"HITTING THE WALL" QUESTION

OK, IT'S MY TURN TO PICK YOUR BRAINS, LONG TIMERS. IT SEEMS I'VE "HIT THE WALL" WEIGHT-LOSS WISE. I WAS STILL LOSING WEIGHT IN JANUARY & THEN NOTHING NOW FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS EVEN THOUGH I'M STICKING TO THE RULES & NOT CHEATING. I'LL BE 18 MONTHS POST OP ON THE 28th OF THIS MONTH. I'VE STOPPED LOSING WEIGHT ABOUT 30 #s FROM DR BYRNE'S GOAL. I KNOW THAT OUR POUCHES LOSE THEIR WEIGHT-LOSS ABILITIES AROUND THIS TIME, SO WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO TO LOSE THESE LAST 30 #s? I'VE BEEN READING AROUND THE BOARDS HERE & AT OTHER SITES & THIS SEEMS TO BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BUT THERE ARE NO COMMON DENOMINATORS & NO REAL ANSWERS. THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION ... SOME EAT PACKAGED WHEY/SOY PROTEIN PRODUCTS/SOME DON'T ... SOME EXERCISE/SOME DON'T ... SOME DRINKS GALLONS OF WATER/SOME DON'T ... SOME DRINK WITH THEIR MEALS/SOME DON'T ... & ON & ON ... IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AT ABOUT 18 MONTHS, YOU "HIT A WALL". I'VE STARTED A WHEY PROTEIN DIET TO SHAKE UP MY BODY ... 6 WATER/PROTEIN SHAKES, 1 PROTEIN BAR & 1 PROTEIN PUDDING A DAY ... KINDA A MODIFIED LIQUID FAST JUST FOR A FEW DAYS TO HOPEFULLY KICK-START MY WEIGHT LOSS. HAS ANYONE LOST WEIGHT THIS FAR OUT & IF SO, HOW DID YOU DO IT? THANKS & GOD BLESS ... DAWN & NICk

Dawn, I wish I had the answer. I am right there with you. I just want to lose 10 or 15 more pounds, but its stuck. I have been sort of down about it. I know I've got to increase my exercise. I really do okay for the most part with the food, but do not exercise enough. Everyone that I know that has had long term success with weight loss exercises a lot. So as much as I hate it, I am going to have to "just do it" Love you lots, hope y'all or just you can come next Sat. Mary

You most probably have a point about exercise helping & I definitely need to do that ... But, many on the other boards are exercising & still "hit the wall". But, I'm not using that as an excuse. I've been a real lazy butt & need to change my ways!

I have heard to "mix-up" your exercise routine, and that does the trick.... cardio and strength training and that if you have more muscle mass that you will burn more calories... I know that when I get my protein shakes in 5x a week in the mornings to kick start my day I always have a better week on the scale. I have had pretty good success, so I am just going by me, and I am by no means an expert. Also, I know that if I cut out the white carbs and stick with high proteins and greens and then healthy fats and get in all the water I am supposed to for my weight/height I have a good week on the scale. and finally.... sleep is key! You really need to get the right amount of sleep average sleep per night in a week. It is so important. I was having trouble for a while and I was gaining and I went to a dr. for this. If you are not getting your zzzzz's you need to get it looked at.

I'VE USED PROTEIN BARS & PUDDING FOREVER, BUT JUST STARTED PROTEIN SHAKES THIS WEEK AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE VITA LADY ... I'M USING WATER, NOT MILK OR EVEN HOOD CARB COUNTDOWN, TO CUT AS MANY CARBS AS POSSIBLE. I'M AWFUL AT EXERCISING ... I KNOW THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE I NEED TO ADDRESS. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE CARBS ... I AM VERY EASILY AFFECTED BY WHITE CARBS EVEN THOUGH I EAT SO LITTLE OF THEM. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT SEEMS TO SLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS DOWN EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WHITE CARBS. I JUST STARTED ON A "SLEEP PROGRAM". NICK & I WERE GETTING AROUND 4 HOURS A NIGHT & I'M NOW FORCING MYSELF TO GET 7 - 8 HOURS & AM FEELING SO MUCH BETTER WITH INCREASING ENERGY. THE BIGGIE IS THE EXERCISE! THANKS FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS ... GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

If you get any answers, please let me know. I'm only a year out and haven't lost anything in about 5 months!!! Now I am breaking the rules and the pounds are creeping on again. For now, I am doing shakes again...starting today. It has taken me nearly an hour to finish the one in front of me. Not because I am full or it is gross or anything, but because it is super cold and I have a really sensitive tooth right now. Ugh...

WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE IN THE SAME CLUB TOGETHER, MS KATHY! MS SUSANN IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS AS WELL. &, JUST GO AROUND ON ALL THE OTHER BOARDS & THERE IS ALWAYS A POST ABOUT THIS. I STARTED THE SHAKES YESTERDAY ... I'M REALLY CUTTING DOWN ON ALLLLLL WHITE CARBS ... & I MUST GET MY BACKSIDE MOVING & EXERCISING. NICK GOT A BURGER AT HARDEE'S YESTERDAY & I SWEAR I DROOLED ON THE TABLE BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO WAIT UNTIL I CAME HOME & DRINK MY SHAKE INSTEAD OF EATING ANYTHING WITH CARBS OR FAT FOR NOW. I'M DOING 6 WATER/PROTEIN SHAKES A DAY, 1 PROTEIN BAR & 1 PROTEIN PUDDING FOR 3 - 5 DAYS JUST TO SEE IF THE "NO CARBS" WILL JUMP START MY WEIGHT LOSS. BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU START LOSING AGAIN. I'M NOT AT ALL HAPPY THAT I DIDN'T HIT GOAL; I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO NOT REACH GOAL! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

I've written to Dr Byrne to see if he has any suggestions to help us jump start the weight loss again ...

HERE IS DR BYRNE'S REPLY ... NOT TOO ENCOURAGING ... SEEMS STRENUOUS AEROBIC EXERCISE MAY BE ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT HELP AT THIS POINT. HE ALSO SENT MY E-MAIL TO OUR NUTRITIONIST SO I'LL SEE WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT. I'VE LOST OVER THE 70% BUT STILL NEED TO LOSE ANOTHER 20 - 30 #s. -------Original Message------- From: T. Karl Byrne Date: 04/17/07 16:23:44 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: HIT THE WALL Dawn, After a while (1.5 - 2 yrs) the weight loss with gastric bypass stops unless you take up marathon running! I sent your e-mail to Debbie our dietician. She will help you understand. Also don't confuse your Ideal Body Weight with your target weight which is to lose between 60-70% of your excess weight. KB

What is your current weight and what is your current caloric intake? One of the biggest things to adjust to is the fact that you won't lose permanently if you don't eat. Goes against what we want to do since eating is what got us into trouble in the first place. It may be that you've eat the brick wall because you're eating at maintenance calories. You'll need to adjust your calories down to start losing again, but not too low so that your body turns against you and goes into starvation mode and starts burning your muscle for fuel. If you want to go with a high protein diet, I would recommend that you get it from solid food (lean beef, chicken, turkey, etc) as it helps your metabolism as your body has to work to break these foods down. Your body really doesn't have to do much to break down the liquids or pudding. Exercise is an absolute must. Weight training over cardio. Cardio is good for cardiovascular health but strengh training is where it's at. This is what will change your body composition like nothing else. Also, muscle burns more calories, so an added incentive. A quick way to determine what your calorie needs could be..... 15 x BW (body weight) = maintenance. Dropping to 12 or safely down to 10-11 will drop you into the fat burning zone. Hope this helps!