Momcat

VSG Ann, I'm very jealous of how many calories you are able to eat and still maintain!!! Do you do a lot of exercise, or is this what you are able to eat without exercise. I feel like if I ate 1700 calories a day I'd blow up like a balloon!!!

I'm 1-1/2 years post surgery and have lost 90% of what I needed to lose, but would like to lose 15-20 more pounds. Have gained and lost the same 2 pounds for three months now and am really frustrated. Had my follow up with surgeon today, and discussed this with him. He said I should be happy that I've lost as much as I have and that I probably won't be able to lose any more. I told him how many calories and carbs I was eating daily (1,200 calories and 50g carbs, exercising A LOT!)) and that I was afraid that if I started eating more "normally," i.e., occasional Pasta, a bite of dessert, etc., I'd gain. He told me I have to eat the way I am now forever in order to maintain my weight loss! Distressing!!! I thought I could increase my calories somewhat and add more variety in the maintenance phase. What has your experience been???

They did this test at my office that they said measures your metabolic rate, but you don't breathe into anything. You stand on something that looks like a scale and it measures your lean body mass, fat, and metabolic rate. I don't know how accurate it is. Did the test today and it said that my basal metabolic rate is 1563 calories. If that's true I should be able to lose some weight at 1200 calories per day, especially with the amount of exercise I do. I wonder if the breath test is more accurate???

This is what I ate yesterday, and is a fairly typical day for me. Breakfast: 2 eggs with 1 slice of cheese, coffee with 2 tablespoons sugar free creamer Lunch: 3 ounces chicken breast, La Tortilla Factory low carb whole wheat tortilla, 1/4 avocado Snack: Oh Yeah One Protein Bar, coffee with 2 tablespoons sugar free creamer Dinner: 3 ounces chicken breast, steamed broccoli, Trader Joe's riced cauliflower Snack: 1/2 cup Fage low fat plain yogurt with 1/2 cup strawberries 35 ounces water Right around 1200 calories. Walked very brisk pace for 30 minutes. This is pretty much what I eat, but can't lose an ounce!!! Would like to lose another 20 pounds. For all of you veterans out there, any advice is appreciated!!!

Michigan Chic, I love your perspective. That's a really good way to look at this. I also am convinced that age has a lot to do with our weight loss. I too am in my 50s (though late 50s), and believe I have to resolve myself to the fact that I will not lose as easily as someone in their 20s. Anyway, thanks for your post.

I feel your pain! I could have written your post, as I'm going through exactly the same thing. Was also sleeved in December, 2014 and have hit that same wall. I have been losing and gaining the same couple of pounds for about 4 months, even though I would like to lose another 20 pounds or so. Like you, I have tried everything but nothing works. I see my surgeon in a couple of weeks and hope he has an answer. I'd be happy to share any solutions...

Thanks so much! Looks yummy!

Would you mind posting the recipe or a link to where I could find it? Thanks.

I have complained about this before, but am now getting really frustrated. Am a 58 year old woman who is 16 months post surgery. Have lost most of my weight, but would like to lose 15-20 more pounds. I seem to have an inability to lose more weight, and am not happy about it. I have lost and gained the same 2 pounds for three months now. I eat about 1200 calories per day, high Protein and very low carb (no bread, Pasta, rice, sweets). I walk at a quick pace for about 30-45 minutes a few times per week and lift weights at a gym a few times per week. Have talked to nut, but is of no help. I don't know what else I can do, or why this is happening. Anybody else have any experience with this? Any advice??? Thanks so much!

Makes me feel a little better to know other people are going through the same thing I am! My carbs are pretty low, under 50, but still no weight loss. I was supposed to see my doc on Thursday and I was going to ask him for advice, but they just called to postpone! The one thing I do need to improve is my Water intake. Maybe that will help?

Ugh!!! Don't know if I could do a liquid diet for two weeks!! Also, have exercised this whole time. I could try to step that up or change up what I'm doing and see if that does anything for me. Any other ideas???

When I was younger I weighed around 135 - 140 and that was a good weight for me at the time, so I thought 145 would be a good goal for me now. Nothing scientific about how I came up with it, it's just a number in my head. If I stayed at this weight I could live with it, but my fear is that I am being so strict now and not able to lose that if I started relaxing a little bit and eating more like a "normal" person, i.e. a bite of Pasta or bread now and then, a bite of dessert, that I would start to gain.

I would call my activity level moderate. I lift weights a couple of times per week and either walk at about 3.6 mph on a treadmill with a large incline or do an elliptical machine three to four times per week. I am not a small boned person. Don't know what my fat percentage is though. My doctor never really set a weight goal for me, but my personal goal has always been to get to 145. As I said though, I wouldn't been too unhappy to stay where I am, but am just terrified of gaining. My (maybe unreasonable) logic is that if I can't figure out why I can't lose, I may start gaining and not be able to do anything about that either.

Your stats are very similar to mine. I had surgery in December, 2014, starting weight about the same as you, and current weight close to yours as well. Am quite a bit older though, post menopausal, and think that may be what's causing the problem. Unfortunately, nothing I can do about that, much as I would like to!!!

About 1200 calories per day, about 80 grams of Protein. I eat a VERY healthy diet and have from the first day of this journey. Have not had a bite of Pasta, bread, rice, or sugar since the beginning. I have read a couple of books recently (Mark Hyman and Dr. Ludwig) that talk about how calories don't matter, it's simple carbs, etc. that make us fat, that fat is actually a weight loss booster, etc. I tried their diet suggestions for a couple of months and lost about 3 pounds right off the bat, then stopped losing again. Anyway, am at a loss at what to do at this point.

I'm in the same position as you. Am now 16 months out and have gained and lost the same 3-4 pounds for a few months. Very frustrating. I am doing everything the way I'm supposed to, No carbs except one piece of fruit per day and some non-starchy veggies. Exercise pretty regularly. I don't really know what else I can do. Have talked to Nut, who just says to cut down on healthy fats. I don't eat many fats, healthy or otherwise. I am about 15 pounds from goal and am beginning to feel like I'll never get there at this rate. Like a previous poster said, I'm okay with staying where I am, but am terrified of gaining. Any advice???

Just curious if anyone out there has read the recent books by Dr. Hyman and Dr. Ludwig regarding weight loss, carbs, fat, and calories. Their theory is basically that calories in calories out is outdated and not the way our bodies work. They say it's all about our insulin, that a high carb diet and the resulting insulin produces the bad fat in our bodies and causes us to gain weight. They believe dietary fat is good for us and that our diets should be higher fat/higher protein/lower carb (including lower whole grains). I had my gastric sleeve about 14 months ago and weight loss has been extremely slow for the last 6 months or so (about 2 pounds per month), despite doing everything right. Two weeks ago I bought the Hyman and Ludwig books and started eating the way they suggest, and have lost almost 4 pounds in two weeks, without tracking food or calories, basically eating what I want within their guidelines. I think the difference is truly amazing so far. Any thoughts???

Wow!! Congrats to both of you. I'm wondering about your ages. 100 pounds in six months is incredible. I'm 1-1/4 years out and haven't reached 100 pounds yet. I'm wondering if age has anything to do with it, since I'm post menopausal???

I was 57 when sleeved and can honestly say its the best thing I ever did for myself. Age is only a number!! Next year you'll be 68 with or without the surgery! You'll just be a healthier 68 with the surgery.

I take Arimidex for breast cancer and am sure it is affecting my weight loss...nothing I can do about it though. Am still losing but slowly... Can't complain about the Arimidex though, as its keeping me cancer free!!!

I am 13 months out and sometimes feel like I could eat more than I should. Some days I feel no restriction at all, and other days I feel as restricted as I did right after surgery. Strange. I usually try to eat about 3 ounces of Protein at lunch and dinner, which usually fills me up. I also usually have some veggies and occasionally a little potato or quinoa. I sometimes feel my calorie count is too high, though. I try to stay at about 1200 calories per day, but that's hard on some days.

I am 13 months post surgery and am also experiencing extremely slow weight loss. It is slow, but am still losing. I write my weight on a calendar each week and even though it may feel like I'm not losing anything, I have been losing about 3 pounds per month for the past three months or so. That is pretty slow, but it is still a weight loss. I eat exactly what I am supposed to and have not varied at all since surgery date. I have not had a bite of Pasta, bread, or sugar since surgery. I also exercise (cardio and weight lifting several times per week). I have 25 pounds to lose to get to my goal, and while it is taking longer than I thought it would, I know I will get there eventually. It can be frustrating, but stick with it and don't give up.

I am in no way saying the surgery is not worth it!! In fact, it's the best thing I've ever done for myself, and wish I had done it sooner. I'm just a little frustrated with how my weight loss is going so slow right now. But honestly, I wouldn't have been able to lose the weight I did without this surgery, and I am hoping it prolongs my life, along with the quality of life.

I have the same exact problem as you... just thought it was age-related. Could it be from surgery???

I am curious as to the ages of the women posting here about being slow losers. I am 57, post menopausal, and am also a very slow loser. I eat what I'm supposed to religiously (have not had a bite of bread, Pasta, or sweets since my surgery one year ago) and exercise a lot, including cardio and weight lifting at least four days per week. I have lost only 9 pounds in the last three months. While I do find it frustrating, I have kind of accepted it as the way it is going to be for me. I do think it has to do with my age though. Any thoughts?