VENT Plateau Buster? Or...

I have only lost 1.5lbs in 3 weeks. I am doing everything I should be doing (ok, so you got me on the fluids but I have always had trouble with hydration since surgery!). I am OVER it! Unfortunately, there really isn't an emoticon to properly express my sheer displeasure at the moment. How about ... What to do about this? I'm wondering if I should drink all protein shakes for a week. Or maybe cut out all carbs or limit carbs to 20gms or less (I usually range around 50gms a day). That will put me at induction level (if anyone has ever done Atkins). I have already increased my activity and exercise tremendously. Part of me wants to "punish" my body somehow, but I realize that is old behavior that should be changed. I mean, shouldn't this surgery basically take care of the weight loss (assuming I am doing my part in everything, protein/vites/calories/water/exercise)?? I shouldn't have to severely cut calories, right? Tell me what you think. If the scale doesn't move this week (or my clothes don't fit differently) I think I'm going to go POSTAL! This is my body. This is what I have fought for as long as I can remember. I initially lose weight, and then weight loss stops and I start gaining (in spite of holding steadfast, not cheating, etc). Blah I dunno. Just looking for opinions/support/ideas... TIA, Chele

Chele, I must be using the other paddle in your boat.....I think I have lost like 1 pound in the last 2 weeks or so. I had my "friend" and am still trying to kick her out of my system, but I too am doing what I should and the darn scale wont seem to move for me either!! So any suggestions that anyone has would help me too. I was even considering going to all protein shakes and seeing what that had to offer. I am getting all my fluids in also and have upped my exercise. My protein has been really good, or so I thought, I have been getting in about 60-70 grams a day....do I need more? Maybe we can break this stall together!!! I feel the same way about abusing this body of mine, and I know that this comes from all the failed attempts I had precious to this surgery. How frustrating!!! Well hopefully this will end soon for us both, keep your chin us girl, I am right here with you!!! Take care, Steph

I just have to forward what Kristi replied to me on her post...she drinks 80oz of water a day. Check this out: Drink to Your Health . . . With Water! Mother Nature's Healthy "****tail" Some nutritionists insist that 80% of the country is walking around dehydrated. We drink too much coffee, tea, and sodas containing caffeine, which prompts the body to lose water. More troubling is that fact that when we are dehydrated, we don't know what to drink. The answer is simple: drink water! Water is pure liquid refreshment and accounts for a large percentage of what makes each of us "human." The average 150 lb. adult body contains 40 to 50 quarts of water. Almost 2/3rds of our body weight is "water weight": Blood is 83% water Muscles are 75% water The brain is 74% water Bone is 22% water The Fountain of Youth, Health, and Everything Else that's Good Water is necessary for your body to digest and absorb vitamins and nutrients. It also detoxifies the liver and kidneys, and carries away waste from the body. And when it comes to digestion . . . it's just not happening withou****er. Fiber alone cannot aid proper digestive function by itself. In fact, withou****er as its partner, good fiber goes bad, causing constipation and extreme discomfort. If you're dehydrated, your blood is literally thicker, and your body has to work much harder to cause it to circulate. As a result, the brain becomes less active, it's hard to concentrate, your body feels fatigued, and you just "poop out." Water - The Miracle Worker Simple water -- when it's pure and free of contaminants -- is truly a "wonder drug." Without chemicals, additives, or anything unnatural, a steady dose of 8 glasses of water a day (ideally ½ your body weight in ounces of water) will: Improve Your Energy Increase Your Mental and Physical Performance Remove Toxins & Waste Products from your body Keep Skin Healthy and Glowing Help You Lose Weight Reduce Headaches and Dizziness Allow for proper Digestion Help to keep you more Alkaline Drinking Water and Weight Loss Water is a natural appetite suppressant, so developing a good water drinking habit can be a long-term aid in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Doctor F. Batmanghelidj MD, author of "Your Body's Many Cries For Water" says most times your "hunger" is your body asking for water - not food. It's also important to remember that when the body is dehydrated, fat cells get "rubbery" and cannot be easily metabolized. This means that it's harder to lose when you don't drink your water. DON'T THINK I AM POINTING MY FINGER AT YOU...I NEED TO UP MY WATER INTAKE TOO. YESTERDAY I ONLY DRANK ABOUT 30OZ. MAYBE I'LL START A POST "DID YOU HYDRATE TODAY?" Dawn

FYI: Kristi didn't tell me all that stuff I posted. I got that from http://www.betterwayhealth.com/drinking-water.asp. I figured I should have something to back up my thought process. It also helps to read something that clarifies why something is necessary. Until I read this I didn't really know why we needed all tha****er. Dawn

Dawn, I think you should start that post, "Did you hydrate today". Getting in all the fluids is hard but if we had a post to keep us accountable it might help push me more also. Last night I only got in 76 oz. I think you posted something a few weeks back about needing to drink half you body weight...example....weight 250, so drink 125 oz water. Thats what I have been trying to do most days. drink up ladies, kristi

Nuf said!! I'll start it tonight with our "What did you eat today" post. Dawn

I can never ever see being able to drink 125 oz of water. Chele

I am insulin resistant thanks to having PCOS, yes. Prior to WLS I was on Metformin to help with that. I really hate to think of going back on that....but it's a question I should ask my surgeon, when I see him again, I guess. Chele

Hi Chele, I am sorry you are in this funk! I know when I have a stall it really sucks. Are you eating enough calories? i.e Does your body think that it is starving? My nut advised that the min caloric intake should be 700-800 during the first 6 months post op. Most days I have trouble getting that much in and with your micro pouch, I would imagine that it is really hard for you to maintain 700 + calories. What about sodium intake? I notice when I eat a lot of processed foods; lunchmeat, jerky, etc I tend to have fluid retention issues? How are your bowel movements? I pushed fluids last week as hard as I could. I also cut out the caffeine, I was drinking 4 oz of coffee per day and changed to Postum, a naturally decafinated beverage that has a coffee taste. Are you still drinking your DP? If you are, maybe you could give that up for a week and see how it goes. Have you tried the plateau buster diet? How To Break A Plateau #1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau #2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day #3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day #4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day beef pork chicken turkey lamb fish eggs low fat cheese cottage cheese plain yogurt or artificially sweetened peanut butter beans/legumes You may also have: sugar free popsicles tea or coffee sugar free soda sugar free jello broths/bullion crystal light drinks #5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!! #6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily Good luck with it. I know how bad it sucks, last week I gained????!!!!! God Bless, Jen

Hi Chele. I feel as you do sometimes. Last week I was 224 and today I am weighing 227. Either my scale is goofy or my body is. I can't wait to go to the Doc in May to get a actual weight. Sometimes I think maybe I shouldn't get weighed at all, only let the Doc do it. Hang in there and everything will be allright. At least you are down 50lbs. and without the surgery where would all of us be. Take care Rosemary