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I'm doing great. Weight loss is slow for me. I was on a 3 week stall at my 3rd week post op. But, losing again now, but, still slow. I have had very few problems. I was only really tired for about a week at my 4th week. Absolutely no energy that week and just wanted to sleep. I'm loving my sleeve. No regrets.

LOL!! Gayle, I do the exact same thing!! when i realized my weight moved i go to change my ticker immediately! its so funny how that happens but i guess im not the only one that does that!! ... i have just experienced my first "3 week stall" and Im not beating myslef up over it because i know that the body naturally has stalls during weight loss as to adjust to the changes that we are going through! when its over its really amazing and you start to celebrate!!!

He lost 34lbs in 1 week. He was told about the stall that is coming, yet is upset that he is not losing for 1 week, which would be the 3 week stall that is all over this forum. I bumped this to remind him and not get discouraged. Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App

Look up the '3 week stall.' This phenomenon is so common it actually has a name. In addition, try to stay off the scale for several weeks. You didn't become obese overnight and you won't lose it overnight, either. When's the last time you lost 9 pounds in a few days? I'm guessing the answer is 'never.' You're doing wonderfully and I assure you the scale will start moving again. A fear of failure is common. Realistic expectations are imperative when losing weight. Due to your low starting weight, it's likely you'll never be someone who loses 30+ pounds a month. The sooner you embrace this reality, the better. My height and starting weight were almost identical to yours. I lost at an average rate of about 6 pounds monthly. Yes, I was a dreadfully slow loser and it took 17 months for me to lose 100 pounds. What matters is I eventually reached my goal weight and have maintained my weight loss. Good luck to you.

I agree. So early in the process your body is still freaking out and trying to figure everything out. I had a 3-week stall right between 3 & 4 months post op and I just decided that i wasn't going to freak out about it because I really had no option but to keep doing the things I knew I needed to do. After 3 weeks the scale started moving fast and furiously again. Hang in there!

As everybody else has said, the “3 week stall” is a real thing. I will be 4 weeks post op tomorrow and from about the 12 day mark to the 22 day mark, I only lost 2 lbs. I started to freak a little because I’m barely eating and have no hunger or desire to eat. My nutritionist said it was normal and I confirmed that here on the message boards. My best advice is like everybody else said, stick to the script and only weigh once a week. I’m down 60 lbs in 6 weeks (2 weeks pre op diet until now). So while I had that little “stall”, I’m averaging 1lb a day. So I look at the big picture. I wish I had your hunger!

You're doing fine. You likely hit your 3 week stall a little early. I did too and it lasted about 2.5 weeks. Focus on getting in more Protein every day and increasing your Water. It is frustrating and if you did a poll on this site I am willing to bet 97% of everyone hit the same stall and felt exactly the same way. You are normal, just keep following your plan and the scale will move again.

I had surgery on 3/2. I have went from 308 to 255. I have been on a 3 week stall. I even went and saw the nutritionist just to make sure I am on track. "Just be patient" they say. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I just recently had a 3 week stall. I was sleeved 10/9/12. This was my first major stall, I was starting to get a little nervous but I just had my gallbladder surgery 1/10 and I lost 10lbs in 4 days!!!! I think I broke my stall!! I try not to get to mad..it happens and I know eventually itll come off! So my stall started at 228 and right now I'm 218. Btw I started at 300!!!

Wednesday was 6 weeks: where did the time go....i had the 3 week stall and found another one this week.... It is frustrating, even though i know they happen, it surprises me.... Weight loss, so far: 294 day of surgery (5-2) 257 this morning. (6-16) minus 37 pounds in 6 weeks.... I have to admit, at 4 weeks, when i was ok'd for "normal" diet and i am finding this hard... I am not listening to my stomach and eat more than i should most every meal... It could be 1 bite to much, but each one of those add up...plus, with the 1 bite to much, i get nauseous .... I need your help! would you all please share with me a structured daily menu plan? Maybe a couple days worth....thank you so much... Breakfast: what and how much Lunch: what and how much Dinner: what and how much Snacks? yes or no? I am hoping if enough of you respond i can set up a diet plan for a month or more.... Either, message me here or email me at: tjmom53@yahoo.com Thank you all in advance for your help... Sandy/tjmom

So with the exception of the 3 week stall I've been rockin my sleeve! Between thanksgiving and New year's eve I lost almost 20lbs. Then I started doing Zumba and I've hit a wall. Nothing major but ill be 11 weeks post op tomorrow and I'm just wondering if the exercise has put my body into some kind of shock or if I'm heading into a stall or something. I haven't gone 5 days without losing anything since early on. With regard to stalls , (which I understand are normal), I'm curious about what's typical. I am 5'5 started at about 250lbs. Three week stall with tiny losses until about 6 weeks. Then 5 weeks of non stop awesome loss. Now stuck at 201.2-201.7 lbs. For 5 days. Just curious about your thoughts on my progress and where I should go from here. If I am heading into an actual stall, how long does it usually last at this point? Also, I am about 1 week away from TOM. Thanks

I will be 6 weeks out on Tuesday. The first 3 weeks I lost well (8.4; 3.8, 4.2). However, the last 3 weeks my loss has slowed down a LOT (.8, 1, and so far 0). Has anyone experienced anything like this and had their loss speed back up? I'm trying to keep a positive outlook but the longer the stall or slow down lasts the harder I am finding it. I see my surgeon and NUT on Monday and will be talking to them, but I'm just curious if this is the 3 week stall everyone talks about and if so, at about when it's normal for loss to pick back up. For reference, I was lucky to have a very easy recovery so I am getting 70+ grams of protein most days (always over 60). I am drinking between 70-100 oz of water a day. My calories are high for how far out I am (usually just under 800; 6 weeks) but that's because I still need protein supplements between meals. For meals, I'm eating 4 oz of soft protein (like chicken salad) and then if hungry some vegetables that are cooked soft. I will be hopefully be able to move onto more dense foods after my next appointment.

I was sleeved 7th may and I lost 15lb the first week. I'm now 6 weeks post op and have lost 22lb in total. 3 week stall at week 3 which is normal.

17 pounds in 5 weeks is almost 3.5 pounds per week... which is really awesome!!!!!! Especially if you were able to avoid the 3 week stall. I know that everyone wants stellar results, especially during the first couple months but please remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. 3.5 pounds per week is above average and is a lot more healthy than dropping a ton right away (like the by-pass patients...). I am four weeks out and have lost 56 pounds, but that includes what I lost in the 4 months pre-op. At first when I was seeing numbers like 3 pounds in two weeks, 4 pounds, etc... it was discouraging. But looking back... I'm really proud of it and happy that I was able to do that. Chin up and don't worry! Keep up the good work on the Protein and keep drinking your Water and you'll get there!

The 56 pounds I have lost include my pre-op diet as well as weight lost after surgery. I have lost 12 pounds since surgery and am in the dreaded 3 week stall at the moment and have been for a week. Everyone is different and I started my ticker when I committed to this surgery and went for my consult. I started a high Protein low carb diet at that point as I knew that was what I would be eating after surgery. It also made the transition easier for me at pre-op. I definitely do not want to mislead anyone into thinking that I lost all of that after surgery but I am glad I lost some before as that is now weight I don't have to lose post-op. Good luck with your own personal journey!

I had surgery on March 8, and at about 3 weeks I stopped losing and actually "gained" 5 pounds! I read a lot of information about the 3-week stall, which appears to be pretty common, and I just kept doing what I was doing-60 grams or Protein daily with a combination of drinks and food (a LOT of tuna salad and cottage cheese) and the stall lasted about 10 horrible days. I have finally dropped that weight plus another 2 pounds. I felt the same way; like that was all the weight I was ever going to lose! This forum is awesome for encouragement. I am so glad I came here to get great advice and to find out that all of this is perfctly normal. Keep eating and drinking protein, limit carbs (I try to stay under 25 grams but occasionally end up at around 40-50 for the day) and get plenty of Water. The extra weight (for me I think I might have gotten a little dehydrated when I was at my lowest weight) and the stall WILL end.

search for the 3 week stall it happens it sucks but you will be ok your body is just catching up

the 3 week stall happens to most people. Your body needs to adjust. Never fear it will pass I know it is hard to believe that but its true. I stall all the time. This last stall lasted for almost a month. I no longer get upset as I know this is how I lose. I will stall for quite a while and then lose a bunch. I don't mind it as long as I know I am still having the times when I lose. I know my body will lose weight with the amount of calories I consume in a day. Just think back to what we used to eat in a day and look where we are now!! Good luck!

I haven't looked at your ticker, so I'm not sure where you started at...but 29 pounds doesn't seem slow for most starting weights...I take it you were so surprised at his response that you didn't ask him a follow-up question like, "really, how much would you have expected me to lose?!" I started at 310 and am down 25 pounds in 3 weeks...if I am like many others and have the 3 week stall, then I will be down 25 pounds in the first month.

Agreed. My 3 week stall lasted 3 weeks, from about week 2.5 to about week 5.5. I was SO frustrated. But it broke and I've been losing since. At that time I went from weighing daily to weighing weekly. Doesn't change the numbers but at least I could not focus on them most of the week and just focus on eating my plan and walking.

My first stall started after 4.5 weeks, and my worst one started after about 2 months and lasted 3 weeks. Stalls happen to everyone. Telling you that probably won't erase your anxiety though... I remember my really long stall after 2 months was at exactly my lowest adult weight, where I had stalled out for nearly a year when trying to lose weight "normally" in my 20s. All I could think was that I must have reached the lowest I could ever get, so why did I bother to get my insides cut open? But I kept at it, and after losing almost nothing in my 3rd month, I lost 12 lbs in my 4th month. Just keep trucking on! As long as you don't use it as an excuse to ruin your diet, the weight loss will return!

Completely normal. It's a normal, necessary part of the process. Every one of us has gone through it around that time. It even has a name: "The Dreaded 3 Week Stall". Hang in there, work your program, and it will pass! It won't be you're last, either Here comes the science: A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet. However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

So I'm 2 months out as of today, 3 weeks after surgery I have not lost pounds or inches. I've been working out everyday since 3 weeks after surgery and I'm just not understanding why I'm not losing anything. I've read about the 3 week stall, but this is ridiculous. I'm doing everything to lose but it's just not going anywhere and it's really starting to get to me. I'm thinking about doing Clear liquids for a week to try to jump start it back up (hopefully).

Reposting something I posted elsewhere: First, the most common reason for any stall, including the dreaded 3-week stall is simply that you are retaining more Water. There are a few reasons this happens, but around the 3-week mark it comes down to the fact that your body is adjusting to a low carb intake after converting from glycogen to ketones for energy. More water is needed to burn glycogen, so you were retaining more water pre-surgery than you are now that you're using primarily ketones for energy. At about the 3-week mark, your body eventually recognizes that the water loss is long term, so other mechanisms have started kicking in to start holding on to more water. This water loss due to the change between glycogen and ketones is the primary reason for "keto flu", and something that increases your risk of dehydration early after surgery. The other "reasons" for plateaus really don't apply as much at the 3 week mark, but will become more important later in the process. Let's cover those too though so you're prepared: As you lose more weight, your overall metabolic rate will slow down. People sometimes think fat is not metabolically active, but that's not true. Less fat means your metabolism slows down, even if you retain the same amount of muscle. As you lose weight, it takes less effort to move, so the amount of calories you burn from activity also drops quite a bit. As you progress, you'll be able to eat more and especially if you're not tracking intake closely by weighing and measuring your food, you can easily be eating a lot more than you think. This one may be TMI for some, but you may simply be retaining more stool. This is going to be hard for some people to hear, but I can tell you one thing it's not, and that's hormones. Yes, various hormonal processes negatively impact weight loss in a myriad of ways, but they don't overcome basic physics: if you eat less than you are burning, you'll lose weight. What these hormones can do if they're out of whack, is not good things like slowing your metabolism, increasing your hunger, screwing with water weight, or even fooling you into thinking you're eating less than you are. So, with all that sciency stuff out of the way, what do we actually do if we're in a stall? Well, I think it depends on when it happens and how long it lasts: If it's early (a.k.a. the 3-week stall), just keep doing what you're doing and you should be fine. I know people don't like that advice, but as I said, it's just water, so don't worry about it. Later on, especially if the stall is lasting longer than 2-3 weeks. that's when I think it's important that you look closely at what you are actually burning, as well as really tracking what you are eating. If you don't know your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), you should. The closer you are to goal, the harder it is to get the balance right between intake and output to make sure you're not eating too much, so fixing this starts with knowing your BMR and accurate food logging. There's a lot of anecdotal advice thrown around about "ways to break a stall", but there seems to be little scientific evidence for any of it. Most of it certainly won't hurt to try, e.g. breaking up your routine in terms of diet or exercise, but just understand that this change may or may not have had any impact. If it makes you feel better to be proactive, go for it. Longer term, there is one piece of solid advice that's backed up by lots of research: Even if you don't really like working out, do it anyway. Those WLS patients that make a regular habit of exercising for 45 minutes to an hour most days a week are significantly more likely to reach their goal and maintain the weight loss. (One caveat here: significantly changing your exercise routine can make you retain water and possibly even add muscle, so don't freak out if you see a stall or even a gain.) I'll take that exercise advice one step further and say you really should be doing some form of strength training. This is also backed up by lots of studies, but the great thing about strength training is that it makes your burn more calories even at rest (in other words, it increases your metabolic rate). There are lots of other benefits, but the metabolic benefit is the most germaine to the stall question. Those that do strength training are less likely to stall during weight loss.

Try to relax. We've almost all been through this. Do a search on this site for "3 week stall". You will see about a billion answers.