Answer: Chang Tang, Tepuis, Altiplano, and our last two weeks - ThinnerTimes

Squishy · 07-28-2007, 01:49 PM

Question: Name four massive plateaus

Well, maybe I should be posting this in the emotional support thread, but I always like the general discussion thread.

Both Mrs Squishy and I have been on another plateau for the past two weeks. Absolutely no weight loss. I will say my clothes seem to be getting looser, though, and people are starting to comment that they see a change.

I am trying to convince myself that we are adding muscle while losing fat, but after two-weeks it's getting harder to be convincing. (I know I whined about this once before, so forgive me for whining a little again.)

On past diets, when this happened, I eventually made some bad choices. Either I got frustrated and gave up (hello Dairy Queen) or went on diets that were too extreme. I know that neither of these are a good idea. I just have to find a way to cope with the plateaus now post-op.

I'm sure all of the post-ops here have been through plateaus. Anyone have any suggestions for either ending the plateau or to help ride them out until they pass on their own?

Thanks!
-Mike-

Alleusion · 07-28-2007, 02:03 PM

Alter your calories, either add more or drop some. Or adjust your exercise routine to burn a little more or a little less calories. Your body has gotten used to what you've been doing, now it's time to shake it up.

shereeks · 07-28-2007, 02:05 PM

Hey Mike

Honestly I hear your frustration - I'm sure just about everyone on here has been through it at one stage or another. Just have faith that this fantastic tool does work - NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO! You body will be just trying to hang on to every bit of weight it can for dear life!

Just carry on getting plenty of protein and water in and you will do great - I guarantee it.

You'll be coming back to this post in 6 months time after losing 100lbs and be laughing out loud.

Such a wonderful caring man can't go wrong I'm sure.

DAISY · 07-28-2007, 02:10 PM

The plateaus were frusturating for me as well. I would go weeks without any weight loss and then drop 5 in a week. Then it would happen again and again. I thought I was doing something wrong but figured that my body was just getting use to all the changes. Major surgery, lack of food I was eating after surgery than before surgery. I just figured I had to give my body a break no matter how frusturated I was and how fast I wanted the weight to fall. I still to this day get the plateaus. Two weeks no weight loss then next week 5 or more down. I lost a lot of inches during those plateaus as well. I think once your body gets use to your new system it will start running more smoothly. I was getting really frusturated and then I thought to myself I have lost 113 pounds in 8 months that is pretty dam good and couldn't do that before the surgery. I think the plateaus are to help your body heal and get use to all the changes and it is a good thing. Helps your body become stronger before your body loses more weight. That is my personal opinion about plateaus, it is just holding on for a little while until the body gets strong enough to lose more weight. You are doing awesome and the plateaus are frusturating but before you know it eight months will have passed and you will be realizing that you haven't done all that bad with all the plateaus.

OsoDelDesierto · 07-28-2007, 04:37 PM

Mike, are your measurements changing? Are you and Mrs. Squishy measuring your necks, chests, waists, etc. to compare from week to week? You may want to start, if you're not doing so already, so that you can track that aspect of your progress.

In my WLS support group, a plateau is generally defined as four weeks without any loss of pounds or inches - it sounds like you and Mrs. Squishy are visibly still losing inches (and your slowdown has been for two weeks, not four), so you may not be on an actual plateau, even though it's very frustrating right now. I'm sorry to hear that you both have hit a slow spot at the same time, but am still impressed and inspired by both you and Mrs. S., and know that you both will resume your rapid weight loss soon!

LisaBoston · 07-28-2007, 06:56 PM

Only way I could get off a plateau was to change things up a little. That could mean change is foods that I ate, intake -usually had to increase for 2-3 days then drop it back again or change exercise. I found the best one was to change the foods I was eating. Even if that meant to eat breakfast foods for supper, or totally change lunch items. It was challenging as the variety of food you can eat is somewhat limited.

Crazy, but I went on a week cruise at 7 months out and lost weight! Can you imagine???

Many people here talk of increasing calories by about 200-300 a day for 3 days and then dropping it back down. It worked for me too!

One other thought is liquids. Ensure that you are getting all the liquids you are supposed to...if not, get it up to the required amount. Protein does not do well in our body without having adequate hydration!

I talked to my dietician about this many a time and she said that you body is actually still loosing weight during this time IF you are still following the eating guidelines. That your body goes through this stage (plateau) where it holds onto fluids as it adjusts to loosing fat. In a few weeks, you will notice a significant drop (peeing alot too!) and this is the body releasing that extra fluid that it was holding on to. I kept a close eye on this, and its exactly how it happened to me. My stalls/plateaus were around 2.5-3 weeks each - thus when I look at my weight loss PER MONTH rather than per week, it was always 10+ pounds each month (with the exception of 1 month where it was 8 pounds) other than that, clear sailing till I hit goal.

sdgrrl · 07-28-2007, 09:25 PM

Everyone has given great advice, the only thing I can add is to up the protein. When I was plateauing, if I ate even just a little more protein it seemed to "wake up" my system.

I think the fact that you and your bride are going through this at the same time tells me that you are both doing the right things, so not to worry!

Squishy · 07-29-2007, 05:04 PM

Thanks everyone!!!

I know things will get going again. I appreciate the suggestions about changing up diet and exercise. I do tend to eat the same things over and over. Jane corrected me that her plateau has been 4 weeks now, but it appears a pound left her sometime during last night.

Yea Jane!

Thanks again!!!
-Mike-

Squishy · 07-30-2007, 05:19 AM

Hey... 303 this morning! That's 2.5 lower! Maybe whining burns calories. HA HA!

I am only 4 pounds away from breaking the 300 mark. That will be a big day.

Tim · 07-30-2007, 07:14 AM

Well done Squishy, you will get there.