still low engery

Hi Everyone, I too am a slow loser. I had surgery 1-29-04 and was down 50 lbs last week. I still can't tell my energy has increased. My labs last week were good. My doc really wants you to lose fast so he said to cut back to only 2 meals a day and no snacks. I asked how you would get your protein in and he said not to really worry right now because the goal was to lose as much and as fast as you can in the beginning. I think I like what some of your docs say. I have decided I am keep doing what I am doing (2-3 lbs per wk) because I think that will be healthier and maybe I won't sag as much. Would love to hear if any of you are still tired? I realize I am older (51) and that may be part of it. Thanks for listening. Pat

You need at least 60gms of protein a day! That is very important that you get it in! Good luck hun....... God Bless

I am 58 years old, had gallbladder removal & lap surgery 1/20/04 and went back to work on 1/26/04 feeling great. I haven't seen my energy level go down at all since having surgery. Actually I'd say it has gone up but that's probably more to do with the fact that I started exercising. As to your being a slow loser I have only lost 50 lbs since surgery, but I had lost 58 lbs pre-op which probably makes my loss slower than people who ate what they wanted up to the day of surgery. In reading the boards it sounds to me like you and I are typical. The problem is we all go into surgery expecting the huge losses that a few people experience and we turn out to be in the average group. I had a week at two months out when I lost -0- lbs and the nutritionist in my surgeons office told me to increase my protein to 60 gms a day (no shakes, only food protein). She explained if our bodies go into starvation mode that we will stop losing weight and our metabolism will slow down. I increased the protein and I haven't had any more weeks with a -0-loss. The nutritionist called me at 3 months to update her file and said the 50 lbs was exactly on target. We talked about several things that concerned me such as having too much fat in my diet because right now about all I am able to eat is my 3 - 3.5 oz of protein. She told me not to worry about it that as I was able to add veggies the % of fat would correct itself. You are right I'd rather have my doctor than yours. What else can we do to lose weight but what we are already doing. Your decision to stay on your current eating plan makes a lot of sense to me. Cutting to 2 meals a day is nuts. We aren't able to eat but a tiny amount at each meal so it seems to me we need our three meals & snack to keep from going into starvation mode and slowing our metabolism permanantly. Many good wishes to you and hope for your continued success. Hope the energy level rises soon.

My energy has increased and I am 50...I didnt feel that much different in the everyday stuff, but when I went to Disneyland last week..walked the whole park for 16+ hours for 5 whole days and was never winded. Thats when I knew I had energy. I could have never ever done that before. I am a slow loser..or at least I consider myself one because in comparison to some that post here, mine seemed slow. But consider this....you could never have lost this much weight in such a short time before. As far as the protein goes, my doc recommends high protein, but follow your docs advice on what you need to do. Hes the one who knows your particular case and all the details of your situation and conditions. Its easy to get caught up in how many pounds we have lost and not on how our lives are better....congrats on your loss...the best is yet to come!!! Take care,' Harriet

I still have very little energy somedays as well and get tired out quick other times. I think that will last awhile, atleast that's what I've heard. And you girls and you claiming to be slow losers LOL!! I am further out than any of you and haven't even hit 50 lbs yet and I was 304 at the start =( It's coming off though, so that's all that matters to me! Best wishes... Tracy 304/256/Healthy

Hi Pat, First off you don't want any advice from me because I'm doing NOTHING right but I still have NO energy. I'm down 54 pounds 279/225 and some days I think I'm finally feeling better and I will crash and burn by the end of the day because I "did too much." Then I feel like crap for the next few days and so on.... I don't have a doctor or a dietician so I just do whatever I can. I am on a regular diet---meaning anything I can keep down, I eat. I don't take vitamins because they make me sick, I don't drink protien shakes or eat bars because they're gross and I haven't started excersising yet because I have no energy. (Big suprise.) I figure if I actually dieted and excersised I could probably lose faster but at this point, I'm just trying to survive. I have 2 babies under 2 and I can barely care for them because I feel so bad. I'm always amazed however that every time I read these posts that everyone seems to have the same problems no matter what the doctor or dietician tells them. I mean I've lost right around the same as everyone else, on average, and you are "behaving" and following the doctor's advice and you're still tired. The people who have had laproscopic surgery of course feel better because their surgery requires less healing time and is less invasive but for the most part, the people who had open RNY's healed at about the same rate regardless of the vast differences in the after care approaches of each surgeon. Doesn't that seem odd to you? Anyway, it probably didn't make you feel any better knowing that I'm still low energy (lower than pre op) and I'm only 38, but I hope you do get some advise that does make you feel better soon. I just pray that you don't suffer from the depression that has overwhelmed me as a result of not being able to perform at my pre WLS level. Everyday I feel as if I am failing my family and that I have ruined my life. I am taking steps to counter these feelings and if you become that frustrated with your progress (or lack thereof) I suggest you seek help as well. I guess there are just some things that we can't do all by ourselves. I've decided there is no shame in asking for help. Good Luck! ~michelle