How do I STOP losing weight?

[Penguin733 14]

So I've been at my goal weight, but I'm still losing weight. I'm trying my best to maintain it and it's becoming difficult to do so. How do I healthily stay at the weight I'm at?

I've tried the steps I found online like having more smaller meals throughout the day or adding more calories, but I don't have the appetite to do so and clearly can't eat as much as I used to due to the surgery. Would high Protein foods work despite it being low in calories?

Has anyone else run into this unexpected predicament? Or know of some good advice?

[Arabesque 7,134]

I kept losing fur another 11 months after I reached my goal. For a time I couldn’t eat more than I was. I added some Snacks to eat between meals & my dietician suggested adding milk powder to my milk to enrich it with more Protein & more calories. (I found this too sweet so I gave up after a short time.) I was eventually able to eat larger portions but I was still eating 4-5 snacks a day by the time my weight finally stabilised. (I was eating about 1300 calories at that point.)

I usually eat about 1600 calories now, about 3 snacks & have basically maintained. How I eat has been sustainable for me & doesn’t limit or restrict my life in any way. What I realised is that the weight I’m at is the weight my body gravitates to & is happiest at: my set point.

It may take you some time to be able to eat the calories you need to maintain. Also your goal weight may not be your new set point (it could be higher or lower). Another point to consider is that the lowest weight you reach may not be the weight at which you stabilise. Our bodies often resettle at a higher weight. There is the possibility of the bounce back regain at around year 2 or 3. Or you adjust your eating to better support your lifestyle & consequently eat a few more calories.

Try adding some additional carbs (low processed, complex whole & multi grains) some good fats, another serve of fruit, … Have a chat with your dietician too for some ways to incorporate additional but still nutrient dense foods into your eating.

All the best.

[NickelChip 1,154]

I'm not sure how many months out from surgery you are, but it sounds like the goal you set and the weight your body wants to be right now are at odds. Are you dangerously underweight at this point, or experiencing other serious negative side effects from losing weight? If not, I would suggest riding it out. Continue to eat nutrient dense foods in reasonable portions to the point of feeling satisfied from them, get a healthy amount of exercise, and ignore the numbers on the scale or the reflection in the mirror for a while until your body has a chance to figure itself out on its own time. I think most of the time, it sorts itself out. When my brother had his VSG 15 years ago, he had a period of several months, maybe 12-18 months after his surgery, where he was very skinny, to the point of him being a little concerned (and self-conscious about it since he was used to being a big guy). And then it all kind of fell into place without him having to do anything drastic.

[ms.sss 15,384]

i lost another 15+ lbs in the 6 months after i reached goal weight.

i had to learn to get out of diet mode and into maintenance mode, which was unexpectedly difficult as i had a low-key fear of carbs and eating more and gaining all the 125 lbs i lost back in a one fell swoop, ha!

anyway, i slowly ate more and more, but had a sort of physical limitation because i had very effective restriction, so i had to choose higher calorie, low volume foods.

by the time my 2 yr post op mark hit, i gained back about 1/2 of the extra weight i lost.

today, at 5+ yrs out, im still more or less the same weight. BUT my composition is different: i had more muscle mass percentage back then (because i was exercising much more recently then) so i am technically fatter now despite being the same weight. but i digress...

anyhoo...short answer to ur question is eat more calories than u burn. it doesn't mean eat heaps and heaps of food, just choose higher calorie stuff: avocados, nuts, full fat cheese and dairy, olive oil, salmon or other oily fish, red meat, egg yolks, etc.

...and if you are able to practice moderation, chips (my go to was chicharron), chocolate, etc. if you can't practice moderation, then just don't bother going this route...slippery slope and all...

you may lose more weight as u figure stiff out. though unless ur doc is worried, you probably don't need to either.

oh, and no, i didn't meal prep, but i did grocery shop plan and execute to make sure i always had stuff at home i could eat/prepare. mind u i don't/didn't work outside the home so i was able to eat/cook on the fly.

good luck! ❤️

[catwoman7 11,197]

you don't have your stats listed, but keep in mind that most of us experience a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain in year 2 or 3. I was really worried about going too low - and for months I was pretty gaunt and bony, but I've put on about 30 lbs since then (I'm almost nine years out). The first 15 was welcome -and expected. I'm not that happy with the last 15, and it's a bear getting anything off. So be careful what you wish for. On the other hand, if you're so low that you're unhealthy, then that's another story. The commenters above have some good tips.

Edited December 19, 2023 by catwoman7

[Penguin733 14]

Thanks guys, I'm almost 6 months out (which in hindsight I should've mentioned before) and I've always struggled with my weight from fat to underweight to obese (hence why I did the surgery). So, I got really paranoid as I finally hit my mark and plateau'd as I thought that was it, then earlier last week and past few days I noticed the number decreasing so I thought I might go underweight again and this time couldn't do anything about it, but good to hear it's somewhat normal and that I'll surely recover over time it seems.

[Jalapeño 13]

Keep us posted about your weight, whether it continues to fall or stabilises. If it does stabilise, let us know if you feel you have lost more weight than what suits your physique.

[Penguin733 14]

On 4/27/2024 at 8:14 PM, Jalapeño said:

Keep us posted about your weight, whether it continues to fall or stabilises. If it does stabilise, let us know if you feel you have lost more weight than what suits your physique.

Just a bit of an update; I'm currently sitting at 142-145lbs (at 6'1/male) and I was hoping to be around 150-160lbs. I'm fine with how I look and I'm pretty content with it so as long as I don't drop any further, but seems like it's been stable now I'm a full year (and a few months) post-op. I'm currently trying to get some weight back, hoping I can get it via muscles; just gonna have to figure out how to bulk with a smaller stomach, but I guess that's what the Protein Shake is for.