Suggestions needed for caloric needs to loose weight 1 year out....

Greetings everyone! After having my surger over a year ago, I am finding it harder and harder to loose weight. It is not because I am eating too much... in fact, I wonder if I am eating enough?! That is why I decided to post... hoping someone might have some thoughts on the subject. I had my surgery 6/05... I have lost 140# since surgery (180# since my highest weight in 1/02). I am now on what seems to be "a holding pattern".. weighing 254# (when not swollen). My diet consists of the following: I drink 80 - 100oz of plain water a day and tend to dring 3 - 5 protein drinks a day to get in my protein amounts. I do not keep track of the exact number of carbs... but the protein drinks are carb-free.... generally I do not eat "white carbs". My "dinner" is a small amount of meat, veggies and a spoon of carbs. How does that compare with everyone else? Those of you who do monitor every carb and gram of protein... how many do you take in?? Any suggestions at all would be appreciateed! Thanks to all of my fellow WLS friends! Sandy (aka krazys s) PS... I just saw my picture... I had better update it as I have lost 140# since that pic!

What about breakfast and lunch? If you are only having protein drinks in place of these meals then you are probably not eating enough. I average between 1200 and 1600 calories a day and I am still losing altough really slowly. I was stuck for about 6 weeks then this month I have lost 5 lbs. Do you meet with a nutriionist? I would ask how many calories they want for you at this stage. I get between 60 and 100 grams of protein a day and most of the time mine comes from food. I have an occasioinal protein drink but for the most part it is from food. Tonight for dinner I had 4 ounces of a Pork chop and a few brusssel sprouts. ( and a godiva chocolate for dessert ) Some days I am hungrier then others but I eat a pretty normal diet now. Protein first and vegis and fruit last. Still fighting eating those pesky carbs. (chocolate isnt a carb is it?)LOL. Any way I dont know if this is helpful but it will be interesting to see what others have to say. I think you should check with your nut, you may not be eating enough? Lynn

I don't keep track of my carbs but i do watch them and pay attention to the carbs that go in. I get between 60-100g protein a day.... I eat on average 1200-1600 calories a day. I don't do protein shakes very often as i get it in my food. I'm done losing. I've been at a loss of 125 for months now and maintain my weight at 125. The odd thing is, i was getting in around 900 calories a day for a while there and thought i was done losing when i weighed 140 - so I upped my calories at that point thinking that i should shift my focus on maintaining. THAT's when the last few pounds just blasted off. Here's my today: Sugar Free Latte (20g protein) Banana Small grilled chicken breast (20g protein) Soy Crisps (7g protein) Another Sugar Free Latte (20g protein) Peach 2 BBQ Chicken tenderloins (20g protein?) corn on the cob cucumber slices SF fudgcicle LOTS of water - it was sooooooo hot today! And 20 oz hot tea. 2 multivitamins - missed my B12 & Calcium (bad girl ) I guess if you really look at what i ate, i did eat quite a few carbs! But i think the difference is the TYPE of carbs. I tend to think of it like this: Most BAD CARBS break all apart or swell if you were to soak them in a sink full of water. (these I try to avoid - but not always - those soy crisps would be ugly in water!) BUT this helps me to understand how come we can fit more carbs in than healthy food - and why they seem to make us hungrier. They really do digest a lot faster. Most GOOD CARBS would not break all apart or swell in a sink full of water. For example: fruits and veggies - One caveat - whole wheat bread... but I reason with myself that although it is technically a good carb, it still gets ugly in a sink of water, therefore, it must be done in moderation and with the realization that it will not 'stay' with me and I will be hungry sooner. Are you counting calories?? I just wonder how many are in your shakes. The ones I WAS drinking were a minimum of 200 calories each - so 5 a day would put me at 1000 calories without any food. I think our bodies metabolize food calories better than when we consume primarily liquid calories - like when you are getting primarily liquid calories, it digests so fast that your body still feels the need to retain (or hold on to) it's body stores. But when we eat food with the same number of calories, it takes longer to digest, giving our metabolism more work to do and doesn't feel the need to retain (or hold on to) the body stores because the body knows more substance is forthcoming. Does that make sense? JEEZ.... I don't know if I answered your questions...but i sure enough wrote a book! I just luv ya! Hugs, Pam

Sandy I agree with everything Pam said. Please check your calories in your protien shakes. Do you use Fitday.com to track your intake; if not it might help you. It is free and it is something I use everyday. I am keeping my calories between 1000-1200 per day and my protein 60-90. My doctor does not recommend subsituting liquid protein drinks for the real thing. Make sure you are eating a good breakfast and lunch not protien drinks. Also you did not say anything about execising. It is really important at this stage of our journey. I am walking 3-5 miles every other day. Would like to do more but my schedule just does not let me. This month I have dropped 5-6 pounds and I still have another week to go until I go to the doctor for my monthly B-12 shot and vitamins. Good luck; don't give up you can do it!!!! 313/292/171/155/135 HW/SW/CW/DG/MG

Thank you sooooo much, Laurel! I appreciate your feedback. I checked my caloric intake in Fitday (I used to be very good at keeping track) and it appears that I get about 1000 calories a day! As I am still 250#... I guess I need more..... Honestly, I don't have the appetite! You mentioned exercise... I WISH I could do it... I am in a holding patten now with chronic pain issues, so even getting in the pool is too painful. The good news is that I am scheduled for my knee replacements this fall. The first replacement is Sept. 26th, the second is October 24th! After they are done, i look forward to walking and exercising again! Thanks again for your suggestions.. I will take heed! And you take those B12 shots! Have a great day! Sandy

Hi Sandy Just though I would throw in my 2 cents. I have about 1000 calories a day, but am trying to get them up to 1200-1400. Reason being, I can't really increase and/or intensify my workouts anymore at 800-1000 calories, it's just not enough. If I do, my body won't let go of anything. I keep my carbs under 20 for a meal and under 50 for the day. Protein is usually over 100 and always at least 70. Sharyn 307/166/148