Struggling with old bad eating habits and slow weight loss?

[RosessXO 23]

HI my lovelies ❤️

I am just about 3 months post op (surgery was 12/6/24) and 1 lb shy of being down a total of 40lbs. While this is great I feel like I should be down more, or wish I was down more. I can't help but see others with close to 60+lbs down within the same time frame. I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves, it's literally the worst thing to do, but I can't help it.

I was apart of the Tuesday Talks meeting last week which there were 2 women there that assured me that they lost at a similar pace, losing about 10lbs a month every month after the surgery. One of the nice ladies explained that 10lbs/month = to 120lbs down in 1 year. When I thought of it like that, I did feel better and more assured however I am still struggling with self depleting thoughts.

Also, the last 2 weeks I been struggling with eating the wrong foods and snacking on foods I shouldn't be eating which I'll beat myself up even more mentally. My biggest struggles are iced coffee with sugary syrups and pizza/chips. I will have these about 1 x a week the last 2 weeks. How the day goes is it's usually a Sunday, I'll get a sugary coffee for Breakfast and then end the day with 1 of those single serving bag of chips and 1 slice of pizza. I've done this now the last 2 Sundays. While it may not seem like a lot Im worried that I will start sliding down the wrong path and give into my old ways even more. The luxury of this surgery is Im incapable of overeating now and these foods still stay within a "normal" caloric range for the day (about 1400cals) but still, I know I shouldn't be eating them at all.

I also workout 5 days a week now and have been consistent with this since late December. I do about 1.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym 3xs a week and then do a step ups aerobic type of exercise 2 days a week at home. I always leave my workout super sweaty with a high calorie burn on my Apple Watch.

So with all this being said, I feel like I eat perfectly 6 days a week w 1 day where I'm "off", workout 5 days a week every single week taking off 2 days usually Wed and Sunday to let my body rest.

Is there anything else I could do to speed up my weight loss? Or do you think this is "normal" and I'm on a good path?

I also do these week to 2 week challenges with my bf that help me stay on track too. For example we did one from 2/12 - 3/1 and the rules were no junk food, fried foods or sugar and workout 5 days a week. I completed the challenge and lost 6 lbs total. But it was the day after the challenge where I ate pizza and iced coffee w mocha.

We started a new challenge today which ends on Saturday 3/9. After that I'll be partaking in Ramadan beginning Monday 3/11 this year which will also help to keep me disciplined.

Please do share your thoughts and how you combated your bad food habits?

Also, please be kind ❤️ Thanks for reading! xoxo

[GreenTealael 25,631]

1 hour ago, RosessXO said:

HI my lovelies ❤️

I am just about 3 months post op (surgery was 12/6/24) and 1 lb shy of being down a total of 40lbs. While this is great I feel like I should be down more, or wish I was down more. I can't help but see others with close to 60+lbs down within the same time frame. I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves, it's literally the worst thing to do, but I can't help it.

I was apart of the Tuesday Talks meeting last week which there were 2 women there that assured me that they lost at a similar pace, losing about 10lbs a month every month after the surgery. One of the nice ladies explained that 10lbs/month = to 120lbs down in 1 year. When I thought of it like that, I did feel better and more assured however I am still struggling with self depleting thoughts.

Also, the last 2 weeks I been struggling with eating the wrong foods and snacking on foods I shouldn't be eating which I'll beat myself up even more mentally. My biggest struggles are iced coffee with sugary syrups and pizza/chips. I will have these about 1 x a week the last 2 weeks. How the day goes is it's usually a Sunday, I'll get a sugary coffee for Breakfast and then end the day with 1 of those single serving bag of chips and 1 slice of pizza. I've done this now the last 2 Sundays. While it may not seem like a lot Im worried that I will start sliding down the wrong path and give into my old ways even more. The luxury of this surgery is Im incapable of overeating now and these foods still stay within a "normal" caloric range for the day (about 1400cals) but still, I know I shouldn't be eating them at all.

I also workout 5 days a week now and have been consistent with this since late December. I do about 1.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym 3xs a week and then do a step ups aerobic type of exercise 2 days a week at home. I always leave my workout super sweaty with a high calorie burn on my Apple Watch.

So with all this being said, I feel like I eat perfectly 6 days a week w 1 day where I'm "off", workout 5 days a week every single week taking off 2 days usually Wed and Sunday to let my body rest.

Is there anything else I could do to speed up my weight loss? Or do you think this is "normal" and I'm on a good path?

I also do these week to 2 week challenges with my bf that help me stay on track too. For example we did one from 2/12 - 3/1 and the rules were no junk food, fried foods or sugar and workout 5 days a week. I completed the challenge and lost 6 lbs total. But it was the day after the challenge where I ate pizza and iced coffee w mocha.

We started a new challenge today which ends on Saturday 3/9. After that I'll be partaking in Ramadan beginning Monday 3/11 this year which will also help to keep me disciplined.

Please do share your thoughts and how you combated your bad food habits?

Also, please be kind ❤️ Thanks for reading! xoxo

I personally think the right path is the one you can stay on the longest that does not feel like a burden. Are these challenges helping you or are you just counting down the clock? Are you someone who can have things in moderation or need to cut things out completely? I would start there.

I would 1000% recommend replacing your sugar syrups/creamers with sugar free versions or a Protein Shake. I did this from the start and I never went back to using sugar in drinks (There were 2 times when I couldn’t get a substitute once on vacation and once at a local cafe. I used 1 packet of sugar to take the edge off a heavy Oolong tea but I knew I would not use sugar regularly so i made peace with the decision).
If you don’t want to use a substitute, that’s ok too but it may or may not impact your progress.

Good luck!

[RosessXO 23]

12 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

I personally think the right path is the one you can stay on the longest that does not feel like a burden. Are these challenges helping you or are you just counting down the clock? Are you someone who can have things in moderation or need to cut things out completely? I would start there.

I would 1000% recommend replacing your sugar syrups/creamers with sugar free versions or a Protein Shake. I did this from the start and I never went back to using sugar in drinks (There were 2 times when I couldn’t get a substitute once on vacation and once at a local cafe. I used 1 packet of sugar to take the edge off a heavy Oolong tea but I knew I would not use sugar regularly so i made peace with the decision).
If you don’t want to use a substitute, that’s ok too but it may or may not impact your progress.

Good luck!

Hi thanks for responding! I actually do use the Premier Protein shakes every day for my coffee. I have a nespresso machine so I use 1 pod (like 2oz coffee) and a Protein Shake. I do the Starbucks / Dunkin iced coffees on Sundays. But bc I have a bad relationship w food I feel this is still bad.

I actually love the challenges. They make me motivated and when I’m disciplined I feel so good. It’s once they’re done or if it’s a Sunday I’ll go off diet. Idk what it is about Sundays that make me feel like I just wanna be lazy and eat comfort food. 😞

And yesss I am the type of person that moderation can turn into a binge so I just try to stay away from certain foods all together. This surgery is helping me though. It’s helping me stay away from a lot of the wrong foods and if I do want something I can’t eat too much of it.

How has your journey been?

[GreenTealael 25,631]

3 minutes ago, RosessXO said:

Hi thanks for responding! I actually do use the Premier Protein shakes every day for my coffee. I have a nespresso machine so I use 1 pod (like 2oz coffee) and a Protein Shake. I do the Starbucks / Dunkin iced coffees on Sundays. But bc I have a bad relationship w food I feel this is still bad.

I actually love the challenges. They make me motivated and when I’m disciplined I feel so good. It’s once they’re done or if it’s a Sunday I’ll go off diet. Idk what it is about Sundays that make me feel like I just wanna be lazy and eat comfort food. 😞

And yesss I am the type of person that moderation can turn into a binge so I just try to stay away from certain foods all together. This surgery is helping me though. It’s helping me stay away from a lot of the wrong foods and if I do want something I can’t eat too much of it.

How has your journey been?

I know for a fact both Starbucks and Dunkin will customize drinks with sugar substitutes, try it and see how you feel about it.
My journey has been nice and easy (joking). Minor inconveniences but nothing that couldn’t be addressed. I’m almost 7yrs post op and life feels really normal. I’m grateful for that.

[catwoman7 11,285]

10 lbs a month is pretty normal, and so is 40 lbs in three months. Unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life", you need to adjust your expectations or you're going to be disappointed. I was about where you are at that point, and I went on to lose over 200 lbs.

that said, you're eating way more than I was at that juncture...and I wasn't eating things like pizza and chips that early out, either. Maybe all of your activity is burning this off, but I'd be really careful and try to stick to the eating plan your clinic gave you. This is your big chance to lose a crap ton of weight - so take advantage of it!! Once your sense of hunger comes roaring back, it's going to get A LOT harder.

P.S. the women at your Tuesday Talks are only partly right. People will typically lose 10 lbs a month for a few months, but it really slows down the closer you get to normal weight. I lost about 10 lbs a month for the first six or seven months, then it dropped down to somewhere around five lbs, give or take, and then after I passed the year mark, there were some months I only lost about 2 lbs, despite sticking to my eating plan 100%. It's because at some point what you take in and what it takes to run your body reaches equilibrium.

Edited March 5, 2024 by catwoman7

[NickelChip 1,358]

Your weight loss rate is normal and where it should be at this stage, but in my opinion, your eating habits are going to work against long term success if you don't do some work now to establish the best possible habits.

You may have the luxury of not being able to overeat for now, but this is a fleeting luxury. It doesn't last. Furthermore, every bite of junk food at this stage when your capacity is so small deprives your body of the nutrients it needs from high quality food. That will not help you lose weight, no matter what the calorie count is, because you need a healthy body.

A bite of pizza or a couple chips from the bowl because you were at a party one weekend is totally understandable, if a bit of a slippery slope. But choosing them regularly will fast become a problem (or at least it sure would be for me).

And if you change nothing else, sugary drinks should have zero place in your diet now. Your body does not have a restriction for fluids. If you can consume your 64 oz of Water, you can just as easily consume that amount of a sugar sweetened beverage in a day. Just one venti iced coffee with classic Syrup has 30g of sugar! Request sugar free syrup or bring your own sweetener.

I watched this video last night and it really spoke to me, so I'm putting it here in case it helps you too:

[Spinoza 1,529]

Oh really interesting and useful - thank you for the link!

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,682]

I love the sugar free vanilla sweetener at Starbucks. I like to get a grande cold brew coffee with almond milk, sugar free vanilla sweetener, vanilla bean powder, and sometimes I also add chai. So I can say there's definitely some options you can get that are compliant.

[Arabesque 7,640]

I agree with the others. Your rate of loss is fine. I also agree with the concerns about your eating during this losing period. It seems more like how you may chose to eat when you are in maintenance. When we choose how much & how often we have foods like pizza, chips, sweetened drinks, etc. When we decide what foods we’ll to add back into our new way of eating or ones we’ll avoid. When we look at alternative ingredients, or different cooking methods.

I also worry about you changing your way of eating so often, going from one extreme to another. (Not including Ramadan in this.) Are you sure you’re meeting your Fluid & Protein goals? Are you sure you’re getting in a range of nutrients from nutrient dense foods? This is so important when we are only able to eat smaller portions. We all say & are told to stick to our plans for a reason.

You mentioned you had a difficult relationship with food/bad eating habits & these current behaviours do seem a continuation of this. Do you still see your dietician? Your therapist? If not, at the very least I’d seek a reference from your surgeon/team to a therapist who specialises in disordered eating. Many find therapy very helpful in changing these behaviours & their relationship with food & identifying strategies to mange them.

All the best.

PS - Don’t believe the calorie burn on your Apple Watch. It’s known to be inaccurate & tends to inflate the stats. It only uses your height, weight & age & not your individual metabolic rate, your optimal heart rate, the amount of energy you are putting into the activity, etc. Use it as a guide/approximation only.

[El Oso Perezoso 4]

On 3/4/2024 at 3:46 PM, RosessXO said:

HI my lovelies ❤️

I am just about 3 months post op (surgery was 12/6/24) and 1 lb shy of being down a total of 40lbs. While this is great I feel like I should be down more, or wish I was down more. I can't help but see others with close to 60+lbs down within the same time frame. I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves, it's literally the worst thing to do, but I can't help it.

I was apart of the Tuesday Talks meeting last week which there were 2 women there that assured me that they lost at a similar pace, losing about 10lbs a month every month after the surgery. One of the nice ladies explained that 10lbs/month = to 120lbs down in 1 year. When I thought of it like that, I did feel better and more assured however I am still struggling with self depleting thoughts.

Also, the last 2 weeks I been struggling with eating the wrong foods and snacking on foods I shouldn't be eating which I'll beat myself up even more mentally. My biggest struggles are iced coffee with sugary syrups and pizza/chips. I will have these about 1 x a week the last 2 weeks. How the day goes is it's usually a Sunday, I'll get a sugary coffee for Breakfast and then end the day with 1 of those single serving bag of chips and 1 slice of pizza. I've done this now the last 2 Sundays. While it may not seem like a lot Im worried that I will start sliding down the wrong path and give into my old ways even more. The luxury of this surgery is Im incapable of overeating now and these foods still stay within a "normal" caloric range for the day (about 1400cals) but still, I know I shouldn't be eating them at all.

I also workout 5 days a week now and have been consistent with this since late December. I do about 1.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym 3xs a week and then do a step ups aerobic type of exercise 2 days a week at home. I always leave my workout super sweaty with a high calorie burn on my Apple Watch.

So with all this being said, I feel like I eat perfectly 6 days a week w 1 day where I'm "off", workout 5 days a week every single week taking off 2 days usually Wed and Sunday to let my body rest.

Is there anything else I could do to speed up my weight loss? Or do you think this is "normal" and I'm on a good path?

I also do these week to 2 week challenges with my bf that help me stay on track too. For example we did one from 2/12 - 3/1 and the rules were no junk food, fried foods or sugar and workout 5 days a week. I completed the challenge and lost 6 lbs total. But it was the day after the challenge where I ate pizza and iced coffee w mocha.

We started a new challenge today which ends on Saturday 3/9. After that I'll be partaking in Ramadan beginning Monday 3/11 this year which will also help to keep me disciplined.

Please do share your thoughts and how you combated your bad food habits?

Also, please be kind ❤️ Thanks for reading! xoxo

I was told by my nutritionist that if you're REALLY craving something that's crispy and chip-like, she suggested Pork rinds since they're 99% Protein. She said not to overdo it but would be a good alternative to chips and such. they're not exactly "healthy" because they're deep-fried, but are better for you than potato chips.

I'm scheduled for my surgery in two days, so I'll see how I do. Currently in the pre-op liquid diet, and Boy Howdy am I missing Snacks in the evening. Especially if I'm watching a show or movie. I crave that popcorn!

Don't be hard on yourself. If you have a bad day that you cheated or had some sugary or high-calorie food, just think that tomorrow is a new day and a new day to be "good".

Hope this helped a little.

[ms.sss 15,861]

On 3/6/2024 at 1:41 AM, El Oso Perezoso said:

was told by my nutritionist that if you're REALLY craving something that's crispy and chip-like, she suggested Pork rinds since they're 99% Protein. She said not to overdo it but would be a good alternative to chips and such. they're not exactly "healthy" because they're deep-fried, but are better for you than potato chips.

while im a huge supporter (and lover, lol) of pork rinds... would caution eating then during weight loss phase as they are crazy high in calories. i ate them regularly immediately after goal to increase my calorie intake without much volume....but not during weight loss phase.

raw veggies are good for crunch....

[Arabesque 7,640]

On 3/6/2024 at 4:41 PM, El Oso Perezoso said:

…I was told by my nutritionist that if you're REALLY craving something that's crispy and chip-like, she suggested Pork rinds since they're 99% Protein. …

I used to sprinkle chunks of cucumber with salt so crunch & salt. The salt was good for the low blood pressure & the cucumber is practically no calories at all.

Those Pork rinds are pretty tasty but way high in fat (often 50% fat) & calories especially as a snack for the losing stage as @ms.sss said.