Expert: Cathy Wilson, ACC-ICF, CLC - 11/2/2008

Question
hello...i had gastric bypass surgery on 8-26-2008 and have lost about 40 pounds but the past 2 weeks i have not lost a pound at all...i am doing all of the same things i walk everyday and ride my indoor bike for 20mins a day..can you help me please?

Answer
Hi Cindy,

First, and most importantly, congratulations on your surgery and your incredible success.  40 pounds since the end of August is great.  You deserve to feel very proud of that.  Just think, you will never, ever again see those 40 pounds.  They are gone forever!

You lost a great deal of weight very rapidly.  Essentially, you've averaged 20 pounds lost each month since having your surgery.  Your body is taking a break.  I won't say that you are officially on a plateau but you are experiencing what we all do around the stage and pound loss that you have.  

Your body is adjusting from losing so much weight in such a short period of time.  Think of this time as similarly as a staircase.  If you climbed 40 stairs rapidly at one time, you'd need to take a break, catch your breath and prepare for the next round, right?  Same with your body.  It is merely taking a break.

You are still changing though.  Even if the scale hasn't moved in a couple of weeks (yet), it will.  Your body is changing though.  Have you taken your measurements when you had surgery or since?  Check your measurements.  I predict that your body size has changed despite the number on the scale.  Another thing you can do is check your clothes.  Try on things that you haven't worn and see if you can wear them yet or if they fit differently.  Even though you don't see any change on the scale, there are changes going on inside your body and also outside in your body size.

Keep doing what you have been doing so far.  It is obviously working because of your tremendous weight loss.  One trick is to increase your water.  Increasing your water can bust through a plateau.  Also, make sure you're consuming adequate grams of protein.  You might also try to increase your protein slightly.  That is also a great way to bust through a plateau if it continues to be persistent.

I don't call what you're experiencing a plateau.  It is merely an adjustment period from your amazing success so far.  Another thing you might try is to stay off the scale for a week or so.  Don't get caught up in the numbers on the scale.  Focus on your non-scale victories.  What are some of the things that you can do now 40 pounds less than when you had surgery?  Those are the true successes of weight loss surgery.

You are doing great with walking and riding your indoor bike for 20 minutes a day.  Keep it up.  You might also try to add 5 minutes as well to get things going again.

Please don't worry.  Keep your eyes on the prize of your goal weight.  What you are experiencing is very normal.  All of us go through a break in the weight loss action at one point or another in our weight loss journey.  Think that at this time next year how different your life will be.  Celebrate how different your life already is at 40 pounds less.

Congratulations!  Bye-bye to those 40 pounds as they are gone forever.  Before you know it, as you continue to do what you're already doing, you'll add to that forever weight loss.

Yours in health,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator