Why we have "Evil" Stalls

[stoongal 10]

Found this in OH forum, hope they don't mind me sharing it here, but it is such a great explanation for why we all go through the inevitable stalls! I take great comfort in knowing this information, so that I don't blame stalls on what I am eating or not doing etc.

This explanation is courtesy of Diana Cox.

A "stall" at this point is inevitable, and here is 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 you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you 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.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And 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 you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

[renebeau 0]

I saw this over there, too. I felt the same way - aha! I get it! Thanks for putting it on here, Stoongal!

[DALITEDESIGNS 1]

thats amazing really explains whats happening

thanks

[i1Linda 15]

Wow! Makes perfect sense. I won't kick my scale across the bathroom anymore. Well maybe.....

[tibbs68 0]

Really interesting. Always knew about diet stalls but now understand the chemistry behind it.

My current stall 2 weeks post op now seems perfectly natural and nothing to get depressed about.

[twobluecats 1]

I just entered week three, so I feel like I'm floating down the river of doom waiting for the scale to stall and laugh at me. I lost 16 pounds during my two-week preop diet, so I'm interested to see what happens next. So far, just over 12 pounds down since surgery 13 days ago. But, I started mushies yesterday, so who knows.

Interesting info, though and food for thought while we wait out stalls!

[Tracy46545 6]

very good info to share Stoongal..glad you did! Knowledge is power and you've probably just saves some people some panicky moments.

[cajun 46]

Thanks Stoongal...verrrryyy interesting. makes good sense.

[attitudefree 2]

I get it now!! Thanks