Am I going to have to work this hard?

Okay so I eat between 1000 and 1500 per day. And I walk two to three times a weeki, not vigoursly but about two to four miles each time.  I have also been riding a bike three to six miles a day. And I have become a active person.  I am down to losing only about five pds per month.  The question I have is if I am working this hard to lose. How hard am I going to have to work this hard to maintain. I was hoping that  when I got to maintaining I would be able to take it easy for awhile.  I feel like I am working my butt off all the time. I dont know if I can explain it good enough. But it is like life has become hard work. I am constantly doing something, Keeping busy and dont have enough time for everything. Am I the only one that has life has become this way?

If you're anything like me (which I hope you're not)...yep.  Sucks, doesn't it?  :-(

Hi Marie, You need to change your thinking my friend .  Don't think of all the things are you doing "NOW" that you could not do before as hard work .  Don't forget to appreciate you can walk several miles, you can ride a bike, you are an active person.  I love it when you say you are constantly doing something.  Be so grateful that you are constantly doing something.  In the old days before WLS (I won't speak for you) it was all I could do was walk to the car and then park in a handicap space.  When I made it to my desk I would be sweating like a pig and breathing like I was going to have a heart attack...  I would come home and land on the couch or bed.  And stay there for the rest of the evening, eating.  I never went any where fun as I could only walk so far and then had to sit.... I hope you are not taking this as a lecture honest, I just see all that I do to keep my new life as a blessing, not hard work.  I am at goal and I will be honest with you...  I go to the gym almost everyday, walk, bike ride at homeand walk the dog.  I  have to watch what I eat.  But I love it!!!! Good luck to you and hang in there ok? Take care, Kathy

Thank you Kathy. Yes I guess I have  to stop and smell the roses.  Just two short yrs ago. i was walking with a walker and couldnt walk. I sometimes forget.  I Have just been so tired today.  I am sorry I dont mean to complain. I just feel  so tired today and wore out... and havent done nothing today.. I keep telling myself to get up and move but have no energy.. I have done some minor household chores, made the bed and dishes and two loads of laundry, but I need to get up and move.  And feel so tired.   hugs.

RieRie, Back to the basics - are you getting enough protein to support your active lifestyle? 75 or more grams a day? Try starting your day with a protein drink. Are you exercising too much? It sounds like quite a lot to me. I know when I overdue it, I am tired because I don't eat enough to support it.   Are you getting your water in? How about your supplements? When was the last time you had your blood work done? Maybe you are low on iron or potassium.   Just some things to think about - if you're not sure, call your doctor. He may have some help for you. One thing my doctor told me to try was drinking gatorade - 1/3 gatorade and 2/3 water mixed. It has helped me with energy problems and is not that many calories when you cut it like that. Keep on keeping on! Diona

Hey you were not complaining sweetie, you asked an honest question.  I am concerned if you are that tired.  Call you doctor and maybe it's time for some blood work.  You could have low iron, or other issues going on.  I agree with the other post, if you are getting in all your protein and vitamins then call the doc ok? Please keep me posted and let me know what is going on as I said you should not feel so tired.  Take care, Kathy

Believe it or not, you may not be taking in enough calories.  If you've significantly increased your exercise, you've probably affected your metabolism and you have definitely affected the amount of calories you burn each day.  If you're eating too few calories compared to your calorie output, your body will work to hold on to your stored energy.  End result is that you either don't lose weight or you lose much slower.   I'm at 205 pounds now, down from 396.  I lift weights 2x per week and do 35-40 minutes of cardio on the elliptical trainer 5x per week.  I'm eating 1800-2000 calories per day and, as an example, I've lost 10 pounds in the past 2 weeks.  That's more than I usually lose in that amount of time, but I'm just providing it as an example.  I'm getting about 50% of my calories from carbs, 25% of my calories from fat, and 25% of my calories from protein (works out to 250 grams of carbs, 55 grams of fat, 125 grams of protein per day).   It may seem counterintuitive, but try adding another 100-200 calories to your daily intake.  I know it goes against what your brain will tell you, but just try it for a week or two.  I suspect you will see a difference.   Regarding the long term maintenance aspect of your post, we are going to have to work hard to keep off what we've lost.  But keep work on developing those new habits - walking, riding your bike, etc.  If they are things you enjoy, soon they will become something you WANT to do, not something you HAVE to do!   Good luck on your continuing journey.   Kellie

I hate to say it, but the news isn't good.  Maintaining will be an effort because our bodies are still suffering from the disease of obesity even if we aren't "offically" obese.  Once we have those extra fat cells, we always have them (unless they are cut or sucked out via ps!).  And they are programed to want to be fruitful and multiply!  And personally, the more I read about obesity, the more convinced I am that many of the "bad behaviors" obese people are accused of are driven by biological issues we don't control.  Even the craving for high carbs, sugar, fatty foods, etc. can be biologically based.   But knowing all this, doesn't make it any easier to lose and keep the weight off.  So I am working on getting the right attitude and mind set for the life-long fight but with the knowledge that this time it is not a hopeless war! Good luck at finding the good spot that works for you, Sally

I got to the point that I had quit losing and my doctor was pleased with my weight so I didn't try to lose any more.  I worked at maintaing for almost two years and was pretty successful and then got complacent.  I have gained a bunch of weight - close to 40 pounds.  Now I'm on under 400 calories a day - all protein shakes and NO food. You might have to cut back on the calories.  I know my metabolism is shot and if I eat 1000 calories a day, I gain. I know this doesn't sound encouraging but there are so many variables between people that it's hard to say what works for one will work for another. But, I am afraid that must of us will have to work hard for the rest of our lives if we want to maintain our losses. Patty Butler

I wish I could tell you that we are cured, but in reality, our disease is only in remission.

As I'm pushing 13 yrs, I'm working harder than I ever have. I still do 180g in protein drinks (no milk or juice); and never counted calories at all! Only recently have I done a fit day to see what I do eat. Food runs about 900-1000 cal and then the protein drinks, which I have never counted as calories.

What I have had to do is restrain carbs. I always counted sugars, but only a quick glance at general carbs. Right now, I'm very low carb. I want my jeans to fit better!

I am a busy person and never was very good with organized exericse. And it made me crave carbs. Like I needed THAT!

We don't burn carbs, we store them. I knew that, but somehow I became involved sugar and carbs to a dangerous degree. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

But I'm not starving at all! So, it's not like pr-op when I was eating a total of 5 salads per week (only food) and even then, just slowing the gain!