Question:
I am at my wits end. I am 2 years out - I lost 50 lbs in the first 6 mths.
then it has taken me 1 1/2 yrs to lose 35 more. I am 5'7 started at 290 and now at 208. I was 203, gained to 211 here recently and now at 208 again. I haven't lost any substancial weight for 4 months or more. I have really watched what I have been eating- getting in 60 gm of protein at least and eating around 1500 cal. I have been walking consistantly the past month 1/2 - 2 miles every night give or take a few days that I wasn't able to walk this past month. Still no weight loss. I am really scared that there is something wrong with me and that I am not going to be able to lose anymore weight on my own. I had some blood tests drawn. I really feel like a failure and have tried all kinds of things people have told me. I am also and have always drank at least 64 oz. of water a day. please help me figure out what the heck is wrong with me. — Rita B. (posted on February 11, 2003)
February 11, 2003
Have you called your surgeon? If you haven't, I definitley would. Just to
make sure that you don't have a staple line disruption or something like
that. It's good that you have had very minimal weight gain though! But I
would give your surgeon a call and they should be able to help you. Good
luck :o)
— fropunka
February 11, 2003
By the way...you are not a failure! You have lost 82 pounds! That is
excellent!
— fropunka
February 11, 2003
It could be that your surgery failed you, though it's hard to say from the
information you gave. I sure hope not, and good luck at the doctor's
office.<P>I was told that maintenance is about 1,500 calories a day,
which truly bummed me out when I first heard that as it doesn't sound like
much. It doesn't sound like of a calorie intake at your weight, either (at
200+ lbs., it seems to me like you should still be able to lose a bit on a
1500-calorie-a-day diet -- I'd be frustrated, too).<P>Just two other
thoughts: Until about a month ago, were you doing any exercising? It can
take awhile to see results. And over time, you need to ratchet up your
activity level as you get stronger. Walking 1.5-2 miles a day is a LOT for
some folks, but for others, it's not going to have a lot of impact, whereas
something more strenuous such as biking, swimming, or something else more
taxing might have a bigger impact if you can do it. The walking is a great
start, though.<P>Also, I know you said you get 60+ grams of protein
in a 1500-calorie day, but since protein is roughly 4 calories per gram (so
you're getting 240+ calories of protein), if the rest is carbs and fats,
that could be part of the puzzle, too. Maybe you need to up the percentage
of the daily calorie intake you're getting from protein and cut down the
carbs & fats. Try tracking what you eat on fitday.com, or in some
similar way, so you can build yourself some hard facts to take to the doc.
— Suzy C.
February 11, 2003
The first thing that comes to mind is something my doctor told me when I
was talking about my daughter who has PCOD. That a majority of PCOD
patients have another condition called insulin resistance. They lose some
weight then stop. No matter what they do, they can't lose. They end up
having to go on a drug called Glucophage and that jump starts the weight
loss. A blood test will determine if a person has insulin resistance.
— ZZ S.
February 11, 2003
Original poster here. I received my blood results back and the TSH test in
the thryoid studies came back at .80 with the range being .35 - 4. 94 . I
am still in the normal range but wonder if I should persue these results
with my Dr. My glucose is in the normal range of 99. I used to be on
glucophage. Back to the drawing board. I really didn't think I would have
to go to 1000 cal a day. Anyone else have any input?.
I do get full. I know I don't have a SLD as I have been transected and
can't really eat much at one time.
— Rita B.
February 11, 2003
Rita, I am only 5 months out, but have only lost about 60. I can't lose
more either. I too am frantic. Can anyone help?
— Ann M.
February 11, 2003
Hi...congratulations on the 82 pound loss. One thing you might try doing
is walking in the morning on an empty stomach. You burn stored body fat,
rather than what you ate all day. You may also want to try some weight
training also. Good luck!
— Tanya C.
February 11, 2003
Try changing your exercise routine. I would suggest adding aerobics. I
use a low impact video every morning and this has helped me. I'm a slow
loser too.
— Marian B.
February 11, 2003
Everyone had really good suggestions. Mine are pretty predictable. Lots of
protein supps (made with water or other 0 cal liquid); 64+ oz water; no
milk, no sugar, no grazing, no drinking with meals?
— vitalady
February 11, 2003
Hi, Rita! I can sense your frustration! I'm still pre-op, but back on one
of my more successful diet attempts, I hit a major plateau, and couldn't
get it moving. At that time, I didn't know a lot about the role of
exercise. I had been walking at a fairly brisk (I thought) pace. But, I
discovered that if I don't sweat A LOT when I exercise, I don't lose. So I
started walking as fast as I could, and really worked up a good sweat. I
also started doing some aerobic videos (low impact, 2 or 3x a week), and
believe me, just keeping up at first was a major task. Then, I began to
add weight training to the program as well. It was a lot of work, but it
helped me break the plateau, and I didn't change what I was eating at all,
just the exercise! Hope this helps you, and congrats on what you've lost
so far, and have been able to keep off! You are not a failure at all!
— Carlita
February 11, 2003
Is there a Curves in your town? I would highly recommend it. I mixes
weight or resistance training with aerobic activity. Easy to do, alot of
fun and I can really tell that it is toning me up too. Good luck to you.
— Marilayne M.
February 11, 2003
Is there a Curves in your town? I would highly recommend it. It mixes
weight or resistance training with aerobic activity. Easy to do, alot of
fun and I can really tell that it is toning me up too. Good luck to you.
— Marilayne M.
February 12, 2003
Hi Rita, lots of good suggestions here. I agree with the others that think
the 60 grams of protein is not enough. Keep in mind that because of the
malabsorption, we are not absorbing all the protein we eat and that
supplements, especially whey protein isolate, is the way to go. When I was
on a nasty plateau, I did a few things, and it took a month or so to kick
in but it is finally paying off- I added a protein shake a day, upped the
water (above 64 oz), added an extra work out session (and alter the type of
exercise) per week, and cut down some on the carbs/sugars. It started
working. Took a little while to kick in though.
— Cindy R.
February 17, 2003
rita, I started at 250 and 5ft tall i lost 63pounds in a year and3 months.
I started going to Weight Watchers this past Jan. As of this Jan. i now
have lost 101pds. Mt surgeon made my goal weight at 150 and I'll be a
Lifetime Member of WW in 5 more weeks. I'm waiting on a TT now and I used
to be a diabetic on 160 units of insulin /day now completly off and my
sugar is normal/. I had open in 2000I can eat anything but have to watch
the amounts and drink fluids every day Shirley
— Shirley F.
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