It's the doctor's fault! :omg:

I went to see my gynecologist for a follow up last week and asked her about the weight loss stoppage. She actually got red in the face and said "Oh I am so sorry, it's my fault!" "I knew you had your surgery and I shouldn't have given you those two Depo Provera shots". Huh?

Well, it seems that the hormones (evidently heavy duty) in the Depo shots (she gave me two within a month to stop spotting) coupled with the estrogen that is released when you lose fat has caused my problem. (estrogen is stored in the fat cells and unless you gained all your weight after menopause, we all have it stored in our fat cells). The good part is that it is self limiting...as soon as my body is free of the those hormones I will start to lose again and that since it's been over six weeks since the last injection I should be rid of the stuff soon, I hope. (I might start spotting again but that's another issue).

So, for menopausal or even some peri-menopausal women, the reason the weight comes off a little slower sometimes is the release of estrogen from fat cells. It doesn't stop the weight loss but does tend to make it slower in some but not all of us. It doesn't effect women prior to that because you are producing and using estrogen regularly for menstrual cycles, etc.

I feel much better understanding why this is happening...at least it's not anything I am doing. I told her what I am eating and she said that averaging 700 calories per day is fine (I went back over what I have eaten on FitDay for the past month and it averages out closer to 700) and won't stop me losing weight. She said there is no scientific proof that eating less calories will slow down your metabolism...because your metabolism works harder to break down the fat cells for energy. The body doesn't have a 'brain' it just has processes and if the body needs more energy than you take in it will automatically start to break down the fat cells to get the energy it needs. The process is complex and includes the retaining, using and excreting the Water the bodies needs to break down, use and eliminate the fat cells...so can be a roller coaster ride on the scales. That's her explanation, take it for what it's worth...one doctor's opinion based on scientific principles. Sometimes our bodies appear to have other ideas...LOL!

She did warn me not to eat more than I am now because then I'd gain weight...eeek!

This WLS is certainly an adventure !

I think on the actual depo website one of the side effects listed is gaining weight. I am on depo now and I am due for a shot today but being that I was banded recently, I think I opt out of the shot.

I went to my surgeon for a fill today and told him about the Depo. He also said that this could be the cause for my not losing the weight. He was pretty disgusted that the GYN didn't think about my surgery prior to giving me the shots. He said that he's had many patients run into trouble with the Depo but that not everyone is affected. I am one of the 'lucky' ones. So, he told me we'd concentrate on getting me the proper restriction so that at least I would have the bandworking to help me with eating the right amount without 'dieting'. He gave me a big hug and told me to try not to get discouraged, stay off the scale (I gave it to my daughter) and to increase my aerobics exercise to at least four times per week with walking the other days. :phanvan

I now have 1.6cc's and I am praying I have restriction now.