Having a time with meat

[mrwindt 12]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Yes, it's me who has lost 80 pounds in just 5 months. Just a few thoughts...

I NEVER expected to be doing this well.

Kelly, Alexandra, and others who have lost 30 or so pounds in that time - you're really right on track. I was always told to expect 1-2 pounds a week and I truly expected that in 5 months, if I had lost more than 20 pounds, I would be right on target. And that's where you both are. So, don't compare yourself to others. (Yes, I know, easier said than done. I would be doing the same thing.)

I won't say this process has been easy. I've actually really worked at making right choices. And I did (and still do) have a lot to lose, so the weight is going to come off faster than if I had much less to lose. (Though it is slowing down.)

A few things I'm doing that I think makes this all work...

- I'm making the right food choices (most of the time). I am eating lots of Protein (eggs, fish, meat, hummus, Beans, etc.) I have a Protein shake occassionallly. When I'm hungry, I go for some Protein first. My daily protein intake is at least 70-80, but often over 100.

- I'm really restricting carbs. Not all carbs - but mainly potatoes, bread, Pasta, etc.

- I did NOT listen to the dietician who said that I should be eating 700-800 calories a day. I really felt strongly that if I went down to that low amount of calories, my body would go into a starvation mode and my metabolism would slow down - slowing my weight loss. In fact, I am generally eating between 1000-1500 calories a day. (My weight loss is dramatically slowing at this point, and I expect that I will need to have another fill and lower my caloric intake.)

- I have been regularly tracking my food intake on a daily basis on fitday.com. It helps. I know what I've been eating. And sometimes I am surprised that it's not more than it is.

- So far, I have had 3 fills. I anticipate getting another one soon (perhaps this week, depending on what the scale says.) My theory has been that even though I've been eating much more than I expected to be able to eat, as long as I'm losing, I didn't want to be too restricted. (Again, I know that I will need to drop intake, but I didn't want to slow my metabolism prematurely.) So, when I go to the doctor this week, my feeling is that if I have lost anything, I will not get a fill. But if I'm really at a plateau (or even a possible gain), it's time for another fill.

- I stop in at my doctor's office weekly (almost) to get weighed. It helps me know where I am. I guess years of Weight Watchers and other weekly weigh-in programs has me conditioned. However, this is the first time I actually look forward to getting weighed. (And yes, when it's a plateau, or even a gain, I get discouraged.)

- I have been exercising. I was doing Water aerobices 2x/week (even before surgery), but the class is on hold now. I have also been going to a personal trainer almost weekly (recommended by my doctor). And now have just joined a gym. (Went yesterday for the 1st time on my own, and am I sore!)

- I go to the montly support groups - just to keep in touch.

- I read lots and lots of the online groups to see what other people are doing. I look forward to reading all the posts, on this board, as well as a couple of others.)

I think that all of these steps have really helped me. And certainly, my good weight loss has been a tremendous motivator.

In fact, however, I too get discouraged. I KNOW I have lost much more than I expected to lose. But I'm also feeling those same feelings of ... "will this continue"; "have I lost all I'm going to"; "I have SO much more to lose, I'll never make it"; etc, etc.

So, even though I have lost a good amount, I need the same encouragement as all of you to keep on going and take one day (and one pound) at a time.

Don't compare yourself. Just relook at what you're doing and try to make some small changes and good choices. And keep up with the protein.

Hope this helps. I think it helped me to put it in writing.

Good luck.

Mary

[Chris S. - L.I. 0]

Mary,

Would you mind sharing what a typical daily menu is for you? I was banded about a week after you and have lost 38 pounds which I know is a wonderful thing but I seem to be stuck now even after my 3rd fill recently. During the day and especially in the morning I am definitely restricted, but at night I just seem to keep eating and I don't understand why I'm not as restricted then and I don't seem to get that full feeling. You must be eating alot to be getting in that much Protein. I know in order to lose weight you do have to eat so you obviously are doing the right thing. Thanks for sharing.

[mrwindt 12]

In answer to your question about my daily eating...

Really, it varies greatly. And, just yesterday, had a 4th fill - so I'm sure it will change a lot. But, as of a couple of weeks ago, here's an idea of what I was eating...

- Breakfast

1/2 cup cottage cheese

or

1/2 cup tuna salad

or

2 scrambled eggs with salsa and a little bit of cheese

or

yogurt with some high Protein Cereal

or

occassionally a Protein shake (Unury with Lactaid fat free milk)

and if really hungry I would sometimes have a combination of the above

- lunch

Generally I'd have about 3/4 - 1 cup of some sort of protein - ground turkey with taco seasoning, left over fish, tuna salad, turkey meatballs, Soup

- Mid-afternoon

Sometimes I have a yogurt in the afternoon

- dinner

Sometimes start with Soup - homemade, low fat - often vegetable based, but sometimes with Beans

Usually mainly protein - lots of fish (6-8 oz); or chicken; or ground turkey; or some kind of stewed 9soft) meat (lamb or veal)

Some vegetables

Dessert is usually my treat of fat free, sugar free pudding and a fruit juice popsicle

If we go out for dinner, I usually get fish and double vegetables.

I also snack on hummus

Occassionally have some crackers

I have to say I'm lucky. I'm at home with my mother, who does all the cooking, so I don't have to prepare anything. It definitely makes it much easier.

Lately however, I've been really hungry - eating the entire meal in a restaurant, and even had a steak the other night. So, that's why I just had a 4th fill.

Hope this helps.

Mary

[Guest Tanise]

Hello Kelly, The one thing I have found in my weight loss is the more Protein I get, the more weight I lose. My surgery was in July, '03 and to date, I have lost 90 pounds. Very exciting for me. But, in late December, I reached a major plateau after reaching 79 pounds by year-end. I had only had one adjustment since surgery and since year-end, I have only lost 11 pounds! I had an adjustment in late February and have begun to lose again, however, it is very slow and I think mainly due to my not being able to get a lot of meat down. So, I have begun drinking Protein drinks (powder mixed with orange juice) and hopefully this will increase my weight loss at least to 2 pounds per week. I only have 40 more pounds to lose.

Anyway, this is my advice...add the Protein. I am not a real fish eater (I love shellfish but who can afford it). White fish makes me sick to smell it. I eat lots of tuna and when I eat tuna, I lose!

Good luck.