Lose more weight when I eat a lot more

[DIESELD47 9]

I had my surgery June 23rd of this year and started out doing very well - losing about a pound each day for the first month and a half (about 700 calories per day). My weight loss started slowing down and then stalling altogether for about a month which was VERY discouraging. I started doing a modified version of Atkins where I was trying to keep my carb intake under 75 grams per day (less than 1,100 calories per day as my nutritionist recommended I start eating more) as I had experienced success before surgery with Atkins. It seemed that I started losing some weight but then that slowed down until I stalled out about a month later. I got so discouraged that I stopped being as strict about tracking my food and the types of food that I was eating (maybe 1,500 - 2,000 calories per day). The strange thing is I started losing weight again. I'm down about 92 pounds from my HW as of this morning. I've been a bit confused about what's going on with my body and I'm not sure if anyone has experienced anything similar. I have no issues doing as my nutritionist and surgeon recommend but I'm really stumped about why I lose more weight when I eat more calories and more carbs. Any similar stories?

[Dub 9,922]

That is interesting.

For me, the weight loss also seems to accelerate or slow based on WHAT I eat, too. Meaning I can eat the same number of calories but lose at different rates based on what they are. Lean meats and fibrous stuff and minimizing carbs works best for me.

[Babbs 14,680]

Our bodies need fuel. They also start adjusting to the low amount of calories we are consistently feeding it, and become complacent. Changing things up basically shocks the system, therefore jump starting weight loss again.

As you get further out from surgery, you should be slowly increasing your calories anyway to prepare for maintenence so you aren't having to live on 800 calories the rest of your life.

[DIESELD47 9]

Thanks so much for the tips and responses. It has been so weird. I guess like Babbs mentioned, I've shocked my system but either way, I'm losing weight now so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

[AvaFern 3,516]

I've had that experience, although for me it only seemed to work when I was earlier in the process. The first Christmas after the sleeve, I really couldn't eat a lot, but I did enjoy cake and cookies- I didn't lose weight but I didn't gain. The second Christmas after the sleeve I think I ate 30 bags of Peanut Butter m&m's and a plate of fudge. I actually lost a pound. Christmas is the only time I really allow myself to eat junk, but this Halloween I had a bit of a cheat day where I had caramel popcorn, buffalo chicken, and a few other things I rarely eat. I woke up 3 pounds heavier and it has taken well over a week to lose that weight. At over two years out from surgery I have to be VERY careful with what I eat and how much I eat or I absolutely gain weight almost immediately.

I miss the honeymoon phases (and m&m's).

[AngelaWilliamsMD 290]

Eating the same foods at very low caloric intakes will slow your weight loss with time. I've found that I've been able to break a stall easier when I shake things up, or essentially shocking your symptoms as @@Babbs so aptly put it.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Conventional dieting wisdom taught us to minimize calories. Post-op, our focus needs to shift to maximizing nutrition which seems counterintuitive for many of us.

Also, as you noticed with your experience, when we hit stalls (which are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process), we want to "give up". When, in fact, stalls are a good thing.

Calories are not our enemy, but Protein and other nutrients are our friends.

Learning new strategies is so important to our success.

Embrace the Stall!

http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

[DIESELD47 9]

Thanks @@Inner Surfer Girl. I'm embracing the stall and I'm going to occasionally enjoy m&m's (:-) @AvaFern. Thanks to all for the help! I thought I was having an overly sensitive moment.

[kstellflug 9]

You are fueling your body. It's keeping your metabolism revved up so your body is acting like a furnace for that excess fat. Celebrate! You're doing great!