Plateau - ThinnerTimes

Dara · 06-11-2004, 03:10 PM

Hey, groupies, I need your input. I have a feeling that I'm at a plateau, but I just didn't think I would be there this early in the journey. I lost about 25 pounds really quickly after surgery, like everyone else does. At five weeks, when I was given the okay to eat "real" meats, i.e., chicken, beef, turkey, my weight loss slowed to about 3 lbs. a week. In fact, it seems as though my whole digestive tract has slowed.

I have been at 217 on the scale for about 9 or 10 days now and it's driving me nuts!

Have any of you been in a similar situation? I guess I just need to hear someone tell me that they've been there and that one day soon, the scale will drop!

Any information you can provide would be appreciated.

lealphachienne · 06-11-2004, 03:40 PM

3 lbs/week is still better than the 1-2lbs/week that's generally recommended. You will have plateaus for a week or so and then suddenly it drops again. Your body needs time to adjust to anything new before continuing with the weight loss. Remember to keep exercising and drinking plenty of fluids. My husband hit his first plateau during the 3rd week where he actually gained 2 lbs. He was plateaued for 2 weeks and then suddenly lost 10 lbs the following week.

Marie
lap 5/28/04
235/217/120

tracyarps · 06-11-2004, 03:41 PM

Hi Dara! I went through the SAME thing. Dale says a plateau has to last about 4 weeks before it is actually a plateau. I stayed at 200 for about 2 1/2 weeks and then started loosing again. Two things happened with my body. I began exercising and my body stopped loosing to "catch up" to itself. You will loose again I promise. I completly understand because I freaked out too. I am now at 180. I started my journey on January 30 at 240 lbs.

Hope this helps.

Tracy

Mary W · 06-11-2004, 03:53 PM

Our weight loss is never steady, you will lose in stops and starts. All of us go through periods of adjustment as our bodies catch up. If you are going to weigh daily don't obsese about it, realize that it will come off. Just keep following the program and the weight will come off.

I kept a weekly weight grid on an excel spreadsheet. It shows how the weight would drop then even out then drop again. If anyone wants to see it I will email a copy to you, you can even adapt it for yourself.

Dara · 06-11-2004, 04:03 PM

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words. I feel a lot better now. It's very comforting to know that you have been in similar situations. I'm still motivated to keep with my program and I'll just pray that it won't be much longer before I lose again.

Lorrain · 06-11-2004, 05:36 PM

Dear Dara Thanks for bringing up this topic you are telling my story to a tee It really encouraged me to read the responses to you r post. I was also very discouraged. Good thing I can't eat to feel better otherwise I may have broken down and had a good meal, I find it amazing how so few calories in and no change on the scale. Thanks everyone for the encouragment. Lorrain

tamara · 06-11-2004, 08:57 PM

Dara,
I think you are right one track! I started at 251(just realized that today at my 6week check-up..it was my pre-op visit weight) and anyway, today I weighed 218 so I am even with you! I feel good about my loss and I do not weigh daily. I had not weighed since I was in his office last. I knew it would be unhealthy to me psychologically to be weighing everyday.....plays with my head, then I get down.....a viscious cycle!!

SO don't worry about it, you will keep losing!! Be strong!!

brutherford · 06-12-2004, 08:09 AM

I've just FINALLY broke through my mini-plateau! I've hovered at 280 for almost 3 weeks, and it was starting to bring me down. So, this week, I decided to mix things up a bit:

Drinking 36 oz MORE water each day
Changing exercise from predominantly weight training to cardio
Adding another 30-60 minutes of exerices 3-4 days a week
Eating more fruit
Eliminating cheese

I've noticed a problem with my digestive tract slowing too, so that's why I got rid of the cheese and started eating more fruit. That alone may account for the 3 lbs I lost this week

Another suggestion is to take your measurements weekly. Even when I was plateaud, I'd see an inch or half an inch come off here or there, and it helped me to realize that all was not lost.

Now, at 6 weeks, I've lost 40 lbs and 34.5 inches. It's all pretty amazing!