Depressing

[junkseekerz 0]

Tomorrow will make 4 weeks since I began my 2 week liquid pre op, surgery was Dec 19th. I lost 14 pounds before surgery and have only lost 5 pounds since the 19th for a total of 19 pounds. I have been up and moving since day one and making sure I get at least 60 grams of Protein in Protein Shakes and 48 oz of Water. I worried that this surgery wouldn't work for me and beginning to think its true.

[gamergirl 4,610]

you are in the classic, predictable 3 week stall. If you search for that phrase on this site, you will see that you are completely normal, the surgery is working for you exactly as it does for everyone...and that 2014 may well be the year where you completely transform your outside appearance

Don't be depressed, you are right on track.

[southernsoul 773]

I totally agree with GG. In the first 2-4 weeks postop, the body is still recovering from the trauma of surgery & is in healing mode. The 3 week "pause" (I don't like the word stall) is very, very normal & nothing to worry about.

[Comfy_Blue 285]

I agree 100% with gamer girl. Also, I've read other posts on here from people further out than you and I that it takes our bodies some time to regulate and really start shedding the pounds because of the trauma of surgery.

One poster mentioned he didn't really start to lose much weight until he hit solid foods. By then he was a month and a half out and his stomach had had time to heal.

Plus our bodies are super confused right now and probably holding on to the excess fat/weight because they're like, "Wait, I was eating 3,000+ calories a day, with tons of salt, sugar and caffeine. Now you're giving me 300 - 500 calories a day of mainly Protein, and little to no sugar, salt, or caffeine! OMG, you must be dying! There's a famine! No worries, I'll hang on to our fat stores to keep you safe and alive until you can get back to our old, comfortable diet." (Not a doctor, this is just my theory)

Once your body "realizes" that you're not dying, then it has to adjust and start shedding those pounds.

Also, one consolation to a slow weight loss is that you're less likely to get as many stretch marks and loose skin as our fast loser counterparts. My ex-boyfriend was extremely chubby when he joined the military, but went through several weeks of basic where he was eating a very low calorie diet and exercising like crazy.

He lost A LOT of weight and packed on muscle, but had stretch marks everywhere.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Comfy_Blue

[McButterpants 2,846]

I will tell you a little bit about my experience with the dreaded stall...I was stalled for 13 days between weeks 4 and 5. It sucked. I tell everyone I thought I was ready for the stall, I knew it was coming, but I was really not prepared for the emotional toll it would take.

As everyone states above - the stall will happen. It's how you deal with it that's important. You cannot let this derail you. Your body is a wondrous machine that is trying to figure things out. Your mind - the irrational mind - is saying, "I had this surgery and should lose a bunch of weight right now." They are in conflict, but your body knows best.

You cannot control what the scales says, but there are things you can control.
* Keep getting in the mins for Protein - this is so important so you don't lose lean muscle mass. (Lean muscle mass also helps you burn calories - important in weight loss) It's also important for hair loss that may come.
* Keep working toward your Water goal - Water helps flush fat thru. Your body needs water - you are in control over how much you give it.
* Walk. Walk as much as you can and stop when you get tired. This will help you keep your lean muscle mass and burn calories, again, important in weight loss.

* Put the scale away for a week or two; don't weigh every day, it's emotionally draining. My husband hides the scale and brings it out on Thursdays. This kept me sane during the stall.

You didn't gain the weight over night, you shouldn't expect to lose it faster than you put it on. Things will work out, you just need to be patient and do what you can to assist your body.

You got this! Best of luck.

[magtart 603]

I'm going into week three and have lost only 11 lbs. so far. I will just keep on doing what I'm doing and hope for the best!