Still Losing Almost 3 years out?!?!?

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile since I've been on here.  But I wanted to get some input from others about what might be going on with my weight.

I'm almost 3 years out from RNY and am having trouble maintaining my weight.  I work out 4 - 5 times a week (cardio, water aerobics, line dancing class, weight machines) and am finding that even on a daily caloric intake of 2600 - 2700 calories, I'm losing weight.  As you know, it's difficult to get in a lot of calories due to the restrictive nature of the bypass, so I'm eating something every 2 hours just to get in that many calories.  But I feel like I'm "grazing" by doing that.

I've gone back to full fat cheeses and dairy products, added some nuts (almonds and pistachios) back into my diet and even some red meat a couple of days a week.  I've also switched from Diet Sierra Mist to the regular Sierra Mist for the extra calories when I chose to treat myself to one -- otherwise, it's jus****er or Crystal Light.

I went to the Bariatric Center to discuss the issue with them and after some tests found there's nothing going on as far as the bypass itself to be causing this and my labwork was the best it's EVER been.  :)  Phycially, I feel great and have tons of energy so it's not like the weight issue is having a negative impact on my health (My BMI is 22.3)

Any suggestions as to what else I can do to maintain?  Anyone else with this issue?  I'm all ears. . .

Carbs. you need mor carbs. Fruits. And some starchy veggies.
Higher fat and protein diet may make you lose weight even if you are eatinga lot of calories...

When you start gaining and want to lose again - just remove the carbs and you will get back to "normal"

Ha!  That sound easy enough.  I've been beating my head against a wall with this. 

I wouldn't worry until you get to an underweight BMI - your body will find the weight it's comfortable at and your BMI is within the healthy range ...

If it were me, I would just keep doing what you are doing ...   and enjoy the freedom to eat at will!   It's highly unlikely that this will continue forever!

 Glad to see you back. I agree re the carb issue. Hopefully that will help. I had the same issue at about ten months post op. by the time I was eighteen months post op, my weight had dropped to 119. For the past year I have leveled out at between 123-127. Current bmi is 21.1. 

My doc says the body stops losing when it gets ready. Sounds like you are burning up many of your calories with exercise. How much have you lost in the past year or so?5

Once I got my weight back up after some serious life-threatening issues last year, I was able to maintain at 136-138, which is where I wanted to be.  During the health crisis, I got down to 115 (a BMI of 18.5)

But this was a really sudden drop of about 7 pounds in less than a month that happened back in March of this year and I've been struggling like the dickens to get it back.  And while 7 pounds may not sound like a lot, it made a difference in the "padding" and I'm sitting on bones again. 

Perhaps the experience of dropping to 115 while you were not well is fresh on your mind and that's why you're scared of losing too much. But if you are at a healthy BMI, I would enjoy this "problem."

That's it exactly, Kay!!  Thanks for your understanding where this is coming from. 

I know first hand how fast you can go downhill when faced with life-threatening illness and it just scares me to death to think about what happened and how fast things went downhill.  The weight loss was the first symptom I had ( and -- no -- it didn't have anything to do with the gastric bypass then, either)  By the time they figured out what the issue was, I was so weak I could barely walk and after being hospitalized for a week, I ended up with Home Health Care visits twice a week for over 3 months. 

So when I dropped this weight so fast, my radar went up and I started tracking everything trying to see what I was doing wrong.  Still going to try adding the carbs, though, and see where that takes me.  :)

I don't blame you for being concerned , obviously you have checked on the previous medical issue. It IS scary to get so sick and be in a low weight body.

One of my daughters with RNY had life threatening RNY related issues FIVE years out , before that happened every doc she saw said GAIN WEIGHT , they even told ME to get some weight on her , mind you she was 35 at the time and not living with me , I was just her driver.
When she was in the hospital every nurse and every hospitalist and the surgeon said gain !!! it is now over 1-1/2 years and she has gained some and looks healthy. Although I would not recommend her diet !!

If the issue you had is not happening again I would try and relax , but I believe our bodies have a memory and it is not always possible to get your body to do what your head wants it to !!

Good luck

Can I just slap you???!!! 

I agree with the other Kim..........you are in a normal BMI.....I wouldn't stress until I hit underweight.

Follow this diet for a week.  Guaranteed to stop weight loss!

Do no exercise.  You must sit on the couch and watch TV.

B-4 Oreos, scrambled eggs, french toast, bacon and orange juice.
S-4 more Oreos
S-banana, peanut butter and 6 fun size Snickers
L-Pizza.  Thick Crust- real Coke
S-more Oreos-don't count 'em-just eat until you are full
D-Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and corn-wine to drink
Dessert-brownies and ice cream.

hehehehe!  Just kidding!