Question:
I am 3 Weeks PO, my weight Loss stopped about a week ago...

My weight loss stopped about a week ago....I certainly am not over eating. I get approx. maybe 1- 1 1/2 cups of food maybe in a whole day. I am not able to drink alot of liquid because it causes cramping, could this be the problem. I am also very constipated for 3-4 days at a time. HELP!    — debbiecoyne (posted on September 17, 2004)

September 17, 2004
I am nine weeks postop and I can tell you it's normal to hit plateaus. About the constipation, my surgeon recommends milk of magnesium. Since your body thinks it's starving and dehydrated, it is going to hold on to the weight and make you retain what fluid you do have in your body. You really need to "SIP" all day to get in your fluids or you could end up in the hospital to get IV fluids. If this doesn't help, call your surgeon's office. Good Luck to you!
   — Melanie G.

September 17, 2004
Let me rephrase your question, ok? No offense or anything. "My weight loss PAUSED at 3 weeks." (answer: right on schedule) "I'm not overeating. At about 8-12 oz of food per day, I am eating the right amount of food for a beginner" (answer: if you can hold that level til you reach goal, it is perfection. We were on clear lquids for 4 wks, so I can't say how much solid food I got at that time). "Water is hard to drink because it hurts" (answer: is not an answer but a question. WHERE does it hurt, for how long and how much are you taking in over how much time?) "I'm constipated and it makes me nervous." (answer: boy, and how I WISH I had one. Water is one, of course, but lack of food volume is another. Are you uncomfortable? Miserable? Have you tried stool softeners? Drinking much caffeine?) You see, most of your statements are pretty normal for us. I know you wanted to wake up thin as we all did, but you are following in our footsteps nicely. You, naturally, should pursue anything with your doc that resembles pain or discomfort. Gotta fix that water thing. That's always been my hardest one, too. Gimme the protein supps, gimme the vites, don't make me drink water. I do it, though.
   — vitalady

September 17, 2004
Take a deep breath and relax. You are doing fine. I am 16 1/2 weeks post op and my weight loss pauses about every 3 weeks for a week at a time. Is it frustrating?? YES! But I have learned it's okay and the scale WILL move again. Take you measurements once a week, that really helps when the scale is not moving. If I lose just a fraction of an inch somewhere I consider it progress. You are actually getting in more food than I was at 3 weeks. Not because I couldn't tolerate it--I just didn't want it. As for your water, what temp is it when you are drinking? Cole water still makes my pouch feel like it's contracting and I cannot tolerate that. Everything I drink is at room temp and I don't have any problems. Before surgery everything I drank had to be full of ice. I, too, have battled constipation. Real bummer!! I found (through posting on the message board & going to the chat) that Benefiber is my life saver. I mix it with diet Snapple peach flavor tea (it's my favorite). One tablespoon mixed in a bottle of Snapple three times a day keeps things moving quite nicely. It made me feel so much better. Now keep in mind that when you are eating so little, you may not "go" every day. Hope this help. Good luck. Terri
   — greeneyes1961

September 18, 2004
It's normal. My doc said I'd hit my first plateau at 3-4 weeks out. It's your bodies way of adjusting. The scary part was that I plateau for a month at a time and I'm doing everything right. Don't worry. Your body just needs time to catch up that's all. You are doing great!
   — boonikki29

September 18, 2004
Hi Debbie.........I have to give you a big thank you for posting that question. I had my surgery Aug 24, and I have the exact same problems. My scale is not budging this week, I too can only poo about every 3-4 days. I have been discouraged and trying to do everything right. I try to drink all the time, but I know I fall short of the goal. I eat about the same amount......soft diet. I am walking a mile every other day. So I feel a lot like you....what gives??? I know all about the infamous plateaus, but I guess I thought they were for other people, not me. I was so happy to get on here looking for an answer, and found your posting. We are definately not alone. Good luck.
   — KDescha

October 10, 2004
I am only going to answer your constipation part of the question. I swear by "Fiber One", I think it's called. It is an orange wafer that you chew up and swallow. It is very tasty and I really enjoy taking my one a day. I have heard others on here say that they take 1-3 every day. Also someone on here also said previously that they drink a 20-25 oz bottle of water right upon waking before they get out of bed, and I swear by this too. It really gets things moving and you can go usually first thing in the morning. I know it will be hard for you to get in this much water, as you said you'd had problems with this, but try 8 oz at first and work up to the larger amt and sip, sip, sip slowly. When I first started doing it, I'd wake up 5-10 minutes earlier to give myself time to drink it all. Now at 7 months out, I can drink 25 oz in 3-5 minutes. Hope this helps!! P.S. I had pauses too in my weightloss, and thought I'd be the one it didn't work for and I've lost 100 lbs now. Now, just 100 more to go. Good Luck!! You'll do fine.
   — bufordslipstick

October 10, 2004
Hi, Keep on track with your water, food, and vitamins. Some people get constipated with higher iron in their vitamins. Maybe check that. However, I strongly suggest adding Benefiber (powder) two teaspoons, twice a day. It dissolves in any liquid (hot or cold) and is odorless and tasteless. It's made all the difference for me and many of my WLS buddies with this problem. With the water, just take slow sips. I remember wanting to drink gulps since I was so thirsty after WLS. Stay on track and be patient...your body will take breaks...neding to catch up with all the changes. Best Wishes, Lora
   — Lora L.

October 10, 2004
I don't know if this will help or not, but pretty much everyone I know who has had weight loss surgery has had a "pause" in their weight loss at 3 or 4 weeks out. I am glad my doctor prepared me for this. I stll was upset when it happened tho, and was sure I would be the first person ever to only lose 30 pounds from surgery and said more than one curse word about rearranging my whole body and changing my whole life forever for only 30 pounds. Guess what... It lasted a few weeks and I started losing again, to a total of 135 pounds gone, and stable at 125 pounds! Don't be surprised when other "pauses" ( I like it put that way!) happen on a regular basis. After about 6 months I only lost weight about one week out of every month. Remember your body is still Healing! I know when I went to my doctor about the first pause he said "of course you are slowing down, other wise you would dissapear by sumer."
   — **willow**

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