Search the Community

. Yeah. I've been thinking about how the next three months are going to go. 12 weeks is three months -- times 2 pounds a week --- 24 pounds in the next three months. This means that by my birthday in October I will still be over two hundred. By January, at the same rate - 188. That's *if* I don't stall out for a month and get set back eight to ten pounds. It's still a long time to wait, but what can you do? Go back to the store and return your sleeve? Go to bed and not wake up til next year? You can either enjoy the ride or hate your whole life until you get to your "perfect" weight but part of the reason I decided to do this was because at 46, I was out of time to be unhappy.

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update.I'm 14 weeks post-op and down 54lb, and feeling wonderful.I am going to the gym three to four times a week, and currently going through a stall (tom).I eat about 800-1000 calories daily. Myfitnesspal is a great app I use to keep me accountable.I still haven't told anyone besides my family that I had surgery, I guess I am still not comfortable with anyone judging me about my decision.Oh well lol..Here are some pics This was the first month post-op pic This is the second month post-op pic This was some pics of last night Thanks

I do feel sometimes like I have taken a second job managing Thumbelina, my name for my sleeve! I just have to trust that it will get easier I post this article all the time because I think it is really reassuring and explains that you are losing weight during stalls- it is a natural chemical process when your body is rebuilding its glycogen store- I really recommend measuring yourself- I have never been one to do tha and did not do it until I was about three weeks along- and I am amazed at the inches I am losing- even, for example, last week when I lost ZERO. Last week, my sixt week, was my second week of 0 lost in my seven weeks, so you are not lone! As of today I have lost 45 pounds in the 9 weeks since my pre-op started . It will happen!!!!! Trust in the process and your tiny tummy. Really work on the Protein and the Water and know it will work. The article: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

I think this is a lesson that I have needed to learn for a long time, and will probably always struggle with. I have such a fear of being hungry that as soon as my stomach growls even a little bit, I'm ready to run to the kitchen. Not to mention I get very hangry if my blood sugar drops too low. This has been a constant problem and a huge source of my past failures. My weight loss had stalled for a couple weeks because I was grazing almost constantly. I decided to try an experiment where I would force myself to ignore my growling stomach for a hour or two and see what happened. Lo and behold, I didn't die of starvation, the world didn't end, and I made it to my next meal unscathed. It's OK to be hungry! My band helps somewhat in this department but I realized all over again the necessity for some form of willpower. I was sick of being stuck at the same weight for weeks and starting to feel my old feelings of failure and the "Screw it, I'm going to eat a box of cookies since I'm not losing weight anyway" mentality. Then I went to the mirror, lifted my shirt, and looked at my surgical scar. I didn't go through all this pain, the post op diet from hell, and weeks of recovery to fail now. I knew I was in this for life when I had this surgery and there are going to be ups and downs in this journey, but so far I've been heading in the right direction. Happily, I broke my plateau this morning and I'm down three pounds! My new mantra: It's OK to be hungry!

It sounds like you got hit with a double whammy - the dreaded week three stall and your period. Relax, there is nothing you can do about it. Stick to your plan, hide the scale, and drink more Water if you can. I just went through this about 2-3 weeks ago. The scale has started moving for me again, not quite as fast though.

I had not had a period for almost three years due to birth control. Right after the surgery I had one that seemed to last forever. Now I spot almost once a week. Right before it seems like I stall. Then the weight comes off later. Now I'm fresh into this so I dont know if that will continue but I will say my body is all out of whack so who knows. When I start spotting I get off the scale.

. Hello fellow sleevers! It's Day 76,almost eleven weeks since my surgery and I have lost about 45 pounds. I went on vacation, had a few white wine spritzers, went out to eat sort of, well, all the time, and it was great. I came home two pounds lighter, so even with *extreme* inattention to any sort of caloric or nutritional rule ( except, of course, Protein first) the scale went down, not up. But for the most part, I've been in a serious stall for about two weeks. It makes sense. My calories are up. I am healing and getting used to real food, logical portions, and nourishing myself in general. Two weeks of happy time made me come home absolutely exhausted. I haven't really upped the exercise but I've still stuck to a schedule of swimming for an hour three times a week. My size eighteens are getting looser and my waist and hips are down an inch. Also, right after the vacation came a dental surgery which necessitated a short course of steroids. I was really pissed to find out about this because you know there is no way your body will part with an ounce of anything when you're on steroids. Then I got an allergic reaction to another medication and had to take Benedryl -- another weight gainer. So for about three weeks it's been pretty darn slow. But not at a standstill, and in the meantime my body is changing and growing a waist. I can't believe the jeans I'm wearing fit. Actually I can't believe the jeans I'm wearing *didn't* fit at one point. These things would not even go halfway up my thighs only a few short weeks ago. These were the *fattest* jeans I owned at one point and I'm just...amazed, then, at how fat I was. If I am fat *now*...good god, what did I look like? I took some reference pictures right before the surgery and then right after. I took another set last night but I'm not ready to put them up. I'm still fat, as I said...but holy mackerel, what a difference 45 pounds makes. My calories are up to about 1200. I keep thinking I should cut back a little bit but I feel good and I'm still losing. My goal when I decided to get surgery was to refuse to obsess, to eat normally to the best of my ability, eat what I want. and to enjoy my life instead of letting food and weight issues hold me back. . So. Almost eleven weeks, 45 pounds gone and still? Not dead.

Read up on (search) the three week stall. Many get it, I did for 20 days. Your body is still healing, and your body is trying to figure out what the heck you did to it. relax, do what the Doc and Nut said to do, and the weight will come off. You must to do your part, and the sleeve will do its part. You don't have that much to lose, so hang in there, it will come off slower than some, but who cares as long as it comes off! I see you both have lost weight... so its not like you have lost nothing! Just keep on plan. You will see! I am losing about 7 pounds a month right now... it is slow, but going in the right direction. Im happy about it! The slower you lose, the more your skin has a chance to tighten up as you go. My nut said expect 10 pounds a month, and most months have been about that... but slowing down a little the last two months.

In my last blog posting I mentioned how my weight loss goes in cycles, and that has proved to be the case this week. After two weeks of good weight loss, this week I only lost 1 lb. -- I'm 172.8 today. I expect next week will be similar, and then hopefully the last 2 weeks of June will be another good weight loss cycle. I am 3.8 lbs. from my July 4th goal, and I think I can still make it, barring a stall. I still have some of my old size 22/3X/2X clothes in my closet, but slowly but surely I am giving them away to Goodwill. I just filled another large bag with clothes to donate this morning and will drop them off today (and pop into the store to see if there's anything cute to buy). Some of the 1X clothes I bought in late March/April are definitely too big now ... that is a good feeling! Aside from my size 18 swimsuit (which I need because I am so darn busty), I am totally out of the plus sizes now. My hair loss is definitely continuing, but not as bad as I had thought it would be. I have seen stories of women losing hair in handfuls, and I haven't experienced that ... I do shed hair for sure when I am washing my hair and styling it. I have noticed time and time again that my sleeve now is just part of me ... my life is totally normal now, except I just can't eat as much food as I could before surgery. I am losing weight pretty effortlessly. I still have to battle the carb monster and not make stupid choices, but it's not nearly as hard now as it was before surgery to walk past the bakery section, or confine myself to two or three little bites of garlic bread with a meal instead of half a loaf, or to skip having lunch at fast food 3 or 4 days a week (though I do love me some Wendy's salads ... they make great salads, and they're pretty guilt free esp. since I have the half size salad, skip the cheese and have grilled chicken on the salad). A couple of times I have 'splurged' and ordered a hamburger and fries at a fast food joint, but I can only eat a few fries and really they don't feel that great in my sleeve, so it's not as tempting to eat them as it was pre-surgery. I do still love food, and I am actually glad about that, because good food is one of life's great pleasures. I just now have this wonderful, powerful tool, that helps me to enjoy the heck out of my food, in small quantities. I have seen a lot of people losing incredible amounts of weight since being sleeved ... that's not me, but I am more than halfway to goal and not yet six months out. Next month will be my six month surgiversary and I hope to be 30-some-odd lbs. from my end goal weight. I don't exercise much (really my only exercise is gardening, which I do for several hours each weekend day and some evenings after work) so I know I would lose more if I were exercising more ... now that the weather is getting really decent, I will be bumping up my exercising more. I really do need to work on toning, as my loose skin is yucky (but not as bad as fat!). So ... off to the garden now. I am going to be having some wonderful salads this year. I have two pet rabbits and DH and I make them a big salad every night for dinner (veg and little bits of fruit only, of course, no dressings or nuts or croutons or such) ... and every time I make a bunny salad I'm like, "Yum, I want to eat this too!" My dinners most summers are going to be salad with some grilled meat or fish ... YUM!!!!

This is something I recently posted to someone researching. I would say that there are three regularly occurring post-op posts that you should be aware of as you prepare. Being aware will help you deal with the psychological aspect of the band in the weeks and months following surgery. 1. Be aware: You may experience a lot of discomfort after surgery that is pain related. People vary so much on this and of course everyone hopes to be one of the "bounce right back" folks, but be prepared to be in a lot of discomfort for up to a week or even more. It is NORMAL to be depressed and/or regret having the surgery immediately post-op. 2. Be aware: It is very likely that your weight loss will stall or even reverse (meaning actual gains) during the first weeks to month after surgery. This is counter-intuitive to people, because they just had weight loss surgery AND they are on a liquid diet and not eating. But it is NORMAL to plateau or even gain Water weight while your body is recovering from the stress of surgery. Try not to despair. If you keep at it, you will begin to lose weight soon enough. 3. Be aware: A lot of people feel very hungry and ready to eat eat eat almost immediately after surgery. For a lot of people, the band alone doesn't do anything for weeks to month until it is filled. This is what people refer to as Bandster Hell. A smaller subset of people do feel a reduction in hunger right away-- but if you don't go in automatically expecting you'll be a lucky one, then you won't be as baffled and disappointed if you aren't. It is NORMAL to feel hungry and frustrated until you reach the appropriate fill for your body, and that may take weeks to months. Knowing these things and expecting them will help tremendously with your emotional reaction to the band. If any of these things happen to you, you are in good and prolific company. Don't despair! Figure out before your surgery how you might cope with them when they come up and odds are, they won't be a problem for you. Knowledge is the key. I would add the following to that list: 1. The average loss at 2 years with the band is 60% of excess weight, according to band literature. So if you need to lose 100 lbs to be in a "healthy BMI", then the average person will have lost 60lbs by the end of year 2. This is the average, which means that there are going to be a few people who lose 0 lbs in 2 years and an equally few people who lose 100+ lbs in 2 years. Most people are going to be right around that 60% mark (I wish I knew what the standard deviation is, that would be even more helpful). 2. Weight loss is not constant and linear for most people, even if they are very very consistent with their eating behavior and activity level. It seems like it should be-- calories in/calories out-- but there are a lot of people that tend to lose in cycles and you may be one of them. For me, I lose weight in chunks, then I "plateau" for a few weeks, then I drop another bunch of pounds within three days, then "plateau" again. You may also be one of those people-- don't let it worry you. 3. Exercise may temporarily stall your weight loss or even make you gain, especially if you are starting or intensifying your program. I have been working out consistently for the past two weeks after about 10 years of nothing. I have GAINED weight even though my eating hasn't changed and I'm burning more calories. That's normal. I know if I keep at it, I will drop that plus some more and have a healthier heart and more stamina to boot. 4. This is hard work, even though the band DOES make it easier if you let it. I get full on small amounts of food-- not "stuffed" full like I was used to, but "ok, I've had enough and my body doesn't need more" full. This is REALLY hard to get used to. Full is never again going to feel like full has felt in the past. But, I can still eat past the point where my band says "eh, you've fed your body as much as it needs" and very very often my brain says "do it, you know you want to, mmmmm it tastes so good, just one more bite!". It is a real struggle sometimes to listen to my band and not my head hunger. I actually have a little mantra when I'm eating and being mindful. I say "if I'm not going to listen to the band when it says stop, then why did I bother with this surgery in the first place?" That tends to turn down the volume of the head hunger. I think people naturally go into this surgery very optimistically. They go to the seminar and the surgeon and the carefully selected successful patients of that surgeon talk about how amazing it is. They come on this board and look at the success story forum, and the "I lost 100 lbs" forum, and the "before and after" picture gallery. They see people's tickers (like mine) who have lost huge amounts in months, not years and they expect only the best , most luckiest results, and ignore the fact that the average expected loss in 60% of excess weight at two years. I understand this because I did it too, and I fully believe that I have been incredibly LUCKY so far and that it's "easy" for me to say this but I do think that bandsters who are really in touch with reality and not overly optimistic are going to be able to emotionally adjust to banded life better. Do not get the band if you expect it to work like bypass. If you want super fast results, and you want malabsorption, then get the bypass. With the "plusses" of the band, including its adjustability and its reversibility, come some costs and one cost is that it requires adjustment which is unpredictable in some ways, and it's associated with a slower rate of loss.

Thanks for the love and support everyone. I just wish this stall would pass. I usually lose about 3-4 pounds a week, and I've only been losing inches and ounces for the last three weeks. I'm beyond frustrated. It really helped though to see pictures of me a year ago and now. I'm not giving up. I have to look at it this way, I've lost 71 pounds in 4 months. That would have NEVER happened before. I love my sleeve, even when it's being tempermental!

I would say that there are three regularly occurring post-op posts that you should be aware of as you prepare. Being aware will help you deal with the psychological aspect of the band. 1. Be aware: You may experience a lot of discomfort after surgery that is pain related. People vary so much on this and of course everyone hopes to be one of the "bounce right back" folks, but be prepared to be in a lot of discomfort for up to a week or even more. It is NORMAL to be depressed and/or regret having the surgery immediately post-op. 2. Be aware: It is very likely that your weight loss will stall or even reverse during the first weeks to month after surgery. This is counter-intuitive to people, because they just had weight loss surgery AND they are on a liquid diet and not eating. But it is NORMAL to plateau or even gain Water weight while your body is recovering from the stress of surgery. Try not to despair. If you keep at it, you will begin to lose weight soon enough. 3. Be aware: A lot of people feel very hungry and ready to eat eat eat almost immediately after surgery. For a lot of people, the band alone doesn't do anything for weeks to month until it is filled. This is what people refer to as Bandster Hell. A smaller subset of people do feel a reduction in hunger right away-- but if you don't go in automatically expecting you'll be a lucky one, then you won't be as baffled and disappointed if you aren't. It is NORMAL to feel hungry and frustrated until you reach the appropriate fill for your body, and that may take weeks to months. Knowing these things and expecting them will help tremendously with your emotional reaction to the band. If any of these things happen to you, you are in good and prolific company. Don't despair! Figure out before your surgery how you might cope with them when they come up and odds are, they won't be a problem for you. Knowledge is the key. That said, also know this-- this surgery has very good odds of changing your life for the better. It is not FAST. It takes time, and for some people, it may take years to shed the excess weight-- slowly but steadily. I would never have believed in September that I would be where I'm at today; that a woman who could barely walk without major pain because of plantar faciitis is now pain free and running on a treadmill. Every bit of pain and anxiety and frustration has been FAR outweighed by all of the amazing ways my life has changed because of better health.

So....even though I know with my mind that anything I am experiencing happens a lot, will pass, inches are still going, blah bah blah... I am still pretty bummed about how my month has gone weight wise. I lost 12 pounds in the first 8 days after surgery- taking me from 262 to 250. Then I was at 250 for 8 days- which made sense to me as I had lost 18 pounds during my two week pre-op and I knew a "stall" or time of no loss is common. (I know a stall is defined as 2 weeks or more w/o loss but 8 days sure felt like 2 weeks to me!) Happily after the 8 days I started losing again and lost 4 pounds in my third week taking me to 246. Then I started slowing again- I lost 0.2 pounds three days in a row, 0.4 pounds yesterday, and 0.2 pounds today. The frustrating part for me is that I have expanded my walking to an hour a day PLUS Water aerobics at night- I am really working it and am tired every night and feeling that good working out feeling- which also always makes me thing I am sure to lose weight that day- so the .2 is disappointing. If you suggest I weigh once a week- well, this early in the process I would be sad at 1.4 pounds in a week too, as hard as I am working out and as faithfully as I am working the sleeve. I have gotten my 80 grams of Protein and my 64 ounces plus of liquid since day five. I am dedicated to the principles I hold as key- less than 30 grams carbs 80 grams protein, 64 ounces plus water, exercise, and (not as easy for me) Vitamins. I have not had a day that I did not stick to the principles. I was on liquids for three weeks post-op and have transitioned well to purees. The one thing I think I have done wrong is I settled quickly in to taking in about 600-660 calories a day day after day. WHen I first added purees I actually ate exactly the same thing five days straight. I am a bit scared to up my calories...and if I do is it for a day? A few days? How do you add calories when you have trouble fitting in the food you do eat? I felt so well prepared for all this but yet I still felt myself being bummed out and wistfully wondering- if I lose slowly during the honeymoon period then I wont meet my goal!

Oh, yes! At about 2-3 weeks post surgery, I went into a stall for THREE weeks!! Drove me crazy, but I just kept reminding myself about the "Dreaded 3 week Stall" and, sure enough, if finally broke! I did have to tighten up my calories and carbs a little before it did, but it did break, and that was all that counted!

The stall arrived 3 weeks ago. I knew it'd come sometimes around the third month and it did at -25 kgs (or 55 lbs). I wasn't that happy, I wasn't sure what advice I should follow. And I basically didn't do much, apart from increasing my daily water. Today the scale was down 1 kg or 2.2 lbs, not much, but still. You just have to believe it will move again, because it will. And I can actually see amazing advantages coming from my stall: first of all my skin. It was going so fluffy I hated it but in the last three weeks it tightened and now it looks almost OK. People started noticing my weight loss. It's amazing how they didn't notice much while I was losing and now they keep asking me daily how much more I have lost (which is basically nothing!). My hair has a break too I haven't started losing it yet and I honestly hope this stall will avoid the fall. We'll see. Another thing I did is... relax. In the last 10 days I didn't stress over my non-weight loss. I was like "Whatever. At some point the scale will move again" and it did. I relaxed, kept going to the gym but no more often than before, I kept having my 2 days a week without carbs, I just went on with my life. I am really happy now because I feel good and my skin looks much better. I just wanted to share my experience, because it was a positive one even if it involved a stall!

Steven the honeymoon period is the entire maximized weight loss period- usually 6 months to sometimes as long as 9 months- and it is recommended that you try to follow all the principles (Protein, low carbs, fluids, Vitamins (you and I both apparently have trouble with this! ;-P) and exercise ) during this period to take full advantage of this easier to lose time before it becomes harder to lose. You have lost a LOT in the first month- but I doubt you will lose that much this month- that is unlikely. Your body may pull in and you may have a "stall" though if you read the article about the chemistry of stalls I think I have posted about five different place, including my week 9 post op video, it makes sense as your body needs to build another glycogen store and it pulls Water in to help. But listen, if you have read about some of the people who have lost , say, 10 pounds total in three months- well I wouldn't complain about worrying you will lose another 35! For real? Tell me when you have a real problem! ;-P xoxo

Hey Kara! Seems like I can't help but give you support everywhere ;-P You should also chck out a thread I started in Post Op (which is where you belong now!) comparing people who do pre-op diets and those who do not. I don't want you to be upset if you lose a bit slowly at first, or hit a semi stall sooner- For example, I lost 18 pounds on my two week pre-op, so then lost 12 my first two weeks after and NOTHING for a week starting at two weeks, rather than the oft mentioned three weeks. However, I started losing again this week- am close to 5 pounds lost this week. Just remember everyone is different and everyone is normal! I have great faith you will be a stellar sleeve girl because you faithfully follow the diets you elect to do. This diet will be different- because it is the last one, the one that will work like no other, and the one that leaves you with a tool to keep it off. Are you drinking your Protein drinks yet? xoxo

Look up the Three Week Stall. Mine lated for almost 4 weeks starting at 2 1/2 weeks. Its a frustrating Bit@h! But it is common. I am in a two week stall right now, but know I will come through the other end sooner or later. This is a long race, not a short one. I started measuring during my three week stall, and enjoyed those numbers getting smaller when the scale did its little up and down dance.

Well now, it sounds like you're doing mighty fine yourself!! Keep up the amazing progress!! For me, I was stalled for nearly three weeks and believe me it took every ounce of positivity in my heart mind and soul to stay sane! I was really working hard and the scale showed nada... it was just... yuck... Anyway, I know how my body loses so that also kept me from going nutso. I will wax for a few weeks and wane for a few weeks. It's paying off right now! Next weigh day should still show a good loss - but after that I have to start all over with my will power and patience... LOL

I think counting carbs and making absolutely sure you get your Protein will really help you. The high protein and low carb is a key factor in the chemistry of losing weight and making the most of this "honeymoon period" of weight loss. Fruit is really high in carbs and when your body has carbs it wont turn to the fat cells for energy- it really needs to be pushed to do that! Exercise is also key- and I know that is a tough one. Have you considered Water aerobics? It's a good workout and fun too. IN any case even long walks are good as long as you do it daily. I do a 45 minute walk every day and water aeriobices 4-5 times a week now that I am at three weeks. Also- I am interested in you being told just to eat when you are hungry- cause if I did that it would be never! I am never hungry- I just schedule my meals when I know they should be! Don't forget the grehlin is no longer being produced in your thumby (my word for our new tummies) and you may need to eat to live now that we no longer live to eat! All that said- you will still stall now and again! This article helps explain the chemistry of a stall and why you can still be losing even when the scale is not budging... http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

Ok guys, I just complained about this three weeks ago! Mine lasted three weeks. STINKING STALL! But like everybody told me, it will pass! My did finally and yours will too. I promise. I did up my carbs with peanut butter, but it could have been just the time too. It's part of the initiation into the sleeve and loser club I guess. Positive affirmations.......it will break!

Hi all - I am almost 6 months out - and have been in a stall for about 2 weeks. The scale has moved up and down, 2 lbs each way, for the past three weeks. Not very uplifting at the moment... I had hoped to be down a bit further by now. So, I'm re-evaluating what I'm eating and drinking. In the meantime - my measurements have drastically reduced!!!! I went shopping over the weekend and had the best time at an outlet store that does not have Plus sizes. Size 10 shorts were a bit too big - Wow!!!! I'm wearing mostly Large tops but I can get into a Medium - depending on the fabric and style. I'm wearing heels!!! I feel more balanced so the higher heel and wedge styles don't scare me. Before the weight loss, I only wore flats or a 1 inch heel - I was always afraid of losing my balance and falling. I also had pain in my ankles and feet as the day progressed due to the pressure of my weight. Now, I wear heels and wedges - I feel great! In fact, I'm at work, I'm wearing 3" inch heels, and I'm not worried about aching ankles or feet. You know, I'm so glad I answered this post. Just typing this has made me happier and restored my faith that I'm doing the right thing! Staying positive is one of the best tools you can employ. Please don't give up!!! It's about living and feeling good!

I will be extremely pleased if I average 2-3 pounds a week. I have lost 13 pounds in three weeks but consider that to be because I have been on liquids the whole time and also had an eight day stall. The way my doctor put it is that the first six months to a year is the optimum window of time for losing. It is important to help maximize by stiking to the prciples - which for my doctor are 70-80 grams Protein 64 plus ounces Water 40 grams max carbs minimum 3 times a week exercise Vitamins This is pretty similar to most doctors credos I think! Even though it is in a sense dieting, I plan to do it because I want to use the honeymoon period to the max. I know eventually I will have a harder time losing and will have a bigger capacity for food so to me it is worth "dieting" for a time. And with this wonderful tool, which for me has meant NO hunger- I think for the first time in my life I have a real hope of succeeding.

Hi apw. I had a three week stall during or after my 2d month. Very frustrating but I just stuck to the food plan. Was doing and able to do only very light exercise due to severe osteoarthritis in knees. Just keep doing what you can. You will start losing again.