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Very well put PDXMAN. I am just coming out of a stall myself and though I am happy to be losing even if its just a half pound, I understand that my body is going to take little breaks and revamp. I usually stall every two to three weeks for a couple of weeks at a time now that I am 8 months out.

Look up the "three week stall" You sound like you are in it. Most have this stall at around 3 weeks.

Hi Everyone, Well, I am still on a stall, but I have decided that if that is what my body needs to do right now then I should help it all I can to feel comfortable enough to start losing again. So I am trying to chill out, and not worry about the scale. (I have put it away for awhile) I figure my body has always been pretty good to me, and when it feels happier it will let go of more weight. I guess it is a case of 'catch up' , and by that I mean my mindset as well as my body. So, to help my mind feel better, I took some more measurements. Whoohoo! Another three inches bite the dust!!!!! Wow in the last year and a bit I have lost over 27 inches all over my body. That is amazing. Ok, with those sorts of changes I can begin to understand why my body needs some adjustment time. Besides, this isn't a race, this is the rest of my life. So slow and steady does it. I have taken other peoples advice and found some flavoured waters that agree with me, so I have a change from squashes which is great as I was getting really bored with them. The other night my husband had steak with all the trimmings, and I had a small piece of his steak (2 x 1 inch) with a fried egg. I ate all the steak (which was so lovely and juicy) and the yolk of the egg and I was full up. Hooray. I love the fact that these small amounts of food are more than enough. I am also delighted that I am able to eat everything I try. My sleeve is so well behaved, and good to me. :wub: I am still keeping up with the daily walking and the step every other day and feel quite proud of myself that I am doing it. Usually, if I am not losing I get bored or fed up and quit for a while. My step work is improving and I am thinking of moving on to the harder stuff soon. (At the moment I just repeat the easy stuff about 10 times.) I may leave it a bit longer though as I know how long it took me to feel okish about the easy stuff. I still don't like my feet leaving the floor, but I guess it is getting easier. I have a dr's appointment for my first proper check up since my op next week, so will let you all know how that goes. Hopefully I will be able to report a bit more weightloss, but if not, nevermind.(perhaps I should change my name to tortoise!) Best wishes to everyone Phoenix

Did you have any stalls or moments you were discouraged? I am three weeks post-op and I haven't lost anything since I left the hospital. Its very discouraging!

I am coming up on my three month mark next week, and continue to have stalls every two weeks or so. Very frustrating. I have talked to my doctor, he's no help. I've talked to my nutritionist, she is at a point where she doesn't know what more to suggest. So I thought I'd come to the group to see if anyone has any suggestions. I keep a food journal. I get 70-100g of Protein every day, no I cannot correlate more/less loss with the lower or higher protein. I keep my carbs between 15-30g per day (doc wants below 40). And my fats are between 8-20g per day. My calories are always below 600, some days closer to 500. I drink two Protein shakes per day (Nectar/Unjury mixed with water), one in the mid morning and one in the afternoon. My food sources are (non-fat as applicable) Greek yogurt w/some blueberries or raspberries, cottage cheese w/ tbsp unsweetened applesauce, chicken meat cooked at home w/small shot of cooking spray and herbs/lemon, shrimp, scallops, sashimi fish, grilled pork chop, tofu -- all 2-2.5oz portions measured. Other food sources are broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, edamame, artichoke, mushrooms -- all cooked at home either steamed or oven baked. No butter, no sauces, some lightly sprinkled Parmesan at times (less than a teaspoon). All between 1-2oz measured. I like and am allowed cheese but keep all dairy to a minimum due to constipation issues. For an occasional snack, I will have 2-3 flax/soy "tortilla chips" from Trader Joe's that have 4g fiber/6g protein per serving (7 chips) and only 13 carbs. So with eating only 2-3, maybe 6-7 carbs? With 2 teaspoon of homemade salsa. Sometimes I'll sneak in a tablespoon of natural Peanut Butter (no palm/hydrogenated oils) with my doctor doesn't even allow. I add Benefiber dissolvable to my shakes and eat the Metamucil wafers my doctor suggested for more Fiber. I drink 64-80oz of fluids every day, mostly Water or tea. I walk 3 miles in one hour 4-5 days per week and workout for one hour with a personal trainer 2 days per week (muscle toning, strengthening). Also, a 6-8 mile bike ride 1-2 days per week, weather permitting. I sleep 7-8 hours per night, am unemployed right now so stress is relatively low (other than the stress of looking for work). I know my hormones are completely out of whack, they have been for years. They are the only culprit I can think of. I have Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome which puts estrogen and progesterone in imbalance, along with all the estrogen being released by the fat burning. I am not on birth control, cannot stand the side effects. I thought it was related to my TOM, but my stalls seems to happen a little to haphazardly. I will lose 0.8-0.4 pounds per day on the scale, then just no movement at all for 5-6 days. My trainer and chiropractor both say they feel a lot of muscle in development, but I don't think it's enough to be it? I take measurements every two weeks, but I don't seem to be "losing inches when I'm not losing pounds." I have to limit my exercise to what I do now because of my bad knees and breast size. I can't do those Boot Camp things because they do a lot of squats and other knee exercises my doctors tell me not to do. I'd love to swim, but am having a hard time getting a bathing suit that fits a size 16 on the bottom, and 36H bra size. I can go the custom route for $180, but haven't bit the bullet for that one until I have income coming in again. I know stalls happen, and I'm really OK with the pace I'm losing. But I worry that maybe I'm doing something that is holding me back from losing more. Any advice?

I will be 5 weeks tomorrow. I read these threads all the time and I have seen many comments about three week stalls, it seems common so when I stalled at three weeks I didn't stress over it. I am losing slowly as well, but I am kinda happy about it because its given me the chance to exercise more and tighten up so I avoid having lots of loose skin. I am taking this one day at a time, we have made a huge choice to become sleeved and we are sooo worth it. Stay positive and remember we are losing the weight and eating less, there will be some hills and valleys but we will succeed! Patience, perseverance, persistence....that's the motto! Have a great night

Hey everyone I am looking for people around my same time frame of surgery to kind of comPare how we are all doing Individually. Until this past week I was struggling majorly with food and such. I started eating peanuts to help with my protein intake. I am on soft foods and I don't eat only three times a day just yet because I am trying to get calories in. I have been at a stall for weeks now . I was a band to sleeve revision and started at a low BMi with the sleeve but still the scale hasn't moved in weeks. How much are you all eating? I notice I can eat faster now and more dense foods.

I had my three week follow up yesterday and was told that while it is in fact normal to stall that my protein intake was way too low and my body was holding on to everything for dear life. She told me I need to get in 3 protein shakes per day and a total of 80 oz (including shakes) of water per day. I have no idea how I'm gonna pull that off but she said that the first 6 months will produce the most weight loss and I'm gonna need that protein to shed as much as I can during that timeframe. I've already lost two pounds since bumping up the protein so apparently she was right. Keep hanging in there ladies!!!!

Hello VST. First off, I have to admit to not being a very good sleever food-wise this week. I've been getting enough fluids in, working out, etc, just didn't eat as well as I should the past few days. That being said, it seems my body does NOT like it when I low-carb it. I've had two mini-stalls the past six weeks, bouncing back between the same two to three pounds for a few weeks. Well, in the past week, after not really paying attention to how much carbs I put in, I've lost four pounds! I've noticed when I'm really strict with myself and drink at least one protein shake a day, my body just doesn't respond. I also feel very lightheaded and weak if I low-carb it. Now, this isn't to say I'm going to stuff my face with whatever, it just feels like my body doesn't appreciate it when I follow the usually recommended Atkins diet (and yes, I'm calling it a diet) most sleevers adhere to. Any thoughts?

Today is my one year band anniversary and I am down 58kg (about 130lb). I have stalled in the last month but have a fill in two weeks so that will help. this year I have dropped from a size 26 (tight) to a 14 on top, 16 on bottom. From dancing a couple of songs then telling my husband it was time to sit down, I am now staying on the dance floor all night. from being embarrassed to be seen on my bicycle, I am now a 60+ km a day lycra cyclist and loving it. from avoiding clothes shopping because nothing fit me, I am now the first person into the clothes store and I just keep on buying. and from avoiding all photos, I am looking forward to my son's wedding next week where not only will I be proud to be in his family photos, but I will also be the focus of attention as MC of the reception. from three BP tablets a day, I am down to just one blood pressure tablet which should go at my next Dr visit. and best of all, I have discovered again just how wonderful my husband is. He is my biggest champion and has joined me in getting healthier. We exercise together and he has trimmed off three kg but also improved his cholesterol levels dramatically so we will both be around to enjoy raconteur for many years to come.

I'm looking to be a slow loser too.... 13 lbs in 3 weeks.... and I've been totally stalled for two of the three. The doctor said to up my calories. I've been struggling to get in even 700, but I'm going to try to push it out to 900 or so and see if it helps. Are you guys staying super low? That maybe the issue. I'm hoping so... If there isno reason for this I'm going to go nuts!

Yes, I'm three months out and each month I've stalled the week before my period and within a day or two of it starting I drop 2-4lbs seemingly over night.

I am in the same boat. I'll be three weeks post op tomorrow. I lost 23 lbs week one and not a single pound since then. I would had thought this was way too soon to stall. I do think there's something with the whole protein and water thing though so I started really pushing myself today. I got in my first full protein shake today and have been sipping my water so I hope it all makes a difference. Hang in there ladies...we are going to make this thing work for us!!!

I could have written this post myself!!! I'm at week 8 tomorrow, and I've been stalled since week three. I'm about to tear my hair out thinking I'm going to be at 300 pounds the rest of my LIFE and I had surgery to lose 44 pounds. I know that's not true, but it sure feels that way some days. I went to a restaurant tonight that I haven't been to since January. I did not fit in the chairs back then. I had to perch at the edge of the chair. Tonight--I FIT!! That was some consolation.

Ladies--I am so with you! Mab--you are not alone! I have surgery April 10th and have what appears the normal pre-jitters. I had a sleeve buddy that got the surgery about three weeks ago and I have not heard from her the last week and half so that makes me a bit nervous too...wondering how she is doing and WHAT is she NOT telling me...or is she just busy with life? I also have been having anxiety and what do I typically do when I have anxiety...eaT eAT EAT! Of course all the wrong things and then I get anxious about what I am doing wrong and question myself...am I really mentally prepared for what I am undertaking? Then my two selves have a talk with each other and the "practical one" calms the "anxious one" Yes, the first month is going to be rough and the following two months after that things might not be exactly what we knew as normal, but we will be learning and healing in so many ways if we really commit ourselves. I mean really who is not seriously committed about this if we have chosen to get the majority of our stomach removed?!! (Even when I doubt myself to be able to do the work needed-nutrition and exercise). I think that the initial weight loss will be motivating. And when the dreaded stall happens we will have all read about and know it is bound to happen, along with hair loss, maybe even potential gall-bladder problems....and with the support of fellow sleevers we will feel less alone with the great support of people that "have been there done that!" Then hopefully someday we can help a new sleever.

You're in the midst of the traditional if dreaded 'three week stall'. Most of us experience this. Keep to the plan and this shall pass. LIke it's been said above, measure yourself weekly. Even when we're not losing pounds we typically lose inches.

I stalled almost exactly at three weeks too. Many do. The scale will move again soon.

Phewie! I am SO afraid that this horrendous, horrible, never-ending stall is not really over and the scale is just teasing me.....I'm afraid to hope, since I lost so much hope over these last 8 weeks! On February 4, I hit the 50-lb lost mark, after only 3.5 months out of surgery. I hit 252 from my high of 302. I was so ecstatic, but I wanted to get to 249 so bad....that is SUCH a major mental marker, to be under 250 - the lower half of the 200's and on my way to onederland. Then, my body betrayed me I was literally STUCK at 252, 253, 252, 251, 252 for EIGHT FLIPPING WEEKS! The worst part was, I wasn't losing inches, either!!! I kept getting on here (but not contributing much, I was pretty down), and everyone's response to everyone else's stall was "but wait, measure yourself, I bet you're losing inches" and most were losing inches, even though the scale wasn't moving. But not my body, no way, no how. It was a nightmare. All the momentum and excitement and hope I had since way before the surgery depleted a little bit more week by week. I kept logically telling myself, 'you know this is temporary, you know this happens, you know you're not done losing weight, you know you will break this.' But no matter what, it still sucked me down into the vortex of self-doubt and blame. I kept telling myself 'you need more Protein, more Water, more exercise, less carbs, stand on your head, try the cabbage Soup diet, try this, don't do that, etc, etc,' back into the world of diet failures and worrying 'am i doing enough? am i eating too much, am I not trying hard enough?'. I kept checking on here and reading about stalls, thought I knew it all, used to tell people to 'relax, you know you'll lose, we all do - stalls don't last forever'. Kept reading about people's three day, four day, one week, two week, and even *gasp* FOUR week stalls. They just made me feel even worse since no seemed to ever hit a EIGHT week stall after THREE months of surgery. Criminey...what the hell was wrong with my body!!?? What have I done to ruin my surgery so soon! Yes, I don't always eat right, and yes, I don't always get my protein or water in, but dang.....EIGHT WEEKS! NO pounds and even more devastating, NO inches, either. All under 1000-1200 calories a day....is it even physically possible?? But fast forward to late last week. The scale went to 250.8. Had been at 250 before, no biggie. Then 250.4, then 250.6, then 250.2, then 251, then 250.0!! Are you kidding me!! Really!! Then 250.0 for THREE MORE DAYS....it hovered there, hovered, taunting me, laughing at me....not even an ounce to help me along.... I had even stopped weighing daily during this stall, only doing so once a week, which hurt even more, cause I was sure after trying with all my might to not weigh for a whole week I would lose....but no, waiting until Monday didn't work, only disappointed me worse. Then, miraculously, this morning.....got up, went pee, stood on the scale. 249.8. Off the scale, rub eyes, step back on. 249.8. Repeat 8 times. Same reading. Could it be?? Finally? Broke the stall? On my way to onederland? Finally below 250!! So scared to get excited and hopeful again. What if it's not over?? It did this once before. From 252, I got down to 250.8 once in late February, but then shot up to 253 the very next day....and never saw it again. Till last week. Now......249. So scared....but excited, but scared to be excited, too. Wish I could see just a week into the future to know if I really finally broke my stall or not....actually, scratch that....If I have a wish, I want to see a YEAR into the future to see if I ever even get to onederland!! Sorry for the negative post....those that know me know I'm not usually like this...which is why I've been so absent lately. Love you all.....and SO glad you are all here, and we are here for each other!! :wub:

I'll have three months soon and I'm down 50 since surgery (no pre-op diet for my surgeon). I just had my check-in with the surgeon yesterday and am very pleased with the way things are going. I finally asked about a goal weight for me and told them I've been thinking 160. They said that was reasonable and that an ideal goal would be down closer to 140. I'm going to see how it goes because I haven't weighed 140 since I was a Jr in high school and think I'd look like a bag of bones. I've stalled each month in the week before my period but a day or two into it I drop 2-4lbs. Bizarre- but I'll take it! I need to step up the exercise and I've been trying to incorporate some resistance training and abs into my routine. Great work all!

I think us slow losers are actually the norm rather than the exception. I was getting very discouraged at first also and especially during that three week stall. But what I have started realizing is the .2's have added up over these past several weeks and all of a sudden I am down 40.5 lbs. How funny that yall say people notice it in your face more so than saying they see it in other places because I have had the same thing. But considering I can't hide my chins with turtlenecks year round in Texas, I have decided I am very happy with that compliment. What I am amazed at is the amount of inches I have lost and fitting into clothes I hadn't fit into in years!

If you would've asked me the first three weeks I wouldn't have been able to say yes for sure because I was fighting head hunger, dehydration, and a stall. 50 pounds and 2 months later: in a heartbeat.

In advance I will ask your forgiveness as i rant about my life! I haven't blogged in a while but I have been busy and still consistent to my goal. I started working with a trainer 2 weeks ago to learn to properly exercise and EAT. Eat you say, I thought that was why you had lapband surgery so you wouldn't eat. Well the answer to that question is both a yes and a no. I had lapband surgery because I had always failed at every weight loss program for 20 years plus. I like many would always lose weight but could never make it for the long haul not did I ever really change my relationship with food and what I put into my body. I have always been in for the instant gratification, quick fix and results category. I think I have tried almost every fad diet on the market and have always made them work for me only to gain back what I lost plus MORE! Does this sound familiar to any of you, I am sure it does and I am sure that many of you have been as frustrated as I have been. So why is this Lapband Journey going to be any different? What will I do different and how will I transition this into a life style change and will I be successful? A Journey:The act of traveling from one place to another; a trip. A distance to be traveled or the time required for a trip: a 2,000-mile journey to the Pacific; the three-day journey home. A process or course likened to traveling; a passage: the journey of Life! Hmmmmm, after reading the above statement I think I need to rethink what I call this Lapband process. A journey may be OK to get from Fat to Thin but then what? I am thinking that, the closer you get to goal the more you need to have made some major changes a long this journey. So now I am refocusing my thoughts and think I will call this Lapband a "Life Style Change". If I really want to commit to this weight loss I have to change my way of thinking, my band has been my safety net under this high wire act, that I have been using to prevent my self from falling off. It has worked, I have been successful but I am getting close to my goal, a number I set that I wanted to achieve and would consider my success. Wow this is really scary, can I do this? Can I really be successful? Can I really maintain this new me and how do I do it? So, to remain focused I really have to get my mind heading down the right path, I need reprogramming. I need to really understand my body and how food is used as fuel. Some days it all seems so over whelming and you almost feel OCD. You critique every morsel you allow to go between your lips, you constantly tell yourself, no don't eat that, no you can't have that. Now how many calories are in that and how much protein have I eaten and oh my god have I eaten to many carbs or what the hell do I do if I really am hungry. Sound familiar. My brain is constantly in high gear, constantly planning, evaluating and second guessing if I am really eating the right things or if I am just going through the motions. Honestly I do not want to feel deprived for the rest of my life. Some day I want to be able to eat some type of dessert and not feel like I have failed or let my self down. Someday I want to have a healthy relationship with food not a fear that if I eat something it will tip me one way or the other. There has got to be a balance between healthy and happy. I have went through some months lately as I sat stalled at the same weight day after day and wondered, why? I have obsessed over my food dairy, I have obsessed over my carbs, my fats. I have tried to only eat 3 meals a day and never snack between meals. I have honestly tried to follow every rule that my doctor and the Lapband web site has suggested. But honestly, it's hard, it's not natural, it sometimes sets you up for failure. It makes you resent food, it makes you resent other people who are losing faster than you and it makes you feel like a failure. Honestly following the Lapband rules, is not really eating a well balanced diet.(I will add in my opinion) I have struggled since I had this procedure to incorporate fruits and vegetables in my diet. I rarely eat fiber and my focus has always been protein, protein and more protein. I know, I know, your all saying but you have lost weight, yes but have I always been satisfied with my diet and what I was eating the answer was NO, or hell NO! So world since this can no longer be just about the journey and more about living a healthy life. I am not committed to making a life style change. How scary is that, and how in the world do I do it. Big question with no simple answers. So I will enlighten you to my plan. As I stated in my first sentence, I started working out with a trainer two weeks ago. I was very upfront with him, "Justin". I told him about my WLS and how I was suppose to eat with lapband and what I could and could not eat. The first session we had he told me, "You are not eating healthy and you are not eating enough" Well that was a first for me, I have always been told I eat to much. He also told me I was not burning fat, I was burning muscle, due to my poor nutritional habits. Oh great! Now what, I have spent the past 15 months trying to eat healthy only to go to far in the other directions. Geezzz!! I am starving my body of necessary nutrients. Am I ever going to get the hang of this. So here we go again, planning meals, making sure I am taking time to get in my planned healthy snacks, increasing my protein, adding some carbohydrates, more veggies and let's don't forget the fruits. That day last week when I walked out of the gym, I thought to myself, how the hell am I going to do this. I can't eat rice, I can't eat sweet potato's and oatmeal with egg whites, protein drinks and on and on.... Well it is one week later and I am finding if you put your mind to it you can do just about anything. I have stuck to his plan, I have increased my calories back to 1200 plus, I have managed to get from 90-120 gms of protein in every day. I have managed to learn to like Oatmeal with egg whites, I have learned to eat rice again (only a quarter of a cup but it is rice. I have learned to like sweet potato's without butter and brown sugar and managing to get at least one serving of fruit in and some vegetables. Now granted some days I feel like all I get done is prep my meals and I feel like I am always eating but honestly I feel better, have more energy and actually have the strength to exercise and do the weight training he wants to do. I have been able to increase my cardio workouts to 30 minutes daily with a goal of 45. So bottom line, I am trying to change my lifestyle, I am learning to plan my meals better and make exercise a routine in my life not just something I do to reach a goal. Honestly for me the only difference in LapBand from the old diet is I am forcing myself to live healthy. The band is not causing me to live healthy because honestly the band will allow you to eat all the unhealthy food you want, it is you and only you that can control what and when you put food in your mouth, The band can restrict you, can make you throw up can lead you to an unhealthy life style if you allow it to. You still have to get control over your life, get rid of bad habits and develop new habits. You have to remember that it truly is and will always be only a tool, it will never control or help you decide what you should eat only you can make those decisions and only you will know what you put in your body. This is much more than a journey, it is my war on food and health, it is me becoming a "New Person". So if I become obsessive about what I eat and how much I exercise so be it because I am in this for the long haul and I will not fail and I will reach goal, maybe not today or tomorrow but it will happen if I continue to change my behaviors. So fellow bandster, don't give up, take each new challenge as it comes and most and foremost believe in yourself and believe that with hard work, focus, support and love you can make this......... Lifestyle Change: modifying or eliminating long-held habits of eating or physical activity and maintaining the new habits over months and years!! We can all do this, because I believe.........................................

I would give anything to make myself move away from the scale!! I'm soooo bad at this. I weigh every two or three days. But I was on a long stall this month and decided to weigh weekly. I'm afraid I cant keep away from the scale more than a week. And the worst part is, I'm not satisfied with the scales at home. My 'correct' weight - atleast in my mind - is the one shown on the scales at my doc's hospital. I go there weekly now just to weigh myself. It is on the way to office, so no biggie. *shrug*

Water is definitely very important! Your body needs it to function properly. I believe it is also important to us because your body needs water to flush the fat out of your body. As for stalls, water really helped me. I know it doesn't work for everyone but I was in a three-week stall and the only thing I changed was the amount of water I was drinking and I dropped four pounds. I had a hard time getting water down (well, its really liquids, so anything decaf and low cals/carbs should work). At first I had to literally carry around the bottle with me and sip all day. I just hit my six month mark and I can now drink a bit more at a time... but if I'm home I still keep my bottle close to me, just makes it easier. Good luck!

I consider myself to be a slow loser, but it is relatively steady outside of the usual stalls. I am keeping active with Water aerobics three times a week and also walking. I do consider this a marathon and not a sprint (are those the right terms?) and so I am being very patient. Perhaps get back to basics - I think there is a "bootcamp" posted by Lilmissdiva here. If you are eating chocolate, maybe other things are slipping as well. That is not judgmental, as we all do it! Maybe, Like Iowaandy says, go back to liquids for a week. Definitely up the Protein. I think that is our best weapon against hunger and potential bingeing. I don't see your stats, but did you start at a lower weight than most? I think some of the lower starting weights may not drop as quickly. Also, when I get a little discouraged, I look at my progress since surgery and I think to myself how there is no way in hell I could have lost that amount of weight and kept it off before surgery. Some of us are going to go a little slower but it is still better than where we were on our own. Good luck you you!