Serengirl

I pretty much always have to flavor my Water -which I hate to do - but it’s the only way I can drink it all. Before I could down a gallon a day with no flavor. I try to do more natural flavorings or I mix a little premier water into my regular water so it has Protein. I also got Bariatric powdered Vitamin packets to add flavor to water to help kill two birds with one stone and it has more nutrients thank say crystal light

So today’s rant/ of one more person says calories in vs calories out I will scream because it’s bull crap. I track everything that I eat and drink I also track how much I burn and I average 3000 deficit every single day. At that rate I should drop 6 lbs a week!!! I have never dropped that much except my first week and one other week back when I was sick and it’s drives me crazy. It’s an emotional blow when I work so hard and then lose 1 pound or worse no weight what so ever week after week. I’m just feeling super angry and upset bec this happened before surgery so why did I even go through this?!! To push and to workout and drink all of my Water eat all of my Protein barely eat any calories, and still not drop a single frogging pound?!? bleeeeeeo bleeping bleep!!! I am just frigging over it to the point of despair. I’m only human and feel cursed that this isn’t working for me and I’m at a loss for what to do. At this rate I’ll reach my goal
Weight in 2024 MAYBE!!! 😫😫😫😫😫😫🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

15 hours ago, GradyCat said:

I'm a year post-sleeve and didn't lose as much as I should have/could have so I'm back on it. I never stopped counting calories and tracking Protein intake and drinking Water, but I added in some sugary foods a few times that halted my progress.

So to get back on track I am back here on the forums to keep informed and aware. I track every single thing I eat in MyFitnessPal.com. I eat 80 g of Protein a day, around 1000 calories, drink 64+ ounces of Water a day and work out 3 times a week.

Do you find the changes are working and having a positive effect? I am here to help support or encourage if anyone needs it.

On 12/27/2019 at 2:39 PM, Panda333 said:

Just have to vent. I had my surgery on Oct 1, 2019. I weight 285 then. Today I only weigh 255. everyone on the board seems to lose 10 lbs a week and it's been almost 3 months I've only lost 30. In total since starting this journey I've lost is 52 which I should be happy. I was doing okay then when I went to the follow up the nurse practitioner said I need to eat more food and to eat 1000 calories a day. I'ts been hard but I've been forcing myself too. maybe that's whey i'm lot losing as fast. The funny thing was I was following "their" program which was getting me to 400 calories a day with the Protein, and liquid diets. This is my biggest fear. I had the surgery, messed up my insides and I'm just failing at this. I have my 3 month follow up on Monday and will see. I should have lost 90 by now.

I completely understand and BTW we have a support thread in the Sleeve section called the The Slow Losers club - for support. I feel the exact same way but i will say 90 lbs in 3 months isn't a realistic expectation. I dont know ANYONE who has lost that much weight that fast who started less than 300 lbs. Has the increased calories been working? Do you drink enough Water? I wish i had the answers because I have the exact same thoughts... its so hard to know others have lost twice as much in the same amount of time... I am here for you and hopefully one or both of us finds work arounds to help speed up our loss. People say stick to the plan, and we can and will and do but its much harder to stick to the plan when you're barely eating and dont lose weight. The payoff for all of the sacrifices IS the weight loss (thats why we did this in the first place!!!) so if you dont have have that- its very hard to stay the course and not wonder why you went this route in the first place. I do think there are a lot more slow losers than we think though... they just dont admit it out of shame and disappointment because we compare ourselves to normal or fast losers who get all of the glory and all of the satisfaction that this was the best decision they ever made.... Sending you hugs.

I don’t think that’s true/ in fact there are tons of data that says the exact opposite. Especially when it comes to your microbiome. It’s baloney bec a calorie is not a calorie- I have seen that even with my very own body.

I don’t know what to say. That’s a hideous thing to say to a child or anyone so I am so so sorry. Honestly cut her out of your life because that’s too toxic. Yes she is a parent but she does t act like one and her words can destroy you and hurt you. Stick with the family you chose vs the one you were born to and hopefully you have others who love you so you can heal from her abusive behavior

@trista Water and Protein DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

@ Trista and Nikki I hear ya. Nikki your body is probably just freaking out because you did just lose 85% of your stomach ... and that’s a great idea about monthly checks I wish I could do that. I’m not doing it every day but the thought of not checking more than once in a month and then not really lose and then feel regret I didn’t know sooner so I could adjust my plan would drive me nuts. That said that scale can make or break my spirit

I think the holiday were tough for most but for the first time in my life I ended them down in weight vs up so I consider that a huge success. @fluffyChix I have lost 34 lbs and I am just under 5’6 and thank you for all of your amazing advice and support- I learn so much from you. I think as far as working the plan goes my RN gave me diff advice than my nutritionist vs my Dr so I’m so confused and believe me I pointed it out to all three. That said the one thing I haven’t done is break my meals into 3 meals and two Snacks or basically 5 small meals. 1 I have never liked eating often and two I know when you are insulin resistant that the more times you eat the more you spike your blood sugar so I eat three times a day but it takes me sooooo long to get through any drink that isn’t Water that I have timed myself and it has actually taken me three hours to get thru a Protein Shake which I must have to meet my Protein goals. So I’m wondering if maybe forcing myself to eat 5 times a day is what my body wants so it doesn’t freak out and hold onto weight? Would love people’s thoughts on this. Especially since now I am up to working out 7 days a week and have started doing 2xday a couple of days a week. In that case do I add more calories? More carbs? It’s so confusing

4 minutes ago, Lynda486 said:

You are not alone! You had your surgery 12 days before me and I am also a slow loser. I am down 50, so it's around 14 a month on average which I could never maintain prior to surgery. My most recent nutritionist visit she practically told me to double my calories a day ( I did not) But I do get to 800 a couple days a week, and the scale has been moving, but slow. Maybe try adding an extra 100 calories a day and see what that does for you? If you get the scale moving again (and you will) let me know what you did to help things along!

50 is awesome. CONGRATS. Id love to be at 50. I am going to add extra calories starting today and see where I land. What do you average for Water and Protein and do you do several mini meals a day or ?? And do you workout? I feel like I am doing an informal scientific study trying to figure this all out. I mean all of ours bodies are different but it still helps to know how/what other slow losers are doing to help things along. .

On 12/30/2019 at 4:27 PM, jinnjuice527 said:

I upped calories and Protein and I lost 5 lbs in the last 10 days. When i was eating 500 to 600... losing less. 700 to 850ish coming off easier. I dont believe necessarily in starvation mode but I'm eating pretty much low carb so I think that's helping as well even with a bit more calories

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

Perhaps I'll try this. I started a thread called the Slow Losers Club where we can all chat and get advice or encouragement....

On 12/21/2019 at 1:42 PM, vgs08282019 said:

sleep (rest), Water, Vitamins, nutrition (getting the best you can get), minimizing stress, these are the things that will make the biggest change for you. Keep staying the course and remember just because the scale isn't going down doesn't mean there aren't major changes happening in your body. Stay the course. I'm a PCOS patient too, so keep those carbs really low and what carbs you do get make sure they are higher Fiber, low carb options. Limit fruit to very little if not eliminating it altogether for now.

I echo one of your previous responders on following your surgeon's plan. One thing my doctor had to remind me of is that I am no longer a normal eater. My new stomach requires me to eat 3 meals and 2 Snacks a day; otherwise, you will never get your proper nutrition in. Focus on clean eating, and getting your Protein and good fats. You will find that the scale will continue to decrease.

I am at 3 months now, and losing just shy of 2 lbs a week (on average--some weeks the scale reflects nothing, then by the end of the month, it balances out to almost 2 lbs a week). Considering we have PCOS, that is some AWESOME success. Remember insulin resistance requires us to keep our carbs low. Just keep in mind that with every effort, you are gaining control of that runaway train that couldn't be controlled by anything else other than weight loss that used to be virtually impossible. With every pound lost, you are closer and closer to your body working more typically with PCOS being further and further in the rearview mirror! I can't wait to tell that b*tch GOODBYE forever! I am sure you feel the same way.

Feel free to connect with me, so we can support each other. I wish you the best!

I started a Thread called the Slow Losers Club for anyone who feel slick they need support or advice.

4 hours ago, ms.sss said:

@AJ Tylo :

^^ Yeah, agree with above poster.

I also tried to do a big jump (form 600 to 1000) and the sudden increase in calories made me feel ugh and stuffed. So I went back down again and slowly increased by 100-150 cals every week, which felt better. But then again, you are a dude and a bit bigger than me, so it may not affect you as much...

P.S. I'm 6+ months into maintenance now and average maybe 1800-2000 normally.

Good Luck, I'm sure you'll navigate maintenance as well and self-assuredly as you did weight-loss.

I am so curious, and you might not know why, but why do you think it is in weightless mode you can be at 500 cals a day but not gain anything at 1800-2000 a day? I would gain weight at 1800 a day and Im trying to understand how that works since the less you weight the less calories you should be able to tolerate to even maintain, right?

So everyone hears about the folks that are lucky enough to lose quickly and we see them lose 100lbs in 5 months but for many of us we lose slowly and feel like CRAP about it. This should be a place for us to talk about our frustrations and get advice or encouragement. Maybe you have found a way to speed up your weight loss through trial and error and that might help someone too. I know I work my ass off and I still lose slowly... and then every once in a blue moon ill lose quickly (for me anyway) but I can eat consistently in the mid 600's, Protein around 90, Water over 80oz and i workout hard at least an hour 6 days a week and i can lose - NOTHING. ZILCH. NADA and its upsetting as heck and makes me feel like complete failure. Before surgery when i did IF/ OMAD I lost a bunch of weight, way faster than I am now, barely exercised so I definitely have moments where i am like- Why did I even do this? Anyway, we all need to sound off at times or get encouragement or great advice and this is a safe place for you to do that and to know you are NOT alone.

I will join the slow losers club!!! Maybe we should start a new thread?

How is everyone doing today on this thread? I’m finding myself super frustrated because in the last five weeks I have averaged working out 6 times a week for at least and hour and I average around 650 -700 cals a day and my weight loss has gotten so slow!!!! Has anyone else had to up their calories once they started working out? Btw I work out HARD- weight lifting and I do HIIT cardio with my heart rate usually in the high 160s. I’m thinking I should raise my calories but it’s such a mind game!

There is a woman on Insta called fabandfitby50reborn051118 or similar- anyway she lost a ton of weight and is open about her surgeries and she is living her best life to look amazing but 50- she’s 49- and she looks AMAZING. Go for it. 40 isn’t old. 50 isn’t old. Look at Christi Brinkley or Halle berry. They have never looked better. You could hopefully be on earth for another 50 years!!! Might as well be snatched right?

No way!!!! Go for it

Honestly IF still works for me even though I have Protein coffee in the am because I have to have it- life is too sad without it so this is what I do. (I am trying to have lemon Water when I wake and then coffee but we’ll see). I have either coffee with premier shake as a Creamer or I make a latte and add GENEPRO protein to it and some collagen. I sip that over the morning and don’t eat anything until about 2-3 pm ish and then I try to get all of my food in within 4 hours and then rest of the day it’s water... before surgery in order to lose enough weight to get approved for surgery I did the above routine too but the difference is on some days I ate one giant salad/ lunch - whatever I wanted - within 60-90 min and still had AM protein coffee and I lost a big chunk of weight. Right now I exercise and weight list so much I’m struggling between not knowing if I am having too few calories especially since my IF window feels short considering how hard it is to get my cals in within that time. Anyway I think IF still works even if you have your coffee in AM with stuff in it. IMHO

On 12/26/2019 at 6:42 AM, ihartme said:

I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery on March 5 2019. I had been doing great. Losing from 335 to 234, I am back up to 250 and scared, Has this happened to anyone? I did incorporate social drinking back into my diet. I just don't want old habits/ways of coping to sneak up on me. Also, I needed to increase my Protein so started drinking high Protein coffee in the morning but its about 100 calories plus 36 for the almond milk, mistake even though 15 grams of protein? What tricks did you use to get back on track? Thank you

I never drink but I was told by my Dr and nurses as well as a few women who worked at the hospital that nothing puts the weight on faster than alcohol. They were all like DO NOT DRINK. I think go back to your basic plan your dr gave you that worked so well, cut out all alcohol and severely limit carbs... IMHO

On 12/28/2019 at 11:26 AM, Purplepaige70 said:

Im 3 weeks posts surgery. Thus might be dumb. But im sick, and with not eating much due to surgery what do u eat now. It used to be tea, toast .... please help. What do you eat. I have chicken broth, tea, Water, but im not trying protien

I got super sick and I couldn't stomach Protein, dairy (blech!) or shakes at all. Im not saying do this, but all i could stomach was warm Water with lemon and Digestives crackers. I lost 8 pounds I believe. When i am super sick its hard to get me to eat and Im super picky because most things make me nauseous.

On 12/31/2018 at 8:50 AM, J Johnston said:

Only my husband, children and best friend know. I'm very private. Because my husband is dieting and we are eating very low carb, when folks ask, I attribute it to a change in diet.

Only my four best friends know. Its no one else's business. I didnt want people "watching me" and asking me every time I saw them, how the surgery was going. Who needs all that extra pressure?

5 hours ago, smb123 said:

I am so nervous I feel like vomiting! 😬😬

GOOD LUCK. YOU got this.

On 12/23/2019 at 8:09 AM, RobertaMSN said:

You and I have the same surgery date, 12/2! And I've lost about the same since surgery - it turns out there's a standard three-week stall. Check out the discussions under POST-operative weight loss surgery Q & A - they have been super helpful to me. I'm now stalled after three weeks having lost 12 lbs since surgery but only 2 lbs this past week, and 8 lbs two weeks prior.

In a couple articles I read online it says the liver was shrunk for surgery but works to get back to a normal size afterward and it takes - yep - three weeks. Sometimes this stall can last several weeks but afterward there can be a sudden, large loss. Apparently there will be multiple stalls along the way.

The articles also said not to go below 600 calories a day as that can backfire as the body tries to store what it can during what it perceives as starvation time. I know many don't believe in starvation mode and I'm not sure it isn't just a myth. But to stay healthy it makes sense that at least 600 good quality calories a day is a good idea no matter the reason.

Also, the weight loss rate depends on several factors. Males lose faster, those who are much bigger initially lose faster, women after menopause slower (that's me), etc. I'm reminding myself that prior to surgery it took me six months to lose 11 lbs. on my own...and my pre-diabetes and non-alcoholic liver disease labs and my borderline high blood pressure had not improved at all, though my cholesterol levels did. Post-surgery all are now in the normal range! No diabetes looming for me (like my mother), thank goodness.

Here's wishing us both good luck during the dreaded three-week stall. We'll get there! I'm greatly encouraged by some of the posts about the three-week stall under the Post-op Q & A where the stats show those posting lost all or most of there weight and reached their goals despite having stalls and slow weight loss overall.

This is such a great response. Thank you. It helps me too.

On 12/27/2019 at 9:21 PM, Superman84 said:

Amazing work mate

On 12/27/2019 at 9:16 PM, McCaw1980 said:

Well everyone i'm here to tell you this surgery works wonders. I was 377 pounds in December 2018. It's now the end of Dec of 2019 and i'm 175 pounds and healthy. I ate nothing but low carb Protein food 5 times a day for the last year and 3 weeks. All i did was walk on a treadmill 4 times a week for a mile a day. I never cheated on my hardcore diet. I've only puked 7 times or so by eating too much since surgery in the last year. As we all do, i had to learn the hard way sometimes. I couldn't be happier and I have hit my goal weight. I am here to tell you if you follow the doctors orders it works.

Having said that i did go against doctors orders shortly after getting home. I was starving (or so i thought) and ate meat from the first week on. Probably not a good idea. I could only get down 3 bites. I had this grand plan to portion out food and bag it up and freeze it so i could heat it up.... it all went in the garbage.

First day after surgery i could only have 3 sips of Water. Stomach made weird sounds and such. I highly suggest everyone takes off work 2 weeks afterwords. I went back to work with in 10 days and i was a mess. I was dizzy every single time i stood up for about a month or two.

Your body will adjust and you have to do the hard work on the treadmill. My back was killing me before surgery. I could hardly stand up to order at least a pound of food per meal. It goes away.... you have to do the hard work and work though the pain. Walk a mile on the treadmill at 0230 in the morning when no one else is there like I did.

It's a struggle but it pays off in the end. Work hard and listen to your doc's. I wish you all the best.

Starting weight 377 pounds

Now: 175 pounds

Waist starting: 50 inches

Now: 30 inches

Shirt size starting: 5XL

Now: M to L

BMI starting: 50

BMI now: 23

Such a great job. Congrats. You look amazing. Over time did you ever increase your exercise or did you stick to the one mile a day?