Plateau - trying not to get discouraged

[20zmom 0]

I was banded 10/15/09 and have been VERY pleased with my weight loss. However, the scales have been at a standstill for 3 weeks now and I am beginning to feel a bit discouraged. I am down 36 lbs and am THRILLED to death with that, but I am ready for the scales to move again. I am monitoring my food intake and am exercising about 3 times a week. I have had 2 fills for a total of 5.5 in an 11 cc band. Anyone else stuck in "plateau world"? Anyone have any suggestions??

[dckaraja 0]

I am same way.I have been sitting on my weight for last month.I did loose quite abit 40lbs.Dr said it takes while for body to resize.I am due for my second fill this Friday.I have 14cc band.I had my firsr fill last month.Did not do much.I am hoping I get a big dose this week as well.Hang in there.This is long journey.Keep it healthy and not get discouraged.:wink:

[yngold2000 0]

Have you considered mixing up the types of exercises you are doing and the foods that you are eating? I find that sometimes "tricks" your system to get going again.

I just got my 3rd fill this morning for a total of 8.5. I love getting my fill becuase that means 4 days of liquids and mushies which transalates to more weight loss.:wink:

[dbeers 0]

I was banded on 3/4/09 and I lost weight almost every week until about a month ago. I knew over christmas I was eating junk and sweets so I was happy I did not gain. Then after the holiday I thought I would start losing again but I did'nt. So last week I started exercising twice as much and getting back on track with my eating habits and it worked - 2lbs this week. I had to keep telling myself, "you can do it, you can do it". I knew I was eating to much and making wrong food choices.

[Nonoma 0]

3wks isn't too bad...I'm going on 2 months of no weight loss! I'm glad I havent gained but I sure haven't lost. I look forward to my next fill and hoping to get on a schedule so that I can actually go to the gym to excercise and not do it at home. I see so many posts of people who haven't been able to lose with a full band...scares the crap out of me!

[btrieger 21]

You lose weight by burning more calories than you are taking in. There are equations and devices to figure out how many calories you are burning but if you keep caloric intake below 1,500 a day, you should lose weight.

If you aren't already doing so, log everything you eat either on paper or online. You may be surprised to see that you are eating more than you thought.

Also, drink plenty of Water. This is needed to flushes the waste from your system. If you slow down on the Water your body will start holding onto fluids.

If you're doing all of this and still stuck in the mud, you may need to shock you system as mentioned earlier.

[neesh 0]

@2020mom I had surgery around the same time you did I was banded 10/14/09 and I also have 5.5cc's in a 10cc band. I am stuck at the same weight that I lost right after surgery 22lbs.

20 20zmom zmom

[ElfiePoo 109]

A plateau can mean a couple of things but it basically comes down to calories taken in vs calories being expended. If you take in more than you're expending, you gain. If you expend more than you're taking in, then you'll lose.

Keep in mind that as you lose weight, it will take fewer calories to maintain that weight, so you'll have to reduce the calories you're eating...or expend more. For example, to maintain 260 pounds at my height, age and current activity level, I would have to eat about 2100 calories (roughly). To maintain a weight of 140 pounds, I could only eat about 1800 calories. Not much of a difference, but enough of one that it can stall any losses.

Also, depending on the type of exercises you're doing, you may be building muscle which is denser (and thus weighs more) than the the same volume of fat. If you look and feel like you're losing weight (clothes hanging more loosely, muscles looking more toned, etc.), that may be the problem (I'd like to have that problem though).

I posted a thread called "calculating your daily requirements" with a formula for calculating your daily food requirements...or you can go to the mayo Clinic site and put in your height, age, activity level and the weight you'd like to be and it will calculate how many calories it would take per day to maintain that weight.

.

[20zmom 0]

Thanks so much everyone. I appreacite both your advise and support. I read on another thread that adding Protein Drinks in the morning can help jump start the metabolism and get you off that plateau. I did that today and was less hungry, so that is something I'm gonna change. Whether it was a physiological or psychological response, I"m not sure, but I'll take it. :smile2: I also added weight training to my workout regime today. This is in addition to 40 mins of cardio via elliptical machine and vigorous walking. I also am doing Water aerobics as well.

Speaking of journaling your food consumption, I have found a great sight for that. mydailypalte.com compiles your calories, breaks down your nutrients and you can log your physical activity and calories burned as well. Something else I did to help me feel better about my progress is taking my measurements. I am down 25.5 inches since surgery. WOO HOO!!!!!

It's smarter food choices, with Protein drinks every morning, for this girl. as well as more rigorous workouts. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!!:confused:

[ukcatsfan 0]

Getting the necessary Protein in your day is critical and doing the right amount of exercise. Plateau's are apart of your journey. You will experience them and then one day you'll get on the scale and be like....I did it, I got through it and your back to losing. If you have been losing without a good bit of exercise, then you just need to increase your activity. If your over eating then do a food diary and find out why your not losing.

My first plateau it took me 2 weeks to move through it. I was doing everyone correctly, the weight just wasn't coming off. Then one morning I lost 4 pounds in a single day. My second plateau took me 3 months to work through, and that was really frustrating. Nothing like getting a fill, eating less and not losing...... But it passes and you move on. Just remember every pound you lose, it a pound that you won't gain again. Hang in there, it will get better. STICK TO THE REGIMENT>>>>

[jms462001 9]

The only plateau I had during my weight loss happened when I was not consuming enough calories. I upped my daily intake and my weight loss immediately started again. This was suggested by my nutritionist at the time and he was right!