Question:
Long-Term Post-Ops Near Goal: What was your Longest Plateau & how did you Break it?

I will be one-year post-op on April 26. I have not lost any weight in over five weeks now. I am still doing everything right in the way of exercise, protein, and water. I still have 25 lbs to go before my abdominoplasty, and cannot get the scales to budge. I have a protein shake for breakfast, 2 oz of protein, 1 oz of green veggie, 1 oz of starch veggie at each meal. At least 72 oz of water a day. Exercise is walking (outdoors or on treadmill) at least a mile 3 x week, and riding stationary bike for 3.5 miles three x week. I am getting scared that my window of opportunity for loss is closing. For those of you who have "been there, done that", please give me some suggestions to lose these last 25 lbs. Thank you!    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on April 10, 2001)

April 10, 2001
My sister is 7 years post-op and is doing well now. However, she had a rough beginning. She was so worried about ever gaining again that she actually become anorexic and had other complications. Her endurance and support has led me to seek surgery so I started searching for all the info I could find. Now to your subject-I have discovered that sometimes during plateaus you may try to actually increase the amounts of the good foods you're already eating, you may also try some mild weight training for sculpting your new body, and lastly when you have your reconstructive surgery you may lose a few more pounds then. Good luck and keep going.
   — Pamela W.

April 10, 2001
Gee, it seems that not to long ago you were responding to my similar question (I think it was you anyway.)...by the way, mine finally broke.....Back to your question. How about increasing the amount of walking that you do. I'm not sure, time was how much your walking, but I found that I could do about 2 miles in about 30-40 minutes. The gym I belong to said part of the key is to vary your workout...apparently your body gets used to you doing the same things all the time, and needs the change to jump start it again. Also, how many calories are you consuming each day. According to my dietician (I am only 6 months post-op) I should be eating about 1400 calories a day. I'm not sure how many are in a protein shake, but 4 oz of food at each meal doesn't sound like much. I am up to about 6-8 oz per meal. My loss has slowed to about 5 lbs a month, but all my dr's seem pretty happy about that. Good Luck!
   — tlg6056