ARGHHHHH weight loss plateau.

I've hit my first plateau and did not loose any weight this week.  I have lost a few inches which makes it a little better.
 
What Causes Plateaus?

Several factors in the post-surgical patient may come into play and lead to plateaus. Brief periods during which little or no weight loss occurs may coincide with a woman's menstrual cycle and the amount of bloating or water weight gain she experiences.

Another common culprit for bariatric surgery patients is the GI tract. Severe constipation can lead to a weight loss plateau.

Finally, when the body loses weight following bariatric surgery, it loses weight from everywhere--lean muscle mass as well as stores of fatty tissue. As the body recovers from the surgery, and the patient starts to move around and exercise, they rebuild lean muscle mass.

Since muscle weighs more than fat, your scales may show that your weight loss has stopped, but you'll still be losing inches and looking thinner to the people who know you. And it won't be long before your body adjusts itself to your new weight and is ready to start losing again.

These plateaus are why surgeons often caution patients not to weigh too frequently--a couple of times a month is plenty--and not to be too upset if the numbers they see are higher than they'd like.

When a Plateau Spells a Problem

As your body heals from surgery, and your food choices increase, it can be very tempting to slide back into some of the old eating habits that caused weight gain in the first place.

You, of course, are the only one who knows if you're "cheating." If you are, schedule a cleaning of your refrigerator and pantry and rid the house of foods that lead you astray. Then make a conscious effort to return to the eating habits that your surgeon suggests,

 these suggestions included

    Eating 3 small, low-fat, high-protein meals per day
    Avoiding sweets and carbs
    Making time to savor every meal
    Not skipping meals
    Moving my body, whether that means walking, exercising, or cleaning the house

The Bottom Line

If you hit one or more plateaus a few months out from weight loss surgery, don't worry that your weight has stabilized permanently--it hasn't. Statistically, you will probably alternate between cycles of rapid and slow weight loss for the first 18 months or so after surgery. By that time, you will have lost about 75% of your excess weight, and your body will start to stabilize for the long term. Even then, however, if you want to shed a few more pounds, you can still do so by shaving off a few calories and adding a few minutes to your exercise program.

May 24, 2013 My first week back to work

Well, I managed to survive the week.  Although it was questionable on Tuesday.  I learned about dehydration and how quickly that can happen now.  On Monday I was busy on my first day back and did not keep track of how much water I had.  In the afternoon I had to travel to another hospital across town and it was over 100 degrees outside.  By the time I got home that night I was weak and my legs felt like rubber.  I figured it was just fatigue.  However I felt even worse in the morning but forced myself to go to work.  I had to come around noon and I barely made it I was so weak.  I figured out later in the day that I had not had enough water in the last two days.  I felt a lot better after 3 liters of water which took me several hours to get in.
Needless to say I am back to keeping track of how much water I get in a day.  I had been doing this at home but didn't do it at work.
I should have realized how easy it would be to become dehydrated especially since I live in the desert.  It just never dawned on me until it was almost to late.

My first steak meal

I should have taken a picture.  It was one slice of a Fillet of Beef (would have been equal to 2 bites for anyone else) and a tablespoon of mashed potato's.  While it tasted great I was miserable afterward
 and for the rest of the night.  My stomach felt like I had pulled a muscle.  I was sore, still this morning but things have gotten better.  I will be sticking with ground beef and tender chicken for a few more weeks.
My biggest challenge is not gulping water.  I want to take a big drink and I know I can't.  It just doesn't seem the same when you have to sip it like you would wine.
And if I have to see one pizza commercial I may cry... I really am missing pizza.....  It will be a few months before I can have a few bites, 

20 days after surgery

Well I have had my 1st post op appointment last week.  Everything has gone well.  I have advanced to a regular high protein diet.  I'm amazed at how little I'm able to actually eat.  For dinner tonight I made half of a hamburger patty and was only able to eat a quarter of it.  What surprises me is that I never seem to get hungry and have to remind myself I need to eat.  I much prefer a protein shake to solid food although it takes me two hours to drink and 11 oz shake.  At the most I have been able to get in maybe 50 grams of protein a day and almost 1 liter of water.
I knew my eating life would change I just was not truly prepared for how drastic it is.  I eat less then 600 calories a day.  I still am weak toward the end of the day and don't have a lot of energy.  The doctor told me this would improve as my body adjusts to the low calories and activity levels.  I'm really glad I still have a week and half before I go back to work.  I think working will be a challenge for my endurance.

I was reflecting back to the things I wish I had known before surgery so I would have been more prepared.
1-That water was going to hurt so much even when warmed.  Popsicles went down much better.
2-Taking pills with apple sauce instead of water.
3-Not to worry about anything but fluid for the first few days.  They told me to have thinned protein shakes everyday but my stomach did not like those.
4-Gas-X to help the gas bubbles you get in your stomach.  Those kept getting stuck and the gas-x helped dissolve them.
5-That the gas pains from the CO2 they used to fill your abdomen with during surgery would last 5-7 days after surgery.  I was told it would only last a few days.  However it really last longer and walking is the best thing and taking Tylenol even though you don't have abdominal pain helps also.