Metabolism after VSG

[Kiba 47]

I wonder if anyone is experiencing a massive change in their metabolism. Naturally after being reduced to incredibly low calories, are people able to even continue weight loss once moving forward to a normal diet consisting of 1000+ calories. I find myself only able to lose weight when I am eating as little as 800 calories and I feel horrible since I am at the gym 3 times a week and hiking on the weekends. Doesn't seem to make sense but I read it is possible to permanently alter your rate. I had mine tested by a dietician and trainer and I should be at 1,773 and it seems a) almost impossible to eat that amount of food (even at 1.5 years out) and b.) I have to still focus on the Protein more than carbs to sustain my workouts.

Anyone else struggling here?

Edited September 26, 2016 by Kiba

[OKCPirate 5,323]

It isn't unheard of. Yoyo dieting seems to effect your body's natural set point where it starts going into "its a famine, slow everything down" type of mode. Try timing some Protein (25g) before and after a workout. I don't know why (and as far as I can tell no one else knows either) but certain ethnicities do better with carbs and others with Protein. It just may be some things that our ancestors had that allowed them to pass their genes forward long ago.

I have experimented enough with myself to know that I do really well when I am eating meat and a few vegies. If I throw too much fruit in the mix, I start gaining. You are in a strange netherland. If you are not already, log your food and see what combination works for you.

When you start googling this, you will start realizing "a calorie isn't really a calorie." A piece of wood has calories. But those calories can't be absorbed. Alcohol has calories, but not all are absorbed. Some people seem to more easily absorb certain calories. Hormones effect this too.

If you find some good research, please share it with the group.

[Kiba 47]

It's strange but back when I was eating less post op -- I found myself focusing on lots of Soups and stews, meat, hardly veggies, no carbs, and I was dropping. Naturally I implemented more carbs with stability in my stomach and more time passed on so I threw in the fruit as well, I seemed to still drop a little but bam, 4 months ago I stopped all together. I increased my calories (since people said it's probably starvation mode) nothing changed, except I gained two lbs! So strange. I log everything via my fitbit and it's like doing an elimination diet all over again, but I keep coming to the frightful conclusion I might need to eat virtually no food to lose weight.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@Kiba

How was your metabolism tested?

Since you still have a normal metabolism, you have to treat it like that, which means eating more. I try to eat within 300-400 calories of my metabolic rate, with a few days a month of planned higher calories. It is hard though. I basically have to eat every 2-3 hours.

I eat high Protein high fat, minimal carbs. I do best with basically no carbs, just green veggies.

Like @@OKCPirate said, log and experiment. Everyone is different.

You are lucky though, you still have a good metabolism, which is awesome. Lots of people aren't that lucky, they are stuck on low calories forever. So the fact you have lost weight and still have a good metabolism is great.

[Kiba 47]

@@OutsideMatchInside I mean I hope my metabolism is good -- it's hard to tell right now.

They had me use https://tdeecalculator.net and invest in a smart scale, I managed to calculate that my maintenance calorie intake is at 2,112 and thus my weight loss should be at 1,612 but alas I am seeing no real change in my weight loss at all. Perhaps I have to follow the macronutrient guide it gives me more closely. I also have a severely low Vit D deficient which I am trying to get a handle on, I heard this could make a difference as well.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

If you are "eating back" calories logged as burned via your Fitbit, you might want to reconsider. Those numbers are not as reliable as you might think they are -- one of the possible reasons that using a Fitbit has been shown to actually hamper weight loss rather than help it.

http://readwrite.com/2016/09/24/new-study-hints-wearable-fitness-trackers-harm-good-hl4/

[Kiba 47]

@@Bufflehead Totally -- I am not using Fitbit to count calories (they aren't accurate for sure) I am using the actual calculated amount from the previous website I linked. Fitbit is only used to log my burned calories, steps, heart rate, sleep and food; I just use the log to input the food I consume

[theantichick 2,204]

My understanding from my research is that it's necessary to slowly get your calorie intake up enough so you are properly fueling your activity. The weight loss will sometimes stall during this process, but it's important to not try to stay at 600, 700, 800 calories especially if very active. While the VSG seems to reset the "set point" so our bodies aren't driven to regain the lost weight, it's also important not to get your body back into starvation mode where it's trying to hang on to every resource it can. My surgeon said that by this point (I'm almost 6 weeks post op) she wanted me in the 1,000 cal/day range, and as I get more active more calories in. But she said it's important to make certain I'm hitting or exceeding my Protein goal every day, as the Protein is what drives weight loss and maintaining a stable weight.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@Kiba

So they didn't actually test your physical metabolism? Like I have mine tested at a university, so I know exactly what it is. It actually matches or is higher than most online calculators, but just using a calculator won't tell you what yours really is.

Having your RMR tested requires laying still for 20-30 minutes and breathing into a tent or a machine that is taking measurements from your breathe to determine your resting metabolic rate which is how many calories your body burns just being alive with zero activity.

[Kiba 47]

I contacted my dietician and a local fitness area to do an RMR test -- hopefully this will shed some light on things

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@Kiba

Awesome, the test doesn't take long, although it will be the most boring time of your life. It is better to know exactly for sure instead of guessing.

Don't forget to post and let us know about your results.

[Kathy812 794]

I, too, had the RMR test done. Prior to surgery, My test results reflected if I ate under 1600 cal, I should lose weight.

I am now two years out and have regained 8# . I recently retested and it now shows to lose weight, I have to eat less then 1200 calories.

[Kiba 47]

It's what I feared most, it shoes mine was at 1050 (give or take) and I have been overeating, super depressing! It's almost unhealthy to imagine with how active my lifestyle is to eat so little.

[Kathy812 794]

@@Kiba, I can totally relate and sorry to hear you didn't get better results.

At least now you know.

Fortunately, with the sleeve , we can re-train ourselves to eat less and be satisfied. It won't be easy but the results will be well worth it.

[Havasumoma 250]

I, too, had the RMR test done. Prior to surgery, My test results reflected if I ate under 1600 cal, I should lose weight.

I am now two years out and have regained 8# . I recently retested and it now shows to lose weight, I have to eat less then 1200 calories.

My understanding of RMR is that it measures how many calories you need to take in to maintain your current "at rest" weight. Meaning, if you cut calories or increase activity you will lose weight. Can someone please explain if this is not correct.

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