Stuck after only 4 weeks?
So I had my surgery on October 1st and lost 21 pounds, Now im stuck after only 4 weeks at that loss and nothing more. It has been a week at the same number on the scale. Am i doing something wrong? Do i need to backtrack? Whats the deal? im really starting to think this will never be my thing if I am not loosing.
Any Advise? Im all ears right about now.
Any Advise? Im all ears right about now.
~♥~ Nikkii76 ~♥~
When you magically drop x pounds per day or x pounds in the first week, two weeks, three weeks, etc. after surgery, it feels like a dream come true.
But: IT. WILL. STOP. Because it is NOT fat. It is WATER. This is what is happening, courtesy of Diana Cox, who is a molecular biologist Ph.D. and taught stuff like this in medical school. She makes me look smart :-).
Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.
As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.
But: IT. WILL. STOP. Because it is NOT fat. It is WATER. This is what is happening, courtesy of Diana Cox, who is a molecular biologist Ph.D. and taught stuff like this in medical school. She makes me look smart :-).
Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.
As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.
I don't know much about all that stuff Peach shared, but it sounds logical.
What I DO know is that brief stalls are a normal part of this ride. Are you still menstruating? That cycle will play with your weight loss. Plus your body needs time to catch up to the dropping weight - and you'll hear this a million times: if you're not losing pounds, you are most likely losing inches - so pay attention to how your clothes are fitting you while you are "stalled". And maybe change up any eating or exercise habits that have become routine - sometimes that will jumpstart the ol' metabolism, too!
Do NOT give up on your tool, and it won't give up on you!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
First off breathe!
Your not at the end of this ride by any means. You will go through a few stalls along the way. This to shall pass. My longest stall that I remember was 6 weeks long! I became numb to the stalls at that point and just went with the flow of life. This takes some getting used to, but so worth it in the long term of plans.
Do what works for you. We are all so different in that area. If your staying within your programs guidelines and being mindful in everything your doing- you will do wonderful!!
Best of luck, sorry I was not more informative
Kelly/tink
Your not at the end of this ride by any means. You will go through a few stalls along the way. This to shall pass. My longest stall that I remember was 6 weeks long! I became numb to the stalls at that point and just went with the flow of life. This takes some getting used to, but so worth it in the long term of plans.
Do what works for you. We are all so different in that area. If your staying within your programs guidelines and being mindful in everything your doing- you will do wonderful!!
Best of luck, sorry I was not more informative
Kelly/tink
Maintaining! Start weight 257,Current weight 122,Loss of 135# and 114 inches,Size 22-24W now size 4 to 0 (zero),Healthy life=Priceless
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Wow...21 pounds is fab! I had my surgery on 9/23 and have only lost 17 pounds. I know I'm a slower loser because I'm eating less animal protein than most do(my 'replacements have more carbs which I'm assoicating with the slower w/l)
I stayed the same for two weeks and only this week am I seeing slight drop offs, very small amounts, smaller than 'normal'.
I guess what gets me through is that even if I lose a couple pounds a week, smaller in comparision to most, by the emd of the month I will have lost another 8-10 pounds.
Keep going, I think the first couple months are super hard.
still...21 pounds is awesome!
I stayed the same for two weeks and only this week am I seeing slight drop offs, very small amounts, smaller than 'normal'.
I guess what gets me through is that even if I lose a couple pounds a week, smaller in comparision to most, by the emd of the month I will have lost another 8-10 pounds.
Keep going, I think the first couple months are super hard.
still...21 pounds is awesome!
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