I've stalled! :( Please share yours to help me/us stay encouraged....

OK, I've read quite a few posts on the main forum about stalling.  I see that it happens often, but it usually passes soon, but then I also read about how there are some folks who lose 20, 30 40 lbs. and don't lose anymore... and that it can't be explained by their docs or research.    Oh I pray I'm not one of those statistics.  I didn't go through all this decision-making process and pains of surgery for THAT to be it! I know exercise is VERY important and for now, I'm walking and using my 3 lb. hand weights because my belly is still healing and with past surgeries, I didn't give myself proper healing time and had setbacks.  I'm looking forward to doing more with each passing week and don't dread exercise at all... I'm actually looking forward to it.  My scale hasn't budged in a week.  I've lose 37 total since 9/20.... which was 4 weeks pre-op when I had to go on low carbs.  I lost about 12 of these 37 up to surgery day on 10/18, 3 weeks ago yesterday. So all my loss was up to a week ago since I've lost ZERO in a week now!  I realize 25 lbs. in 3 weeks is amazing.  At the same time, it's a bit distressing to have lost NOTHING in the past week.   For those of you who had stalls early on, I'd appreciate your words of encouragement as I'm sure other "stallers" would too.  At what point did your stall happen?  How long did it last? 

You are fine!!  I want you to calm down and take a deep breath...   WHEEEEEEW...  okay now listen (or read), stalls are normal.. this will happen and it is not the last time either okay.   First of all you need to stay off of the damn scale...  it can be your worst enemy.  I get on the scale once a month (unless I am at the doctor's office between those times)  this way you don't drive yourself nuts everyday. every-other day, or every week and you can actually see a regression of weight... it's wonderful!!  It is excellent that you are doing any kind of exercise...  remember muscle weighs more than fat and it is good to be gaining muscle, toned looks better than flabby...   I had my surgery in Feb and I can tell you that I had a stall a couple of months ago that lasted a little over a month and I honestly thought that was the end of my loss.  But it wasn't!  I have seen alot of folks on here say that if you aren't losing the weight you are losing the inches.  So, keep up with both (weight and inches) and you can measure yourself both ways.   You will lose more weight, and you will drop more sizes, you will be HOT and irresistable soon dear.  NOW REPEAT AFTER ME...   STAY OFF THE DAMN SCALE!!!!! ~misslaurap

Ditto~~  Your body has to adjust to all of the weight loss.. you are not even a month out yet.  Take a deep breath and chill!!

Hi Dee -

My first "stall" happened at 10 days out! I was really worried and stressed that I had done this "to myself" and now it wasn't going to work. I started keeping a weekly log of my weight. This helps me with perspective. Everyone has to do what works for them, while I may get on the scale more than once a week, I only chart it on Tuesdays. This helps me see the patterns of loss and stalls. If you look at my profile, I think you will see what I mean. I'm actually in a stall right now, and even though my "head" knows it's temporary, my heart is terrified that I'm messing it up and this is all there is going to be. I know that I posted earlier in the week that it would be okay if I never lost another pound ... and it would, but by the same token, I'm not really ready to stop losing yet. I still have a spare tire around my middle that I'd like to see deflate.

My Dr. said that while a few my lose weight as though they were going down a slide, most of us take the stairs. By that he means that you can expect a drop, followed by a stop. He said that the stalls are our bodies way of trying to hold on to our "precious" fat reserves. He said that eventually, the lack of caloric intake wins and then you'll see the drop.

Take heart, this too will pass. Be kind to yourself in the meantime and keep doing the things that your Dr. has told you to do. You'll be post a loss very soon.

All the best,

Barb

I wouldnt consider your scale not moving for a week a stall... you can view my weekly weightloss on profile... I had many weeks where I didnt lose - many of them were in a row.

Here is what I learned the past 1+

you wont lose every day, you will not lose every week, there may be a few weeks that pass where the scale doesnt move, we sometimes lose inches and not pounds... it took time to put the weight on, it takes time to get the weight off.

Just be patient and the scale will move again.. our bodies sometimes need a little break. Usually when the scale stops the inches will move. Really and truly the only time to get nervous if the scale NOR tape measure doesnt move for FOUR weeks or longer - then its time to call the NUT and see whats going on.

oh sweetie, I stall all the time.  I go sometimes 3-4 weeks without losing.  If you do the math on the calories you are consuming and then the calories you are burning, carb intake, sugar intake, you will see that you can only go down.  I know I obsess over that scale but after 7 months and being down 110 lbs, I know it will eventually start to move again.  Try to relax and enjoy the ride.  I always know when I wake up in the morning if I have lost weight, simply by how I feel moving out of bed and walking to the bathroom.  I can "feel" 2 lbs gone or even 1.  It's just an awareness I have developed since my surgery.  I used to measure during stalls.  This is when you lose inches!  I love my stalls for that.  My waist started out at 60 inches around, it  is now 38 inches.  I loved that more than anything because my tummy was so heavy on my legs.  I still have about 40 lbs to lose, but I know I will lose it. Please be kind and patient with yourself.  Learn to love your tape measure during stalls.  You can rely on it. Love, Diane

Oh I can definitely relate...  to not losing weight fast enough to satisfy me, to feeling that I have done something wrong to cause this, to believing that this surgery may work for others but it won't work for me, to denying all the wonderful accomplishments I have been blessed with.  All I can say is that time and the scales do not lie!  We just have to give them both enough room to do their thing.  I know we can't see into the future, but that is why I am so grateful to have the stories and blogs of others to read and benefit from.  I know deep down that if it worked for them, it can work for me too.  And I know that it IS working for you as well!  Keep the faith!

Thanks y'all.  I'm not freaking out enough yet to need deep breaths... LOL

I know everything said is so right, but just had to air my frustrations.  I'm doing my best to stay off the scales till I go to doc on Tuesday.   I appreciate ALL your words of encouragement!   This is such a great place to be for this journey...