Questions as I approach the 1 year mark...

Hi everyone!

This is a question for people who are either nearing the one year surgery anniversary mark or passed it.  I'm currently nearing the 9 month mark and have hit a plateau...Yes, I know they are normal (although still scary!!)...and this is not my first, but this is the longest one.  It's lasted about a month or so (and I know that is also probably lucky for me really as I've read some people have hit plateaus that last longer).  I guess I'm just wanting some info/advice/reassurance about this point in the journey.  I've read that a plateau around this point is very normal and I've read that people get past it and keep losing and then sometime**** another plateau around the one year mark.  I know that everyone is different and so we'll all have different experiences and lose at different rates.  I guess I just want to hear that I'm not done losing.  That this will pass and that I can keep losing well beyond the one year anniversary as long as I'm still doing what I need to do.  I've increased my exercise and have seen some slow movement out of this last plateau...but it feels a bit scary to have things slowing down.  I've read that it's normal for the weight loss to slow down and it makes logical sense that it will...but try telling the emotional side of my brain that!! LOL

I feel really great overall and have so much more energy than I used to...but I still get those nagging fears in the back of my mind that I think we all struggle with...

I guess I just want to hear from other people who have been through this or are going through this now.  I love reading people's posts because I learn so much and it's good to see we're all in this together!

Thanks in advance for any personal experiences/tips etc that you may feel like sending my way!  

Have a great day everyone! 

Staci Q

The plateaus are definitely scary. I think because we have all dieted and failed in the past we worry we will again. One person on the forum who I respect has suggested changing up you calorie in take. Higher today and lower tomorrow. Often when I have not lost on the scale I have lost inches. It was like my body needed to catch up to the scale.

Good luck. This too will pass.

Thanks for your reply...and you're so right...I should be keeping track of the inches as this is often what happens when the scale doesn't move and it might give me some extra encouragement!!  I will try changing up my calorie intake..that makes sense!

Thanks for your help! 

I don't have any advice but can empathize with you.  I am also at 10 months out and have bounced within the same 5 pound range since the beginning of january.  I agree that this is normal from what I have read but this is also when you can start to eat a bit more so we have to be extra vigilent with our intake.  I am waiting patiently for the scale to move again but in the meantime, am working on increasing my protien as I am not as high as I should be and also changing up my fitness routine.  I use the word fitness loosly as I only walk and take stairs but have recently added yoga videos and skating with the kids to my routine - whatever fits into my schedule and is not too structured.  I am sure some of the vets will chime in with advice on how to break the stall. 

best of luck!

Thanks for your reply and for your empathy!  That's what I love most about this forum...that we're all going through the same types of things and can offer support/encouragement etc...and it's so nice to know we're not alone in this!!  I really should try and increase my protein as well...I think I might be too low.  It's hard to get in a lot of extra fitness but I'm making time for it more than I was before because now I'm seeing how important it is. I've always been walking, but I'm adding other gym stuff to the mix as well...plus working on the excess skin under my arms is becoming a priority! 

Thanks for your input!  I appreciate anything and everything I can get!  

If you are not near goal and following your guidelines the stall will pass.

Change things up a bit. Vary your food. Use a food tracker and see if you are eating an appropriate amount of calories. I stopped losing when I was about 15 pounds from where I am maintaining now. I used sparkpeople.com and realized those healthy nuts i was eating added up very quickly in calories.

I tracked like a crazy person and got the last 15 pounds off. Hope you find what works for you!

Hi there,

Thanks for the suggestion about that website for tracking food!  I find it's very easy to forget the little things we snack on that can add up quickly!  Here's a question...approximately how many calories should I be aiming for in a day?  Especially now that I'm approaching the one year mark...(I'm almost 9 months out).

At 9 months out I don't know. Your nutritionist may be able to help you with that question.

I will be seeing the nutritionist in a month or so,  I will definitely bring it up at that appointment!  Thanks for you reply! 

The problem with being 9 months out is that you can eat much more than before and it's easy to sneak in things that you aren't even aware of.

Get back to basics. When i hit a wall i did a total carb purge. Ate protein for 3 days, very small amts of carbs, like a bit of fruit or small small amt of vegetable. 3 days and that kicks started me again. if you can do it for 5 all the better, but that always worked for me and still does to this day.

Best regards,

J