Hello everyone, I am 7 months out post-op, I was 280 pounds before and my surgery was 11/27/2012, I am down to 231 now. Is that too little of a weight loss in that amount of time? I feel like I am doing something wrong. I started today to get back to basics, low carbs,low sugar and between 800-1000 calories a day, but I still went over today, around 1250 I think it is. does anyone out there struggle with their food intake? Are any of you still tempted to eat bad things and way more slider foods? I feel like I am. I need the support and I really hope I am not alone in this. What are your ways of doing better? Sticking to it? Is this what's slowing down my weight loss? Thanks guys for reading!!

I am 6 weeks out and down 24 pounds but 12 of that was the first week! So I feel the same way like I'm going no where fast. My doc actually told me to try to get my calories to between 1000-1200 a day and never lower than 800 because going lower puts you in starvation mode. Also, he pointed out that the more you exercise the more muscle you build and it weighs more than fat. I have noticed even if the scale isn't moving much that my clothes are fitting better and I have alot more energy. Do you measure yourself, sometimes even if the number isn't moving that will show progress. Keep your chin up some of us may be slower losers but we will get there!

I am a little over 6 months out as well (surgery 12/17/12). I eat between 1000-1200 in general. One day I went over 1200 by 199. I have done pretty well, lost 84 lbs since surgery, but I feel like I really have to work at it more and more. Obviously the first six months are the "easiest", as odd as it sounds. I am "hungrier", can eat pretty much anything now, and can eat more than ever. The restriction is still there, though, when I eat the right things. My weight loss has slowed for sure as well. I think this is fairly normal for where we are in our journeys. 50 lbs is nothing to sneeze at for sure- it's a good loss!

That's about 7 lbs a month which I think is good. As we always hear, and it's true, we all have our own journey, and our bodies lose at their own rate. Personally, for me, I track every day, every thing i put into my mouth through "Myfitnesspal" and there are other tools you can use to do this if you want. I am 10 months out, and get 800-1000 calories a day 'total' intake after subtracting what calories I 'lose' by working out 5 days a week. On the days I am not at the gym I take in between 1000-1200 calories a day. I try to make my 'slider' foods, sugar free popsicles or grapes, etc.

Are you active? Do you work out regularly? I only ask because it might help to boost your metabolism. Trust me when I say I do understand what it's like to lose slow. I'm at a gym 5 days a week, doing 50 min of hard cardio and then adding strength training for 20 extra min 3 days of that week. And, I have lost 4 lbs this past month, 4 lbs the month before, 3 lbs the month before that and 1 lb before that. So, it's slowed down alot, EVEN with all that work at the gym.

But, I know that if I didn't work out like I do, I'd not be helping myself at all. It truly is a 'total' lifestyle change which I believe we all have to embrace. This surgery is not a magic fix. Although some people have it easier than others, I'm sure. Everyone is different, our bodies are as individual as our genes. I'm not saying I don't eat a snack, but I limit how much of it, realizing that it could become an issue if I do not.

Karen

I notice I can eat a lot of soups and yoghurts - far harder to get down salad and salmon! Calorie counting and healthy eating are important to me losing weight (and I think I need to do better at them both). I know I could get out of good weight loss range pretty easily otherwise... It seems you've refocused yourself and it would be great to hear what the results are. Good luck.

50 pounds! That's FANTASTIC! Think about it this way...7 pounds a month...in ten months.......SEVENTY Pounds......I'm a slow loser in comparison to some here, partly because I do eat carbs, had a hysterectomy ( so menopausal) and have PCOS. There are so many factors in your weight loss journey. Hang in there, and try different things. Only have carbs in the morning, eat more protein, do more cardio. Just don't lose sight that you have lost 50...That is nothing to sniff at!

50 pounds! That's FANTASTIC! Think about it this way...7 pounds a month...in ten months.......SEVENTY Pounds......I'm a slow loser in comparison to some here, partly because I do eat carbs, had a hysterectomy ( so menopausal) and have PCOS. There are so many factors in your weight loss journey. Hang in there, and try different things. Only have carbs in the morning, eat more protein, do more cardio. Just don't lose sight that you have lost 50...That is nothing to sniff at!

I have PCOS also I was wondering if it was going to affect my weight loss, I know my gyno told me that us PCOSers have bodies that are designed to hold onto fat..lol

Yeah, PCOS is a tough nugget. Being insulin resistant, we process carbs and foods a bit differently to say the least and I have the lovely side affects of thinning hair ( which is more so now with the surgery ) and I carry a good amount of weight around my belly. We can lose it though =) Just is a little more work, I suppose! Every little bit we lose though helps with the symptoms!

Your sleeve is a tool, you still have to be diligent and track your food and pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth. Like RareGold 3000, I also use myfitness pal to track my food, my water, and my exercise. It is EASY to just eat bad foods all day long. If I am tracking, I hold myself accountable and I make way better choices. I eat about 800 -900 calories a day, with 60-70 g protein. Using a tracking tool makes it way easier for me to stay on track. It also validates the hard work I am doing when I go to the gym, do water aerobics, and walk.

Thank you everyone for the posts! Very insightful. I actually do track my food for the most part with my fitness pal but it's not everyday, but I am going to do better by keeping up with that on a daily basis. I don't eat terrible and awful things but I have noticed I love my carbs. So I've been trying to get a lot of protein in in the morning so I don't feel like I'm super hungry by lunch and that seems to be helping. It is a process for sure and you all are right, 50 pounds I should be proud of, not worried about. Getting back to basics I feel is key! So is exercising. I'll keep you all posted on my journey I promise. Thank you all so much for the replies and support!!

I'm going to post the same advice to you as I just did to someone else in another thread. Go to a pet store and look ( you don't even have to pick it up) at a 50 pound bag of dog food. Every time I hit a slump, or stall I go find something that is close to the amount that I have lost. it inspires me to keep going. I have compared my loss to a 5 pound bag of sugar, 10 pounds of potatos, and pet food.