Concerned that I can't stop losing

Ok I have been saying that I am not concerned about losing too much weight but now I AM starting to wonder when this will stop. I am already 19 pounds below my goal. It's slowed down but I am still losing! I eat a lot... almost constantly. I do get a good amount of exercise.. I walk a lot and do Yoga and Pilates... which makes me feel great so I do NOT want to stop that. I eat healthy foods.... and know that I could add sugar and fatty foods to gain weight but I don't want to do that either. I have added high calorie protein drinks and bars thinking that should do it but geeez... I got on the scales today and am down another pound. I am 14 months out of surgery. Could I still be in malabsorption and this will end soon and I'll stop losing? Could there be something different about me that is making this happen? I have read a lot on these boards and really don't recall seeing this as a common problem. I saw my doc at 12 months and he said I'd probably be done losing and I've lost another 5 pounds since I saw him. Advice, ideas, thoughts and experiences anyone?

-Marianne

could u lend me about four pounds i want to lose??

seriously though, if it continues perhaps you need to meet with a nutritionist and work on a diet that will add back calories in a healthy and safe way.

also, do u track your foods on an online tracker??  maybe you are eating less calories than you think?? just a thought there.

also talk to your doc again and get his or her feelings on this

good luck, hugs and be well, jacki

I am 100 lbs. and 5"2 and 4 4years old. I am 3 years out and still loosing. The doctor told me not to count calories just eat anything and everything I can. He said right now my weight matters to much. I don't do red meats or fattie f.f. or fat stuff. I eat lots of fruit and veggies. And lots of baked taters with butter on them. Just up your calories. Have 1 or 2 extra protein bars. I am trying to gain 15 lbs. And I know I am going to do it. I am keeping my chin up and trying. Good luck to you and have a fun journey.

Amy

The doctors told me to add 200 calories at a time until I stopped losing. I am continuing to add even now as I try to put on a few pounds to even things out. I was also told by my nut to add proteins and fats first back into my diet. Right now I'm eating 1600-2000 calories a day to keep things even but some days I know I fall short. NEVER did I think I would be one of those people who had trouble stopping losing weight. I didn't even start out as a lightweight (at 310 pounds).

Well, I thought I was done at 8 months when I was 146.  The doctor told me that I could lose down to 125. Until that point he had never put a number on my goal. My goal was "healthy" and that's still my goal but at 146 I was sure the man was crazy. I had never in my life weighed 125...EVER! At 11 months I weighed 122 and that's when he told me I could stop losing. I asked him "how?" and the simple truth he told me was "eat more." period.

I'm wondering what your BMI is and what is your height? At 130, if you are 5 ft 8 or 9...yeah, you could be done.

What is your calorie intake and protein intake? I'm usually between 1600 and 2100 calories a day, most days way over 100 grams of protein. I follow the rules, protein first, good carbs after that. No sugar...Try and stay low fat (but not necessarily) and no drinking until 30 minutes after finishing eating..I'm maintaining except in my mind where I'm totally against adding any added pounds. It's mental now.

My weight has stayed basically the same (122 - 125) but it's redistributed where I'm thinner in the waist and fuller in the hips but still the same weight. Today I weighed 123.6.

HI Marianne. This actually seems to be a pretty common problem for some. What's your bmi? weight/height? Here's a link to a post from a little while back. It has alot of good info so check it out~

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/a,messageboard/a ction,replies/board_id,5491/cat_id,5091/topic_id,3750394/

Thank you VERY much Tracy. I feel much better after reading yours and other posts on the subject. My BMI is 24 which is really a healthy weight for me yet I do know that people are right when they tell me how sickly I am looking. But in answer to your question about how I feel? I feel fabulous! I have a TON of energy all day every day. My skin looks great... I hardly had any saggy skin after losing all that weight. I didn't even have much hair loss either. I take all my vitamins regularly, my blood labs have all been fine and I eat a very healthy well balanced diet. So after reading your repsonses in that thread and hearing what others have to say, I know I will bounce back and my weight will shift and I will look as good as I feel. I am not going to worry about it any more and in fact... will pass this thread on to my Mother and Sisters who will not get off my back with telling me how awful I look. Ok I do agree that I look too thin but I also know that my main reason for having the surgery and continuing to work out and eat good is to BE and FEEL healthy!!!!  I love being smaller but love FEELING fantastic even more!!!! I am doing things that I never DREAMED I'd be able to do again in my entire life! This surgery is a blessing to me and even though I was starting to become a little concerned with all the nay sayers,  after reading your response and all the posts in that thread you sent and here, I am sure I will be just fine.

Thank you AGAIN!
Marianne

Hey Guys,

It sounds like you all have done really well.  I am almost 11 months out and have completly stopped losing. The first of Aug. I was down to 152. I was really happy- 2 pounds from my goal.  Well since then I am back up to 158-160.  Don't get me wrong I am still happy, but I am scared that I won't stop gaining. I usually eat around 1500-1700 calories a day, and walk for exercise. Also I feel like I should still lose a few more pounds because I statrted out a lightweight of 210.  Anyway the weight that I have lost has helped my diabetes- as of this time no meds.

If anyone can offer any suggestions, please share.

Thank You,
Misty from North Carolina 

Hi Marianne,

While many will stop losing at about 12 months post op, apparently, it's not unusual to continue losing until 18 to 24 months post op. If you look at my profile you'll see that I've struggled with this some. My BMI is about 21 to 22 now and I've been able to hold that steady for a couple of months. I get over 2000 calories a day. I have had to make some adjustments in my diet to do this. I eat higher fat versions of some items; i.e., 2 percent milk instead of skim, use a little more olive oil instead of PAM, etc... I still try to lead my meals with a minimum of 2 to 3 ounces of lean protien and follow that with complex carbs, then I can have whatever I want. I've been pretty careful to stay away from snacking and grazing because I'm afraid that if I started to gain that would much more difficult to change than shifting from 2 percent milk back to skim...

Keep exercising. Keep a log of what you are eating. Increase you calorie intake by 100 calories at time to see if it stabilizes you weight.

Barb

BTW ... I also had a resting metabolic rate study done that shows the calorie count I require, whch to be honest is a lot more than many post RNY patients report consuming. You can google "Resting Metabolic Rate Test" and your city to find where to have it done locally.

My suggestion is to get a metaoblism test to see how much you should be eating - once you find out a calorie goal you should aim to eat 30% protein, 40% carbs and 30% fat... adding the high calorie protein drinks may not be what you need - I know a lot of post-WLSers are 'carb-a-phobic' so I would wonder if you are eating enough carbs, including bread/starch - especially to account for the working out.
I had a metabolism test done and found I had to add 200-600 more calories than my surgeon/NUT suggested (based on what was 'average' for their patients) in order to stop losing weight - I have to eat 5-6 times a day to meet my goal of 1400-1800 calories... I feel like I am always eating but its what I have to do. It took me a few months to get it all worked out but I kept at it and did it.