Update On Me (Surgery: 5/19/21)

[lizonaplane 1,604]

I'm surprised your calories are that low so far out. I eat 900-1200 calories and I'm five months out. Some days are even higher.

Maybe try to increase calories for a few days/week to see if that shakes something loose?

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

6 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

I'm surprised your calories are that low so far out. I eat 900-1200 calories and I'm five months out. Some days are even higher.

Maybe try to increase calories for a few days/week to see if that shakes something loose?

Yeah, a lot of people say that to me. I just contacted my nutritionist again today to give her an update. I also sent her my logs for the last 60 days. So, before changing it up I'll see what she says. Having said that, by the end of the day I feel totally satisfied on the days where I stay close to 800 or under. If I ever feel hungry I do eat more of sensible foods. And if that means going over then I go over. But just based on how much food I can fit in, I normally don't go over 1200. I also stick to 3 meals a day but again, that keeps me satisfied so I'm not even sure how consistent I could be with staying close to 1200 every day.

[OutdoorsGirl 92]

7 hours ago, lizonaplane said:

I'm sorry you're struggling. YOU'VE LOST 90 LBS!!!! That's great! Remember that many/most people who have WLS do not end up with a "normal" BMI.

I can't tell you anything your dietician hasn't already told you. Stalls DO happen, especially as you get closer to your goal. DON'T use laxatives for weight loss. That is not healthy mentally or physically.

How many calories are you eating? Sometimes people need to eat more/fewer calories to get their weight to move. I assume you've already discussed this with your dietician, as well as weighing and measuring your food to make sure your calorie counts are accurate.

Your exercise plan is really amazing. I keep getting tendinitis and can't do anything...

Re: tendinitis. I’ve had that before too. It took a long time to get rid of it. What finally worked was kinesiology tape. A physical therapist will know how to position the tape. I was skeptical when they taped my foot and ankle, but I had relief after the first taping. After a couple more taping sessions, the pain was finally gone. I haven’t had the problem since.

[lizonaplane 1,604]

11 hours ago, OutdoorsGirl said:

Re: tendinitis. I’ve had that before too. It took a long time to get rid of it. What finally worked was kinesiology tape. A physical therapist will know how to position the tape. I was skeptical when they taped my foot and ankle, but I had relief after the first taping. After a couple more taping sessions, the pain was finally gone. I haven’t had the problem since.

Thanks, I'll look into that!

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

So I meet with my Nutritionist/Dietician on March 3rd. Guess we'll see what she has to say then.

[kcuster83 1,502]

This is a great feed. So informative. Great details. Thank you for all of the information @SummerTimeGirl

You have had quite a journey and I would say a rewarding one. Good for you and keep up the good work!

I know you have times of being discouraged and frustrated but when you look in from the outside, you are doing an outstanding job!

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

1 hour ago, kcuster83 said:

This is a great feed. So informative. Great details. Thank you for all of the information @SummerTimeGirl

You have had quite a journey and I would say a rewarding one. Good for you and keep up the good work!

I know you have times of being discouraged and frustrated but when you look in from the outside, you are doing an outstanding job!

Thank you so much!

[MissNicole 17]

So happy to hear that you’re doing great! I hope I do as well as you ❤️

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

UPDATE:

So I had my meeting with my dietician this morning. She said based on the log I provided her from the Baritastic app for the last two months she did NOT see that I was eating anything that I shouldn't or in quantities that I shouldn't. She still seems to think I was/am still being a little inconsistent when it comes to Protein. She said that based on a few missing days and some days where it may have been lower. But I tried to tell her overall, I think I HAVE been pretty consistent regardless of those few days/logs.

Anyway, she said at one time the 800 calories a day was probably good enough for me but now that I'm working out more regularly that maybe now I should up my calories and protein. Calories to around 1000 to 1100 and protein more than 80/90.

I feel like she's guessing, in a way, on what could be wrong too because of the fact that she said she does not see anywhere in my food logs or workout routine where I'm doing anything wrong. She also mentioned body composition. She said maybe I have actually gained more lean muscle over fat and whatnot and that I should pay more attention to that. I told her I DO have a scale like that and, even though I weigh regularly, I DO NOT log the actual weigh ins unless there is a loss so I can't or haven't seen if there has indeed been a change because it doesn't log it on the app unless I allow it to. So, I need to start logging those slight gains too in order to MAYBE get a better idea of what is going on.

My husband and I were talking last night and we still think that my cut in Metformin dose still may be playing a part in this long stall. I had my dose cut in September and October was my last real loss. Also the last time my period was normal. So, I brought that up to her and she doesn't seem to think that's the reason. She said it was right that my dose was cut because my sugars have been improving and warranted it. Like the doc said, she also said the weight loss itself could be causing the irregularity in period and stall. That there is no way to know for sure if it's due to the weight loss in general or the Metformin. But I don't know. Just awfully funny that it was cut down and suddenly I stop losing weight and my period has been jacked since too.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna go back to my old dose for the next few weeks and see if anything changes. If it does I will then discuss that with my family doc who I see in two weeks. Because, if the scale starts moving again, then just maybe I need to go back on it for now. I know my goal and point of having the surgery was to GET OFF this medicine but who knows. Maybe I still need it for now. I still feel so confused.

She said she understood but that I DO seem to be doing everything right and that I should stay the course.

Anyway, that's that.

[kcuster83 1,502]

21 minutes ago, SummerTimeGirl said:

UPDATE:

So I had my meeting with my dietician this morning. She said based on the log I provided her from the Baritastic app for the last two months she did NOT see that I was eating anything that I shouldn't or in quantities that I shouldn't. She still seems to think I was/am still being a little inconsistent when it comes to Protein. She said that based on a few missing days and some days where it may have been lower. But I tried to tell her overall, I think I HAVE been pretty consistent regardless of those few days/logs.

Anyway, she said at one time the 800 calories a day was probably good enough for me but now that I'm working out more regularly that maybe now I should up my calories and Protein. Calories to around 1000 to 1100 and protein more than 80/90.

I feel like she's guessing, in a way, on what could be wrong too because of the fact that she said she does not see anywhere in my food logs or workout routine where I'm doing anything wrong. She also mentioned body composition. She said maybe I have actually gained more lean muscle over fat and whatnot and that I should pay more attention to that. I told her I DO have a scale like that and, even though I weigh regularly, I DO NOT log the actual weigh ins unless there is a loss so I can't or haven't seen if there has indeed been a change because it doesn't log it on the app unless I allow it to. So, I need to start logging those slight gains too in order to MAYBE get a better idea of what is going on.

My husband and I were talking last night and we still think that my cut in Metformin dose still may be playing a part in this long stall. I had my dose cut in September and October was my last real loss. Also the last time my period was normal. So, I brought that up to her and she doesn't seem to think that's the reason. She said it was right that my dose was cut because my sugars have been improving and warranted it. Like the doc said, she also said the weight loss itself could be causing the irregularity in period and stall. That there is no way to know for sure if it's due to the weight loss in general or the Metformin. But I don't know. Just awfully funny that it was cut down and suddenly I stop losing weight and my period has been jacked since too.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna go back to my old dose for the next few weeks and see if anything changes. If it does I will then discuss that with my family doc who I see in two weeks. Because, if the scale starts moving again, then just maybe I need to go back on it for now. I know my goal and point of having the surgery was to GET OFF this medicine but who knows. Maybe I still need it for now. I still feel so confused.

She said she understood but that I DO seem to be doing everything right and that I should stay the course.

Anyway, that's that.

If you are choosing to up your metformin, be sure to take your blood sugars regularly. You don't want to bottom out. Good luck!

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

UPDATE:

I go in this week for another regular check up with my family doc and so today he had me get my cholesterol and my A1C done again.

My LDL was 137 which is weird cause it was 135 in September. I would think it would have improved and gone down more. NOT go up.....even if it isn't up by much.

My A1C was 5.6 down from 5.8 in September. I would have thought that would have gone down more too. Especially since last March it was 6.7 and went to 5.8 in September last year. BIG difference in just 6 months. So why was this last 6 months not so good? Also been stalled for about that same amount of time.

These things make me think even more that maybe I should have stayed at my normal Metformin dose so I'll definitely be talking about that this week with my doctor. As much as I wanted to come off the meds it just may have been too soon.

EDITED TO ADD:

So even though I have an appointment with him this week he called me to go over the results already. He said my sugar numbers are excellent and responding well but the cholesterol isn't responding as well but it isn't terrible. Anyway, he mentioned Metformin and my weight loss and stuff and then I briefly said that I wanted to discuss it and why and he then mentioned that there are better medications than Metformin that accomplish the same stuff for my sugars but also help with weight loss so we'll talk about that this week too. Not sure what medication he is thinking about but I guess I'll see.

Edited March 12, 2022 by SummerTimeGirl

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

UPDATE:

Just wanted to give ANOTHER quick update to my situation. LOL So as you may know I met with my dietician on March 3rd and we discussed my food logs and exercise and how it appeared I was doing everything right. Also told her that the only new different thing that happened back when my stall started was the fact that I halved my Metformin. She didn't seem to think that was the issue. But for sh*ts and giggles I started myself back on my old dose the next day. So guess what, on March 4th I weight in at 243.2. But then two days ago I weighed in at 235.4!!!! Pretty much an 8lb loss in only 12 days!!! Coincidence or what? I did NOTHING else new or different. All I know is that the scale has NOT moved like that in like 5 months!!!

I also had my doc appointment today and we discussed what happened and he said if I feel like it's helping my weight move again then to stay on it. Otherwise, if I stall again, we can then discuss some other medicinal options to possibly help me start losing again.

Overall he is happy with my progress and tells me to just keep doing what I've been doing.

I HOPE the Metformin was the issue all along but I'm not getting too happy just yet. I'll keep updating periodically.

[Mariann812 268]

I just read your update from 5/21, and it was so helpful…I read most of your posts. Thank you for taking the time to write so completely of your experience. I appreciate it so much.
You are almost a yeSr out now, and I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I had to laugh at your liverwurst craving soon after your surgery. When I was of with my first, 43 yrs ago, I had a liverwurst sandwich every.single.day for lunch. 🤣 I haven’t had one since, but I ate it for 36 weeks. She, to this day, has an amazing memory. I’m convinced it’s the liverwurst sandwiches.
Thank you again, and I hope you are well.

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

9 hours ago, Mariann812 said:

I just read your update from 5/21, and it was so helpful…I read most of your posts. Thank you for taking the time to write so completely of your experience. I appreciate it so much.
You are almost a yeSr out now, and I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I had to laugh at your liverwurst craving soon after your surgery. When I was of with my first, 43 yrs ago, I had a liverwurst sandwich every.single.day for lunch. 🤣 I haven’t had one since, but I ate it for 36 weeks. She, to this day, has an amazing memory. I’m convinced it’s the liverwurst sandwiches.
Thank you again, and I hope you are well.

Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful. I use it as kind of a log for myself too so that I can look back and see what happened and when.

That's so funny with the Liverwurst. LOL As I said before, I don't usually like it but every now and then I get a taste for it. LOL

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

UPDATE:

Another quick update since it's been a while. Well, I tired my old dose of Metformin for over a month and it did nothing for my weight loss. I was really hoping that the cut in dose was the issue/reason for my stall since October. But I'm still stalled despite still eating right (and logging everything) and exercise. So I contacted my doc through the patient portal and told him it wasn't making a difference and he switched me to Rybelsus.

He said I DO NOT need it for my blood sugar as it's been great, but he feels it may help with the weight loss as it has done so with many of his other patients. It's also supposed to be good for those with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. He told me I am doing everything humanly possible to lose weight on my own and he doesn't know what else I could or should do otherwise so we both agreed I'd give this a shot. I will have to give it a good three months to see. I will be on the 3mg for 30 days. Then 7 (or 8?) mg for 30 days. And finally, the highest does of 14mg for at least 30 days. We will reevaluate after that.

He also talked again about how he believes some bodies/people just may be predisposed to a set weight and that there may be nothing you can do to change that. I get where he's coming from but I'd hate to think my body is done losing and I'll be stuck here still at least 50-60 lbs overweight (from MY goal......which is still an overweight number wise by normal standards).

I have a meeting with my surgeon in a week or two. I think by their standards I will be on target (although I feel like a failure) because he told me before that he expects me to be between 201 and 234 at a year out. Well my lowest weigh in has been 235 but that was weeks ago (March 16th). Haven't lost more since and, once again, I am hovering around 241 and 245. Sighhhhhhh Still have til May 19th (my surgery anniversary) to lose more but I am doubtful that will happen.

Anyway, that's that and I feel so defeated. Of course I'd be the freakin' oddball that would STILL have problems losing weight even after surgery.

Edited April 25, 2022 by SummerTimeGirl