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A real stall is three weeks or more at the same weight. I had two of them and both were nine weeks long. Both started out as "natural" stalls, something you should fully expect post VSG. But like many of us, after about a month at the same weight I fell back into bad habits and had to address the bad behavior before I could get back on track. It is perfectly normal to have stalls and it is perfectly normal to have a less than perfect journey. If we had all of the tools we need to lose weight effortlessly, we'd skip the surgery and just join Weight Watchers again. The sleeve is that extra tool that helps us do the head work to overcome. So, expect stalls and expect some measure of frustration and expect that you will need to put effort into adopting new habits permanently for long term success. As for what month you stop losing there's no such thing. Really. I'll say it again: NO SUCH THING. Your sleeve is just about as large as it will get at roughly one year post op. Your capacity afterward is tiny compared to pre-op, even if it is considerably larger than immediately post surgery. We're talking about fitting in between 3/4 to 1 and 1/2 cups of food somewhere between one and two years post op. And that's it - forever - unless you try your very hardest to stretch your sleeve (though pain and real effort) what little it will stretch. So what does all of that mean? It means that there is nothing stopping anyone at one, two, three or even seven years post op, from picking up the pieces if they fall into bad habits and regain. The sleeve was and will remain a restrictive tool to help you lose weight and maintain that loss if you make the right food choices. Expect that the lower your body weight and the closer you are to your body's happy place, the harder it will be to lose weight. So yes, weight tends to come off more quickly in the beginning and to come off more slowly the closer you get to goal. That does not mean it's more difficult to lose weight. You'll use the same exact techniques and tools to lose. It's just harder for your body to give up those final pounds. I was six months to lose the last twenty. That's a bit excessive, maybe, but I was a slower loser from the start. But everyone slows down near the end - it's natural when your body has less to give up. And in my experience, people need to feel in control so they fiddle with their diets any time they don't see a drop on the scale every day. If you're tracking your food and you're not eating an extra four hundred calories a day all of a sudden, it's doubtful that your diet is the culprit. Everyone's body reacts differently but in more cases than not, the thing that shakes a real stall is upping the calories and carbs in your diet, not slashing them. Or you could just wait it out. Because with time, it'll pass and it's part of the journey. ~Cheri

Thanks Cheri. I know from prior posts that you were a slow looser and that slow does not mean unsuccessful. I understand the frustration of hearing people complain that they have only lost 30 pounds in the first three weeks after surgery LOL! I am 5'1" and shooting for 130. Like I said, I suspect I have 10+ pounds of skin. Right now I wear a size 6 comfortably. I was trying on pants last week and noticed that if it weren't for the panni, I could easily wear a size 4. I forgot that I have no hips. I am constantly having to pull my pasts up as they slide over the non-existent hips and get stopped by the lower stomach skin. My surgeon's goal for me is 110. I think he's nuts. I would be a size 0 or less. No thanks! I will try the strength training. I have equipment at home for that. All I need to do is pick it up. No extra money for a gym. It's funny, but when I do exercise there is a weight gain that accompanies it at first no matter what the calorie deficit is. Connie and Aussie: One week? Nahhh. Two weeks is a little more frustrating, but they can last 1-2 months despite the fact that you are doing the same thing you had been doing when you were losing. Both Cheri and ButtertheBean and others have posted detailed explanations on stalls. The simplistic explanation is that your body needs time to readjust after a weight loss both in chemical terms and physical inches. I sometimes think that the body is actually redistributing flesh. If you are doing everything right and not losing pounds, do not over-worry. Keep with it and you will lose. There are some that say changing up or playing with the numbers (protein, fat, carbs, exercise, etc.) will shock your body, but my experience up to now has been to wait it out. This may have changed for me since I'm close to goal. Cheri knows what she is talking about. I am with a few pounds of what I was just before Christmas. This morning I tried on a pair of pants that were super tight that I have not worn since then and I am swimming in them. The lose skin that I did not think was so bad a couple months ago is more noticeable now. I mentioned in another post that I actually have loose skin on my fingers. Don't let that scare you BTW. I'm 47 and had a 46 or 47 BMI when I started. It's so much better than the fat. Cheri - Keep us posted on that baby of yours! Named yet? I named my daughter when she was 3 weeks old - I mean 3 weeks from conception I was calling her by name. Yes, I'm weird, but she was long wanted and I have to plan EVERYTHING is advance :-P

Check out the link in my signature. It explains the three-week stall. It sounds like you're dead in the middle of it. Don't be sad or depressed, it happens to most everyone.

It REALLY varies from person to person. You are doing FANTASTIC! If you want to know how you are doing, weigh it against yourself (it will help you remain sane). Always figure out how many pounds you've lost divided by the number of weeks that it took you to lose them. Medically speaking 1/2-2 pounds per week is spot-on. If you beat that due to this surgery - rejoice! If you make it - rejoice! And when you stall for a week (or two or three) - rejoice (knowing for once it doesn't mean you failed and will "quit" this diet - it will be short lived). Welcome to the loser's bench and keep up the great work!

Yes, Yes . . we are all very different in the way we lose weight. However with out sorting through every post ever made on VST I was wondering what are the most common times to stall through out the first year and do they last for different amounts of time. Example, if three weeks and 5 months are common stall points , does the three week stall only last one week where the 5 month stall last a month ? Stalls seem to get everyone in such a feisty mood I thought if i just prepared for one in my head I could psych it out

Thank you! I think I'm mostly panicked because I've been stalled for three weeks, rather than just in week three 😓

I had surgery on 11/19/2013 and lost 17 pounds in the first 10 days. I have not lost a single ounce since then! As a matter of fact, I have bounced up and down between the same 2 pounds. I am following the diet to the letter, keeping a food log, 60-100 grams of protein/day, 60-100 oz of water/day and exercising daily. This "stall" is almost three weeks old. Why is this happening so soon after surgery? I am devastated and severely disappointed! I have read that this surgery doesn't work for everyone. I pray I'm not one of those who fails and is doomed to obesity. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm quickly running out of hope and about to give up!

First let me say to all the fellow georgians who have been reaching out, I'M VERY SORRY TO HAVE KEPT YOU WAITING THIS LONG, And to all others who have reached out.A quick recap, i had surgery on Feb 19th,2010, and i have stayed away from the boards because i had a three week stall post op.I started getting extreme anxiety with shortness of breath everytime i got on the scale and it hadn't moved.I did however lose alot of inches around my waist (at least 6-7 inches) at that time which was keeping me sane.I started working out and i saw results but the only people commenting where my mom and dad saying i look like i lost weight.My hairdresser almost three weeks after surgery asked me again if i had had the surgery yet.Bummer!Flash forward,i have definetly lost weight and can see some real results.Although i've only lost 33 pounds or so, i have estimated my weight loss to be around 10lbs per month + INCHES,which is slow compared to most, but i eat what i want and workouT.People are commenting and saying i have lost alot of weight now.Prior to surgery,i started looking into Plastics, but at this rate, i wont need it.So my advice is that even if you are a slow loser, the fact that you had surgery is a motivation and it has really helped me to stay focused on the long term.There is no way i would have been this successful for this long without setbacks had it not been for the surgery.Even on my bad days or when i'm invited to an all u can eat buffet, the sleeve is still working for me.My hopes are that i will continue losing 10lbs per month till i reach goal.By the way,i dont do any meal replacements with shakes for all wondering which may also be causing slower weight loss.:cursing:

Hello. I hope this might help you. I bought from Amazon (you can find in any drug store), a pill dispenser that is Sunday thru Saturday and has FOUR (4) spots for your daily pills. This allows me to seperate my Vitamins with Iron from my Calcium citrate etc. My boxes have Morning/Noon/Evening/Bed on them.....I normally take things around 9 am/1pm/5pm/8pm ish..........this dispenser is one big one that allows you to POP OUT that daily only and leave the rest at home...so, I have them on the go with me. I do my pills weekly along with my hubbys etc...it's easy, handy and I don't have to open up a zillion bottles each day, all day. For food ideas.....I am 6 weeks post op, gastric bypass. I have no issues with food. Doing a high Protein greek yogurt in am, lots of fish, shrimp, turkey and chicken. Plenty of cheese too. It's all about the protein first! I am doing 1/3 cup per mini-meal. I am doing three meals a day, getting in TONS of Water (all zero calorie) and getting in about 65-80 grams of protein per day. Sometimes, I only get in about 50 grams.......it's tricky, but it's working! I am 37.5 pounds down in exactly six weeks....and I am losing one pound a day right now, (for the past 7 days). I hit a 13 day stall and was so upset! I was eating too many calories. So, I am down to 800 cal's max per day and I am losing like crazy. Good luck to you!!

I too am a slow loser, but so far I have lost consistently each week with the exception of the famous three week stall that lasted 3.5 weeks. My surgery was 12-28-11, I have lost 29 lbs since my surgery and that includes the pre- liquid diet. Most people think I've lost much more. So far the skin is pretty good considering I'm and old lady. I have always been a slow loser, have less than some to lose and have age against. It came on slow, so I will be patient. I see huge life changes already. At to months I was afraid my Dr would be upset, she was elated, also counted the weight I lost prior to surgery and thought percentage wise I was ahead of schedule. I had feared her reaction and she actually made me feel so successful. Keep up the good work!

It's so common it even has a name! "The Dreaded Three Week Stall" Most everyone goes through it, and everyone gets through it! There is a sub forum called "Don't Sweat the Stall Stuff" you might want to check out. No fear! Keep doing what your doing and you'll get through it in a week or two...

Do I get to play, or is the revision surgery "cheating?" Remember, I went up to my pre-banding weight PLUS three pounds when I went for the revision...so I was starting at the top...again. My BMI was 49-ish...it's now 35-ish. My weight loss has been stalled for a couple of weeks (couldn't move, on pain killers and/or steriod inections), and I'm probably going to experience a slight gain...as I'm starting (f'ing) Prednisone tomorrow for a back injury. When stressing about my mother and my back, I did the only normal thing...for me. I ate all of the chocolate in my zipcode. I knew it made no sense when I bought it and made LESS sense when I ate it, but--at those moments--I apparently trusted the chocolate more than I trusted reason or logic, to solve my problems. I have learned NOTHING from being banded. I think I made the right decision in going with malabsorption. And I got my 6-month labs back today. Penni--and other medical types--if there's anything I'm supposed to worry here about will you let me know? I've been really anxious about these! * = near either end of the "Reference Values" ** = outside the "Reference Values" ~~HEMATOPATHOLOGY WBC--7.6--(REFERENCE 4.3-10.0) HGB--12.0--(REFERENCE 11.5-15.0) HCT--35.6--(REFERENCE 35.0-47.0) *MCV--80--(REFERENCE 80-99) RBC--4.45--(REFERENCE 3.90-5.20) *MCH--27--(REFERENCE 27-34) MCHC--33.8--(REFERENCE 32.-36.0) **RDW--15.6--(REFERENCE 0.0--15.5) PLATELET--416--(REFERENCE150-450) **TRANSFERRIN--397--(REFERENCE 200-360) IRON--49--(REFERENCE 37-145) Vitamin B-12--804--(REFERENCE 211-911) FOLATE-- >20.0 ~~COAGULATION APTT--34.9--(REFERENCE 24.0-36.0) PROTIME PT--14.3--(10.0-15.7) INR--1.06--(REFERENCE 0.70-1.19) ~~URINALYSIS WAS FINE ~~CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY GLUCOSE--93--(REFERENCE 65-99) NA--138--(REFERENCE136-147) K--4.1--(REFERENCE 3.5-5.5) CL--104--(REFERENCE 96-108) CO2--25--(REFERENCE 22-29) ANION GAP--9--(REFERENCE 5-14) BUN--10--(REFERENCE 6-20) CREA--0.5--(REFERENCE 0.4-1.1) UREA/CREA--20--(REFERENCE 10-22) OSMO CALC--274--(REFERENCE 268-292) TOT PROTEIN--6.7--(REFERENCE 6.3-8.3) ALBUMIN--4.3--(REFERENCE 3.6-5.0) *GLOBULIN--2.4--(REFERENCE 2.4-4.4) A/G RATIO--1.8--(REFERENCE 0.7-2.5) FERRITIN--19--(REFERENCE 15-417) ~~PROTEIN ANALYSIS *PREALBUMIN--20.4--(REFERENCE 20.0-40.0) ~~CARDIAC RISK INDICATORS TRIG--117--(REFERENCE 0-149) CHOL--119--(REFERENCE 0-199) HDL CHOL--64 CHOL/HDL-- 1.9 LDL CALC--32--(REFERENCE 0-99) VLDL CALC--23 (REFERENCE 0-30) ~~THYROID FUNCTION T3U--36--(REFERENCE 24-37) HS/TSH--1.04--(REFERENCE 0.35-5.50) FREE T4--1.2--(REFERENCE 0.8-1.Cool PTH INTACT--48--(REFERENCE 14-72) ~~MISCELLANEOUS TESTS Vitamin A @--0.37--(REFERENCE 0.30-1.20) RET PALM @--0.02--(REFERENCE 0.00-0.10) VIT A INTERP @--NORMAL **VIT D, 25 OH @--15--(REFERENCE 20-57) VITAMIN B6, PLASMA--PENDING My PCP says I need a little sunshine and an occasional Protein drink as my prealbumin is at the low end of normal. Is there anything else I should be concerned about? Thanks, Sue

I didn't have what I would consider a 'stall'. Perhaps I was just lucky as I know so many experience them at week three. I haven't kept any notes on how much I lost on each week but it was a good steady loss. If you are losing at all, even if its half a pound a week, its not a stall. Congrats on the surgery !

I had surgery on Dec 11. and I know I've heard of a stall @ three weeks. But what I'm nto sure of, is it when the three week begins or after the three weeks When exactly is this stall? The reason I'm asking is because last week I haven't lost but like 1-2 pounds. and so that would have been my third week (I think) and I've been kidna worried and depressed about it. Part of the problem is I am weighing on diff scares. Gym scale, doctors scale, my scale and they all vary. ( I will be stopping that pronto) But when is this stall exactly? Have you guys who have had surgery experienced this "stall"

I'm slowing too. Almost 8months out and have only lost 3 pounds in the last 6 weeks and have stalled for three or so. I'd like to lose 20 more too. I know I need to push it with exercise more. I guess we just keep on keeping on.

I'm so sorry you're not losing right now~~ but don't get discouraged! You're in what's called a "stall"~ a temporary period of time when the body stops losing so it can "catch up" to its weight loss. My surgeon's PA assures me it's only temporary and after the body adjusts it starts losing again. I was stalled for three weeks in my third month and am now losing again. I'm 4 month out as of tomorrow and I lost 4 pounds last week. So take a deeeep breath, and relax. You don't have to do anything different from what you're already doing~ and it will pass on its own. Talk to your surgeon or their staff about it, and they will reassure you that it's NORMAL~ and virtually everybody goes through it at some point in their weight loss journey! Best of luck to you

you're in a stall. Almost everyone has their first stall during the first month or so after surgery. I had mine during weeks 2 and 3. It finally broke during week 4, and I dropped like 6-8 lbs practically overnight. Do a search on "three week stall" - it happens to almost everyone! You are fine - stop worrying! I started out where you are weight-wise, and I lost 16 lbs the first month. I thought I was never going to lose weight, but I lost over 200 lbs! Stick to your program and the weight WILL come off! Your surgeon is going to be delighted with your loss so far!

Just over eight months out. I’ve lost 132 pounds. 117 since surgery, 15 on liquid diet pre op. I lost nothing during July, having a three week stall.

I am also one month out of surgery now. I lost 13 pounds in the first week and have lost nothing since then. I have been up and down a little bit.... The first week I lost and the last 3 weeks I have not lost anything. It has been frustrating and really unbelievable because I am eating so little but the information and the people on these boards have been keeping me sane!!!!!!! Really, every time I feel discouraged I get on these boards and read about the problems with stalls, fatigue etc. And then I realize I am just normal and the process is normal and I need to be patient. It's hard being patient but everyone on these boards are so helpful. Thank you to all of you that give of yourself and your time and information to help us new ones :-) the encouragement and information is so helpful. I don't think I would have done this surgery if it was not for all of your stories here. I think part of my frustration with stalling for three whole weeks, and I am only one month from having surgery, is that I just cannot wait to start using this weight that I have fought with for so many years.

Yes, it is the dreaded three week stall (or third week, since it doesn't necessarily last for three weeks!) Here is a good article explaining the physiology of what's happening now - http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html As noted in the article, there is around ten pounds of Water and glycogen in play here, so it is not unusual for there to be some small amount of gain happening while you restore your glycogen reserves and switch into fat burning mode, so don't beat yourself up over any perceived dietary sins - it's just nature at work and can happens to most when they go thru this phase.

I had my first stall at three weeks and was quite discouraged. However, I could tell that my body was changing, so we took some measurments. I'd lost a total of 12 inches from my waist, hips, chest and arms. I highly recommend taking your measurements and tracking them along with your weight loss. It was a huge motivation for me to see that even though the scale was not moving as quickly as I wanted I was still losing. I still have periodic stalls, but if I up my Protein and Water, I start to lose again.

1) unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life", your weight loss so far is very normal. Most of us lose 15-25 lbs in the first month after surgery. Yes - you will find people who lose more or less than that, but they're the exception. You're in that range, so you're perfectly normal! 2) you're in the infamous "three-week stall". Almost all of us go through that. It's not ALWAYS the third week, but it is for most (hence the name) - but it can really happen any time within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. Just stick to your program and stay off the scale if you need to. It'll last 1-3 weeks, and then you'll be on your way again. If you want to read more about it, do a search on this site for the three week stall. You will find about 17,000 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding...). It literally does happen to almost everyone. No changes necessary - just stick to your program and wait it out. It WILL break. oh - just re-read your post. Thirty grams of protein is too low. Most surgeons recommend at least 60. So THAT is a change you should make. Otherwise, you're good. Just hang tight!

Google three week stall. This happens to everyone. Focus on following your plan and continuing to change your relationship with food. The weight will come off in its own time. Remember this journey is a marathon -- not a sprint.

Fat still has calories. Two ounces of turkey breast (100 calories) will carry you a lot farther than one tablespoon of Peanut Butter or an ounce of cheese. I find that that nuts are a major slider for me and it is easy to eat 1/2 cup of nuts without realizing I have consumed hundreds of calories. I still scramble my eggs with a teensy bit of real butter, but can't really afford the calories in coconut oil. Although my doctor would prefer that I eat more chicken and fish, I do cook one three-ounce steak a week. I have stalled out about fourteen pounds from goal, so I think I will hold off with peanut butter and cheese until I hit a maintenance weight that I am comfortable with.

I think my stall started early! Sleeved 4-14, and lost 8 pounds first week. In the last three or four days, scale seems to have stopped moving. I'm confident it will again, but its annoying!