Help! 1 month stall at 6 months out

[musicdiva]

I am now 6 1/2 months out from my DS Surgery and almost 2 months out from my emergency gall bladder removal. I have recovered well from the GB surgery and within 2 weeks was back to normal. Actually better than normal. For those of you that remember I was very ill prior to the GB coming out. Once the GB came out I was able to start eating properly. And since then have been increasing my protein each week. I am still not at the 120 range or even close, but I do average about 75 per day. I eat absolutely no grains of any kind, and the only carbs I get are residual from veggies (which I eat very few of) or in my protein shakes, which has 5 carbs. So all in all, I get less than 30 carbs a day, and absolutely no sugar.

Now for the frustrating part, I have been stalled for almost 4 wks now. My weight has gone up and down the same 3 pounds, some yo-yo-ing for me is normal. But never this long. I am not sure what to do at this point. I have tried increasing my protein, and liquids, but have seen no change. I know that it gets harder and moves slower the further out from surgery you are, but the scale should still be moving.

What else can I do to start the scale moving again? Start working out now that I am finally healthy? Add another protein shake to my day to increase my protein, until I can eat more?

Thanks for the help!

[jpcello]

Let's focus first on the positive - from your signature it seems you've lost more than 100 pounds in 6 months (with GB surgery in the middle). That's awesome. You definitely need more protein - 75 grams is not adequate. You're body thinks its not getting enough nourishment (which it isn't) so it's holding on to whatever you're giving it. You need to give it more. If you do start working out you'll need even more fuel. If you can't get enough protein through food, then by all means add a shake.

[PeteA]

Have you been taking any measurements of your body? It may just be that you are losing inches instead of pounds while your body
tries to recover from all the changes. 100lbs in 6 months is not too shabby.

You might try a week of increased protein consumption and maybe a day for some extra carbs just to give your bosy a change of pace.

Congrats on a great job the first 6 months.

Pete

[west4thavenue]

Hi, musicdiva! I'm six months out, too. Congratulations on your amazing weight loss.

I haven't had a real "stall" (i.e., at least 3 - 4 weeks without a loss), but my weight loss has slowed down a little in the past month or so. We still have another 12-18 months on the post surgical weight loss window, so we're still doing well at this point! 

I would recommend that you add another shake and do whatever else you can to bring up your protein intake. No doubt that will get your weight loss going again.

[goodkel]

Stalls happen. They can be a normal part of the weight loss journey. I hit many stalls on my way to a normal BMI.

But, you need to take a look to see if you are doing anything to impede your loss.

And it seems that you are not getting enough protein.

We didn't pull the DS rules out of thin air. They are what your body needs to stay healthy and a stressed body will hold on to all the weight it can.

Are you taking all your vitamins? Are you addressing any deficiencies? Have you had your 6 month labs, yet?

Definitely increase your complex carbs to around 50 grams a day.

If it is getting all the vitamins, protein, and liquids it needs, your body won't hang on to pounds as tightly.

As you are 6 months out, expect the rate of loss to slow down. 3, 5, 8 pounds a month would not be unusual.

You've had a tremendous loss so far. Even if you had all your ducks in a row, your body could just be taking a well-earned break.

[OnMyWay2Thin]

WOW, six and a half months and you've lost 102 pounds!! That's absolutely amazing. I can only hope to do half as well... I didn't lose anything for four weeks and I'm only 2 1/2 months out. The good thing is this week, I've lost about 3 pounds so far. Someone mentioned some people are stair steppers as they lose weight, I think I may be one of them. I can't say the same for you because 6 1/2 months with that loss is astounding. I would give you some advice, but I think the experts above gave you outstanding advice and I can't add anything to that. The only thing I can say is you will be at goal in no time and I can only hope to do as well!! Great job...

Have a great day,
Siobhan

[Deleted]

Musicdiva, Your getting some great advice here, from everyone who responded. Take Heart!! the weight will come off! 100lbs in 6 months, I'm with others that your body needs a break, and loss will resume when your body says it can support more weightloss.

Protein definitely needs to come up, but as Pete and Goodkel stated, so do your carbs. (and NOT sugars, You should try some WHOLE GRAIN bread, just a piece with 2 Tbls of regular peanut butter, (Pepperidge Farm's 15 Grain bread is my favorite, 5g protien for 1 slice I think, then 7g for the peanut butter.) Try a few days of eating 1 piece like this, see if it breaks the stall. I bet it will.. and not to the plus side either..

Good luck, your doing great!

[musicdiva]

Thanks for all of the advice. I know that my protein in low, and am increasing it every week. Previous to my Gall bladder surgery I was able to eat very little and what I did eat didn't stay down. So I have kind of had to start over with the 30/60/90 concept for protein.

I have been doing measurements, and take them about every 2 months. It's insane to see those numbers. I am losing about an inch per pound

Vitamins- We did labs at 3 months and found that I had terrible deficiencies in multiple areas. So I take a lot of supplements. I take 4 of the Bariatric Advantage chewables a day plus extra Potassium, Thiamine (B-1), Iron, and Calcium as well as extra D, A, and K. I think I am forgetting one, but can't remember what it is. We will be re-checking my labs and adjusting as necessary at my next appointment.

I took the advice and am adding in another shake in the evening to up my protein until I can eat enough to get what I need.

Many of you suggested upping my Complex Carbs. That terrifies me, I won't lie. Carbs even good ones are my downfall. I have been completely grain free since February of this year. I started a month before surgery to get prepared. I do eat veggies occasionally (usually in a recipe), but always do protein first. I am nervous to add grains into my diet. Should I try venturing into grains a little bit? Or is grain-free the way to go?

I am the smallest I have ever been in my life, and finally don't have to shop in plus size stores. I don't want to loose the momentum I have had, and get discouraged.

[Deleted]

You're only 6 months out, Your not going to lose any momentum. Complex carbs are good for us. It's white flour and sugar that is not good. Trust in your DS. It will not let you down. Eat some really grainy, nutty, seedy, bread. I understand that you have kicked them out since Feb, and if it bothers you to go back, you will need to find something else that is higher density complex carbs, Like BEANS.(kindney, lima, butterbeans, Great northern beans. Also, if you can stand it, and not being bread, Corn chips.. Like taco chips, or Fritos, or Popcorn (add butter and salt). Watch out for tortilla chips, read labels, Tositos are just white corn, salt and oil.. All good stuff. You can get complex carbs from those sources if you have kicked bread out.. If your eating vegetables, and have corn, your still eating grains, just not processed ones.

If you really have kicked grains out, which I'm not doubting you, Do you eat anything else but fruit and green veggies, meat and Dairy/Soy? You should be able to eat a decent serving of most things by now. 4-5 oz a sitting, multiple times a day.

A Few other things I have for you.

How many times a day are you eating? You should be eating 4-5 times a day until you are full at each meal. at 6 months out, I was getting all my protein from food.

STOP taking the Bariatric Advantage Vites. GO get a regular Womens 50+ mutlivitamin. It will have more of what you need + iron. Keep taking your A, D, E, and K ( I think the one you were forgetting was the vite E!) Please let us know HOW MUCH your taking of the A and D.

Just as an example, I take 150K a DAY. 3- 50K IU capsules of DRY D3.

Are you taking DRY versions of the A, D, E and K? If not, there is your problem. We can't take the gel caps. They are based in soybean OIL, which we DO NOT ABSORB!

Also, if your taking iron, there are ways your supposed to take it. Like away from other vites, but with Vit. C. wait two hours after taking Calcuim, and two more before taking any other vitamins. Other who take iron regularly can give better advice on this than me. I'm a guy, and have never had to take Iron.

[bboop]

You have some excellent advice. Now get with the vitamins...I don't care for the Bariatric Advantage. Get the dry version of the vitamins DS for life mentioned.

You are doing great, otherwise.

[goodkel]

Sept 24, 2014 10:29:24 GMT -5 musicdiva said:

Thanks for all of the advice. I know that my protein in low, and am increasing it every week. Previous to my Gall bladder surgery I was able to eat very little and what I did eat didn't stay down. So I have kind of had to start over with the 30/60/90 concept for protein.

I have been doing measurements, and take them about every 2 months. It's insane to see those numbers. I am losing about an inch per pound

Vitamins- We did labs at 3 months and found that I had terrible deficiencies in multiple areas. So I take a lot of supplements. I take 4 of the Bariatric Advantage chewables a day plus extra Potassium, Thiamine (B-1), Iron, and Calcium as well as extra D, A, and K. I think I am forgetting one, but can't remember what it is. We will be re-checking my labs and adjusting as necessary at my next appointment.

I took the advice and am adding in another shake in the evening to up my protein until I can eat enough to get what I need.

Many of you suggested upping my Complex Carbs. That terrifies me, I won't lie. Carbs even good ones are my downfall. I have been completely grain free since February of this year. I started a month before surgery to get prepared. I do eat veggies occasionally (usually in a recipe), but always do protein first. I am nervous to add grains into my diet. Should I try venturing into grains a little bit? Or is grain-free the way to go?

I am the smallest I have ever been in my life, and finally don't have to shop in plus size stores. I don't want to loose the momentum I have had, and get discouraged.

Drop the Bariatric Advantage. Any good Centrum-like multivitamin will do. Walmart and Costco have good generic multivitamins. Take one twice a day.

It would be helpful to see a comprehensive list of what you are are taking, formulations and dosages. And if you could post your labs with the range, we could provide you with more specific advice.

I just had labs done and am not struggling with any deficiencies. You can find my daily list here:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8023/vitamin-list

Your daily schedule should be very similar to this depending on the results of your 3 month labs.

Skip the grains, skip the potatoes, your best bet for increasing your complex carbs is with low carb fruits and vegetables. After reading this post, I searched for a list of them and posted them in Nutrition so they would be easy to find and reference by everyone:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/9387/low-carb-fruits-vegetables?page=1&scrollTo=134952

This way you are assured of getting the fiber with the least amount of sugar/simple carbs.

Corn is loaded with sugar. Avoid it and anything made of it, except in rare instances, until you have lost your weight.

You should avoid carbs completely until you are able to get in a minimum of 90 grams of protein and then only after you have consumed at least 30 grams of protein at that "meal."

Besides liquids, nothing is as important as getting in all your protein.

If you are not getting in all of your protein, you have no room for carbs.

[musicdiva]

Wanted to give everyone an update. I have successfully upped my protein intake to between 100 and 130 grams a day. I have also increased my carbs per day. After reading all the advice I was given, I started tracking my food a little better. Turns out my carb intake a day was less than 10g. I now allow myself 30g a day. I have also added a few grains into my diet. After doing some more research I decided this would be the best option for me.

It has been a little over 2 weeks since I started implementing these changes and I am seeing results. So thank you to everyone who gave thier input.

I had my 6 month appt with my DR and things are good- except my Vits. I have been horrible about taking them. I was taking the Bariatric Advantage and they are disgusting. I have since stopped taking those, and am now taking a regular Multi Vitamin 2x a day.

Here are my lab results- I am still learning how to read all of this and what normal levels are so your input would be greatly appreciated.

Glucose- 87 mg
sodium- 140 mmol
Potassium-3.6 mmol- was on extra potassium but the Dr said I could stop and add a V8 every couple days instead.
Chloride 106 mmol
CO2- 19 mmol
BUN- 12 mg
Creatinine- .45 mg
egfr non Afro- Amer- 124 ml
Calcium- 8.7 mg
Total Protein- 6.6 g
Albumin 3.2 g
Globulin 3.4 g
Total Bilirubin- .2 mg
Alk Phos- 93 U
ALT(SGPT)- 39 U
AST(SGOT) 21 U
Hgb A1C- 55
Iron- 33 ug- I take iron supplements daily
Vitamin b12- 275 pg
Foltae- 3.7 ng- I take additional folate daily
Prealbumin- 11.9 mg
Vit D- 24 ng- I take extra Vit D 3 times a week
Vit A- .37 mg- I take additional Vit A daily
Vit A (Retinyl Palmitate)- .02 mg
Vit B1- 2 nmol- I take 300 mg a day- this has been a major issue since immediately after surgery

Is there something that is not listed? Something else we should be testing for?

I will have my labs checked again in 3 months.

Thanks again for all the advice.

[newyorkbitch]

You need to increase and change your vitamins intake!!

[goodkel]

Oct 8, 2014 11:02:49 GMT -5 musicdiva said:

Wanted to give everyone an update. I have successfully upped my protein intake to between 100 and 130 grams a day. I have also increased my carbs per day. After reading all the advice I was given, I started tracking my food a little better. Turns out my carb intake a day was less than 10g. I now allow myself 30g a day. I have also added a few grains into my diet. After doing some more research I decided this would be the best option for me.

It has been a little over 2 weeks since I started implementing these changes and I am seeing results. So thank you to everyone who gave thier input.

I had my 6 month appt with my DR and things are good- except my Vits. I have been horrible about taking them. I was taking the Bariatric Advantage and they are disgusting. I have since stopped taking those, and am now taking a regular Multi Vitamin 2x a day.

Here are my lab results- I am still learning how to read all of this and what normal levels are so your input would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, you look low on some things, but it is hard to tell without the ranges.
Labs vary in their ranges, so we can't tell if a 5 is low or high normal without them.

It would be helpful if you could repost with the ranges and always include the ranges going forward.