Are stalls real or do we just make excuses ?

[lisacaron 5,075]

The law of physics is part of the equation but it is not the complete answer. The logic behind calories in vs calories out is sound, however there are many variables within each individual that tip the balance in favor of weight gain and/or weight loss.

food sensitivity, and/or intolerance is a big one, the way your metabolism works and/or doesn't work. If you have any endocrinology issues such as Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, thyroid issues etc. These can often be helped by weight loss and sometimes they are NOT helped by weight loss and/or diet alone.

Taking all this into account stalls if we are being honest with ourselves can be very real. When I say being honest with ourselves I mean, are we really eating according to plan. Are we steering clear of the foods that hinder us in our journey to weight loss? Are we really maximizing our calories in vs. calories out by getting the proper and balanced exercise and nutrition?

A few years ago I took a test to check my metabolic rate. According to this Dr.'s test I should be able to consume in excess of 1500 calories and still be losing weight since my resting metabolism registered at rest as burning up to 2500 calories. REALLY?

Well no..not really. On further examination, I have endocrinology issues with my hormone regulation mostly with my adrenaline. Often for reasons unknown to me and the Dr.'s as well...my resting heart rate can be well over 110 beats per minute as if I was running a race and I could just be sitting in chair or relaxing. I have an electrical heart arrhythmia that is also involved in this whole wacky scenario, all of this pre-WLS.

My father also suffers from something similar, he has had quadruple by pass, lazer surgery to the heart valve replacement, curated artery dissection and a defibrillator implanted.

These are just a few of the reasons why I try to keep myself healthy, lose the extra weight and exercise and eat right.

There are just some things that fall outside the boilerplate logic, but we have to be honest with ourselves to be successful because no one else knows us and what we need better.

[RedSalamander 148]

One of my closest friends is a physicist. A PhD-holding, Oxford fellowship-winning physicist. When he has questions about health, do you think he consults other physicists? Or just knows the answer? Or do you think he asks someone who has knowledge of and research in health and medical topics? (HINT: It's the latter.)

Physics is not biology is not physics. Using the "BUT PHYSICS SAYS..." argument doesn't change the fact that living organisms are infinitely more complicated than a simple "If x, then y..." explanation. (Or that you probably are NOT a physicist and therefore probably don't have a very indepth understanding of physics in the first place, no offense.)

Are stalls real? Sometimes. That's how human beings lose weight. In fits and starts, some falls off and then we hold onto some, and then we lose some again, and we lose inches while not losing pounds, and we lose weight when we feel like we should have gained.

Are we fooling ourselves? Sometimes. We get lax about tracking, we conveniently overlook the fact that we had a couple handfuls of nuts or a few tastes here and there or didn't work out for a few days because it was pouring out.

But grade-school physics doesn't really come into play.

[AnA92212 577]

I believe stalls are real. I am about 5 weeks post op and haven't lost anything in almost 2 weeks. I work out 6 days a week: zumba, body pump, aquacize, and jogging. I am also active on weekends. I eat 400 to 500 calories a day mostly Protein (fish, shrimp, Protein shakes). I burn more calories a day than I eat. It's just crazy.

[Chrystee 838]

I believe stalls are real. I am about 5 weeks post op and haven't lost anything in almost 2 weeks. I work out 6 days a week: zumba, body pump, aquacize, and jogging. I am also active on weekends. I eat 400 to 500 calories a day mostly Protein (fish, shrimp, Protein shakes). I burn more calories a day than I eat. It's just crazy.

At this point, my NUT told me to increase to at least 800-1000 a day.. once I did, I started losing again.

[Bob2013 326]

I am 18 months out and have been at my target for about 8 months with over 115lbs lost since surgery and 150 since my highest weight. With that said, Yes, stalls are real but the body will catch up. I had a couple weeks here and there where I lost nothing and even a time where I gained a few pounds. But after a week poof, 5+ lbs disappear. And in the end I got to my goal.

Just be honest with yourself, and make sure the stall wasnt your own doing. If it was, get back on track and move on.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Bob2013

[Chrystee 838]

I am 18 months out and have been at my target for about 8 months with over 115lbs lost since surgery and 150 since my highest weight. With that said, Yes, stalls are real but the body will catch up. I had a couple weeks here and there where I lost nothing and even a time where I gained a few pounds. But after a week poof, 5+ lbs disappear. And in the end I got to my goal.

Just be honest with yourself, and make sure the stall wasnt your own doing. If it was, get back on track and move on.

That's a great point.. I had weeks I've lost nothing, but my pants are much looser..

[ladycook9713 442]

Physics also says I can't lift a car, but there are reports of people lifting cars off people. Our bodies don't always make sense.

I had a stall for 2.5 weeks at the beginning. I didn't do anything different and I was following all the rules. One day I started dropping weight again (still no changes) and suddenly I was down 10lbs in a week.

[AussieSam 234]

Physics also says I can't lift a car, but there are reports of people lifting cars off people. Our bodies don't always make sense.

I had a stall for 2.5 weeks at the beginning. I didn't do anything different and I was following all the rules. One day I started dropping weight again (still no changes) and suddenly I was down 10lbs in a week.

Seems like salt retention when your body released its excess Water you dropped lots.

[Chrystee 838]

@@ladycook9713

Same thing.. I lose 9 pounds last week.. and it wasn't salt retention..

[*Lexie* 1,486]

I think the 3 week stall is real and there is a scientific explanation for it out there somewhere. I was doing everything right and didn't lose for 3 weeks. However, any other stall or plateau (pre or post op) have been related to my actions. If I do things right, I lose weight. And I can only speak for myself here.

[ladycook9713 442]

Physics also says I can't lift a car, but there are reports of people lifting cars off people. Our bodies don't always make sense.

I had a stall for 2.5 weeks at the beginning. I didn't do anything different and I was following all the rules. One day I started dropping weight again (still no changes) and suddenly I was down 10lbs in a week.

Seems like salt retention when your body released its excess Water you dropped lots.

No changes and it was salt retention? No, that doesn't make sense at all.

[AussieSam 234]

I should have said Water retention. To lose 10 lbs in a week you need to burn 35000 calories.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

It's frustrating. I work so hard at this and stay with my exercise program and eat clean. I do think I have found a pattern, though. It seems like on days after strength training days, the scales go up. Then on off days it goes down. I did a strength training day yesterday and weighed two punds heavier this morning. I had 1200 calories, not 8,200. Do ya'll think that the muscles hold Water to repair? My plan advises to weigh everyday, so I do, but it is definitely a crazy-maker trying to get some sense out of it all.

[lexiemustang 268]

The 3 week stall is real. As it has already been stated on this thread, weight loss is not an exact science and does not always follow the laws of physics. *drops Mic*

[catfish87 3,471]

I have lapband, so this may not apply to any other types of WLS that provide malabsorption (RNY, etc), but this is my experience.

A couple years back I did 6 months where I tracked everything...with a food scale for intake, and with a Heart rate monitor for exercise calories. Just wanted to do a little self experiment and prove to myself what I had always heard. Calculated my BMR into the equation and crunched all the numbers. While it was tedious and something I would never want to HAVE to do long term, it proved a couple things to me.

1. 3500 calories was exactly one pound for me, over the 6 months.

2. Eating more calories to lose weight NEVER, EVER, EVER works, for me.

3. When I track everything....the numbers don't lie.

There were days or even a week or two here and there, where the calorie deficit didn't exactly match the scale. But over the long term, it all adds up.