I apologize for this rant in advance.  I went for my 6 week check up today..well actually 7 weeks.  I first saw the NUT.  She was okay and trying to help me boost my protein intake.  Told me that I really needed to stay at 2 ounces per meal with no snacking because I haven't lost enough....I'm down 32 pounds.  I told her I was concerned because I hit a stall and decided to amp up my workout, but my concern was how in the world can I function if I am burning 300+ calories and I haven't even consumed half of that before my workouts.  So, again, she suggested the protein drinks...half before workout and the other half after....I was okay with that.  Next comes the Physcian Assistant...this is the bad part...she pretty much told me I was doing everything wrong...that my main focus should be protein...I shouldn't be focusing on calories in, calories out, that I have to follow the program like they say for else I will be back next year asking for a revision because "it didn't work"...that I am not working out hard enough...that getting my HR up to 160 is not burning enough fat...that I can not use my vitamix because all those organic things I am juicing up with cause me to get fat...and I failed at losing weight that's why I came to them to fix it.  I ended up just wanting to cry...sorry...it's just been a bad day....

The NP actually told you you failed at losing weight?    I'd be putting in a complaint with the surgeon.

That said, I do agree with her on the point that you do need to focus on protein vs. calories.  Make sure you're getting your 60-80+ grams in and let the chips fall where they lie.  I have a protein shake every morning to help boost my protein intake. 

How many meals are you eating a day?  How much protein are you getting in?

She is actually a step up from a NP being a physcian Assistant.  Most days I get 60 grams of protein...3 meals...maybe a snack of cheese if I need just a lil to help get me to my goal.  I just explained to her that years ago I was into body building and know that increased activity means the body needs increased fuel...calories...so that is when she threw in the "well doing it your way didn't work...you failed.  And the people that fail at this are the ones that try to do it their way.

"And the people that fail at this are the ones that try to do it their way."

And yet no two doctors have the same plan. If it was as simple as doing it the "right way" how she seems to think of it there would be only ONE way and ONE plan that all doctors use **eye roll**

 I don't want to get between you and your professionals but, for examle, I didn't have the go-ahead to exercise until week 8 or 10 and if it was possible I could have 3 to 4 oz for meals.  You're right, you can't be very active on so few calories.  32 lb loss sounds good to me.  That is 5 lbs a week....

So sorry you had such a rough visit. I find the people at my doc's office come across the same way and it made me kind of mad until I realized they hear it all the time see it all the time and have probably decided tough love works the best. But I sure don't like tough love, never have.

My plan is also 2 oz a meal 3 meals a day ONLY. no snacking. Nothing other than protein. I'm able to do it MOST days but I'm human and so are you give yourself a break. When else have you lost 32 pounds in 7 weeks? Did you feel good about yourself before you went in? if yes then you still should. NOthing changed other than their words. Sticks and stones.... ya know.

Once you've settled down or cried it out whichever works for you think about what they said. Does it make sense? Can you do better? how can you do better? Ultimately it's your life and you are living it. They aren't coming home with you so you have to make the choices, and be happy with them.

My take on it all For what it is worth

32 pounds at 6 weeks is excellent. If you have 320 pounds to lose, then you might be behind, but if you have 200 or less to lose, you're doing great.

I would do 2 oz per meal. If that's the plan, that's what I would do. That's what I did for the first two months, and worked up to 4 oz per meal by 6 months out, 8 oz by 18 months.

I don't think anyone can say "haven't lost enough"

BUT if you're eating more frequently because you are trying to balance out your calorie usage, you ARE short circuiting the point of this early time. Follow the eating plan, protein forward, in quantities suggested. YES you have energy to power you .... it's stored. When you use it, you lose the fat. That's the POINT.

Remember, you're not consuming so much your foods, as utilizing your fat for energy. You WANT to burn the fat. That's the POINT. (not trying to be mean, I promise) 

Protein drinks are a good choice.

I agree a bit with the physician's assistant. I'm sure she might have been snotty and superior (I hate that type) but overall you shouldn't be focused on anything but protein first and foremost. That's how this whole thing works.  The "revision" remark tells me she's a snotty so-and-so, and I doubt that you will be back because of that. but you DO need to focus on the plan, even if it's hard. It's GOING to be hard. When you get close to maintenance you focus on how to balance your calories used and consumed. But if you want to LOSE weight, you don't WANT it to balance.

I don't know much about the Vitamix, but I was told that juicing is just a way of getting all the calories out of foods and excluding fiber, and making it easier to consume huge quantities of calories. I did some research (way back at the beginning) and my research supported that juicing is really not the best way to minimize calories. The juicing is nice and yummy stuff but it does have a lot of calories. and it's EASY for us to consume, and EASY calories are not our friends, particularly in the losing phase

As far as your heart rate, that goes into the realm of EXERCISE and I'm not an expert. ANY workout is better than NO workout, but I can't comment. Everyone is different.

Follow teh plan of protein forward, low calories, protein drinks, no high calorie beverages .... those will handicap your weight loss.

go easy... I think that you care enough to put the effort in, and that's the MAJOR key to success. But they do have a plan for a reason.

 i agree with you.

a vitamix is a high speed blender.  i use a similar one (blendtec) to make my green protein smoothie every morning. fiber is intact, not a juicer.

Well, I was told a big NO! on using the vitamix...I explained I was doing it to help my body get in some extra nutrients...i know the calories were high...but I don't know...I went in feeling great...thought I looked great...first time in a long time and ended up feeling like someone punched me in the stomach.

 my 4 cups of spinach adds like 20 calories or something stupid low.  my morning protein shake has less then 200 calories.

if you are allowed protein shakes, i'm not sure why adding in a few cups of spinach or other leafy green woudl make a difference.

i see that argument for juicing or a ton of fruit, but that's a bit different.

Thanks for all the replies.....I just was really confused today...I have been successful in the past losing weight.  I know what cause my weight gain.  I am a food addict...I'm an addict period...I have battled sex addiction, alcoholism, excess spending...everything...I've had a lot of stress the last two years and went from 207 to 264....I am not making excuses...I just want to know the best way to use this tool.

Well you sound like you're FOCUSED and want to succeed that's 90% of the battle. I hope you took my words as being caring.

It's important to focus on keeping an imbalance in calories, and you need to lay off anything with lots of calories for now.

Are you getting counseling too? You sound very successful so far. Working on the mind as well as the body is essential for the most success.

Good luck. I know you'll do fine.

32pounds in 6 weeks sounds amazing to me. Try to focus more on protein than on calories. You need the protein to help rebuild muscle. Sorry your visit was so unpleasant.

Christine

umm.. sounds similar to my first follow up..  i was behind by THEIR calculations by about 10 lbs. The nurtionist had some dates on a sheet with "expected' weight losses.  I left very discouraged that I couldn't possibly be eating any less.. and exercise.. geez calories are fuel/energy.. and I just didn't feel like it much of the time and when I did exercise.. I found myself afternoon napping if I possibly could.  I also asked  about buying a juicer to get those nutriets in.(my y friends were all raving about hos much better they felt by usings one) . the nut discouraged me. saying same it would be more calories than I needed.. Focus on  protein, protein.. protein..  ugh.. and I hate protein drinks.. I am doing better with syntrax nector.. If I  can get two servings of this down per day.. that gives me 46 perday.. the rest with my eggs, chicken, fish, beans, cheese.  - BUT I said this to say.. things have changed. . my next appointment is on july 24th and I am projected to be down to 208 lbs.. yesterday I was 216..(less 50 lbs since rny 4/9)  so I am hopeing to make it.  maybe the PA.. was hurried and didn't hear you out. just keep doing what you are supposed to be doing.. like someone else said.. don't try to make your own plan leave that to the professionals.

Its odd how different the programs are out there. Anytime I bring up weight with my NUT or surgeon they tell me the weight doesnt matter, doing what the plan states and being healthy are the focus and where ever your weight ends up as long as the other factors are there is what is important to them. 32 pounds in 6 weeks sounds dang good to me. I agree with others that for now getting protein and water in is your main goal and for now dont worry so much about calories in and out.

My surgeon never gave me any goals, never discussed weight with me EVER (if you can believe it)

I think that part of that was down to me. I'd been into OH nd doing my pre-op diet for 6 months when I saw this surgeon (I changed surgeons in the middle as I didn't like what I was hearing about my first choice of surgeon)... and the day I saw my surgeon I lost my mum, so I didn't really have questions about the whole process and didn't want to talk about it much. I just wanted to get on with it and start my new llife.

The first surgeon was a lot more actively involved in discussing weight, rates of weight loss, expectations and stuff. The second might have been if I'd been in the mood to do anything other than just jump through the hoops and get it oveer with.

they keep sending me letters suggesting I come back for a followup. But the last time I had a followup I had to wait 4 hours to see the surgeon, and I can't afford the time (50 miles there, 50 miles back).

Thanks to all who took the time to read my post and reply.  It was just a bad day.  Like I said, I guess I don't know enough now about my own body to understand how it operates.  I previously was into health and nutrition, body building etc...and I am also a nursing student.  I was just trying to prevent my body from taking muscle to support itself.  I will have to do some more research and definately step up the exercise and protein intake.  Thanks again!