OK, (sorry, lengthy post)I am far from normal, but can anone explain this???

I was sleeved late July and had a three week preop liquid diet.  Since its beginning, I have been uber-strict about it.  This far out, I have found eating solids has been less than comfortable, and following the "well, what works for you" advice, I have been replacing two meals a day with protein shakes or smoothies and the third meal is generally a high protein mushy of some sort.  I have no appetite and eating anything more is a chore.  Is this normal?  Should I be modifying things in any way?  BTW, HBW was 350, DOS was 327, and today I am 262.

Also, I have had two different stalls that went on longer than a week.  After I reached the tipping point, I thought I would completely confuse things and go for the nastiest, densest carb I could find: a scone.  It took me maybe 15 hours, and one trip to , but the next morning I was down 2.5 pounds.  Then, yesterday, after being stalled for a week, I took my son to the Nestle Toll House retailer down here.  He got his favorite chocolate chip, and I went for 2 (TWO) snickerdoodles.  Exercise that day was no more than usual, but I was down three pounds this morning.  These are the only two real negative exceptions from any deviation from the diet I described above.  I still haven't even had a piece of bread.  Well, this is the absolute most EVIL form of positive reiforvement I can imagine.  Can anyone out there provide a medical or scientific explanation for what my body did?  It was thoroughly confusing, and like I say, I am afraid of what that experience can do to my internal wheels of justification.  SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!

Thank you wonderful people so much.  I hope to hear from you soon!!!

sometimes when we stall it's just our body's way of saying "it's time to shake things up a bit".  If we arent getting enough calories, our body goes into starvation mode until you bump your calories up to compensate for it's sense of deprivation.

It's good to change things up from time to time.  It lkeeps your metabolism guessing.

So you think that's all it was???  I felt completely... defiled, even dirty after eating them.  How has your past experiences been, and is there any more efficient way to do so with a minimal food intake?  I am also TERRIFIED of falling back into old habits...  And this feels like I'm flirting with Pandora's box...

God can I have some of your self discipline and guilt complex?

God how I wish I could give it all to you...  I'm starting to sound like a cliche!

You want to be careful because it can be like opening the gates of hell...  I know from experience.  Once you open that door, it's hard to close it.  So if you start to stall, try and bump up your calories differently...  instead a cookie, try adding an extra shake, or some sliced turkey or chicken deli meat as a snack. 

Playing with carbs before you reach goal is like flirting with distaster...  But on the other hand you are a guy.  Guys just lost faster and better than us women folk...  If you are working out alot, your body might be needing the extra carbs though...

So here's my suggestion...  Find a good bariatric nutritionist.  Discuss with them your excersize regimine and find out what your body needs to fuel these workouts so you can maxamize your efforts to lose this weight.

I think the way you're feeling is totally normal - and a good thing. If eating those things made you uncomfortable, you'll be less likely to become complacent about eating carbs - and slipping back into old habits! I think you gave your body a bit of a jolt at exactly the right time. Lots of people on this forum have said they broke stalls by temporarily upping carb intake. If it works - it works... If it doesn't work next time, then try something else.

If you're losing weight fairly steadily with only periodic stalls - and you feel good - then I don't see why you should modify things.... But if eating is a chore, remember that you then have to force yourself. Not eating is definitely not a good option.

I know I can sometimes break a stall by changing things up- more protein or more carbs or a higher calorie day.  That is basically what you did.

I am more concerned that at 3 1/2 months out you are still not eating dense protein.  Have you talked with your nutritionist?  Mine would have a fit if I were still doing two meals a day as shakes.  Please talk to your nutritionist ASAP.  I am almost certain you will be told to start eating real food for 3 meals a day.  You have waited so long for solid proteins it may be a tough transition to teach your tummy how to do chicken or beef again but for your long term health you need to do this.

You're absolutely right.  I talked to them yesterday and I was told to do no more than one meal replacement per day.  I tried that today and just couldn't make it.  I ended up doing two shakes to get more than 60 g's of protein in.  They told me to start to "challenge" my pouch.  I am curious if anyone has been through anything similar and what their progression was like.

Aloha S- OK, here's my theory. No, I do not have scientific references to back it.

I think the human body is a phenominally amazing structure ( as are other organisms). Survival is it's only goal. If you drink less water, the kidneys will make a smaller amount of a more concentrated urine so you remain hydrated. If you starve yourself, your body will lower its metabolic rate  and start sacrificing non-vital organs ( ie hair, fingernails) to spare the vital organs ( brain, heart, liver, kidneys, etc). If you exercise the same way every day, your body will find a way to become more efficient at that exercise, and find a way to "cheat" so it is not expending as much energy. This is what it is supposed to do....survive under a variety of adverse conditions.

I think when we eat and drink the same things everyday and do the same exercise routine everyday ( in our attempt to lose weight in a healthy manner), our bodies will find a way to cheat that too. So switching it up mucks that system up, and we break our stall.

In answer to your other feelings, it is easier for me to eat mushies and shakes than experiment wit different proteins. I also have no hunger AT ALL and find that I simply skip dinner and drink a bullet if I'm down on protein. And to tell you the truth, I hope it lasts a LONG time, because it is making it SO easy to avoid temptations- I'm simply not in the mood, honey!

Be well-XOXOLori