Hi Karin, I dont know the answer either. I eat anywhere from 1200 to 2000 cal a day. (Mostly 1200-1400). I was 407lbs and now I am 281lbs, but I lose very slowly. I can eat a lot of food, more then I think everyone else eats, and that always bothered me. Plus, I never have thrown up, or dumped. I try to get in over 100g of protein a day and low carbs. The fat is higher when you dont eat the carbs which accounts for the higher calories. I do work out at the gym 3 times a week, and work full time and have a part time job, so I dont eat 5 times a day like we should. I dont know anyone who was a heavy as me to start, so I think you are doing terrific. It is not a race, and you will keep losing. I think you can vary your calorie intake and try to exercise if you can. Keep up the good work. Sue 407/281/190

Congratulations Denise! That is wonderful! Good Luck with maintenance and please keep us posted on what you are doing to stay in maintenance mode. I would really like to know. Can't wait to be at goal! --Marianne 256/153/140-goal 120-dream

Hi All, I am going crazy. I have been on a stall for 3 weeks again. I did finally drop a 1lb. Then it took 3 weeks again. How many calories should I be eating at this point??? I generally eat 1000 - 1200 cals a day. High protien, low carb. I get in all my water. If I can't lose at this many cals, what happens if I increase at all? 1200 is not much at all. I thought the basic rule was 10x the amount you wanted to weigh? say - 140 lbs would be 1400 cals? I knew this surgery would be a life change. But before I was eating like 3000 or more cals a day. 1200 is close to starving. I just thought I would be able to eat more like 1500 a day to maintain? Do I need to go higher in my cals or is this all the weight I should expect to lose? I've only lost -82 lbs I really thought I would lose more than this!!! Thanks, Karin 240/158/140 is goal -82

Hi everyone! I went to see my surgeon today for my nine month post-op visit. Drum roll, please............ I hit goal! In fact, I am below goal! I weighed in today at 127 lbs!!!! Can you believe that?!? In nine months, since the day of surgery, I have lost 105 lbs. From my highest weight in January 2004, I have lost 141 lbs. WOW!!!!! My surgeon is concerned with my loss, though. He is concerned because my weight loss has not slowed down. He said that usually he sees a gradual slowing down, for example, losing 10 lbs per month, then 8 per month, then 6, et****il it gradually stops. My weight loss hasn't slowed at all. He said that we need to skip the "gradually stopping" phase and wants me to stop losing now. He absolutely doesn't want me to get any smaller; he was adament about that. He said I lost awfully fast, especially considering my starting weight. He has ordered some labs again to ensure my levels are what they should be. He is such a great surgeon. I see my surgeon again in a month for a weight check, as he wants to keep good tabs on that. Then if all is well, I will see him again at my one year anniversary! Anyway, I am officially in the maintenence phase of this journey. I can not believe it. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not grateful that I had the opportunity to have WLS. I can't imagine being where I was this time last year. Hugs, Denise 5'3 highest(1-04)/day of surgery/current/goal 268/232/127/128 Below goal!!!

I had surgery on 8-16-04 and I've hit a major plateau. Mind you I have lost exactly half of me in these 8.5 mos. I went from 308 to 154, exactly half but I still have 30 more pounds to go per my surgeon! Does anyone have any clues how I can lose these last pounds? The last 2 months I've only lost 15 pounds? Help :-bow Jamie