Slowed to 2-lb loss per week, 1 month out...suggestions?

[stacechase 251]

Hi everyone:

I apologize in advance if this topic has already been addressed in a previous thread. I did do a search for it and found a few results, but am interested in some additional suggestions from veterans or people who are at least 3-6 months post-sleeve.

I was sleeved on August 19, and am now averaging about 2 lbs. lost per week. I am eating very low calories (less than 800 cals per day) and doing 2.5 mile walk/jogs per day (burns about 500 cals, give or take). My starting weight as of my surgery date was about 280-something. As of today, I'm 258.

I have read that upping one's calorie intake can increase weight loss...should I try this? Any other ideas to make the most of this period where I could be losing a bit more per week? I completely understand that the weight loss will eventually slow, but I still feel that it should be going a little faster at this point (and in the first few weeks after surgery, it was coming off faster).

Also, to be clear, I feel VERY fortunate to be losing anything at all, and I promise you I'm not complaining about this loss rate. Just looking for suggestions as to how to get a little more weight off per week if there are things I can be changing. I'm very happy with the sleeve and my progress to date!

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Sassygirl06 962]

I didn't lose anything my second month out from surgery. I hit that dreaded 3 week stall. It lasted a few weeks, and then I began loosing again. Even after that though I only lost an average of 10 pounds a month. Keep your spirits up though, a loss is still a loss, and all of those little losses add up pretty quickly. It is also better for your skin to lose slowly, it gives your skin the chance to shrink up with you, instead of being wobbly. Losing slowly also helped me with Hair loss. I only lost a little hair because my body wasn't put into such a shock mode. Good luck girl! You will get there soon enough!

[Indigo1991 1,612]

At the moment, might help more to focus on your Protein and Fluid intake as both can affect the rate you lose weight. When my weight loss stalled, I kept doing what I was doing and on alternate days ate more Protein and drank more Fluid, eventually my stall broke.

Since I was sleeved, I haven't counted a calorie. For me, that's the old behaviour that got me into trouble. I now look at eating the right amount of good quality protein every day, as advised by my nut, and drinking the right amount of fluid. Sounds boring - but that works for me. Calories only tell you the calorific value of the food you eat - they don't tell you if it is the right kind of food... Just my view.... :-)

[JourneyToLife 119]

I think if you bump up your intake to just a 1000 calories a day making sure your getting the right amount of Protein and eating only what you should be eating and exercising as you are. You should start to see results. You will at times stall no matter how well you are doing. You will need to adjust your intake and out take multiple times throughout your weight loss journey. When your body is experiencing a reduction in calories and an increase in activity, it will go into starvation mode. It is a natural defense mechanism to hold onto fat and such to help keep the body nourished. It doesn't read your mind and it doesn't know how fat you think you are. All it knows is to defend. I know this because of the many articles I have read in the past and knowing to eat smaller meals throughout the day will ensure your body that it is getting the nutrients it needs and will then release stored fat. Hope this helps...

[stacechase 251]

Thanks so much, everyone!! You guys are right, I need to focus more on making sure I get all of my Protein and fluids (I get a good amount, but not the amount I'm supposed to be getting) and up my calories (with healthy foods, of course). Thanks again!