Question:
At 8 months out (very proximal RNY), i think i'm done losing weight, even w/exercise!

For the past two - three months, I had been concerned that my pre-op super calorie-sponge of a stomach was coming back "online," because my weight loss had s-l-o-w-e-d to a crawl. Convinced that exercise was the key to my salvation and the way to rev my weight loss back up, i posted on here around five weeks ago asking how others shed their lazy ways and become exercise addicts. I'm so proud to say that I have been successful in overcoming my lazy ways, I've become an exercise addict and get to the gym AT LEAST five - eight times a week, and love working out. BUT despite my Herculean efforts I am still not losing weight! Since starting my exercise regimen four weeks ago, i'm STILL playing the up/down game with the same 2 lbs.! I waited four weeks before i complained, to give it a good chance to start "kicking in," but it's just not happening. Take a look at what I'm doing: - 1/2 hour cardio/elliptical trainer 5X per week - 1 hour cardio/elliptical trainer 1X per week - 1 hour competitive women's volleyball 1X per week - strength train/lift weights 4x per week (upper/lower body split) - drink 85-100+ ozs per day - have varied my calories between 800-1200 calories - get between 50-80 grams protein per day Please don't give me the line that because i'm exercising so much, i need more calories, because EVERY TIME i try that the scale GOES UP. When i stay at 800 calories, the scale STAYS THE SAME. I have tried drinking a protein shake immediately AFTER my workouts (don't like to drink/eat before, it interferes with training). Also don't tell me i'm losing inches. i've taken my inches to the best of my ability (it's hard because of my fat rolls), and i'm not losing there, either. I refuse to stop working out because it makes me feel so good (endorphins are addicting), but i am getting really depressed and upset that the tool is no longer working for me, except in the capacity of restriction. I don't dump, and i don't seem to be malabsorbing, either (never have seen the grease in the toilet thing i see on these threads). My doc told me he had only bypassed 15 cms (i guess this is his normal amount for everyone), but his other patients seem to be doing much better than me, and most of them are not exercising as much as I am. i feel like going to him and asking him WHY he bypassed so little. I have 25 lbs. left before i get to the very top end of my "normal" range, and i feel i may never get there. I am getting so desperate that i'm even considering trying supplemental fat burners. I didn't have the surgery to go through this "what am i doing wrong" syndrome so soon! This sucks! (Open PROXIMAL RNY, 7/7/03, 227/152/>127) — sweetmana (posted on March 7, 2004)

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March 6, 2004
From the looks of it your not doing anything wrong. There are a few that have had surgery that dont loose weight - BUT what really struck me is the 15 cm that was bypass. You said it seems you dont have the malaborption just the small pouch.... YOUR RIGHT> with 15 cm your DONT! Personally that seems a small 'weird' amout; and I would get a second opion. Most you see are at least 100; I know I was 150... i know that cm vary but THAT small seems like it would be useless....
— star .

March 7, 2004
I remember your other post. Glad to see you have embraced exercise but it's a bit much in my opinion, but I also understand why it's so much because you are trying everything to get the weight moving again. Like I indicated before the 15cm was not worth bypassing any in my opinion, but that's what you have. I can only assume your body is saying I need a break and is taking it. With the calories you are eating, even if you were not bypassed any or had not even had WLS you should be losing. My only suggestion is to push the protein higher and cut some carbs and fat. I doubt you are done losing and since you are within 25 lbs it would be normal that things would slow way down. But I understand, it's frustrating. I definitely would have a discussion with your doc and get his take on what you might be doing "wrong", which I'm certaily not seeing. The only advice I can give is stick to the program, try and relax and enjoy how far you have come. The rest will come in time I suspect. Good Luck!
— zoedogcbr

March 7, 2004
Original Poster here: for those who haven't read my past posts, I am 100% sure that the amount I had bypassed was 15 cms. I found this out at a five months post-op appointment, and even called back two days later to re-question the doc, thinking he had made a mistake. I was informed by his nurse (after checking with him) that yes, it was only 15 cms. bypassed. If i had known this BEFORE surgery, i think i may have gone with someone else. Just goes to show how important it is to never take anything for granted, and you can never do enough research about your surgery. Thanks to those who have posted an answer to this already. Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience.
— sweetmana

March 7, 2004
Oh, I remember feeling those same feelings at approx 8-9 months out as well!!!!! I also joined a gym and began working out with weights as well as cardio at least an hour usually 1/2 hours 5 days a week. I had cut my calories, increased my protein, and the scale way NOT moving-SOOOOO frustrating!!!! Months went by with absolutely no weight loss. When I finally was on the verge of changing my exercise routine-slowing down, etc.... My trainer suggested trying adding more calories and most of them in complex carbs. She felt like I wasn't giving my body enough fuel and therefore it felt like it needed to hand onto what I had left. I decided that I would try it for a week. I added things like oatmeal, brown rice, beans, veggies, etc.... the first week I lost 6 pounds. Then over the next 6-8 months I lost an additional 20 pounds. Very slowly-a pound here and a pound there-nothing like I had done the first 8 months post op. Now I am 11/2 years post op and I have lost 139# and am still loosing-only a pound here or a pound there, but being more balenced in my diet and adjusting my caloric intake to meet my output seemed to work better for me. Best of wishes to you as you continue your process!!
— Heather N.

March 7, 2004
Sometimes our bodies are done losing before we are. When you eat more calories, the scale will go up from more muscle mass gained. I can lose on 2000 a day with exercise. I probably had more bypassed. I try to stick between 1200-1500. If I exercise hard, I always gain 2 pounds 2 days later. It has nothing to do with calories, it has to do with muscle mass and fluid retention. Also, if you eat more food, you are taking in more salt therefore will gain a bit of water weight. Also, this is not exactly pointed at you. But in the year or so that I've been on this site, a lot of people who have posted similiar things to this have been diagnosed with Anorexia. I am not saying you are anorexic. But if you would rather starve yourself (calorie-wise) than to eat what you need and maybe go up 2 pounds, you need to start considering some outside help. I hope you don't feel like I am attacking you. I wish you luck.
— mrsmyranow

March 7, 2004
Have you ever considered this: Muscle weighs more than fat. As you replace excess fat with lean muscle tissue that you will stop seeing a decrease in pounds on the scale, but you are still making the best choice for your body. Also you might want to do weight/ resistance training every other day as your muscles need 24 hours to repair the damage of working out. I do not refer to the damage in a negative way. When you work out you actually damage muscle tissue, What you experience in muscle increase is the result of muscluar repair. You seem to be doing all the right things, You seem to "have been there, done that"... I am not a Physical trainer, But I am in Nursing school, so I would say to follow up with your Doctor. Another suggestion would be to hire a Trainer. Maybe for 6 months, to learn to get the most of of your workouts, and to maximize your time and energy. I have heard from several members, that they are not expensive. Many local health clubs reduce the cost of a trainer. Maybe they would be able to give you training techniques that would be benificial. Best of luck, you sound like you are doing an Excellent job and while it might seem disheartening, you will get there. Christy
— Tiny Pixie

March 7, 2004
I remember your original post. Now, I see what you're doing exercise-wise. And lemme tell you, if it ever came down to it, I'd want *you* in my foxhole. Clearly, you are not to be messed with when determined. LOLOL!OK, looking at your math, if you're getting 80 grams of protein a day (top end), that's roughly 320 calories of protein out of an 800-calorie day. Is that including your protein shakes, btw? When I was losing, I always kept my protein gram intake above my carb gram intake. Others here are even more restrictive regarding carbs while losing. I'm not a big fan of really restrictive low-carbing, but I might've been had I learned through experience that it was the only way for me. I think you have some room to play with before going low-carb, but you could perhaps consider going lower-carb than now. So, in your case, I might try cutting back carbs, substituting a little more protein.I know you think 800 calories can't be increased, but I still think that might be too low for 8 months post-op, and for someone working out as hard as you are. However, you are still in the "get this weight OFF of me" period, so I can understand your fears about what you see happening when you increase calories. I can't explain the scale, but it's also possible that you are at the point now ... just 25 pounds from goal ... where EVERYTHING you do from now on is really tweaking, making small changes to see what really works, which requires some long-term observation (more than a month or two) to see what really does work. Maybe you haven't given a calorie-increase a true try (go for a month on 1000 calories, instead of a week, and see what gives. Horrifying? No more so than what you're going through right now, IMHO.) It's possible that if you try something for a couple of weeks, and go by the scale or even the tape measure for immediate results, that's just not long enough. Your body is not going to respond as fast as it did in those first six months or so, which is natural, as you'd ultimately disappear into a wisp if you kept losing at that rate. Weight just ain't gonna move that fast, off of you, at this point, so it's time to hunker down and give things a longer chance to work before despairing that you may never get there.Eight months is *still* not that far out. This is one of the hard *mental* parts of the journey, learning this patience and keeping the faith that it will work for you. I sort of break the whole WLS experience into different types of journeys, some of which are almost entirely mental, bearing up against disappointing scale results or horrendous head hunger. Of course WLS doesn't work as well for some as for others, and I've no doubt you see others seeming to skate to goal with less effort, but you're not yet at the point of reaching the conclusion that it won't work for you, in terms of getting you to goal. Have faith for a few months more of fighting it out with what you've got.As far as exercise goes, good golly Miss Molly, that's a lotta exercise. If you love it, then it's worth it just for that. But, a suggestion on cardio -- I like to mix up the machines. I'll run one day, stairmaster the next, elliptical train the one after that, interval train (alternating running & jogging after that), maybe attend a butt-kicking "spin" class (which I can never finish because I hate biking and going nowhere, but it's thing to do, at least). I don't let myself repeat anything for fear it'll get too easy. While losing, I never went to the gym more than 5x a week (I just hadda have a day off now and then).I know your bypass is extremely proximal, but 800 calories a day should've been enough to lose even with no WLS at all. That's what leads me to think that tweaking around the edges of what you're doing, and giving tweaking a chance to succeed (more than a week or two or even three, on any single particular change), is the way to go at this point. Not trying all of them, and saying after five weeks, dang it, I've run through it all, and now it's time to go for fat-burners (ay carumba, no no no no nooooooooooooooo). Tweak that protein:carb ratio. Tweak the calories. Tweak the exercise. Variety. Use the element of surprise on your body -- sneak up on it, change stuff around a little, throw it off, and give your methods some time to work.Most of all, do not overlook the fact that you're on a mental journey here as well. You will be much better equipped to deal with maintenance, than those of us who got to goal relatively easily compared to you, because you will have fought through this frustration mentally as well. Slow weight loss seems to be a character-builder, for those who made it to goal despite that challenge. Take on that challenge the way you stormed the gym, and you'll rule the world. :-D
— Suzy C.

March 8, 2004
Well for the VERY PROXIMAL RNY- from the friends I have who have had the Proximal and others I know , alot of patients never reach their goal weight ...infact I know some who have had GAINED weight back not to scare you ......THis is a tool and to many people think its Instant skinny (not that you do) and alot who have Proximal dont loose allthey really want. It sounds like your doing all you can , and WOW what a work out....I had RNY Distal and at 10 1/2 post op havent had issues of these kind....I started at 328 and now 146 LBS gone forever...of course I dont have to count carbs and I eat every 2-3 hours throughout the day ..WE DONT STICK to 3 meals a day..I know I hve met Proximal patients online that have said they had to go see a DOc who does Distal....Good luck
— lukimom

March 8, 2004
That was my question too. If you are only getting 50-80 grams of protein per day that is not anywhere near 800-1200 calories. Where are the rest of your calories coming from? I have found, after much experimentation, that I can only eat a very low number of carbs in order to continue losing. I never count fat or calories even but HAVE to count my carbs and keep the under 50 at the very most. I am most comfortable under 40. Everybody has a different number but I am of the opinion that years of carb abuse has left many or most of us unable to process them properly and that means no weight loss. I would track exactly how many carbs you are actually eating and back that down by 10 or 20 per week until you see weight loss again.I would bet you will start losing when you hit your magic number. It works for me every time. Good Luck!
— Carol S.

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