Search the Community

So I've stalled for almost 2 weeks and of course I've read the embrace the stall threads etc. Recently I watched vlogs on YouTube with people who stalled and then as their vlogs continue they all lose respectable amounts of weight. My question is this, it seems that when faced with the stall almost everyone tried different strategies to "break" the stall like going all Atkins or keto, some began working out furiously and others increased their calorie intake... Do you think there is a strategy or is it merely following whatever guide and being patient? It seems like the answer is the latter and all the other stuff is just busy work and distractions. Your thoughts? HW 341 lbs 07/19/16 - 298 lbs 08/09/16 DOS - 286 lbs CW 269 lbs

sorry i been slackin friends. i have literally taken months off from working out. my weight is still fluctuating between 145-140. i'm eating mostly all keto tho i've been having some carbs lately. my weight isn't being affected more than that 3 or 4lbs. i decided to start weight training today. gonna go hard and see what i can do. i literally have no ass right now and it's really bugging me so i need to get going on that big time. so that's my main focus. hope you all are doing great! xo

@@laceemouse It has been shockingly easy to keep a secret. I'm actually surprised. I have a lot of friends and know a lot of people but luckily most people think diet and exercise work, so they don't really think my weight loss is magical. My close friends all know but they all live out of state, and they don't care beyond being happy for me. I'm a year out, 4 people know and they live in 4 different states and don't know each other. If you are open about changing your lifestyle. "I'm low carbing/ eating keto" "I'm trying to be more active" People just think that is working, because you know biggest loser. Everyone thinks all you have to do is be serious and work hard. Also, think about WLS are a serious medical issue. No other surgery that people need, this isn't really an elective surgery for those of us who have been obese for a long time, gets debated like this. No one tells someone to skip their heart surgery. You just have to decide you want to keep it a secret and know what that means. Keeping it a secret means you tell no one, beyond your husband. NO ONE. Anyone you tell can tell someone else and they can tell someone else. Secret means secret. I'm a year out, 4 people know and they live in 4 different states and don't know each other.

You are right on schedule. We usually experience a very rapid loss whenever we start a major weight loss effort (surgical or otherwise,) as our bodies will first burn off our short term energy supplies of glycogen (basically stored carbs.) After that is exhausted, the body usually rests while it gets the idea that you are serious about this caloric deficit thing and gets into its longer term fat burning mode. This is what creates the typical three (or third) week stall that we hear so much about - the loss pauses as the body works to restore some of its lost glycogen reserves and moves to burning more fat. The other consequence of this shift is that fat burns a lot more slowly than glycogen (around 3500 calories pre pound lost vs. around 2000 calories per pound) so it takes more lost calories to lose a pound now than it did at first. The good part about this is that you are now doing what you really want to do - burn off that excess fat! Note that you may or may not experience an actual stall here - no weight loss for several days or weeks - though most do, but you will certainly experience a slow down in your loss rate. I never had any measurable stall here, but there was a distinct change in the loss rate chart. Also note that this shift to "fat burning" mode has nothing to do with what style of diet one may be on (some promoters of fad diets like Atkins or keto talk their diet putting one in "fat burning" mode as a means of keeping one buying their products despite some unpleasant side effects,) as it is the continued caloric deficit that keeps you burning that excess fat. The same pattern happened when people were caught up in the low fat fad. It is also good to keep in mind that long term, our loss rate will generally decline as we get lighter - it simply takes fewer calories to move ourselves around 24/7 than it did when we were heavier, so unless one seriously ramps up their exercise/activity levels, the loss rate will slowly taper off over time.

If you have knee pain, Water is pretty much your only safe option. You can lose weight changing how you eat which may be easier than exercising in your case. Look here and see if they way of eating appeals to you at all. https://www.reddit.com/r/keto/

Actually if you use the keto calculator, you set your Protein goal first based off your lean mass. Then you set your fat goals based on how much you want to cut. You have to always base your protein off your lean mass if you want to keep your lean mass. The majority of your calories should be fat, for the entire day but you don't just ignore protein or your protein needs for your lean mass.

On a keto . Fats should be first . Then Protein . Still low carb . Better than crappy carbage Well done Sent from my GT-I9195 using the BariatricPal App

Did you do keto right after your surgery? Or is this something you adopted after a few months?

I appreciate those giving positive advice. I'm a bit confused why gastric sleeve (pre-op?) are providing advise. I've had a lap band. I want advice from those who have had the same surgery as me. If you don't like the advice, ignore it, it's not your request for advice. Rather than to start some verbal war. I appreciate the person who told me what worked for them. I'm a RN. I know what I am eating is correct which is basically almost all Protein because I can't eat anymore than that. I tried Protein Bars, low sugar, I gained weight. So that means I need 1-2 Protein shakes a day, high protein low sugar especially since I am very active. I play an hour of singles or tennis drills. I alternate swimming 30 minutes or biking 5-8 miles 3-4 times a week. I eat around 1000/1200 calories a day give or take. I work to add more calories in my diet. I squeezed through my plateau and am slowly...slowly losing. It is very frustrating. Surgery Dec. 2015 and I am down since surgery 30 pounds, 40 pre surgery doing everything right. I have 90 to go. At least I've hit the under 100 pounds to lose. So to get through my plateaus I mixed it up. Right now more of the Atkins or Keto diet with I do anyways but without the carbs, that's pretty easy. Most people just shed the weight. I'm still losing it so slowly. Yes, I'm looking long term but I need something to get my body to get rid of this excess weight which is mostly around my stomach. I am down 3 pant sizes. My goal is soon to be down another size by my reunion.

http://www.wickedstuffed.com/keto-dinner-ideas/low-carb-chicken-divan-casserole-recipe/ Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

If you have been cutting for a while already you aren't going to see the big drop that people see on keto if they are coming from a high carb diet. Most of their initial loss is liver shrinking, and fluids. You also are already close to your bottom weight so you aren't going to drop a ton fast. What is your inch loss like? I am in a lot of Keto groups on Facebook and one thing I notice is a lot of people are losing inches and not pounds. I think people on keto diets maintain more muscle than other diets but that is just my theory and a few things I have read support it. How are you calculating your macros for keto? I use this calculator http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/ As a WLS patient you have a huge advantage over most people doing keto. You can easily control calories and do keto. Most people on keto eventually go nuts on calories because most don't track them, they just track fat etc. Not that you have to go crazy with calorie counting with Keto, but it matters. Do you log your food? What does your typical day look like for you?

Hey guys!! I haven't logged in here in forever! I had surgery 4 years ago (surgiversary was on the 8th) . My highest was 280.4 , I dipped down to 193 and then got pregnant. I didn't gain much through out my pregnancy, i breastfed after, and lost all the weight and then some. i got to 184.4 i think . Then i don't know what happened. I got back up to 220.2. On may 23rd i started trying to lose weight, I went to a weight loss doc and got put on phentermine . It curbs my hunger for sure but i went from doing the 5 bite diet, to counting calories, to low carb, to keto. 5 bite was good i was losing but it was hard and i kept cheating. counting calories was good but i wasn't losing a whole lot and felt like i needed more structure. Low carb was good but i felt like i needed more than that. so i tried keto. which im on now. I like it but i have someone helping me that hasn't had WLS and doesnt understand it. It's still hard to get in a lot. Like Protein still makes me super full , super fast. so i feel like im forcing myself to eat. I started on aug 2 at 202.4 i think it was. so 11 days later im hovering between 200.6 and 199.6 . i feel like EVERYONE is losing faster than I am, and i had WLS. So....has anyone that had the sleeve ever done keto? I'd like to continue doing it but is it ok to cut back my macros? what should they be at? can anyone help me????? Thanks in advance!!

Hey guys!! I haven't logged in here in forever! I had surgery 4 years ago (surgiversary was on the 8th) . My highest was 280.4 , I dipped down to 193 and then got pregnant. I didn't gain much through out my pregnancy, i breastfed after, and lost all the weight and then some. i got to 184.4 i think . Then i don't know what happened. I got back up to 220.2. On may 23rd i started trying to lose weight, I went to a weight loss doc and got put on phentermine . It curbs my hunger for sure but i went from doing the 5 bite diet, to counting calories, to low carb, to keto. 5 bite was good i was losing but it was hard and i kept cheating. counting calories was good but i wasn't losing a whole lot and felt like i needed more structure. Low carb was good but i felt like i needed more than that. so i tried keto. which im on now. I like it but i have someone helping me that hasn't had WLS and doesnt understand it. It's still hard to get in a lot. Like Protein still makes me super full , super fast. so i feel like im forcing myself to eat. I started on aug 2 at 202.4 i think it was. so 11 days later im hovering between 200.6 and 199.6 . i feel like EVERYONE is losing faster than I am, and i had WLS. So....has anyone that had the sleeve ever done keto? I'd like to continue doing it but is it ok to cut back my macros? what should they be at? can anyone help me????? Thanks in advance!!

Press on the left three lines, choose goals, then nutrition goals. Also, your carbs could be fruits and vegies. I've seen a number of post op people follow keto or Atkins type diet plans and do well. Good luck! Sent from my VS990 using the BariatricPal App

Hi!!! Here you go! A. The beneficiary must be between 18 and 65 years of age. B. The beneficiary has a documented body-mass index >35 and has at least one co- morbidity related to obesity. C. The beneficiary must be free of endocrine disease as supported by an endocrine study consisting of a T3, T4, blood sugar and a 17-Keto Steroid or Plasma Cortisol. D. Under the supervision of a physician, the beneficiary has made at least one documented attempt to lose weight in the past. The medically supervised weight loss attempt(s) as defined above must have been at least six months in duration. E. Medical and psychiatric contraindications to the surgical procedure have been ruled out (and referrals made as necessary) 1. A complete history and physical, documenting the beneficiaries: a. Height, Weight, and BMI; b. The exclusion or diagnosis of genetic or syndromic obesity, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome 2. A psychiatric evaluation no more than three months prior to requesting authorization. The evaluation should address the following: a. Ability to provide, without coercion, informed consent; b. Family and social support; c. Patient ability to comply with the postoperative care plan and identify potential psychiatric contraindications. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

Hey chavrzmommy and all Jan 2016 sleevers! I'm struggling with emotional eating from time to time! Sometimes I just want to keep eating and eating and eating and I feel so bad that I have to throw up! I wish there was a brain surgery as well for the food insanity. I've been active but I need to start prioritizing my training more. I've been in a stall for who knows how long, but at the same time in +/- 3kg from my weight goal. I'm continuing with a lchf/keto/Banting and intermittent fasting diet. Looking forward to hear how's everyone doing and if you have any tips for me!' Cheers, Ariana

After being on this pre-op a week and a half, as well as weight dropping daily, I was curious and pulled out my keto sticks (from previous diets) and wow, i was off the charts. It was darker than the darkest sample. I guess that's a good thing. So once we start eating a healthy normal, do we remain in ketosis until we introduce the dreaded carbs back in?

@ ditto. im pretty much full keto but now that i can eat some carbs i have to realllly watch it.

You can stay keto or low carb as your body is already adapted. Check out Ketogains website for info and to calculate Keto macros.

so after about six to eight weeks or not working out and just kinda sitting at my "goal ish" weight - i think i've decided to lose 10 more lbs then start weight lifting pretty hard. i need to tone big time. any advice from lifters on what they are eating now? (i've been full keto for months so carbs scare me lol) how to weight train? how not to weight train? help!

i guess this is my last post for a while cuz i'm not losing any more weight for now. imma stay at 145 for a while and see how that goes. i weigh myself every day just to make sure i stay on track. still pretty much keto 100%.

@@Dub Crossfit+Paleo/Keto etc is great. I feel so fit and strong when I do Crossfit. I love how Crossfit is customized to everyone levels so everyone can be challenged but not left out. It is really a personalized unique experience. @@jenn1 I have definitely had to add some more carbs in just to get my calories up at this point. It is still hard for me to crack 50 carbs in a day. Most carbs I don't even like, plus I don't have room for them. It is a struggle.

@@higher they eat more fat than Protein, that is what true keto is. I need to get at least 100 grams of protein so that doesn't leave much room for fat. I need to eat more avocados but it is hard to eat them before they go bad. I wanted to actually show a true account of what I eat. A lot of people say what they eat and claim they are tracking but where are the food logs? People need to put up or shut up.

I have been low carbing off and on since 2001, so most of my experience is prior to WLS. I would say once you burn off the sugar in your body and get over the sugar withdrawals you start functioning normally. Maybe 6 weeks you notice you are firing on more than all cylinders. It is subjective and I can only go by my experience and the experience of my friends. If you read the stuff by the Bulletproof guy he swears by it, but he is also into a lot of other bio-hacking, some based in science some whacky. The difference with post-op on WLS surgery is takes you a while to be able to eat enough calories to really be clear in your mind. At least 800 calories daily for me, to fuel working and just regular activities. When my calories were below that I was fatigued a lot. I don't have celiac and I don't have a gluten allergy and most people that claim to have gluten allergies have never been tested. I mean think about it, if people were allergic to gluten, most of the population would be sick, it doesn't make sense. Most people are reacting to too much sugar. I don't tolerate sugar more specifically HFCS. HFCS makes me sick. It is too much sugar too fast and it floods your system. People say sugar is sugar and that is kind of true, but how different sugars react in your body is very different. I try to stay at 25 net carbs per day and no more than 75 on a carb day. I only count net carbs because I really need my Fiber and net carbs makes the most sense. Really with just eating meat and veggies, it is pretty hard to break even into 25 carbs. I really have no idea how people end up eating so many carbs. I had ribs yesterday so today I am just eating fish and a lot of veggies so I will post later what my carb count is with all the veggies I eat. If people are seriously just eating meat and green veggies is impossible to have a high carb count, counting net carbs or actual carbs. I think if you seriously low carb for a long period like WLS patients should be doing you are going to have to carb cycle some, or your body just gets used to it and nothing happens. I am still experimenting with this. This day is bad because I had a Fit Crunch Bar I have one day a week that I usually have carbs, I had to add some carb cycling because I was stalling a lot. Saturday I had fish tacos and pizza all day and it was pretty glorious. This is the nutrient break out for that day. This is a high carb day for me and my net carbs are 32.5. I also went to Starbucks in the afternoon and had a Trenta Cold Brew, but I always order it black and add my own half and half. This is a day I didn't really feel like eating much /r/keto has been a really big help to me. I can't eat the fat they eat, but there are lots of good tips there. I use the Keto Calculator to calculate my macros to set in LoseIt. It is awesome because well most people can't handle the huge fat deficits that we can, they would be too hungry, but WLS patients can go on and take the max fat deficit. The weight loss forecast it comes up with there is also really helpful. It tells you at the points you have to increase your calories. I want to add that I am not just coming up with how and what I eat on my own with stuff I have found on the internet. Things I have researched have lead me in this direction but I also am in contact with two University Professors. My biggest issue right now is I don't eat enough calories for my RMR or my activity level. It is pretty hard to up my calories but I am trying to slowly. I don't have a diminished metabolism at all and I want to keep it that way. The best way to do that is to keep adjusting your calories higher as you lose. Leaving them low for a long period, lowers your metabolism. Hey OMI, thanks for this very detailed response. I wasn't able to respond for a few days and just getting around to it now. I'm still way too soon post-op to tailor my macros at this point, but I've bookmarked your post and will come back to it in a few weeks. I really appreciate the level of detail. Interesting point on the carb cycling. Why do you say you can't eat the fats they eat on /r/keto? If you are also trying to up your calories, wouldn't some added fat do that? Anyway thank you again for sharing all of your info. You must be past the 365 day mark at this point so congratulations again on all your hard work and success. Also re: celiac, I got diagnosed during the pre-op process for the sleeve which is why I asked but I'm going to make a separate thread for that.

Is this the end? i'm not sure. i hit a size 6 and that was my goal. so am i done? i doubt it. it's a lifelong thing i think. it's been a long 9 months but so worth it. still 100% (well 90%) keto on my diet. i'm going to try to start toning hardcore now.