i was wondering why we sometimes dont lose even when our calorie intake is alot less than it used to be. i went from 2500 or so down to about 1000 calories a day. you would think that the weight would melt away. i am eating no fast food, hardly any bread or pasta, mostly fluids and protein. i am not getting enough fruits and veg in but i had a hard time with this before surgery because i would choose bad things over good things. i have definitely come a long way from what i used to eat. yes i cheat once in awhile but it shouldnt be enough to keep the weight from coming off. i am now 7 weeks and didnt lose for about 2 1/2 weeks and now i just lost about 3 pounds in the past few days. i know that wieght loss is slower with the band but if we are eating less all away around why arent we losing so much?

andrea

Sorry Ladies, it appears all the best losers on this thread are MEN!

Unfortunately, what they are sating is true for MEN. Lower calories, increase exercise, weight falls off. Not so true for women.... sigh....

Sorry to be the downer today. I have no restriction, I'm starving all the time and my daily calories have crept up to 1100 to 1200 this week. Unless I stay between 800 and 1000, weight does not come off me and I'm not confident the next fill will get me restriction! UGH... I'm in bandster hell!

There is another factor, if you look a people who were prisoners of war or in other horrible situations, the body shuts down a bit and conserves what it has. In you case, your body may be in a crisis mode and holding on to what it has.

"Starvation Mode" is a nice concept to delude us into thinking that's why we are not losing weight, much like thinking the uptick in weight must be associated with lean muscle gain. In the very short-term (two weeks or less) these two factors might come into play, but scientific evidence proves that lower metabolic rates and balances of fat to lean muscle gains balance out fairly quickly. Consider the following:

Metabolism Slows During Calorie Restriction

Restricting calories during weight loss lowers metabolism1 because the body becomes more efficient, requiring fewer calories to perform the necessary daily functions for survival. Consequently, this can slow (but not stop) the anticipated rate of weight loss.

For example, if an individual needs 2,000 calories per day to maintain weight, reducing intake to 1,500 calories, assuming exercise stays the same, should provide a 1 pound per week weight loss (Note: 1 pound of weight is equivalent to about 3,500 calories). Furthermore, reducing to 1,000 calories should result in a weight loss of 2 pounds per week and going down to 500 calories a day should result in a weight loss of 3 pounds per week. However, if an individual actually reduces their intake to 500 calories, the weight loss would not likely be a steady 3 pounds per week because of the reduced metabolic rate. It would likely be around 2¼ to 2½ pounds. This "lower than expected" rate of weight loss is a lot different than "no" weight loss as the "starvation mode" notion proposes.

It is unclear as to whether the relationship between reduced caloric intake and a lower metabolism follows a straight path or becomes more pronounced the greater the caloric reduction. Some studies have found no significant reduction in metabolism until the caloric restriction is quite large (e.g. 800 calories or less per day).2 Others suggest a linear relationship with small reductions in metabolism accompanying small reductions in caloric restriction, with the gap increasing as the caloric deficit is enlarged.

While there is no biologic evidence to support the "starvation mode" myth, there may be behavioral reasons why weight loss stops when calories are severely reduced. Over-restriction of calorie intake, known as high dietary restraint is linked to periods of overeating, hindering successful weight loss.3 (For more information on dietary restraint, read the Science Center article, The Skill of Flexible Restraint). Metabolism after Weight Loss

The good news is that after the weight-loss goal is achieved and weight has stabilized, it does not appear that the dip in metabolism is permanent. Several rigorous studies done at the University of Alabama in Birmingham showed that metabolism goes back to expected levels with sustained weight loss,4 discounting the theory that a lowered metabolism helps to explain the common phenomenon of weight regain following weight loss.

Hey guys...

Quick question, I am finding it very difficult to eat lean protein now that I think I've got the proper fill. It seems to be much easier to eat eat the things I shouldn't. Any suggestions for lean proteins and how I can start functioning as a successful banded loser? I've been doing great on excercise I just keep cheating on the carbs. I think...rather, I know I'm addicted to sugar. I don't have any support groups or really any accountability, my surgery was down in Mexico and I think the nutritioist is irritated with me (she won't reply to my emails) even though I've been blessed by my experience there and have not complained once. Maybe I need to complain a little, maybe I'm flying under the radar! Anyway, I guess I'm feeling a little isolated in this experience since I've been banded. I haven't told the majority of my friends, just my hubby and my daughters. The BMR calculator was helpful, I've decided to be more like you guys and really be more proactive and determined to make this work! I would love some advice from my fellow banded peers????? Thanks ...Kimmy

P.S

I'm 207 wanting to be 147

Oh dream a little dream!