Please help!!!

Really need some help, I've been afraid to post this because I know some people are struggling to still lose weight, but I can't seem to get mine to stop and it is starting to scare me. I even went so far as to start adding fatty foods like bacon, pizza, and foods high in calories. Only to cause other problems, last week I had severe pains that put me in the hospital, they found out I now have gall stones. Currently I am eating 4 meals a day and 2 snacks, do you have any food suggestions that are high in calories, but low in fat. What is your daily food intake? How many calories are you up to? Do you still drink protien drinks? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know some of my problem is I have not been able to work out in a couple of a months, so I've lost a lot of muscle mass in my upper body. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help. Danielle

Hi Danielle, First off please don't be afraid to post anything here - we all struggle with something one way or another and the support we get on the A-team forum is PRICELESS to me!! Your situation is one I fear very much. Have you had your Basal Metabolic Rate calculated? My surgeon's office did the 10-minute breathing test one for me on Monday and found my BMR was around 1605, and the print out also told me how many calories I need to maintain my current weight as well as what to adjust it to for continued weight loss (in my case, 1100 per day). If you don't have access to a test like this (I think some nutritionists do it too) My figure was identical to what my online result was (1600.55) from this site, so you could try this first: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ That is the calories your body burns if you did nothing but basically sit in a chair all day and breath and have your heart beating. You can use this to then calculate what you need to intake to maintain your weight here: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/ You are wise to do this with good protein sources. I would say adding X calories in protein drinks might be a good start. Will you need to have your gallbladder out? It's an unfortunate common problem for us. A few years ago I think more surgeons just took it out when they did the RNY, but now my surgeon, for example, prefers to have you take URSO for six months after surgery. I hope that this helps you find a better balance and please, keep posting! hugs, Inky

Thank you Inky for this information. I will check it out, I haven't been drinking protien drinks, but will have to start again. I have been eating a protien bar once a day which has 20 grams. Any help is greatly appreciated. It's hard hearing from people that I am getting to skinny or I have went from one extreme to the other. Thanks

Hi Danielle, At my 1 year appt my surgeon instructed me to GAIN 15 - 20 pounds because that is what I am below my ideal weight. I have yet to gain anything, rather on purpose, but I have maintained by adding protein shots. I make jello with a 42g protein shot from GNC, separate into 4 1/2cup servings and have 2 a day. I tried adding protein shakes but they fill me up so much so that I can't eat my normal meals. I currently eat about 1000 calories a day. According to the BMR calculator I just calculated I should be eating 1800 ~ there is NO WAY I'm putting that many calories in my body. It's scary being under-weight but it's a very difficult head game to win. Good luck!!

Thank-you Stephanie for the protien suggestion. I have seen those protein shot at GNC with 42 grams of protien, but wasn't sure how they taste. Are they the flavored ones you put in your jello?? I know it will be okay to lose about another 8 or 10 lbs, but considering I am almost 14 months out there is that chance I will keep losing and it is scary. Thanks for your support.

Thank-you Stephanie for the protien suggestion. I have seen those protein shot at GNC with 42 grams of protien, but wasn't sure how they taste. Are they the flavored ones you put in your jello?? I know it will be okay to lose about another 8 or 10 lbs, but considering I am almost 14 months out there is that chance I will keep losing and it is scary. Thanks for your support.

Hi Dani, I do use the flavored shots in the jello ~ but I use the same jello flavor as the shot as I want to ensure there is no taste difference. I was in this past week and there is a new flavor; blue raspeberry. I didn't get it but will go back this week to get it. My favorite is the fruit punch shot in mixed fruit jello. I suggest eating all 4 1/2 cup servings in a day to get the full 42 extra grams of protein. I add a tbsp of cool whip to make it more desserty after lunch and supper but in the morning I just eat it as is. Be sure to count it towards your daily fluid intake!!!