The Math Doesn't Add Up

[Asdf12345 12]

I just don't get it. Prior to surgery, I had typically eaten about 2,500 calories a day, and I stayed a consistent 275lbs. It was that way for at least the last 15 years. Now that I have had my surgery I eat about 800 - 1,000 calories per day and I'm not losing. How is it possible for me to cut over 1,500 calories daily from the amount of calories that used to keep my weight constant and not lose weight? It's very frustrating.

[Jersrose43 837]

Are you drinking? Your body may be in starvation mode. Are you eating Protein only or still doing carbs?

[Mrs.RRn 2,111]

How far out are you?

[Fluffnomore 1,235]

The math DOESN'T always add up. However, I remain hopeful that it will catch up.

My experience is that even though I track both intake and exercise religiously, the 3500 calorie deficit/pound logic is flawed at best. I'm going to go have my metabolic rate tested just to be sure, but based on deficits alone I should easily be losing 1-2 pounds per week. I don't really know the answer to that, but I'm stepping up exercise again and doubling down/adjusting the make up of my food intake since the calories are okay. This experience has proven to me a couple of things I have always known instinctively: we are all different, and calories in/calories out is a flawed formula.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

Fluff, I agree - I don't actually believe in calorie math anymore...haha. I do believe in carb math as that actually seems to influence my losses/gains in a clearer way.

To OP - you left out a lot of details, but if you have already lost a bunch of weight you might be in a stall, there is Water retention there are many many complex metabolic things that can cause the scale to not move when you expect it and then it will move later. don't get too wound up in your daily or weekly weights. Just follow the program, eat high Protein, high veggies and low everything else and get active and the weight loss happens.

[par1959 470]

Cowgirl Jane what is your input on eating fruit? I eat about two servings aday which adds carbs, but my calories per day is still in the 1000 to 1200 a day range. I know I am in a stall right now and not to worried about it. The reason I eat some fruit is to avoid low blood sugar levels which I have experienced twice since surgery 6 weeks ago. During weight loss our body coverts fat into carbs, it would be logical to think that low blood sugar wouldnt be an issue, but I am living proof it can be.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I think "sugars" - and fruits have a lot of them - is a very individual thing. I don't eat much fruit except berries even now in maintenance. My reason is that they make me hungry! I am very sensitive to carbs and in particular foods that have a high glycemic index. If eating fruit works for you - do it - many health benefits but i would avoid juices and try to eat the lower glycemic indicator choices.

I should note that when i eat fruit/berries it is almost always in a salad or something that has greens and Protein too. I am in maintenance though so my eating patterns are going to be different. fruit alone is bad news for me due to the sugars.

[Asdf12345 12]

I'm not drinking as much as I was instructed to. I might drink 30 - 35 oz a day instead of the 64 that the doctor recommended. I try to drink more, but never seem to get it all in. Could not drinking enough cause me not to lose?

I'm 3 weeks out. The majority of the weight I have lost was during my pre-op period.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

You are in the three week post op stall that many many people experience. Patience. Maybe you need more Water. My doc let me count Protein drinks toward the Fluid goals. I found herbal teas to be soothing to my newborn sleeve.

[Saramarie1023 27]

I was in the 3 week stall for 2 weeks! Not fun - or logical. Just now getting out of it fully. Just lost 4 lbs this week. When I was completely stalled I actually gained 4 lbs. . Drs office said I was retaining lots of Water.

It does get better. Don't get discouraged. We didn't put the weight on in a day and it doesn't come off in a day.

What I did was focus on getting strong. I increased how far I walked and kept thinking about how strong I was getting instead of the "failure" of a non-moving scale. You are likely losing inches and not even realizing it.

[boccob81 244]

Water helps you flush the fat and other things I been told don't know how true that is . But you need more water I make a game out of it I drink arrowhead 20 oz water I can finish them easier then I can the liter ones for some reason .. But I take drink every 10-15 mins . Good luck

[boccob81 244]

I also don't weigh my self all the time

[bikrchk 1,313]

I've had a similar experience. For a while there, with my exercise, I was actually left of zero as far as calories in vs calories out! And there were still stalls! Your body needs to adjust. One thing that's helped me is to weigh no more than once per week. It gives me the feedback I need without obsessing over that number. The good news is, things will even out in the end if you're following the prescription of small portions, hydration, Protein and exercise. I have purposely tried to keep my calories around 1200 now that I'm a few pounds from goal, (yes, it's still coming off, just slower now), so I stabilize in a very manageable place calorie wise.

[hrhlaurie 185]

You are in the three week post op stall that many many people experience. Patience. Maybe you need more Water. My doc let me count Protein drinks toward the Fluid goals. I found herbal teas to be soothing to my newborn sleeve.

Oh, I hated my 3 week stall. For a week I stayed at the same weight but I was eating right, drinking lots of fluids, exercising... I know I'll have another one but I'm prepared this time. I do avoid all carbs so anything that will be burned is fat.

[butterfyeffect 257]

The math DOESN'T always add up. However, I remain hopeful that it will catch up.

My experience is that even though I track both intake and exercise religiously, the 3500 calorie deficit/pound logic is flawed at best. I'm going to go have my metabolic rate tested just to be sure, but based on deficits alone I should easily be losing 1-2 pounds per week. I don't really know the answer to that, but I'm stepping up exercise again and doubling down/adjusting the make up of my food intake since the calories are okay. This experience has proven to me a couple of things I have always known instinctively: we are all different, and calories in/calories out is a flawed formula.

My thoughts exactly. If the calories in/out formula worked, we all could have just lost weight with diet and exercise, but it doesn't, and that's why some of us have to resort to other means. I have eaten 1500 calories a day while working out for 45 minutes 5 days a week in the past and lost nothing, while my husband just needs to think about losing weight and does it.

It has more to do with metabolic rates, body composition, etc. My advice is just to focus on getting your Protein and Fluid in, do what you can for exercise, and not think about the scale for a week or two. When you go back to it you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.