Stalled out

[Darin'Sharon 19]

I am one month and one week post op from a vsg. The scale hasn't gone down in a week. In fact, its gone UP by 2 lbs!! I dont know what to do. My calories stay between 4 and 6 hundred, I get my Water and Protein probably 95% of the time. I've started walking. Any suggestions?? I know people talk about the 3 week stall....but this is very discouraging!

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[Matt Z 4,140]

4 minutes ago, Darin'Sharon said:

I am one month and one week post op from a vsg. The scale hasn't gone down in a week. In fact, its gone UP by 2 lbs!! I dont know what to do. My calories stay between 4 and 6 hundred, I get my Water and Protein probably 95% of the time. I've started walking. Any suggestions?? I know people talk about the 3 week stall....but this is very discouraging!

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Suggestions... Stop worrying! Stalls happen when your body needs to re-calibrate itself. If you know you are on your mark for calorie and Water, and you are getting your exercise, then everything else doesn't really matter. You could be losing body fat and not see it on the scale (happened to me a few times so far, gained a pound or 2, but dropped body fat. Just keep on doing what you are and don't focus only one 1 measurement!

You got this!

[Darin'Sharon 19]

Thanks. I appreciate the encouragement. I read a post the other day of someone whose sleeve "failed" and she only lost like 30lbs and gained it all right back. Don't want all this to have been for naught! I wonder how long a "stall" can last before it is worth worrying about?

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[Creekimp13 5,840]

Eat more. 400-600 calories per day is probably signaling your body to take hormonal measures to prevent starvation.

http://www.coachcalorie.com/not-eating-enough-calories-to-lose-weight/

My program encourages us to eat 1000-1200 calories per day as soon as possible after surgery to avoid these setbacks. Also, because when we get the metabolic reset from surgery...we want to reset to a livable calorie level...not a starvation level. (I've eaten 1000-1200 calories per day since week three and will stay at this calorie level until maintenance)

I understand your fears of failure, but it's a good idea to think of the whole marathon...supporting and building your long term forever diet and your long term metabolism.....not just trying to sprint to your goal at any cost. Patience and consistency are your friends!

Best wishes and good luck!

Edited May 25, 2018 by Creekimp13

[TakingABreak 2,733]

49 minutes ago, Creekimp13 said:

Eat more.

http://www.coachcalorie.com/not-eating-enough-calories-to-lose-weight/

My program encourages us to eat 1000-1200 calories per day as soon as possible after surgery to avoid these setbacks. Also, because when we get the metabolic reset from surgery...we want to reset to a livable calorie level...not a starvation level. (I've eaten 1000-1200 calories per day since week three and will stay at this calorie level until maintenance).

I agree with Creek. Increase your calories to see if it makes a difference. I also eat around 1000-1200 per day and I have been steadily loosing, even my longest stall is 2 weeks. It's helpful for your typical diet to be at that range, because you can always lower it if you slow down or stall. I'd much rather be eating 1200 calories a day with great energy and stamina, then eating 700 and feeling like a slug.

[jess9395 5,450]

You’ve gotten two strategies—stay the course and increase your calories. The truth is both can work. We are all different so different things work for us.

For either of those to work you really need to assess where you are at. Are you tracking? What’s your macro (protein/fat/carb) ratio? How much Fiber are you getting? Sugar? Refined/processed foods versus Whole Foods? Fluids? All those matter in addition to calories. If you track all those try tweaking them and seeing where that gets you.

Another idea—shake up your exercise routine. Add some, change the cardio vs strength training.

For the record, I ate very low calorie and never had an issue with energy (trained for an ran my first half marathon at 8 months post op on about 500 calories a day). And my maintenance level is quite high so it didn’t wreck my metabolism. So for some of us it works just fine.

[Darin'Sharon 19]

You’ve gotten two strategies—stay the course and increase your calories. The truth is both can work. We are all different so different things work for us.

For either of those to work you really need to assess where you are at. Are you tracking? What’s your macro (protein/fat/carb) ratio? How much Fiber are you getting? Sugar? Refined/processed foods versus Whole Foods? Fluids? All those matter in addition to calories. If you track all those try tweaking them and seeing where that gets you.

Another idea—shake up your exercise routine. Add some, change the cardio vs strength training.

For the record, I ate very low calorie and never had an issue with energy (trained for an ran my first half marathon at 8 months post op on about 500 calories a day). And my maintenance level is quite high so it didn’t wreck my metabolism. So for some of us it works just fine.

I use the baritastic app and track everything...I asked about what my caloric goal should be at my first postoperative appointment and was told not to worry about calories at this point. To just make sure I get 64oz of Water, 60 to 80 of Protein and worry about the rest "later." I was never given a goal or limit for fat either. I use the patch for Vitamins and take a fiber supplement daily. I log everything I eat, good or bad. I did eat some baked lays, which I regretted later. But I still logged it. Yesterday, I had 642 calories with 54%protein, 10% carbs, and 35% fat.
Adding cardio at this point isnt possible for me due to RA. My goal is to lose weight and decrease the inflammation and stress on my joints, but not quite there yet.
I am 33 days post now and had lost 29.6 pounds as of day 26, but now am at 27 pounds lost.
Hopefully this is enough additional information...its all I got [emoji12]

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[jess9395 5,450]

Everyone’s goals are different, different surgeons have different plans! So it sounds like you are meeting YOUR goals.

So... you either stay the course or shake things up. You can try increasing your calories as was suggested. You can try tweaking your macros since you have that info. You can stay the course.

You will most likely start losing again no matter which of these things you do. Stalls and plateaus happen. Even small gains especially around that time of the month when you may retain Water. Did you have some high sodium days? You mention the chips. Salt will make you retain water.

[jess9395 5,450]

And a week stall is nothing. I wouldn’t worry for three weeks or so. Then talk to your doctor or nutritionist.

[Darin'Sharon 19]

Thank you! I'm going to try increasing calories, that's just a scary concept for me as I'm sure it is for all of us who have struggled with weight. Seems counterintuitive to the goal, but I understand the rationale so imma give it a go. Thank you all for the advice and support!

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[Frustr8 7,886]

Yeah, how often have they screamed Cut those calories! Ever notice its the same people that say If you would only concentrate you'd lose weight! Listen, I come from a long line of worriers and stewers, if thinking would make it so we would verge on anorexia instead of being obese. And their brother-in-laws "If you want it enough the weight will leave"
Bull Feathers!😞