 3 weeks, then I lost -4 and then 3 weeks went by and I lost another -5 and then 8 weeks and -6lbs. Now we are back in a 3 week stall. She is very heartbroken for me, she tries so hard to help and keep me going. However no matter how many times we change things no matter how many dr's or nutritionist give us new "changes in my diet" they never work and I stall.

With all due respect, no. Just...no. Gaining weight this early out is COMPLETELY normal. It's not possible to gain 6 pounds of fat by overeating as early out as she is. You could be eating McDonald's shakes at this stage with chocolate chip Cookies and still lose weight. You are dead wrong. It's part of the 3 week stall. She is just one of the lucky ones that gains while the body adjusts. She will start losing weight again once it passes. You just stay the course and let your body do its thing. Don't get discouraged! You're doing great! i completely disagree with your statements. You are entitled to your opinion but the surgery itself does not cause fat to melt. It's the severe restriction of calories. The truth is the scale doesn't lie but we can lie to ourselves. It takes like 3,000 extra calories to gain a pound (not including Water weight). So if someone is gaining weight they must be sneaking in extra calories and most likely through carbs. The poster in question has admitted she is a vegan and on top of that is not even able to eat vegan Protein. So I'm guessing her diet is mostly carbs at this stage. These are my opinions, of course, take them or leave them as anyone seems fit. The flaw in your logic is that you aren't accounting for water weight. We are advised to drink a minimum of 64 oz. of water a day. That's four POUNDS of water a day. Retaining any amount of that can cause large fluctuations on the scale that have nothing to do with calories or gaining fat. To gain 6 pounds of actual fat, the original poster would have had to ingest 21000 EXCESS calories in 4 days (PS: it takes 3500 excess calories to gain a pound, not 3000 as you said in your post). That's an average of over 5200 EXTRA calories a day at only a week post op. I don't know about you, but I was struggling to get in over 400 calories a day at 7 days post-op. There is no way the original poster is physically capable of consuming something like 7000 calories a day this early out. Unless she's hooked up to a milk shake IV or something. This is clearly her body responding to the trauma of surgery and retaining water. No, I actually addressed water weight. Drinking 4 lbs of water a day is nothing because most of it goes right out. Hint: You know you are fully hydrated when your urine is clear. I know what you are trying to communicate and I fully know about stalls as well. It's just that a stall means no movement, not regain. If the poster had edema or heart and circulation issues then this may factor in to the excess water weight. However, the poster has already admitted to her diet habits. In the long run 6 lbs is no big deal. However, if it is from consuming too much then it's better to catch it at the beginning.

If you have that kind of pain this far out, you may be eating too much too fast. You are also likely in the famous 3 week stall. Just keep working the program, and it will come off. Meanwhile slowdown and chew well and stop eating at 20 minutes and see if that helps the pain Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I have to say, the bean soup and the applesauce REALLY helped me yesterday. I do feel so much better today! I woke up and almost the first words out of my mouth were, I'd like to go somewhere and do something today. It's still super hot outside, so we may be reduced to walking in the mall, or taking out the new boat that my husband insisted on buying while we're both still recovering But I agree with you, distraction and focusing on something else really helps. We ended up spending all day yesterday on the go--not planned, just worked out that way. I usually work from home, but this upcoming week, I might go into the office just to get a little separation from recovery, Protein, Water, and more protein. It's good practice because the following week, I have to travel for work so time to get ready. Don't you just love/hate to find out we're all normal? Not only do we get tired after surgery---but ta dah! now it's the 3 week stall!! Thank god for this forum or I'd be freaking out.

Hey guys. So its been 2 months now ( almost) and i am about 50 pounds down. I went through a 2-3 week stall but all of a sudden i have been losing .8-1 pounds a day again. I started working out 3-4 x a week and even joined the GOLDS GYM CHALLENGE. I started at 270 and am right this second 221. Lately I eat a bite of whatever the family eats. This morning they ate french toast and bacon and orange juice. I had 1 slice of bacon and a cup of juice and was full. so on... usually its the bite of the meat I eat and veggies. anyhoo things are going great. before pics yesterday pic at 222

Hi all. I was sleeved on 4/8. I've always been a drinker getting at least 90 ounces of fluids a day, primarily Water. Fortunately I was able to drink just as much after surgery. I am still getting about 90 ounces a day of water and crystal light. Again, 80% is water. However I am not peeing as much. Probably only 4 times a day as opposed to pre-surgery peeing of 10-12 times a day. I've asked my NUT and she said it's fine as long as my urine is clear and my mouth isn't dry. Why does this happen? Where does all the Fluid go? That brings me to my next question. I'm not losing weight and I wonder if I'm retaining all this fluid somewhere? I'm not swollen in my hands or feet. I lost 22 pounds since surgery but nothing in almost 2 weeks. It's really discouraging since I'm following the diet and also walking about 5 miles per day. I don't understand it. I have a fear that this is it. I've lost 20 pounds and I'm not going to lose any more. I've read posts that there is a "3 week stall" but I've passed that point. I see the doc on Tuesday for my one month post op and will talk to him as well but I wanted some opinions from people who have gone through it.

I'm doing ok with food. Still on puree/soft food. I go to regular food on Monday. It's hard to believe it will be 4 weeks. I've lost 15 since surgery. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App I'm in the dreaded 3 week stall now. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

You could just have described me! I am almost 2 weeks post op and other than the acid reflux (doc said to take Prilosec for 3 months to keep acid down and the stomach heals). I lost 7#'s the first week after surgery. I am getting in at least 60g of Protein. I'm drinking 60+ oz of Water. I eat soup (tomato mainly) - and I can eat the entire can - I didn't think I would be able to. I haven't lost any #'s the last week. I feel like I didn't even have surgery! I'm hoping when I get to the pureed stage that I will fill up with small amounts. I'm not depressed - I'm just concerned that I'm not doing enough of something or too much of another; I know about the 3 week stall but I haven't heard of a less than 2 week stall! :/ I'm also 3-wks post op and not loving life. I have very little discomfort unless I take too big a swallow of something (my own fault). My biggest frustration is that I'm not losing weight. I lost 10 lbs the first 7 days and since then nothing. Here I am 3wks post op and I've only lost 10 lbs. I hear other people at 3wks lost 20+ lbs. I try not to compare myself but jeeze I'm bumbed. I'm logging every bite (range between 800 - 900 calories/day) and every sip of water (40-60 oz/day) and every bit of exercise (walking about 2 miles every other day). Oh, another crazy thing is the lovely acid reflux I have every time I eat (never had that before - yummy!). And, when I drink water, soup, or any liquid, my internal plumbing likes to grunt, groan, and gurgle until air bubbles come up as burps. I can stifle the burps but I can't control the other noises and my co-workers are noticing and giving looks. Yup, so I'm there with ya on the frustration platform.

surgery feb 11 and today @ 5.5 weeks I have lost 22lbs yay! had a 3 week stall until 4 days ago.

You could just have described me! I am almost 2 weeks post op and other than the acid reflux (doc said to take Prilosec for 3 months to keep acid down and the stomach heals). I lost 7#'s the first week after surgery. I am getting in at least 60g of Protein. I'm drinking 60+ oz of Water. I eat soup (tomato mainly) - and I can eat the entire can - I didn't think I would be able to. I haven't lost any #'s the last week. I feel like I didn't even have surgery! I'm hoping when I get to the pureed stage that I will fill up with small amounts. I'm not depressed - I'm just concerned that I'm not doing enough of something or too much of another; I know about the 3 week stall but I haven't heard of a less than 2 week stall! :/

Thanks. That helps. It feels just weird to me! I change nothing from week to week. The first week it happened I was like what the heck! My 3 weeks stall came early. Then it happened again and I was like seriously... I've see so many posts on stalling, and I am fully aware that can still easily happen at any time. I've seen people who feel like they lose slow, or even fast, but not this funky every other week pattern!

I want to have a realistic picture of what this surgery will mean. I am trying to tally up the worst case scenarios, and maybe they are just the "likely" or "eh...could happen" scenarios. From what I've learned on vst, here's what I can expect, in stages: (Although everyone is different!) -Excitement and counting down the days -Hatred of pre-op diet -Nervous, scared, possibly terrified -Sore, nauseous, tired, puking, thirsty -Low energy,trouble drinking, buyer's remorse -Dehydration, weeks of nausea -Sick of Protein shakes, miss chewing -Difficult adjustment, missing food as comfort mechanism, depression -3 week stall, fits and starts, disappointment in slow loss -Judgment from people who know -Trial and error of foods, vomiting when intolerant or too much -Trouble eating in restaurants, missing old life -hair loss, sagging skin, face looking older -Encouraging weight gain, adjustment to new life -Happiness, feeling of accomplishment as getting close to goal -Realization that battle isn't won, won't ever be "over" -Dedication and diligence -Hunger, capacity to eat increases -Rededication after small regain -Acceptance that the fight is eternal I'm the type of person who feels more comfortable having a complete picture of what can happen. I don't want to go into this with rose colored glasses. Any additions? Subtractions? Thoughts? I know that NOT ALL people have all or even some of these. Again -trying to look at possible downsides so I don't get caught up in thinking this is the solution to all life's problems.

Thank you @@mykdzmom for your reply! I had my follow up on Tuesday and the surgeon (not my surgeon, he'd called in sick, so I met someone Ive never met before) was very happy with me. However, since Tuesday nothing's changed (or if it's gone up 0.2kg, I cant really remember atm) I will definitely search for the 3 week stall, I have been trying to, but I guess I was using the wrong search words. But can I ask another question: that little bar that tells you how much is lost and how much is yet to loose, how do I get that to my profile?

Just like everyone else is saying... There is a phenomenon that happens around the 3rd week... Known as the 3 week stall.... I was on it for 2 weeks! Just keep pushing to get protein and water in and it will start to come off again! It is very discouraging and I know when you are in that spot at the time you feel like a failure but our bodies just need to be able to catch up sometime! I have stalled several times including all of week 3 and 4 and more! But today I am down into a pair of high school jeans and I'm 2 days away from 3 months post op! I have lost a total of 67lbs and as long as the scale keeps going in the right direction I am going to be happy about it!