jhansen71

This might be a dumb question, but if I eat 800 calories a day and burn an additional 500 through exercise (not including my resting calorie burn), then aren't I considered to be in starvation mode? I do not understand the calories in vs. the calories out. Can someone help me understand this? I have yet to start working out and want to be sure that I am not sabotaging my weight loss by adding in exercise. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I have had some pretty big stalls due to low calorie intake (when I previously ate lower than 800 calories), but I really am aching to get back to spin class. Any guidance is appreciated.

Let me start off by saying sorry this might be long, but I hope some of you find something you can relate to. I had surgery mid March and have lost 40lbs total (including the 2 week pre-op). I have hit 3 big stalls already and I guess you could say in the VSG world I'm a slow loser. However, in my prior VSG life I could lose about 10lbs per month with diet pills (I know, so bad). This averages out to be 2.5lbs per week. So 11.5 weeks out from the time I started pre-op I have averaged 3.47lbs per week. Why am I so down on myself for not losing more? This is a victory, but I have to be mental to be disappointed. Then why am I? If I get all my Protein in, my Water suffers (once I eat all my protein I'm full for a few hours and cannot drink anything for a while). If I get all my water in, my protein suffers (because my tummy stays full from the water). The only way to solve this is to drink the Protein shakes because they offer the protein and water intake together. Unfortunately, I can no longer stomach them. It's funny to think that prior to VSG I thought about food all the time like what was for lunch, snack or dinner and now all I think about is protein, water and Vitamins. Every day is a battle to get everything in and I know this is why I'm not losing as quickly as I could be. It's a true struggle, but also a mental game I repeat like Groundhog Day (the movie) every day, but in my movie I know it will never stop. I just hope that one day I can figure out how to make it all work like Bill Murray does in the movie. Other struggles that are making me crazy... I travel a lot for work and would always get on a plane early enough to grab the window seat. Prior to my 40lb weight loss I would notice people trying to avoid the middle seat next to me because of the tight fit. I would find the bright side of having a vacant seat next to me. Last week, I got on the plane early as usual and grabbed the window seat. I watched as people climbed in the plane and took every isle and window seat. Then as people came on the plane they filled middle seats in order and I was sure I would get the same reaction of people passing me by, but my middle seat was filled up in order with everyone else. I don't view myself right now as being thin enough to sit next to. Will this ever change? I still have 50lbs to lose so maybe this is why I feel like this, who knows? I have gone from a tight 18 to a tight 14 and have found the Plus Size Department too big for me now. Today I go into the Misses Department and I am embarrassed the whole time thinking people are looking at me and passing judgement on me that I really shouldn't be there shopping. Like I was an alien from a different planet and I invaded the Misses Department. Will I ever feel worthy of skinny clothes or is my fate left in the hands of the internet? In conclusion I would like to say that I never dreamed of the mental struggles I would go through after surgery. How do I put my mind on the same diet? Will my brain ever get skinny thoughts or will I always be the big girl not deserving of the neighbor in the middle seat? Don't get me wrong, all of this is mental stuff is tolerable when the end result means feeling healthier. I am just curious to hear if others out there have gotten to goal mentally too? Do I need professional help or will my mind eventually catch up?

I posted this on another thread... I had band to sleeve revision on 3/13. Here is what can tell you: food always got stuck on my band even when it was all the way open and even after I would chew, chew, chew. I would throw up at least 3 times per week from the feeling of food getting stuck. Since revised, I've only thrown up once and not because food got stuck, but because I took Vitamins that did not sit well with me. I've never had a stuck feeling since the revision and in fact can eat anything now, just very small amounts. The reason people throw up with a sleeve is from eating too much and/or too fast in one sitting, drink when they eat or too soon after they eat and/or something didn't sit well with their new tummy. Your tastes definitely change. If you just listen to your body and follow the Protein guidelines and liquid rules you will lose the weight pretty easily. I'm rarely hungry and actually struggle to get all of my calories in. Way different than the band when I always still felt hungry. My weight loss would be much higher if I could eat more each day (35lbs to date). For the actual surgery, I took off two weeks from work and should have gone 1/2 days on the 3rd. After the 1st week I had no pain, but the extreme weakness I felt week 2 made me feel as though I might had made a big mistake getting the surgery. I was worried it was going to last forever. It carried over into the 3rd week, though not as bad. It gradually improved every week and today I feel better than I have in a long time (prior to surgery even). One more thing to add...I wish I had chosen the sleeve over the band in 2009 because today I would be sitting at goal. I feel it works much better than the band. No complications and soooooo happy I had it done. I feel great!

I still struggle with this. I have yet to find one that tastes good. I'm not sure one exists. If you happen to find one, please let me know. Good luck!

I had band to sleeve revision on 3/13. Here is what can tell you: food always got stuck on my band even when it was all the way open and even after I would chew, chew, chew. I would throw up at least 3 times per week from the feeling of food getting stuck. Since revised, I've only thrown up once and not because food got stuck, but because I took Vitamins that did not sit well with me. I've never had a stuck feeling since the revision and in fact can eat anything now, just very small amounts. The reason people throw up with a sleeve is from eating too much and/or too fast in one sitting, drink when they eat or too soon after they eat and/or something didn't sit well with their new tummy. Your tastes definitely change. If you just listen to your body and follow the Protein guidelines and liquid rules you will lose the weight pretty easily. I'm rarely hungry and actually struggle to get all of my calories in. Way different than the band when I always still felt hungry. My weight loss would be much higher if I could eat more each day (35lbs to date). For the actual surgery, I took off two weeks from work and should have gone 1/2 days on the 3rd. After the 1st week I had no pain, but the extreme weakness I felt week 2 made me feel as though I might had made a big mistake getting the surgery. I was worried it was going to last forever. It carried over into the 3rd week, though not as bad. It gradually improved every week and today I feel better than I have in a long time (prior to surgery even). One more thing to add...I wish I had chosen the sleeve over the band in 2009 because today I would be sitting at goal. I feel it works much better than the band. I hope this helps. Good luck with your decision.

I lost another pound this week, so 8 lbs lost and 12 to go for this Memorial day challenge. I need to crack down if I'm going to make it.

Janine, how are you feeling? I hope things went well.

My child has had hand, foot and mouth disease, but he really couldn't articulate how he felt with it. However, I had a friend get it last year and she said she was run down, her joints hurts, so tired and just overall felt bad. She thought she had something terminal (how she put it) because she felt so bad with it. Apparently it affects adults much differently than children and it's not very common for adults to get. Maybe this is why your GP hasn't thought to test for it. Anyway, good luck. I hope you feel better very soon.

Goof luck Janine. You'll do great. I'm praying for you....

You look amazing and so much younger. I pray this will happen to me. Congrats!

Okay, here is my opinion, take it or leave it. I think it is okay to have them register, but do not put this on the invite. You never want to make guests feel obligated to bring a gift to a housewarming party. However, to encourage gift giving, you can say something at the bottom of the invite like this: If you were thinking of bringing a gift and need gift ideas, please contact: Your Name and phone number. When they contact you, you can tell them they still have a wedding registry. If they find out they registered just for the party, this could make the guests feel uncomfortable. You never know who on your guest list is following the etiquette rules, so this allows you to cover all bases. However you decide, your friend will be thankful for you hostessing her party. Good luck!

Okay, I lost 2.6 this week (Woo Hoo!) and weigh 209.6 down from 212 the previous week. I was stalled for a few weeks and now back to losing. Surgery date 3/13/12 Starting weight: 243.6 Surgery weight: 231.6 Current weight: 209.6 Total lost: 34

You can do it. Thanks for your response.

I'm in too! I am one month out and my starting weight 243.6, current weight 216.6, challenge goal 20lbs or 196.6 and ultimate goal 150lbs. Is 20lbs in 7 weeks realistic at only 1 month post op? I hit a two week stall already at 9 days post op. Fingers crossed! Good luck everyone!

You look so incredible. If I wasn't married....LOL!

Please send me your VSG YouTube video links or any favorites that you have found. I need more inspiration. I've searched and found some, but would love to follow people on this actual forum. Thanks and Happy Easter!!!

Susie, you are lucky with the lean meal. My diet consisted of only 3 protein shakes per day, ckn broth and sugar free jello. I would have loved a meal of some kind. That will be something to look forward to every day. Keep your eye on the prize (a healthier you) and you will do great.

The 1st 3 days are the hardest. Your body goes through withdrawal of caffeine, sugar, fats, etc. My husband did the diet with me to show his support and did not experience near what I went through. I actually felt so bad day 3 that i called in sick. After the 3 days I wasn't stomach hungry as long as I drank my Protein shakes, I was head hungry from time to time. I also went through liking the shakes the first day and not liking them on day 2 and 3 (made me nauseous), then day 4 I was able to drink them again by changing to a different flavor. The whole process took me by surprise. I had lost so much sleep prior to starting the diet about not eating for 2 weeks and I didn't think it was that bad after I got past the first 3 days. I'm proud to say that I did not cheat once. Stay ahead of your hunger and eat so you do not get so hungry that you cheat. It is important to take your diet stuff with you to work and eat or drink something often (obviously staying within your diet guidelines) and drink Water, water, water because this helps you stay full and helps flush out your liver. I dont know if you have ever had surgery, so this advice also goes for pain. Don't wait for the pain to start coming, get pain medicine before you feel it. If you stay ahead of it by taking it even if you don't yet feel the pain, you will reduce your discomfort tremendously. I hope this all helped. Good luck to you!

I am 3 weeks post-op this coming Tuesday (in 2days) and I hit a stall week 2 and still sitting here. I lost 13lbs the first 9 days and now nothing. I stopped getting on the scale and waited a full week to weigh and still no change. Howver, my body seems like it is getting smaller based on my clothes so right now i am going by that! I'm glad to hear that this is normal.

I think it is around 800-900 calories per day.