Stressed

[spoiledval 7]

Was first banded in 2011 weighing in at 302lbs. I lost over 180lbs the first year but my band kept slipping which ultimately put me in the hospital for 6 weeks because I had lost an additional 40lbs and was passing out every time I stood up. After my weight returned to 290 my Sergeon suggested I get the sleeve. I did in May of 2012 and has only gotten down to 238. I exercise 3-4 days a week for at least 2hrs(I don't feel like I did anything if I'm not there that long) I started doing cardio and weights and it goes up and down never going higher than 240 but no lower than 237. As far as my eating I have been counting calories and cut out sugar and sweets(oh it was hard) but I can't seem to get any lower. Starting to feel discouraged because I know I am working hard. Any advice will be welcomed

[TexasFire 84]

I don't understand. Maybe your numbers have a typo somewhere? That would have put you at weighing only 82 pounds with your slipped band. That would explain passing out, though! That is a dangerously low weight.

As far as your current situation, I think it would be critical to keep a food and exercise diary. The science of losing weight really is calories in versus calories out, so you need to get the true numbers so you can see what needs to be changed. If you need help at that point, I would be more than happy to help you figure out an eating and exercise plan.

I certainly wish you the best. I know it is a difficult situation to manage. With the correct information, you can do this!

[spoiledval 7]

Sorry it was a typo I went into the hospital weighing 150lb at 5'10.. I think I maybe doing something wrong with my numbers I use a app on my phone that allows me to input my food intake and exercise.. This stupid thing say I don't eat enough calories?? I make myself eat Breakfast and small Snacks during the day, peanuts, fruit, yogurt. Things like that. I cut out fried food and go straight for bake or broiled.(I have one day of treat with a very small portion of something like pizza or 2chicken nuggets) I am proud of all the junk I took out of my diet and drink a lot more water( for me that's amazing by itself) if I eat anymore sweet potatoes I will cry. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong.. Or maybe the app is off.

[spoiledval 7]

I am soo open to suggestions it would be welcomed and appreciated

[Branmuffin 190]

My friend stopped losing and it was because she wasn't getting enough calories. When she started eating more, she started losing again.

[spoiledval 7]

You know I keep hearing that.. So I personally will start trying that now

[TexasFire 84]

I don't know what app you are using, but I am not aware of an app that will correctly calculate for a WLS patient. You need to talk to your DR or NUT to be certain, but most WLS patients should be eating around 1000 calories per day, without grazing. I can't be sure, of course, but it sounds like you may be well exceeding that.

I use SparkPeople to track my food and it will give a pie chart that tells what my macronutrient ratios are. (Protein/Carb/Fat ratio) THIS IS THE KEY. It takes some experimentation to find what works for you, but you should focus on high Protein, very low carb, and moderate fat. Mine is currently set at 50% Protein, 20% carb and 30% fat. It is important to eliminate all sugar possible, and also eliminate as much of anyting that turns into sugar...i.e. carbohydrates. The carbs you do eat should be healthy carbs, like your sweet potatoes! LOL

At any rate, when you know exactly what ratios are going in, you can make the changes you need to. Keep your food log for a week and see how things shake out before stressing over it any more. It's fixable!

[TexasFire 84]

I just read the last poster, and that is the other side of the coin and could very well be correct. Based on the general information you posted at the beginning, it doesn't sound like you are undereating, though.

Edited December 15, 2013 by TexasFire

[spoiledval 7]

The funny thing is I started with sparks people when I was banded so it may be time to get back to it!! And I guess I won't be getting rid of those darn potatoes!! Lol thanks I will start there the good thing is I am always moving during the day and exercising so it must be my intake. I will revamp and reset. Thanks for reminding me about sparks

[TexasFire 84]

No problem! There are lots of good ideas, information, opinions and plans out there that work. Sometimes it's good to just go back to basics and remember the calories in/calories out.

A couple other little deceivers, though? The number of calories that cardio machines say you lose...yeah, right! They are almost NEVER correct....they are vastly overinflated. And some plans/places say you need to eat the calories you burn to meet to daily caloric target. Counter-productive, if you ask me. Makes no sense! (Exception: if you are doing massive amounts of cardio. At that point, your carbs would need to be about 30-35% and you would need to eat more. But unless you are training for a marathon, I doubt you need to eat that many carbs. LOL)

And yet another factoid: less cardio and more resistance training, as long as you are really making an effort with significant weight, does more to burn fat than cardio alone. With heavy lifting comes more muscle. Muscle burns fat and increases your metabolism. So the more you lift, the more muscle you put on, which burns more fat and takes more metabolic "fire" to maintain. So weightlifting efforts are cumulative! It builds on itself while taking away the fat. It's a win-win, no matter how you look at it!

[spoiledval 7]

See I was told that weights help too!! I was a little weary of that advice because it came from men I know that was just looking to bulk up.. I will apologize to them tomorrow???? Yea those machine lies!! Back to basics for me.

[TexasFire 84]

LOL it's all good! You should read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Rules-Lifting-Women/dp/1583333398

It'll change your life, ma'am!

[No game 14,437]

I'd get rid of the potatoes

You really want to be on a high Protein healthy non starchy veg diet.

[spoiledval 7]

I work next to barns and noble will order it for pick tomorrow

[spoiledval 7]

UPDATE... Thanks again TexasFire for reminding me of sparkspeople. After I reset my goals and faithfully input my information I learned that 1. I was not eating enough 2. I wasn't eating enough of the right foods 3. I wasn't incorporating the right fitness strategies. After day one I made the changes and committed to the suggestions and look I went down 1lb in a week!!! YEA!!! I know it's only 1lb but it means I am off that plateau hell ride.. Now I faithfully grab my phone before I eat anything to input my food and log my exercise to get suggestions for the next day..