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Stalls are a normal part of weight loss, but when you say your "diet can use some work," is it possible that you aren't losing weight because you're not in a calorie deficit? It would be unusual to be able to eat that much 2 months post-op, but it's hard to say without more information. The less you weigh, the lower your calorie needs, so if you're consuming the same number of calories now that you were when you were 30 pounds heavier, that could now be too much for weight loss. Regardless, you shouldn't be afraid of what your surgeon will say about your weight loss. Your surgeon isn't (or shouldn't be) there to judge you, but to help you. If what you're doing isn't working, your surgeon/clinic wants to help you fix it.

Weight distribution is unique for each individual but one pattern is universal.....the first area of a person's body that fat collects is the last area which fat is lost and the last areas to show gain is the first to show fat loss.

So, did your weight loss just slow down until it eventually settled and you started maintenance there? Or did you stop once you reached a weight goal? If so, how did you add calories back to a place you are no longer losing? I am not near maintenance now. However, I have been wondering about how this works for people. Thank you for sharing!

The first time I did this; I had NO idea what to do or what to look at or what size I was. I almost walked out feeling too overwhelmed at the choices and having ZERO idea what all the descriptions of jeans were and what size I might wear. I finally asked a sales person. I explained how much weight I had lost and that I was literally LOST in the store. I was in my late 50's and had NO IDEA what to look at. She was so kind and eyed me up and gave me one size 18 jean and a few 16s and told me to try on the 18 first. It was big. I cried. BEST DAY EVER ! I had also worn a 26/28 jean... MORE SUCESS TO FOLLOW !! Best of Everything to you !

I would suggest that looking for very small steps is the answer and expecting much back slide and angst. Depression and anxiety can go hand in hand. An antidepressant medication can be extremely helpful in situations such as these, and there ARE weight neutral meds that can really help. I highly suggest doing both medications for at least 6 months to a year AND counseling. The combination of the two are the MOST helpful. Medication will help her brain chemistry to allow her to see through the fog of depression. Also expect some hard days as her body adjusts to medication - perhaps even up to 6 weeks, but the change will be there.

As everyone will say, everyone is different and their journeys are unique. Look at the overall weight loss instead to train your brain to celebrate every lb lost. I thought I was a slow looser, but once I started seeing my loss per month and year to date, I know there was no way I was doing it on my own. When I feel I should be doing better, I revisit my food log and make sure I'm within my plans recommendations and increase my fluid intake and tweak as needed, most times is my fluids or calories are too low for my activity level. Sent from my SM-S916U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

where did you hear that the average is 5-15 lbs a week? NO ONE loses that fast. Maybe 5 lbs a week the first MONTH (and it wouldn't be five lbs each and every week - most of us experience the dreaded "three week stall" - but a 15-25 lb loss the first month seems to be pretty average, unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life". After that drop the first month, you'll settle to into a slower rate for a few months, maybe 10 lbs a month, give or take, for the next few months - and then it'll slow even further. so I don't know where you heard that figure, but it's not accurate. You need to adjust your expectations or you're going to be frustrated and disappointed. As long as you comply with your clinic's plan, the weight will come off. Don't stress over this and more importantly, don't burn yourself out - you don't want to crash and burn. Just follow the plan. Depending on your starting point, it can take a year or more to get to goal - it took me 20 months. You want to jeopardize your health.

My daughter and I became members of this community when she decided to have the sleeve surgery 5 years ago. It was a huge decision and a lot of promises were made. I was her support. She’s 27 now, but prior to COVID she showed signs of depression and was gaining weight slowly. During COVID, she got more depressed. In the fall of 2021 just as people were returning to the workforce she did not and it’s been that way since. She’s also gained more weight. I’ve tried to get her help but she’s refused. Now no job, no insurance which means she’s on Medicaid and is afraid of the quality of doctors available to her. She’s not easy and it’s tearing me apart. I believe there’s a correlation between her young age at that time (22yo), her mental state when she had the surgery and whether she was truly ready and prepared for the changes that many of you stated above would occur. She had me promise not to tell anyone of her surgery. She’s not ready to talk about it and appears embarrassed about the decision. I try to tell her that it’s a testament to her initial success and could be an inspiration for others but she refuses. I’m trapped and don’t know what more to say or do. I’m going to continue to help and support her. I just wanted to share a mother’s story during a moment in time with her daughter.

There’s no right or wrong way & there’s no one path everyone follows while they’re losing. Though it would be easier if we could say exactly what will happen on or by a specific day or time. Like week 6 day 4 I will have lost this much weight, I will meet my protein goal for the day, I will be 3ozs short on my fluids, I will poop, I will feel tired, & so on. You can depend upon certain things. You can expect your rate of weight loss to fluctuate day to day, week to week. You can expect to experience stalls at some times which will usually last 1-3 weeks but may be more. You can expect your rate of weight loss to slow as you get closer to your final weight. You can guarantee your weight loss experience may have similarities with someone else but won’t be exactly the same. There are averages (statistics) but they only can give you an idea of what might happen not will definitely happen. We’re all too different physically & psychologically, have different health issues & history, different demands on our lives, different genders, ages & heights, etc. I tracked my loss almost every day and yes there were ups & downs along the way but that’s just life - one day is never identical to the day before or the day after & there are always things that happen that you can’t control (hormonal fluctuations, pooping, peeing, energy levels, being unwell, etc.). The most important thing to me was I was losing & the general trend on my weight loss graph was downwards. Keep following your plan & getting in your protein & fluids as you’ve been doing & you will lose weight in your time. Don’t put pressure on yourself on how much you will lose by some arbitrary made up date. It will only stress & upset you if you don’t make it. All the best.

-My boyfriend picked me up (no guy has ever done that or attempted to) I proceeded to freak out and say don't do that again because I was so scared it was too much and he laughed and said it wasn't bad and I'm being crazy I've never liked being picked up. Before it was because I worried I'd break the person picking me up now I worry I'll get hurt. Being able to sit on fallen treen branches without snapping them (I spend a lot of time outside/hiking/by the Water and it's nice to sit on them now) Not necessarily Tree branches but there are some camping chairs I had to avoid in the past because I was so big and now I don't even weight check. Just fitting in any seat and not having to worry about it anymore I love this probably top 5 NSV of my surgery. Not worrying about fitting or breaking the seat. Having small boobs relative to the rest of my body (I hated having big boobs) My boobs are still big compared to the rest of me. Plan on fixing that surgically next summer.

Stalls are a natural & normal part of weight loss. They are the time your body takes to reassess the changes you’ve made: the change in calorie intake, weight loss, activity levels, etc. All things that put stress on your body. The body reassess your needs & makes changes to things like your digestive hormones & metabolism. You will start to lose weight again when your body is ready - in it’s time not necessarily your time. Don’t stress your body more. Get back on your plan & stick to it. But yes, check with your team regarding your weight lifting. May be not so much you’re doing it but how much your lifting. Better to be sure you’re doing the best thing for your body right now.

Hello, I haven’t gotten my surgery date yet but I am battling depression as well. I started talking to a therapist about a month ago and it has drastically helped me to see the distorted thinking than I’m doing to beat myself up all the time. When I do that it makes me feel sad or unworthy then I use food to cope with those feelings. I am learning when I’m faced with a difficult situation to slow my thoughts down and to think about why I’m REALLY feeling the way I’m feeling. My therapist described it as if we are pulling weeds from the garden, we usually figure out the surfuace problem and pull those weeds but it’s hard to figure out the root of the problems because they are so deeply embedded within you. Talking to my therapist has just helped me to shift my thinking from thinking I will be alone if I do t lose weight or no one will like me if I don’t lose weight, to someone will like me just the way I am however I’m on this weight loss journey for my health and family. I was against therapy at first but I am so glad that I took that plunge before surgery to sort out issues and can’t wait to continue it after.

Changing Chris, Hi. You re doing a huge amount of walking on a tiny amount of calories. You will crash and burn if you are not careful. Your body needs to keep the few nutrients you are giving it, hence no weight loss. Let your body heal and at least get on to real foods before you put the stress of any exercise on your body. You don't need to jump start the weight loss or cut corners, It will just happen while you rest and recover.

I can tell you that if you menstruate, your weight loss can stall/stop/start based on where you are in your cycle. I almost always gained 2-3 pounds in the days leading up to it and would drop 4-5 when it was over.

I'm in the middle of week 2 post op, and I'm not losing anything! All liquid diet, getting all my protein in and only taking in around 400 calories a day. Also walking at least 2 miles or more a day. I pictured it going a lot differently especially when I read the weight loss average is 5 to 15 pounds a week in the beginning stages. I'm hoping that my body adjusts and I start seeing some progress soon. I like this subject and look forward to following the discussion.

I KNOW stalls are inevitable, and weightloss isn't a smooth line. Just curious how typical patterns have been? I didn't hit a stall at 2-3 weeks, possibly because my plan was full liquids for 4 weeks PO. I had a decent loss the first month, then 5 pounds the second month. Hoping this was just because I was transitioning to regular foods. As far as food, I am following the plan, no cheating, but I really can eat a healthy amount, and am getting in all my protein and water. Just wondering if I will be a slow and (hopefully) steady loser, or if others have experienced a slow spot in the beginning then bigger losses later? Yes, I'll stick with the plan, but for those of you that have tracked monthly or weekly loss, what was your pattern? Were slow months related to anything specific like holiday's, vacation, stress, or sliding?

Oh i too was like that week 7 today. It was going nowhere weeks 4,5 &6. Surgeon told me not to worry that it will do it from time to time and this week it dropped 7lbs. Like my weight going up in half stones its coming down that way too by the looks of it. Frustrating though. Good luck. Sent from my SM-A515F using BariatricPal mobile app

I started walking pretty much as soon as I got home from the hospital. At a month out, I was cleared to do everything except for weights (had to wait eight weeks for that), so I was back doing water aerobics (at about four weeks out) the above poster is right, though - it's pretty important to get enough protein if you're going to start exercising (actually, it's pretty important even if you're NOT exercising!). Do you still do protein shakes? A lot of people give them up once they can get their protein requirements met by food, but if you're one who can't, there's that option. Also, six months is a long time to go without meeting your protein and fluid requirements - that's usually just an issue for people the first couple of months. You may want to let your clinic know about that....

I have to agree, seems like a lot of weight lifting so soon after surgery.I would think you are not eating enough and your body could be holding on to your weight. I would speak to your team to see if you should be doing something different with eating. Sent from my SM-S916U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

You said it all yourself - You are stressed, eating badly and not sleeping. Your body has to cope with all this on top of the massive surgery you have just had. Your body just can not cope with this and is holding on to every last calorie. Give yourself a pause, even if its only a half hour every day, your body will thank you. Shop for some good foods, begin to eat well. You are an athlete and know how to do this. Buy a good book and read it for a short while before sleep. { well it works for me} Has your team cleared you to be lifting weights ? To this non surgical person this activity seems very strenuous this early in your recovery. In other words - put yourself first for a while until you have the hang of this new stomach. Sleep Eat Drink repeat

I’m at a loss and not a good one. I’m 2 months post-op and the scale has not moved in 4 or 5 weeks. I’m back in the gym (competitive lifter) but not lifting heavy (130lb deadlift to start). I will admit that my diet can use some work. I’ve been under some extreme stress from work and a have not been sleeping well. I want to cry everytime I hop on the scale hoping for some movement only to be stuck in the same 2-3 lb range. My surgeon hopes for more weight loss during my 1 month appointment so I can’t even imagine what she will say when I go back in 4 weeks. I just don’t know what to do.

i wondered if it was a combination of a stall & the expected slow down of your weight loss too.. Those last pounds can seemingly take forever to go. Yep, exercise accounts for about 10% of your weight loss. So exercising will only contribute to the loss of about 3lbs of your last 35. I get not having the time or energy to exercise after work. I was the same plus I really detest it. I discovered exercise snacking. That is exercise in short bursts a few times a day. I do about four sessions a day lasting 5-10mins each & totalling about 20-25mins. (After lunch, before & after dinner & before bed.) They found that short bursts are just as effective as a single sustained exercise session. They’re much easier to fit around the demands of your day & much less an onerous task (which is how I saw exercise).

That’s correct, sleeve surgery removes around 75-80% of your tummy but gastric bypass creates a much smaller tummy from your tummy & attaches it to your rerouted intestines. Your remaining tummy is still there after bypass but no food can enter it. Further conversations with your surgeon may be needed to help you understand the differences in the surgeries, how they impact your body & which may be best for your needs. It may help ease some of your nerves too. (Nerves before surgery are very common - fear of the unknown, uncertainty, etc.) With both surgeries your ability to consume large portions is reduced. Initially after either surgery when you start consuming purées you will only be able to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food. This slowly increases. (By 6 months I could eat about a cup of food & now I eat about the recommended serving size or a little less.) And it is possible for you to eventually eat around your smaller tummy which of course results in weight gain & something to be aware of. Changing your eating habits, your relationship with food, understanding the nutritional benefits of food, etc. are vital aspects of losing your weight & maintaining the loss. This is the work you have to do & has nothing to do with the surgery. Many find the temporary changes to our sense taste & sometimes smell after surgery is an opportunity to try different & healthier foods. I have some food sensitivities so I recognise you may as well but are they legitimate food sensitivities or just you don’t like to eat certain foods (taste, texture, etc.)? A dietician can help with this as well. Often working with a therapist is very helpful to work through your relationship ship with find & what is behind your eating habits., as well as your hunger (distinguishing between head hunger & real hunger). Focus on eating your protein first at every meal. Then eat your vegetables. Finally if you are able eat any carbs. This will be the same advice you will be given after surgery & when your able to eat solid foods. There were many meals I only ate my protein & couldn’t or didn’t want to eat anything else. ( I still have days like this almost 4 years out.) Start tracking your food (portion sizes, calories, protein & other macros). There are some great apps you can use. You can be successful with either surgery but after the honeymoon stage when things like your appetite returns, most of your success depends upon you. You have to be ready for the surgery & the changes it brings & the changes you have to make. Surgery was the best thing I ever did. All the best whatever you decide to do.

I am a 67 year old woman. I had surgery over a dozen years ago, and quite frankly... I have a lot of sagging, baggy, skin. And I am dammed proud of it. I have had to have enough surgeries in my lifetime that I am not going to put myself through any plastic surgery. I am lucky enough that my belly doesn't really hang, and I am not physically challenged from any hanging skin. Do I look like "saggy baggy the elephant" naked ? Yep. Do i still wear sleeveless shirts that show my hanging skin on my upper arms ? Yes I do. I wear shorts that cover the drooping skin on my thighs. But once, a long time ago, I was visiting a National Park and saw an older woman in hiking shorts, and a tank top. She was tanned and looked so healthy... and I realized that she had saggy skin, and had lost a LOT of weight. I was very obese. I looked at that woman and knew what I wanted to be when I was old (well.... at 30 something, 60 something looked really old !) and you know what ? I AM that woman. Whoever she was/is. She was a silent inspiration to my eventual weight loss. Now, when I am walking a trail in that same National Park, I recall her influence and thank her.