maybe not eating enough to keep metabolism going??

I don't know but I am loosing slow too, only 7 pounds this month that makes a total of 81 pounds and 22 of that before surgery so only 59 since surgery! I just don't get it, I work out every day and I drink my protein drink in the morning 50grams protein and 3 carbs, then I eat two tiny meals each day never going over 30 carbs and not always getting in all my protein. It occurred to me that maybe I need to add a meal or a couple of really small snacks, perhaps I am just not eating enough or often enough to keep the metabolism going? I am 50 yrs old and I know my metabolism is slowing down anyway but I have been completely faithful the my diet absolutely no sweets etc. I do not enjoy sugar free treats either. A tsp of peanut butter once a week and a small cup of FF milk are my treats and not every day. I am loosing inches and have gone from a size 30-32 to 18W and they are getting looser but nowhere near ready for 16W yet!! Any experts out there that might have a clue - am I on to something? I know Dr. Duncan preaches 3 tiny meals and 2 tiny snacks just to keep our metabolism working. Maybe I will try this - a whole new routine to get used to. Judye

I just wanted to tell you to keep your chin up! The weight will come off eventually. Also, we only absorb 30grams of protein at a time. I noticed you said your protein drink has 50 grams. Maybe spread it out over two meals? I don't do shakes. My doctor wants us to get our protein from food since food stays with us in our pouch longer than a shake. My loss has been pretty slow too. But I see it this way (now), the slower I lose, the easier it will be for my skin to shrink up with me. My skin is a little lose but seems to be shrinking with my body. I eat three times a day and sometimes slip in a piece of fruit or some soy nuts as a snack. I don't eat bread, rice, crackers, pasta or sugar. Carbs and fats make me ill so I stay away from them. I check the sugar content in everything I put into my mouth. I don't know if any of this helps you but thought I would give ya my two cents worth! Take care, Lori 281/219/140

Well, I do not think I can do this protein shake twice a day, I can hardly stand it once a day! I have tried getting the protein in in my meals but cannot get enough. This is a real battle, but I think I will add a meal and count the calories for a few days and see just how I am doing, I am not terribly discouraged jut thought it should go a little faster. Am grateful for the inches lost! Thanks for the encouragement and info. Judye

Hi Judye! Don't worry. You seem to be right on track. If I were you, I would add another meal. I was told to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. I know all drs are different, but you may want to just eat a little more. Also, you may not be losing as many pounds, but gee whiz you're losing inches like crazy! Going from 30-32 to and 18?!?!??!?!?! That's great! I would stay away from that mean scale for a while and judge your weight-loss from your clothes! I wish I could have dropped inches as fast as you have! I've only gone from a 24 to an 18. Just keep up the great work! -Lynn Lap RNY 8-16-05 297/230/140

Lynn, Your right I should just relax and be grateful for the inches lost and I really am, it just dawned on me that I might not be eating enough, and perhaps eating more would actually help the weight loss. I have added a 4pm snack - peanut butter or left over lunch, will see what this does. Thanks. Judye

Hi Judy, I agree. I think you're not eating enough. I would definately add the 3rd meal each day. Even if it's just protein. Take a day or 2 & write down how many calories you're actually getting in. I was surprised when I was only around 600 so I bumped them up a bit & it seemed to help. I have also read other boards and it seems right around the 4 month mark, they all seem to have problems with stalls. Keep your chin up, you're not alone. Tammy 291/284 day of surgery/222/145

Tammy, I will take you counting the calories, I am already a label nut and watch my carbs closely but assumed it did not matter how many calories as long as not too many, hard to get too many when you are watching the carbs so close. Thanks for the encouragment, I will try to relax. Judye

Judye, you and I seem to be neck and neck with the weight loss and sizes! I was a 30-32 before I went in and am now into a size 18 - but they are getting loose. I am NOT weighing myself, I am going on size as that matters more to me than the numbers on the scale (my dr can weigh me in). I was told to do only 30 grams of protein at a meal also - so I think dividing the shake up is a good idea. As for getting the protein in meals - I am not capable of doing that yet. Even chicken, I can eat some but not enough to fill my bodies need for protein. I am experiencing the hair loss I feared, so am doing the "double milk" thing (skim milk with 4 tbs powdered milk added) to get the protein in (hopefully my hair will stop coming out and I will stop panicking!). My weight loss has slowed down some, but Dr. Frantzides told me I am right on track, to just keep doing what I am doing. Hang in there - remember we all hit plateaus! Michelle

Michelle, Okay the "double milk" thing sound pretty yuky. I never drank milk before the surgery but do find the FF milk a nice treat now and then, but adding dry milk, I don't know about that. What do you eat to get 30 grams of protein in a meal? I have a huge problem getting my protein in my food and I really miss veggies. I still have to eat blended meats. I know we are not suppose to weigh everyday but it actually seems to help me, if I am stalling then I exercise a little more but I have not changed my eating habits because I am not sure what to change, I have been so careful to eat right etc. I will hang in there. Thanks so much for the response, all you guys have really helped. Judye

I'm losing about the same rate you are. I track my food intake at fitday which really helped me see what I was eating. I wasn't getting near enough protien, so took the plunge and started doing one protica profect protien a day, it's 25 grams of protien and takes about three seconds to drink. I also realized I was getting less than 600 calories a day even with 5 small meals and 60 grams of protien. So, I working on upping my calories a bit to see if that gets my metabolism going. At least I finally moved off 227 to 226. - Torrey (281/226/140)