Weight stall - Insight/Encouragement needed

[kelclrk 1]

I've been a long time lurker on this site, but it's my first time posting. I know everyone is going to say that everyone experiences a stall, but I'm frustrated and need to share my experience with a community of people who, hopefully, understand what I'm going through.

I'm 4.5 weeks post op VSG and haven't lost any weight in 12 days and I'm really struggling with that mentally. I've been tracking consistently and for the last two weeks I've been at 600-800 calories a day and have been getting at least 60+ gr of Protein a day. I'm struggling a bit with Water, but always get at least 40oz and I'd say I hit 60 oz 4/7 days/week.

My recovery has gone really well, I've tolerated every food I've tried and am doing well with recognizing my full point. I've been back at work (remotely) since 6 days post op. I really have had no issues with pain, gas or anything else since week 1. Mentally, I understand the weight will eventually start going down again, but I can't wrap my brain around the logic of why my weight wouldn't be going down with such a deficit. I have no medical conditions, it's not related to hormones or PMS or stress. I'm feeling a bit down and need a little encouragement and insight.

[GradyCat 3,695]

Your body is wondering what the hell you just did to it. It went through a major trauma of surgery and is healing. Now you're feeding it way less than it's used to getting. It happens. It really is okay, I promise you. You're doing everything right. I can't explain the science to you, I just know it's real. For instance, I have been eating 650-800 calories for the past 12 days. For the first 5 days I lost weight. For the next 3 days, I GAINED weight. How the hell do you gain weight on 800 calories/day? But I did and I figured it was my body adjusting, plus I was eating green olives, which are high in sodium. So now fast forward two more days and it's slowly coming down again. Weight fluctuations are normal. Take it easy on yourself and take care and trust the process. 😀

[Neller 114]

I understand completely! I’m 2 months out from VSG and have had two stalls that have each lasted about 10 days. It’s SO frustrating!! The weight will start dropping again. Just yesterday I started losing again. How are you doing with exercise? I find if I don’t walk, I slow down in weight loss. Hang in there. As frustrating and maddening as it is, it can’t last forever!

[Deb9386 110]

I find that the days when I drink more Fluid (usually 70 fl oz), I lose more weight the day after. Maybe try to up your fluid intake?

[catwoman7 11,214]

yep - it's the infamous three-week stall that you've probably read a lot about on here. It happens to almost everybody (it's not always the third week - although that's the most common time - but some people have it the second week and some the fifth week - it varies). Just stick to your plan and it'll eventually break. Mine lasted two weeks (stalls are usually 1-3 weeks long). Stay off the scale for a few days if you have to

[Betty1971 386]

Try measuring yourself!!! I measured myself during my stall and realized the inches I lost were incredible!!! Sometimes you notice the bulk and not the pounds!!!

[kelclrk 1]

Thanks everyone. I know the stalls are normal, sometimes they are just so mentally taxing! Its really nice to hear from people who understand. I've only shared my surgery with my husband and one friend, who don't quite "get it" though they care very much.

I hadn't thought to redo measurements, I'm sure that will help ease my mind a little. I definitely need to work on Water and getting some exercise, the weather is just so miserable where I am this time of year. Which, I know is an excuse I've always used and need to get over. In the words of my CEO "There is no bad weather if you are prepared appropriately". So here's to trying to get out and walk!

[Betty1971 386]

2 hours ago, kelclrk said:

Thanks everyone. I know the stalls are normal, sometimes they are just so mentally taxing! Its really nice to hear from people who understand. I've only shared my surgery with my husband and one friend, who don't quite "get it" though they care very much.

I hadn't thought to redo measurements, I'm sure that will help ease my mind a little. I definitely need to work on Water and getting some exercise, the weather is just so miserable where I am this time of year. Which, I know is an excuse I've always used and need to get over. In the words of my CEO "There is no bad weather if you are prepared appropriately". So here's to trying to get out and walk!

I am from ND so I understand the weather thing. I am actually traveling to Wisconsin this weekend to sit on the ice and watch snowmobile races!!

Dress warm and you can find fun where ever you go!!!

[AZhiker 2,252]

I think it has to do with metabolism issues. All of a sudden your body has gone from a comfortable and cozy 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 10,000? calorie pleasure ride to crashing down to 400-600 calories. The body just says, "Hey, this is for the birds! I am literally starving to death. I better hang on to every last pound I've got!" But eventually, it has to give in to the deficit and the weight comes off. This is just my own fabrication of the process, but in the end, the caloric deficit will result in weight loss. Plus, the surgery resets a lot of hormonal loops that decrease appetite, increase sensations of fulness, etc. This is a HUGE adjustment and it just takes some time to get past it. When you see really rapid gains (like 2 pounds in a day) that is Water weight. It could be from salt in the diet, increased carbs, hormones, or any number of things, but it's not fat. Likewise when you lose several pounds in a day, that is also water weight. You may weigh daily, but track on your charts weekly, on the same day at the same time. That will be more accurate than the daily fluctuations. Hang in there. If you have not lost weight in almost 2 weeks, then you are nearly at the end of the stall! It's just around the corner!

[kelclrk 1]

14 hours ago, Betty1971 said:

I am from ND so I understand the weather thing. I am actually traveling to Wisconsin this weekend to sit on the ice and watch snowmobile races!!

Dress warm and you can find fun where ever you go!!!

Nice! That sounds like fun. My husband had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands within the last 6 weeks, so no snowmobiling for us for a while, but hopefully come February! I'm pretty new to it and don't want to go out alone and risk getting lost in a corn field haha.

[Blue.ring.key 30]

On 1/5/2021 at 8:02 PM, kelclrk said:

I've been a long time lurker on this site, but it's my first time posting. I know everyone is going to say that everyone experiences a stall, but I'm frustrated and need to share my experience with a community of people who, hopefully, understand what I'm going through.

I'm 4.5 weeks post op VSG and haven't lost any weight in 12 days and I'm really struggling with that mentally. I've been tracking consistently and for the last two weeks I've been at 600-800 calories a day and have been getting at least 60+ gr of Protein a day. I'm struggling a bit with Water, but always get at least 40oz and I'd say I hit 60 oz 4/7 days/week.

My recovery has gone really well, I've tolerated every food I've tried and am doing well with recognizing my full point. I've been back at work (remotely) since 6 days post op. I really have had no issues with pain, gas or anything else since week 1. Mentally, I understand the weight will eventually start going down again, but I can't wrap my brain around the logic of why my weight wouldn't be going down with such a deficit. I have no medical conditions, it's not related to hormones or PMS or stress. I'm feeling a bit down and need a little encouragement and insight.

So I am sadly in the same boat as you now...

SW-130kg CW - 115.6KG - 1 month and 10 days post-op, struggling as I've reached the mysterious halt in weight loss everyone goes through haven't seen a change on the scale for a week or so. MOTIVATION NEEDED - the first month was SOOO good. Scared I won't lose so much in the 2nd month

reading through the posts did help but - just want to be sure I WILL OVERCOME THIS RIGHT? *Freaking out a little*

[catwoman7 11,214]

16 minutes ago, yumna.zafar said:

So I am sadly in the same boat as you now...

SW-130kg CW - 115.6KG - 1 month and 10 days post-op, struggling as I've reached the mysterious halt in weight loss everyone goes through haven't seen a change on the scale for a week or so. MOTIVATION NEEDED - the first month was SOOO good. Scared I won't lose so much in the 2nd month

reading through the posts did help but - just want to be sure I WILL OVERCOME THIS RIGHT? *Freaking out a little*

as long as you stick to your eating plan, the stall WILL break. I'd lost about 10 lbs when I hit my first stall, which lasted for two weeks. I went on to lose over 200 lbs.

[MSStoney 10]

I found actually upping my calories for a couple days helped to shorten the stall. My body seemed to quit fighting me when I varied my calories. I also double downed on keeping my food journal to make sure no calories were creeping in.

Hang in there!!!! and drink more Water

[Betty1971 386]

I know this sounds odd but if you measured yourself before measure yourself now or during a stall ! When I went through my stall I was bummed out, then I measured myself and realized I had lost 19 inches. Sometimes you may not drop pounds but you may be losing inches when you are not losing pounds!! Try it, you may be surprised

[Blue.ring.key 30]

16 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

as long as you stick to your eating plan, the stall WILL break. I'd lost about 10 lbs when I hit my first stall, which lasted for two weeks. I went on to lose over 200 lbs.

Wow! that's amazing! hopefully it'll break soon for me too! yeah I'm following my eating plan but unfortunately, past two days haven't been able to keep down my lunch. dinner and Breakfast is fine but strangely lunch although something I've eaten before. just won't stay down!