Checking in 2-1/2 years post op revelation

Originally 440 pounds down to my lowest of 257 after about a year and lost steam. Maintained for a while then watched the scale creep up. Saw a great quote recently which stated that the pouch was in control during the first year after that it is all me. Really grappled with questioning if the pouch was still there lol. As a approached 300 I freaked out. stopping the gain at 295 and sat there for a while. Went back to basics after a lot of research. I did this because duh I have not been following the rules. No kidding. Now that I am following the rules weight has been dropping off almost like when I was post op. I've manages to drop about 20 lbs to 275 using you guessed it a combination of diet and regular exercise.

question for anyone who wants to answer. Most literature I have read says about 1200 calorie diet to maintain. adjusted for activity. My Dr. Believes that a lower intake is needed to lose. I find if I follow the rules and eat lean protein etc.. I can meet my protein requirements of 60-80 grams and come in below the 1200 calories.

What is your experience? Any hear of folks existing on an extremely low calorie diet after surgery to control weight?

Hi,  Welcome back!  I am a little over a year out and am at around 180 lbs and 5'-9"... if I go over 1300 calories with my current activity level I gain (and fast!). It has taken a return to the gym and really mindful eating to bring about a loss of a pound this last week. If you bump up the intake than you have to get aggressive with the exercise, period. All the pouch does is remind you when you have had enough to eat and (sometimes) slap you down if you eat the wrong stuff. Fill the pouch with high calorie food and it is not a tool, same with slider foods and high calorie liquids...  Your doc is right, this WLS stuff is a life change and it takes hard work to be successful!

What Brian said.  Also, the more intense your exercise you will need more protein.  So, lean is the way to go to keep the calories from working against you.  I'm almost 4 yrs out and with my activity level on gym days (60 min intense cardio = 1100 kcal burned)  I need to consume about 115g protein.  On my off days with no gym I need about 70g protein.

Good luck!

-Mike

Agreed. We are in a different category now

I would check if they offer Resting Metabolic Rate testing, it will measure YOUR actual calories burned in a given day, based on your current muscle (lean weight) etc.

Someone my height normally would be burning 1850-1950 calories per day, I am burning 1690.  So with that in mind, if I exercise more I "burn" more calories and could eat more as well.

Everyone is different.  Charts are just averages based on historical data, some of which (Height/weight tables and BMI I am looking at you) is REALLY OLD data.

Back to the basics, PROTEIN first, then complex carbs (veggies) and then anything else.  Chances are you will already be full from those.

Snacking is MY personal bane.  Durn cookies... when I replace those with healthy snacks I am MUCH better off and keep losing weight.

If you are not doing it, start tracking everything that goes in your mouth again.  MyFitnessPal is incredible tool and will keep you on track.

Sam

I am with Sam on this get some Metabolic testing done to determine your base calorie requirements.  

Depending on your exersice regime you may end up doing damage at an extremely low calorie level.

Good advice

Thank you all for the responses. I believe all are helpful. I will look into the testing. I had a follow up appointment with my nutritionist today to review my logs and devlop a meal plan. The short of it is that I went back to the final phase of the RNY diet premaintenance. She thought that I should expand on the diversity a little, but actually cut back my protein intake a bit, as I am not lifting right now. This was a cool way to validate what I am doing calorie wise since I am ranging between 600-800 calories per day right now. I set a couple of goals to shoot for right now short goal to reach my minimum waeight after RNY of 257 and a long term to get to 240. I've committed to follow the plan for one month and evaluate during my annual chack up with the doc.

I think I mentioned on another post that I had my nut meeting this week. It went well and I had been working towards all of the right behaviours. She confirmed that a 600-800 calorie diet for someone with my activity level would be correct. The numbers to be adjusted if weight loss is too fast or slow. She did make sevaeral changes to what I was doing to incorporate more diversity etc.. Here is a sample diet plan:

3 Meals, 2 Snacks per day

Breakfast

1 Egg
1 oz Low Fat Cheese
1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce

Dairy/Snack

6 oz greek yogurt

Lunch

2 oz Chicken
1-1/2 cups salad

Snack

Low Fat Cheese Stick
1/2 Apple

Dinner

2 oz Chicken
1/2 Cup Non Starch Veggies
1/4 Cup Corn