please help! 1 year stall!

[Retroruby55]

Ok I am so so discouraged. I am about 13 months out from surg. I lost very very steadily for the first 6 months. From my 6 to 9 month follow up appts I only lost 9lbs. They told me at that point I wasnt eating enough, and to increase my calories by adding a couple snacks. Also, increase my exercise. I will admit I indulged a little over the holidays, but bc of my "tool" I didnt over do it to bad. But after the first of the year I got right back on the wagon. From my 9 month appt to my 12 month I only lost 7lbs! So since February I have been tracking everything I put in my mouth, I uped my exercise to 5-6 cardio days a week, with added strength training and some yoga........and I have lost nothing!! Actually from last week to this week I gained 4 lbs. How is that possible?!?! So please has anyone eles experienced this? Any suggestions how to get things moving again? I just want to throw my hands up in the air and eat some icecream! Lol! I know I have come so far already and I feel better and am healthier and stronger, my clothes are still getting bigger, but I look at that number on the scale and say that is still not acceptable. My doc has told me from the begining that after the first year of the sleeve, your weightloss usually stops. Does this mean its over for me bc I didnt get it all off in the first year? Any help, reassurance, motivation, encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

[Narasweet]

My surgery was done in July, I have lost about 35 k but more than 10 of that was changing lifestyle before the surgery. I still have to DO the exercise ever day, and to make heathy eating a priority, it is a matter of making right choices, the sleeve is a tool, not magic, effort and measure, check for what size you wear now?? Keep on trying until everyone gets it and your own life brings the rewards you deserve!! Hugs Christine

[Persiankity33]

My drs told me the same thing.... They also told me I was exercising too much, they said I should only be working out 3 times a week...I go spinning....I've lost maybe one-two pounds in the past two months...I will be taking some advice from anyone too

P.s. I'm on myfitnesspal if u wanna add me persiankity33

[Kathy1032]

I am going through the same thing! My Surgiversary is the 23rd and I keep gaining and losing the same 7-10 pounds. I've started weighing only one a month. Used to be everyday. I'm not giving up though. I think my body has just caught on now to how things are gonna be and plateau'd. I just remind myself I am heathier and more fit than I've been since birth. Then go try on old, way to big clothes.

[cowgirljane]

It always slows, but I was able to rev things back up and get to goal. I went uber low carb (that meant no protein bars either!) and changed my work out routine to HIIT (high intensity interval training - google it).

[Mimi4]

I am 6 months out and I have only lost about 5 pounds in the last two months. I know that I have a high metabolism and the doctor told me if I went under 1600 calories that my body thought it was starving. But no matter what I did, I couldn't lose the weight. So when I was turning 60 and had health issues, I turned to the sleeve. I don't eat a great deal, but can't get out of the stall. I am thinking about going to an all veggie diet and use legumes and dairy as my protein. Plus fish. Hopefully this will help. I only have 33 pounds left to be at goal weight. I am going to start a food journal. I sure hope I don't stop at 1 year and haven't gotten to goal weight. That is very upsetting tho think about.

[mzmo]

I know the feeling! I'm 9 months out myself and I've only lost 60 lbs!! I must admit, though, that I have been indulging WAY more than I should and not excercising as much as I should and I know that has a lot to do with it. I need to get back to the basics myself. I need motivation!! HELP!!

[Mimi4]

I think we are in the same boat. I need to do things differently now too. We can do it. I have bought clothes that fit and I feel great in them. I am ready to go down another size and look even better. Good luck and hang in there.

[compact]

Dear Ruby (and other sleevers here who are going through the same experience),

Thanks for posting. I feel your pain.

Let's keep some perspective -- we have both worked away an unprecedented amount of weight. Our lives are infinitely better!

Have you heard of set-point theory? It's the idea that the body has particular weights it would like to stay at. Getting past a set point is a challenge.

Some of the talk about not getting enough calories or exercising too much goes to this.

The limited studies we have show that the majority of people who have the surgery (80%) will lose over 50% of their excess body weight. From a doctors point of view, this is a tremendous success. No diet is so successful.

From a patient's point of view, 50% excess weight loss is where most of us (including me, a doctor) are -- half way to goal. It's frustrating!

So I've been wondering about this. For now, I am happy to reconsider my goal and enjoy where I am now. I'm not going to growl at my body. I have gone from a size 24-26 to 14-16. It couldn't have happened any other way for me, it seemed. My excess weight was very stubborn! So was yours, I'll bet!

By way of encouragement, the study we have of patients post-sleeve shows that most patients are at their maximum weight loss 5 years (!) after surgery.

Maybe it really does take a few years for the body to let it all go. Most patients had a slight gain at the 3 year point and then started losing again.

Let's face it, it took decades to gain it all.

So right now, I am trying to take the long picture. I'll keep exercising and keep away from junk food. These things are sustainable for me for the rest of my life. Over the next few years, I expect to continue to become more compact and I'm going to enjoy what I have achieved so far.

Here is an interesting discussion of set point. You might find some of it useful:

Week One: The Science of Set Point

Love,

Nel

PS Cowgirljane -- thanks for the reminder about HIT -- I'm going to get into that.

[Dyanne4293]

I relate!! My VGS was 7/17/12. I am 20lbs from my goal and ideal weight. It isn't coming off! I exercise - 45 mins on elliptical trainer 5 days a week, strength training 3-4 times a week and journal my food, counting every calorie and carb that goes in my body. NO weight loss!! I'm frustrated.