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I didn't have a liquid preop for my surgeon, but I forced myself to do Medifast for four months as a weight loss attempt in 2008. At least Medifast was 5 & 1 - five liquid meals, one lean and green meal. The hardest part of the liquid diet for me, beyond the insanely lowered calories, is that I desperately wanted to chew food. I know how hard it is. I remember how my entire day revolved around when I could drink my next shake or Soup. Does your pre op guideline allow any free foods, such as sugar free Jello or broth? If it does, you'll have a little flex room and can add in a free food twice a day. No, it won't be terribly satisfying (though you'd be surprised how much fun it is to "chew" jello after you've been drinking for a few weeks) but it might help you out mentally. Post op I didn't mind liquids for a few days. I was sore, I was tired, I was just happy the surgery went well. My post op guideline had me on liquids 20 days - 10 days of clears, 10 days of full liquids. By day 7 of clears I wanted fulls, but had to stick it out for three more days. By day 6 or 7 of full liquids I wanted nothing more than to chew food. Those last few days were long and hard for me. In short, it's easier post op. You're not going to be feeling as hungry, and you'll have your surgery aches and the rapidly dropping weight to distract you. But yeah, by the end of your post op, if it's as strict as mine was, you'll probably want something you can actually chew. For me, it was easy to look at the post op diet and compare it to those four long and torturous months on Medifast. I only lost 27 pounds in those four months. This is only for a few weeks, and you're going to lose a lot. Then, once you're able to eat more food, you're going to continue to lose weight (albeit at a slower pace). While it will still be a struggle sometimes and you will stall and plateau a few times you are probably not going to fight to lose every pound the way you have in the past. It's all worth it. Just try to focus on the goals, and see if you can work a free food or two into your diet while you wait. ~Cheri

So I finally broke my 2 1/2 week stall as of this morning. I had actually gained 3 lbs from my low from a few weeks ago and couldn't figure out what I was doing. I looked at my food log from yesterday and realized I only ate 451 calories - yikes! Normally I get in around 800. Maybe it's just about changing "something" up a bit to get the pounds dropping again. I remember years ago when I was dieting, one place said that if you had a stall to eat nothing but either cantaloupe, bananas, or oranges (just pick one and eat only that) for three days. Worked every time. So maybe there is something to changing things up just a bit. And I actually had a few bites of ice cream last night too!

It's called the three-week stall, but it varies from person to person. I think I stalled from weeks 3-5, but I'm back to losing again. From what I hear you'll go through periods of time where you won't lose any weight, but it'll come back. Just stick with it, keep doing what you're supposed to be doing and the sleeve will take care of the rest!

Okay, I'm actually a little over three months out now. My surgery was 15 July with Dr. Aceves. I was down 45 pounds at my 3 month mark. My starting weight was 242 pounds and I'm 5'1" and change. I started in an uncomfortably tight 18/20 and I'm now wearing loose 16s. The 14s are still uncomfortably tight, but I'll be in them by next month. My shirts were XXL and XL and are now L. No more Xs on my shirts! I've lost a bra size (both band and cup) and I'm finally able to wear my wedding band again. My shoes went up half a size when I went over 220 pounds, and now all of the shoes I bought are too loose and slip off my feet. I stall every month, twice a month. I lose about 15 pounds a month but I lose those pounds in two and a half weeks. I'm a type 2 diabetic and I'm insulin resistant, and my weight loss is "slow" compared to a lot of people sleeved at the same time. It's normal for me to stall for ten days and then drop six pounds in the next four days. Milk is not my friend. After a lot of work to pinpoint what was causing my digestive issues, the answer is MILK. Even lactaid upsets my stomach. My Protein shake, cottage cheese and plain yogurt do the same to a much lesser degree. I was looking for alternative and my doctor suggested goat or sheep milk, saying that they don't have lactose. I'd switch to almond milk or soy milk (if I could tolerate the taste!) but I'm about to move to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and I wanted to go with an alternate I could find once we move. Goats and sheep abound in Tashkent, but soy milk and almond milk do not! The great news is that goat milk isn't too bad once you get used to the aftertaste. At first it felt like I was drinking milk while munching on chevre. Since switching a few days ago, I've been able to drink my Protein shakes with only minor intestinal distress. I've also broken through a two week stall and lost 2 pounds, so things are moving again. I am losing hair. Not too much yet, but there is definitely more hair on my shirts and in the drain catcher. I've been taking Biotin (5000 mcg) since preop and I get all of my Vitamins in - I think the newly increased loss is due to my lower protein intake. While I was unable to drink my shakes I wasn't getting enough protein. I hope that I'll be able to pull through this without too much additional loss. My diabetes is well under control with just diet and exercise. I sleep better and longer than I did before surgery. I'm also more energetic and move a lot more than I used to, without getting sore or tired. Sometimes I don't see much of a change, but then I'll see a picture of me from this summer flip by on our screensaver and realize that I've come a long way already. My face is definitely thinner, and I only have a little more to lose before that dreaded double chin is completely gone. I have no regrets and would have this surgery again in a heartbeat. I wish I lost a little faster, but even at this slow rate, I'll be at goal by spring. ~Cheri

My weight loss had stalled and my husband said youre not getting enough Protein. I went to the GNC store and the guy in there who is a nutritionist and personal trainer asked me all kinds of questions about my life and and my surgery and he recommended this stuff, I lost 10 pounds the first week and I love it,my husband and son also drink it now and they say it tastes like a wendys frosty. AN EASY WAY TO GET IN 76 GRAMS OF PROTEIN AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 calories 280 fat 1g sugars 2g carbs 7g protein 60g you can add it to Water but I add the three scoops to 16oz of skim milk which is 16 more grams of protein. oh yeah, I always add two hand fulls of ice to the blender and sometimes I add 4oz of coffee for a jamoca shake if I need an energy kick. I never leave for work without it. I drink on it til lunch time and keep almonds, walnuts and raisins in a ziploc if I get hungry before my lunch at 2.

Hi all, The title saids it all the stall is finally over! I lost the first 25 quickly the first five weeks then spent the last three weeks bouncing up and then down 2-3 pounds! Finally this week I dropped another five!!!! I so hope I can lose another 20 so I'll be an unbelievable 150 for Christmas. Nancy

It could be a number of things, really, and you'll likely never know what it happened. Transitioning to mushies/blended foods tends to cause most people to stall. I experienced a small gain at this point myself - about two pounds. If you're constipated, something like Miralax will get things moving again. This could be part of your problem, too. I drink it every other day in a cup of hot tea and don't have that problem any more. Whatever the cause, you know logically that you can't possibly be consuming enough calories to account for four pounds of weight gain. Wait it out, and I'm sure you'll be back on track in no time. While exercise is a good idea to shake your body out of a stall, I'd be taking it very easy just three weeks out and not doing much more than a brisk walk, if anything. ~Cheri

I lost 17 pounds my first month. I stalled at week three and didn't lose again until my second month started. I lost 11 pounds my second month, and I lost 10 pounds my third month. I now know that I stall for a total of about ten days per month, thanks to my cycle. I'm a slower loser, but that still averages out to more than three pounds a week. I've never lost 3 pounds a week before. Yes, it's frustrating. Yep, we want to compare ourselves to everyone else. Women that were sleeved the same month as me, with similar stats, are already more than halfway to goal. But you know what? I am losing. I'm losing faster than I've ever lost weight before. And even though I feel like the slowest loser in the world I can reach my goal in less than nine months from my surgery date. That's just four to five more months. Once I put it in perspective, there's nothing to be upset about. It used to take me four months of near starving misery to drop 30 pounds before. In comparison, this is almost effortless. Keep up the good work, you're doing just fine. ~Cheri

Mick...This too will pass. I'm not sure you can prevent stalls, you're body is adjusting. My three week stall came and went rather quickly, and truly was a non event. Enjoy the ride!! Fit.

Starting with a BMI of 49.6, I lost 34.4 lbs. the first month, 8.4 lbs. the second month, and 9.6 in the first three weeks of the third month. The second month was the worst in terms of stalls, but it's picked up here this third month, thankfully.

I am with Blackberry juice...we are on track with each other we have around the same weight loss and I think our surgery dates were a week apart and we had similar BMI to start. I also eat around 1000 calories a day. I am exercising and I am toning and slimming at same time. I think you need to feed your body, people who are advised to get between 500-600 calories a day just seem baffling to me as to why they are told to do that. Not that I am the poster child for weight loss by any means lol. I just know mine has been steady and consistent and for someone who didn't start off with a bunch to lose I think I must be doing something correct. I try to limit the simple carbs, keep my Protein way above the amount of carbs I do get and eat lots of different veggies. I can say I don't crave the sweets like I used to. I don't crave Snacks. I just eat three good meals and sometimes a little something after dinner. Everyones weight loss will vary and stalls happen though I am crossing my fingers that I can at least get a pound or two a week until my goal. I just don't see the logic in these really low low cal post op diets. I see more people struggling who are trying to stay really low too. I wonder if docs think that we are going to cheat so they give us the low number and hope that by doing so if we do eat a couple hundred more that it will still be within the correct range? Who knows. Blackberry what is Goal weight: 145 and jacked ? hehe . btw that is my first goal weight also, I dont see myself wanting to go any lower then 135...but i think 145 would be perfect for my body shape.

I lost 7 pounds last month, so in no way has my weight loss stalled. However, as you all have come to know, I'm a very impatient person. I want to see a little come off on the scale EVERYDAY! Obviously, that is unrealistic and I need to learn to appreciate life without one eye focused on the scale. One way I'm doing that is through pictures. As horribly hard as it was for me to have pictures taken of myself at my biggest, I'm now very glad I did. The physical transformation I have gone through is instant inspiration to me when I have any low feelings at all. Another way I focus OFF the scale is focusing on how my clothes fit. I'm wearing a size 16 NY&Co pair of pants today that I bought when my mom was in town. Less than three weeks ago, I could get them on, but they were too snug to wear. Today, they look perfect! I remember the way I felt when I weighed 285 pounds. I still went places with my friends, but I felt withdrawn. I wanted to fade into the woodwork. I wanted to hide myself and my body. I was so hard on myself for every little thing because I felt insecure because of my fatness. Now, I'm much more confident with my body. I practically flirted with a guy in the elevator this morning. Ha! I will catch a glace of myself in a mirror or window reflection and I can hardly believe it is me. I worked out twice yesterday and didn't feel like I was overworked. It's absolutely incredible. As you also have been able to tell, I love having my picture taken now. I still have a long way to go, but I just feel so darn good! No need to put off living while I finish the job. :confused: Tonight I'm going with one of by LAP-BAND® Support Group buddies to see Shrek. I have made friends with two girls from the group. I'm so grateful to have folks face to face that are going through what I am going through. Plus, they are super fun!! Happy Wednesday!

And now, I'd like to vent and complain! I know I tell other people to take it easy, stalls happen, loss is different for everyone, blah blah blah. But right now, I'm pretty frustrated, so I could use some support of my own. I am down forty pounds since surgery. That's great. I know it is. It's an average of 3.33 pounds a week, which is better than a typical diet. But I'm frustrated. VERY frustrated! I've been stalled for twelve days now. I keep gaining and losing the same two pounds over and over again. I put the scale away last week hoping to see the numbers change but nope - after a week I was up four tenths of a pound. I'm between monthly cycles - this is usually the only time of the month that I do lose, and instead I'm stalled. If my cycle affects me like usual, I can expect to be up 1-3 pounds next week and then stalled again. The first month out I lost 18 pounds. The second month I lost 8 pounds. Now I'm two days from twelve weeks out and I've lost 14 pounds this month. I suppose the good news is that I lost more in month three than month two. I'm still pretty aggravated with the slow loss. Slow loss would be A-OK (or at least less gripe-worthy) if it was accompanied by skin that wasn't sagging, but unfortunately, my skin is sagging horribly. I expected bad things from the stomach, since I've had twins. The stomach was bad to begin with. But my breasts? Already? And my thighs? And my butt even droops! I can lift up part of my butt and jiggle it like a saggy breast. Yes, that's probably TMI. I don't care, I'm complaining! Maybe I wouldn't be as frustrated if I wasn't so incredibly close to 199 pounds. For whatever reason, that's this huge success to me - to be out of the 200s again. Anyway, I just wanted to complain. I know nobody has advice because there's no good answer. Since I still hate eating (I never thought I'd be so unhappy to never be hungry, but eating is still a total chore for me) I'm backtracking to full liquids for three days. I hope that will kick start the weight loss again. Anything to change it up, right? So, thanks for giving me a place to gripe. Once I lose a few pounds I'll be cheery again, I promise. And yes, plastic surgery is in my future, but I'll battle that saggy skin with weight lifting and squats in the meantime to do my part to help it along. I expected some sag, but really - these 70 year old breasts are not improving my grumpy disposition. Hope everyone else is having a better time of it than me! ~Cheri

I also gained. It took me a good week to get below my starting weight. The IV fluids and my long flights really helped me retain Water weight. Also, it takes a short while for the ghrelin to work it's way out of your system. It could be actual hunger, head hunger or acid. If I miss my Nexium for one day that night I'll feel like I'm starving and my stomach is rumbling - but it's only acid. Head hunger can be anything from a simple craving for a particular food, grieving large portions, or just being frustrated by the post op liquid diet and wanting to eat. I've never felt hunger post op, but I have had cravings around my monthly cycle, and about 8 days into the post op liquid diet I just had an overwhelming desire to CHEW food. Everyone loses at their own pace. If you expect to lose everything quickly with no bumps in the road you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Very few people on here never experienced a real stall - lots of us have at least mini-stalls once a month. You just had a surgery that makes it next to impossible not to lose weight. So long as you stick to the program, the weight is going to come off, but don't expect things to be a pound a day for the next six months. I felt like I was a slow loser until I realized that I'm less than three months out and more than one third of the way to my goal. That's pretty awesome. I'm not trying to be negative or anything. I just experienced a LOT of disappointment early on because I really expected the weight to keep falling off at the pound a day rate I had early on. When I stalled out for two weeks around week three, I was horribly disappointed and depressed. But it's a normal part of the process for most people. Now I realize that I gain and stall during my cycle and likely will every month. It sounds like you're doing a great job. Just focus on those liquids and stick to your plan - you'll be losing weight in no time. ~Cheri

This too shall pass. My doc told me it would happen in week three and it would last 1-2 weeks. It lasted 12 Looooonnnnngggg days, but then the stall broke. My doc says it's just the body's way of adjusting. AniO

Hello, February 10 Bandsters!!! I am just getting back on track after a stall for almost three months!!!! I switched doctors and finally got a good fill! I am at 6.8 cc's and I am loving it so far. I know it may be too soon to tell because I just got the fill on Thursday and it's Sunday. I have lost 6 pounds so far this month and I am hoping by the end of the month I can get another 6 off! That's 3 pounds a week which is possible with exercise. I will be hitting the gym first thing in the morning. I have been working out M-F for 45 min to 1hr in the gym and it's really helping me stay on track. I hope everybody have a great week.

I am 5'4 and started at 215, BMI 36.9. I am 4 1/2wks out and down 26lbs. to 189. The first three wks I would take little naps, but now I'm starting to have more energy. I didn't have any pain that required pain meds once I left the hospital. I was sleeping on my side by wk 1. Now I sleep on my tummy. I had a little acid reflux and heart burn the first couple of weeks. But it seems to be gone. I started at the gym walking on the treadmill for an 1hr, 3 miles without any problems last week (4wk). I plan on starting light weights for my arms this week 5. I've read that us light weights dont seem to lose much hair and that makes me so happy! I eat almost anything. just a few bites. When I hit a stall I'll up my work out and calorie in take to see if that helps. I don't think there is any magic solution when it comes to stalls because we are all different. Its all trial and error. Best of luck to all.:thumbup1:

Remember, your body is going through a lot of changes right now. Don't get upset about the scale not moving, it will catch up and even out. Try taking your measurements on a regular basis, you will probably be happy to see that even if the scale isn't moving, you are losing inches. Most everyone goes through a stall somewhere between weeks three and six. It is not at all unusual, though it is frustrating. Just remember, it won't last forever!

I lost 90lbs during the year before my VSG by being on a 1500 Cal diet and lots of walking. Since my VSG on August 20th I have lost an additional 25 lbs but I hit the dreaded "three week stall" for the past week. I hope I start losing again soon. I am averaging only 500 Cals a day and run out of energy by mid afternoon. Unfortunately, I have to go back to work next week. I hope my energy holds out.

My name is Desiree and I set my surgery date for October 4th yesterday. I've been on a journey of working to lose weight for a couple of years now. It all began a few years ago when I destroyed the cartridge in my knee and had to have surgery that put me on crutches for 6 weeks and I couldn't put any kind of weight on my leg. I decided to seriously work to lose weight then and was at my heaviest which was 342. I recovered from surgery and starting working with a personal trainer and following a strict diet. I lost several inches in 3 months, but only about 20 lbs. While working with my trainer I once again tore up the same knee, only a different injury. This time it the cartilage on my femur and had a hold 2 inches in diameter torn into it. This equaled another surgery and this time 8 weeks on crutches with no weight allowed. I had considered the bypass and band off and on for several years but was always uncomfortable with rerouting nature's plumbing and having something plastic that required upkeep in my body. That all changed after learning about my stupid knee injury. While waiting for my knee surgery I went to a seminar for surgery. I found out all the requirements for my insurance company and started working on them. I found success with a non surgical doctor in the same office and put off the surgery part. Due to recovery time I had a stall in my dr visits and had to start over three months later. I had gained back most of my weight while recovering but over the next several months of starting back up I had dropped 30 lbs. I was happy and all was going well until the pain in my knee came back and I couldn't work out. I was told I have stress fractures in my knee caused by my weight and the thinner cartridge in my knee. The doctor said I need to lose weight more quickly so he recommended surgery. I consulted with my weight loss doctor and next thing I know I'm waiting on insurance approval. It was fairly easy because I'd already had the dietician visits and the psych evaluation. My surgery date is less than three weeks away and on Monday I start a two week diet of no fat, low fat, no meat. I'm starting to freak out and trying to find answers to all of these questions that are suddenly popping in my head and I do not like what I have found online so far. Then I found this site. I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with everyone and putting to rest some of my fears. :svengo:

385.6 H 6/14/10 366.5 Surgery 6/29/10 Current: 322 Had three week stall weeks 5-7 but also added more calories and protein and lost 16lbs in past three weeks.

Everyone reacts differently, but here's what I've experienced. Prior to surgery, I would eat until absolutely bursting. I loved that feeling of being full and I almost always ate dinner until the point of discomfort. About thirty minutes after that massive meal, I'd have my head in the fridge again, looking for more. I felt hungry all the time - all day, every day. If I thought I was hungry, I couldn't sit still, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't function or stop thinking about food until I ate something. Post op, I'm one of the lucky people that isn't hungry at all - ever. I have to remember to eat, or I'll eventually feel a very empty feeling in my tummy that reminds me I need to eat. Some people do feel hunger. I do not. The only time I ever experience the urge to eat is when I'm suffering PMS - an issue you won't have to worry about. Not only am I not hungry, but most food is unappetizing. I might cook all day because I want a specific dish, and then I'll eat two bites and be done. Most foods only taste good to me for one or two bites. They're wonderful for those two bites, don't get me wrong. But after that, I have to force myself to finish my food or I won't get enough calories or Protein for the day. I think I'm also in the minority on this one. Mason is absolutely right and seems to completely have his head ready for surgery. The more of this type of "head work" you do pre-op, the easier your post op experience is going to be. I started out weighing EVERYTHING. I made my day's menu first thing in the morning and recorded it in a calorie tracker. I then made sure I ate all of my food for the day. I couldn't eat it all in three meals, so I did four. I did not snack or graze between meals. Now that I'm more confident about my ability to guess my food, I track my calories maybe two days a week. I have a tendency to not eat enough, so if I stall out on the scale the first thing I do is go back to weighing and tracking food. That seems to fix the problem every time. Sometimes I graze a little, but it's amazing how little I can actually eat. I try not to make a habit of it though, because it really isn't healthy. There is no way on this earth I can eat six ounces of anything at once. NO WAY. I'd find myself running to the bathroom, because it would come right back up. I can eat about 2-3 ounces of dense protein and maybe a bite or two of potatoes or vegetables after that's done. I can drink a 12 ounce Protein Drink over the course of an hour. I have trouble getting in my protein because my stomach is very small and I'm never in the mood to eat. It's easiest for me to make a protein coffee or chai latte every morning for extra calories and a big shot of protein. You will not be able to overeat, and if you're a stubborn learner and eat too much you'll learn not to quickly. It's not really vomiting. The term "productive burp" or "PB" like a lapband patient would use is really more accurate. But I promise, you'll be uncomfortable and you'll only do it a few times. Have you ever swallowed a huge gulp of Water and felt your esophagus expand painfully? It's just like that, only it lasts until the food goes down or comes back up. Your new full signal could be anything from hiccups to a runny nose to sneezes. But you'll learn what it is quickly, because unlike your old tummy, your sleeved tummy doesn't have any real "give" and it will be painful to eat just one bite too many. A lot of my eating issues were mental. Once the ability to eat endless amounts of food was taken care of, my mental desire to do so went away. Because overeating is uncomfortable, the joy in it is gone and I no longer overindulge. But you have to understand that everyone is different. There are some people who aren't as happy with their sleeve because their hunger DIDN'T disappear, so they're still hungry without the ability to eat those massive portions. Good luck whatever you decide. I think the sleeve is an awesome tool, but you have to really understand that your life is going to change and you have to be willing to learn how to eat properly. ~Cheri

Hi all, I just had the six month follow-up, with Kaiser in So. San Francisco. I was a little non-plussed. There was lab work for everything imaginable under the sun, but they didn't really cover it very well, IMHO. This was a group meeting with the dietician, and an MD. There is supposedly a three month meeting, but many of us did not get the invite. Although I did have a 3 month followup with my surgeon Dr. Le. I was surprised that almost half the group had the bypass. I am so happy I did not take that route. I had a stall for almost two months, but I finally started losing again. 5 lbs, this last week. So for any of you who get stalls, don't worry, you will get through them. This was my second stall in six months. I am glad I did not worry and had faith in the process. It was this forum that helped me not to worry. Our bodies change alot after this procedure. Alot of us at six months out have been feeling fatigued. It's normal. Our bodies, like I said, have been going through alot. We were giving the warnings about snacking. Snackings fine if you make sure your not adding back those calories, and grazing. My snack is popcorn, and I was given hell for it being a waste. But, screw them. I have given up everything. I am going to eat my popcorn Snacks. They are low in calories and they count as my bad carbs for that day. I only have them a couple times a week. Anyway, the best luck to you all on your journey. Hugs, Les

I defo agree with this... last week I lost a pound... ok not great, but not a stall or a gain, so that is good... but... I measured and lost 3 inches!!! That felt good! I also take a photo every two weeks... there is definately a difference there too! I have upped the excercise this week, so I am hoping for my 'offical' weigh day to be better... Sat is the day!! However, I do weigh most days, but the difference is that I don't let it effect me now. I concentrate on all the positives such as the inch loss, the loose clothes, loose rings on my fingers, having one neck instead of three, the being able to do an hour of exercise in one go and not it small 10-15 mins sessions... it is all a part of the process and I am starting to get that now! xx

I have been stuck several time since my last fill...I believe it is my own fault... I wolf down and don't cut and chew properly. I tried toast the other morning... it came back up, I think when I eat too fast this happen... BUT I have tried (after reading this in the forum) is when I am stuck I slip the hotest Water I can... IT does relax the Esophicus (sp) and things will move. Sometimes not right away... but it does work...when I had this problem three dinners in arow I drank a cup of tea the 15 minutes before...that helped. BIBI I was stalled for a couple of weeks also but now I am moving again...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GIRLS, it is worth it!!!:blushing: