Help!

   I need help.  I'm stuck at 175 for the past three months.  I've been using Whey protein drinks byut, about three months ago switched to GNC wheybolic extreme 60 protein drinks.  I workout 5 to 6 x a week and eat little or nothing.  My labs were bad.  I just can't eat.  I depend on the Wheybolic drinks for nutrition.  I've gone from a 22 to a 8 in pants and 12 in skirt suits.  (those darn fat arms won't leave!!!)  September will be my year out and I am tooooooooo depressed.  The inches are going but the pounds have stop dead in their tracks!  HELP!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear you are having problems.

My first thoughts are #1 that you need to eat.  You said you can't eat.  Why?  Is it coming back up? Is it possible you have a stricture?  What's happening?  Have you discussed not being able to eat with your surgeon?  Remember, that's what he's there for and important to remember - he works for you, not the other way around. 

Thought #2...are you taking your supplements?  Every day?  They are very important and are for the rest of your life.  Since having surgery our bodies don't absorb as much as it once did - of anything.  So, you must supplement.  Chewables and liquids are best. 

I'd love to help you any way that I can.  But, I am NOT a doctor and can only give you suggestions based on what has worked for me personally.  The best people to talk with about your health are your surgeon, your PCM, your NUT, etc.  If they won't give you the answers you NEED, then you need to fire them and hire someone new.  (again, MY opinion....)

call dr. yancey!! or the bariatric coordinator!! Her name is Ruth! They will help you!!!

Good advice...your nutritionist is a good source of information for your particular situation. That being said, when I hit a stall I up the water and protein, go easy on the carbs and up the exercise (or change to a different activity). If your labs are bad and your body is not getting its basic needs met, though, this may not work for you because your body may sense that it is starving and it is holding onto every calorie it can. When I approached a year out, the weight loss naturally slowed dramatically because I had far less to lose and I had to honestly reexamine what I was feeding my body. I discovered I had allowed myself to eat way too many simple carbs and my protein supplements were also very carby. However, my labs have always been good and I never eat below 1400 calories a day (I am 5'4" and currently weigh148; ten pounds from goal). I am still plateaued after four months, but I attribute that to being very slack on my exercise and making stupid carby food choices. I probably need to cut back to 1300 calories in order to lose and I am working on that. There are many websites that help you calculate what your basic metabolic rate is, and from there you can calculate the number of calories you should aim for in order to lose or maintain. Google "BMR calculation" and there are tons! If the inches are going, that's a good indicator that something is happening. Don't despair! Enlist the help of a nutritionist, get those labs up to par and take a good, hard look at what you are doing to make sure you aren't self-sabotaging; including not eating enough.

You could be in starvation mode.  If you are not eating enough to substain your body, especially if you exercise a lot, your body will hold onto the weight.  Talk with your surgeon or nut. to find out why you are having trouble eating & see what you can do to step it up.

Good pm,

Great responses here as well. Please do reach out to your nutritionist and discuss with them your issues and needs. Also, they will be able to help you pinpoint (most likely) why you cannot eat. Not eating is very unhealthy and can lead to bad/old habits. The labs being bad are an indicator of underlying issues. Please keep us posted and know that you can reach out to us at any time.

In addition, you might try keeping a food diary to include everything you eat and drink as well as your fluids and vitamin intake. You'll be able to see in just a few days to a week where your areas of concern really are and that will help you and your nut and doc decide what thing to put in to motion to help you.

All best!