DropWt4Life

Sosewsue61, thanks for you insight. Are you saying that you can't believe that someone on a wls forum could be adhering to calories in/calories out? So are we all just overweight because we don't diet, count calories and fat, don't exercise? I am confused by that statement. Please expand on that if you don't mind.

I agree with you 100%. I have always measured and tracked my entire adult life since that was what I was always told to do. I still track and measure even though that mentality may have lead to my struggle with weight in the first place. Thanks for your input.

I never said that I ate under 2000 calories my entire life to get to 300 pounds. What I said is that living at around or under 2000 calories per day, I have struggled to get under 300 pounds even though I have been very active. I do know that my metabolism is severely screwed because of yo-yo dieting my entire life. After getting to that set point, it has been next to impossible for me to get below and stay below that....Until now, but I am existing on 600-700 calories as well.

My whole life, I've been told that losing weight is all about calories in, calories out. If you want to lose weight, you have to utilize more calories as energy than you consume. I whole heartedly agree with that statement. My problem is that I think people tend to take it at face value. When someone is naturally thin, I think there can be a disconnect from what overweight people might go through. I also think the CALORIES OUT part is relative. Some people have genetically been blessed with way better metabolisms than others. For example, I got my best friend to agree to eat what I ate, and exercise with me for 3 weeks. A little background on my friend. He is 6'1', and 182 pounds. He didn't work out, never dieted his entire life, and would always state that he was thin because he ate badly in moderation only. He drank at least 2 sugary sodas or teas every day. He ate out at least every other day. He hated salads, and the only vegetable he could stand were peas and corn. Anyway, he agreed to shadow me for 3 weeks. We ate out 2X weekly, but instead of eating double cheeseburgers and fries, we stuck to grilled chicken or fish with salad or veggies. We pretty much ate the same serving sizes as well. He had a hard time the first week, and admitted he snuck a soda a few times, and ate a donut once. He also exercised with me in the evenings 3X the first week (I also worked out 4X during my lunch break that week.) All in all, he lost 6 pounds that first week. He got excited, and decided to continue. I lost 2 pounds. Skip forward to the end of the 3 week test. I lost 8 pounds, including a 1/2 inch on my waist. I was satisfied because my weight dropped from 319 pounds to 311 pounds. Well, I was Very SATISFIED until I saw my friend's results. He lost 14 pounds. His weight in fact dropped to 168. I knew he had lost a lot, because I could see it in his face. He still maintains that it is calories in, calories out. He has gained back all of his lost weight. He probably eats a little over 1,000 calories more per day as he has resumed his regular diet. He has kept with the exercise routine though, so I guess something good came of it. My question is....If it isn't just plain old genetics, how can a male maintain a 180 pound body over time on more than 3000 calories daily while another male struggles to get under 300 pounds on 2000 calories with a more active lifestyle? When I asked him the same question, he said that obviously I'm not eating 2000 calories, and must be eating a lot more. Go figure.

Strangely enough, I have developed a fondness of eating cold food. That is real food, and not soups. I don't mind tasting a bit while I am adding food to be weighed before reheating. Of course, I add a little less than the 4 oz. to account for the tasting. Maybe I just get hungry, but I could eat the whole thing cold most times. I don't, but I could. During my pre-op diet, I was constantly reheating as well. I was eating a lot more than I eat now though. I guess I don't think it is worth reheating only a few tablespoons of food. A friend of mine uses the warming plate below to keep her food warm. It uses a water chamber, and lasts at least 30 minutes. She swears by it. It appears to be a product designed for little kids and babies, but so is the baby spoon that a lot of people use to eat with. https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-mOmma-Mealtime-Plate-Green/dp/B014QEW0IU/ref=pd_bxgy_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B014QEW0IU&pd_rd_r=7GR5SKK3Q5V88S9Y1VDF&pd_rd_w=G259I&pd_rd_wg=UoBSD&refRID=7GR5SKK3Q5V88S9Y1VDF&th=1

I am not struggling with eating out of boredom YET, but I understand exactly what you are going through as I have done this my entire life. Planned snacks are great, and the nuts or jerky can fit into that plan. The key is having the mindset that the snack is fueling your body instead of just doing it because you are bored. I smoked cigarettes for 10 years. When I quit 10 years ago, I realized that "triggers" as they call it, were real. I mentally and unconsciously had a cigarette whenever a trigger was present. That trigger might be getting in the truck to drive. It might be the end of a meal. The point is that if you are snacking when you are bored, you are continuing the bad habit that got you into trouble in the first place. I think this is a big problem for most of us. We have to use this time to change that if we are to continue being successful. I work at a computer all day. I got my job to purchase a Veridesk for me, so that I can stand up and work. It does help. It takes me out of my comfort zone of sitting, and the cravings dissipate. I also burn more calories standing than sitting. Mind you, I don't do this all day. Just periodically. Maybe you can take a break and walk around the office for a minute or two whenever you get that craving. You are doing really well, and I have no doubt that you will continue to be successful. Mindless snacking might just be the thing that hinders you from meeting or exceeding your goal weight as the weight loss will undoubtedly slow down in the coming weeks and months. Anyway, good luck and thanks for bringing this up. This is a topic that is a real problem for most of us.

I think that you should ease into it, and only do whatever you feel like doing. Everybody is different, and what works for one person can land another in the ER. At 5 days out, I was walking about 20 minutes 5X daily at a slow pace. I wasn't trying to workout. Rather, I was trying to relieve the bloating and last bits of gas that were in my system. It is very important to make sure that you hare hitting your liquid goals before you start getting serious at working out. You don't want to become dehydrated. Add to those goals as your intensity increases so as to replace liquids lost through perspiration. Other than that, there is no set guideline for how much you should be walking daily. At 5 weeks out, I walk 4-5 miles 5X weekly. There are people that run 2 miles or more several times per week at 5 weeks out. There are also people that don't walk for exercise at all. Hope this helps!

Everything will be fine.. Good luck on your journey!

9/8/2017 CW: 263.7

Yeah, it is a very confusing way to eat. I don't want to resort back to relying on wheat gluten as my main protein source. I don't have issues with soy, but at the same time, don't want to overdo it. I honestly don't know which way I can take this until I have a handle on the amount of food that I will be able to take in throughout the day. I do know that I will find an answer though. I am still in the soft food stage right now, but I get in a lot of leafy greens already. I get about 1 1/2 - 2 cups of chopped spinach daily in my protein shakes. I also eat either greens, kale or spinach daily. I am nowhere near a pound per day though. That is for sure. I don't even eat a pound of food per day all combined.

Coyote, I think that most nutritionists are well versed in diets based around meat as the main protein source. I think these are the nutritionists that work closely with bariatric patients. Low carb/keto diets generally are responsible for the fastest weight loss. It is not uncommon to lose 7 pounds per week on these diets. The goal for bariatric patients is to lose weight as safely, but as quickly as possible to stabilize whatever ailments or conditions that they are experiencing. Let's face it....A high carb, low fat diet is effective for weight loss, but it isn't as quick. Add to that, French fries, potato chips, and CANDY are all vegetarian foods. A lot of vegetarians (myself included in the past) eat highly processed foods that aren't healthy, and don't contribute to weight loss. I have met several overweight and obese vegetarians in my lifetime. If it is done correctly, meaning no or minimally processed foods and sugar laden foods, it can be a very successful diet for a lifetime. I have never been able to stay on a diet for more than a few months, but I was a vegetarian for a little over 3 years. The only reason that I left it was because I was unhappy at still being over 260 pounds. This was because I ate a lot of the wrong things. I should have been happy that my levels were all excellent, but I focused on weight instead. One thing that sticks with me though......My uncle died 2 years ago of brain cancer. He was about 6'0", and 175 pounds when he was diagnosed at 55 years old. We thought he was very healthy. He was a hunter, and heavy meat and cheese eater. One day, he started just getting tired, which was the reason he reached out to his doctor. Anyway, to make a long story short...He had stage 4 brain cancer. MD Anderson in Houston urged him to give up the meat, cheese, milk products and processed foods. They wanted him to do a plant based diet. He was told that he only had 2-3 months to live. On this diet, his tumor started to decrease. He made it another 2 years before he succumbed to the disease. He was tired of fighting, and so he stopped. I asked my aunt why they gave him the plant based diet to follow in the first place. She told me that they told her that the fat and sugar in his diet fed cancer cells. I don't know if this is a fact since this was 1 doctor that said that, but he is a highly respected surgeon at MD Anderson, so I have to take his word for it. I would listen to your nutritionist in the short term, because your life is in their hands. After you are out of the danger zone, I would do whatever you feel is best for you. I know I will.

FluffyChix, it is a great read. It is actually a book that he pushes for non-wls patients as well. His premise is that if you eat 1-2 pounds of leafy greens and other veggies per day, you won't have room for most of the bad foods that cause weight gain and health issues. I did it for a few weeks, and did lose weight. My problem was that I could eat 5-7 cups or up to 3 pounds of food in 1 sitting. I ate the 1-2 pounds per day, and then still had room for a lot of other food. I think it could work wonders for me now if I can find a way to deal with the protein issue. I too ate a lot of Morningstar Farms as a vegetarian. I still have tons of veggie crumbles, veggie breakfast sausages and buffalo chicken nuggets in my freezer. I prefer them to the real thing as they are less greasy and "healthier". I would like to find a healthier option though. They really help with the protein dilemma, but utilize vital wheat gluten as a protein source which is definitely a problem for me. I stopped drinking milk, and whey based protein shakes years ago after I watched Forks over Knives and a few other documentaries. Now I find myself indulging in them once more out of necessity right now. Veggie sourced protein shakes are just too chalky for me. They also have very little protein compared to whey sources. I would be interested in leaving these behind if I could get what I need from food alone. I am open to leaving fish on the menu long term if I can get rid of milk, whey based protein sources, cheese, and other meats. I like tofu, and seitan. I think that maybe using these sources with egg whites, and maybe having salmon a couple of times per week will be good for me. We will see what the future holds. I have a little time to figure it all out.

Thanks FluffyChix.....I like Dr. Weiner. I have his book, A Pound of Cure. I haven't seen this video, but I know that the book focuses on eating 1-2 pounds of veggies per day. Might be hard to do when you can only consume 1/2 cup of food per sitting. I will watch the video though. Maybe it might be the answer that I'm looking for.

Protein powders are based upon weight, and not volume. A 32oz container contains 2 pounds of powder. The machines that pour this product should be pretty precise. Anyway, the denseness of the protein powder may vary though, so 32oz of 1 batch may contain less protein powder than 32oz of another batch. However, there should not ever be that much of a variation with the same brand. A 32oz container should contain between 29 and 32 scoops depending on scoop size. I would definitely be wary of the company if you are only receiving 24 scoops in a 32oz container as that is 25% less than you should receive. Next time, maybe pour the powder in a Gallon Zip lock and weigh it to see if it in fact weighs 2 pounds. That would be the only way to know.

Good job! Little changes sometimes do a lot for weight loss!

I have not had the same experience, but was an ovo vegetarian for 3 years. I still eat a mostly vegetarian diet with fish/turkey incorporated (have to right now). Once I am farther away from surgery, I will probably move back or at the very least become a pescatarian. I just have to get better at getting my protein without the addition of mock meats, whey protein shakes and CHEESE! I love egg whites, but just can't stand to eat them everyday. Veggie Protein is nasty to me, and very chalky as well. I will figure something out, because I just don't want to go back to animal foods being 60%+ of my diet long term. I feel better at 20% or less. I would be interested in hearing ideas about getting protein in without meat, mock meats, whey protein, cheese and milk, and/or an excess of tofu/soy products. The sheer amount of food I was able to take in in one sitting helped me reach my protein goals before (5-7 cups), but this will not be enough while I can only consume 1/2 cup of food.

Fiber comes from whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc. It is not usable by the body, and lowers the total carb count (net carbs). Mayo Clinic says this along with every nutritionist/dietitian I've ever talked with. Fiber is vital to moving the bowels. Now, the fiber in these processed tortillas might not undo the other garbage that is included in them, but the fiber in them does lower the 'net carb count'.

Today's Date: 9/1/2017 Current Weight: 269

Am I wrong in thinking that sounds delicious? I used to eat pizza at least once a week. It has been almost 2 months since I've had a slice. I definitely feel your pain.

I am still on puréed foods until next week. I wish I could have baked fish, but not yet pet my Nut. Thanks for the info though.

I am a little over 3 weeks post-op, and can only eat about 4 ounces of food per sitting. Let me just say that I am not complaining. I am merely curious, so I thought that I would ask. How much can you eat in a sitting? It seems that 1/2 cup of food each meal would make it hard for me to actually eat a full meal short of soups/stews. I thawed out some beef stew leftovers that I made a few weeks ago. I served my wife and 13 year old a small bowl. I then put a small coffee cup on the scale, and set it to start weighing. I added in a few tablespoons of stew (minus the beef). I was at 4oz rather quickly. I then showed my daughter, which had a good laugh. After smashing everything down, I ate it up (Well, not before adding in some sriracha!). Well, I stopped a bite or two short of finishing it. How much can you throw down in a sitting?

Although I am newly out of surgery, and you are way further along than me, I would urge you to slow down. Maybe make sure you get the 25 chews each bite. I have always just almost swallowed my food whole my entire life. I was the youngest of 3 boys, and had to eat fast or not get seconds. I contribute that to the huge amounts of food that I was able to eat in one sitting, and ultimately my problem with weight gain. Not saying you have that issue, but eating slowly does give your body a chance to register the amount of food you've eaten. You tend to be satiated with less food overall. Good luck!

In the words of Rodney King..."Can we all just get along?". I hate going into threads and seeing people argue. We are all here to support each other. That is the reason for even developing this site. I was in a thread for Veterans the other day, and it appears a lot of Veterans left because of people forming sides and arguing with each other. There are some threads that people create just purely because they need support and encouraging words. They don't want to feel judged. Others are trying to help, but come off as judging or putting those people down. I get it. Tough love and all. Let's just agree that QueenTiff's feelings are real feelings, and expressing them here is what she needed to do to maybe find others that feel the same way. We are all different, and go through this experience differently....But let's try to be supportive, and offer advice or our experiences, in a way that is not sugar coated, but empathetic to the user that is asking for help/guidance. Jaminator, I get that you are trying to be helpful, and I understand what you were trying to say. In my experience, it is not what someone means when they say something, it is the way it is taken by people that receive that information. I hope we can move forward with empathy and respect toward one another. Man, I sound like this surgery has taken away some of my testosterone! How bout them Cowboys!

I think I was done baby sipping after the first week. At 3 weeks out, I still don't take big gulps. I do drink at a regular pace though, and have no problem finishing a 16oz bottled water in under 5 minutes. I was drinking beverages of all temperatures at about 3 days post op as well. I did not like drinking beverages at room temperature, and found that I drank more when my beverages were cold. Warm water has always made me nauseous anyway.

I am sorry for the situation that you are in. That is my biggest fear, other than staple line leaks of course. I think the best way to help would be to go back to basics. Small portions...Protein first...Veggies and small amounts of fruit...Some other carbs like whole grains and brown rice, quinoa, etc. in moderation. No matter what you decide to make your long term diet, get rid of the processed foods and sugars. Those items are probably the source of our addictions to food, and the calorie load in these items is very high compared to the amount you eat. Example...11 Doritos = 140 calories, 8g fat, 15g Net Carbs, 2g protein. That is for 1oz of chips. Example...Chicken breast=42 calories, 1g fat, 0g Net Carbs, 8g protein. That is for 1oz of chicken breast. You can probably only eat 4 ounces of chicken breast, but may be able to eat more than 44 Doritos in 1 sitting. Track your food. Drink plenty of water. Start exercising again. These things will all help. Your tool should still be there, and will help as well. Good luck.