dieting for life?

I am 2.5 months out and feel great as well but  have noticed that my weight loss has stalled the last 3 weeks.  I lost 14 lbs pre-op and 18lbs since but I only had 101lbs total to lose with 65 more to go.   I think the earlier comment about losing 30lbs your first month is very misguided - it depends on how much you have to lose.  I got very depressed because I was hearing comments like that and I was not losing like 30lbs in a month.  My doctor told me - everyone is different just follow your program.  I have a family of me and three girls so I make dinners I can alter for me so I am eating the protein first.  I still lose but slowly.  Again - always eat protein first and take a moment and ask yourself "still hungry?"  If so, go on to the veggies and lastly carbs but for me - after the protein and some veggies - I usually can't get anymore in so if I still feel that hunger, I reach for a sip of water.  This is for life so I figured I better embrace it and learn ways I can live it.  You can do this! 

Hi DeanyaMarie,

Everyone is right, protein first and stay away from all white carbs as they are empty calories.  I didn't eat a white carb until 18 months after hitting goal.  When I find I am eating too many of them the scales start to move up.  Review your list of approved foods from your surgeon's office. For some reason if they are on the list then talk with your nut, they may be a red flag for you and you may want to stay away from them.

Good luck and please keep posting.....

It really helps if you tell us which surgery you have had.  But whichever it was, eating simple carbs until you feel "full" seems like a recipe for slow loss. 

I don't consider myself to be on a life-long diet. But I do have a new life-style. That's not dieting as we knew it pre-op. But it is controlling what we eat. 

I had the vertical sleeve & i am not following any plan... I'm allowed all foods now. I do stick with brown rice & whole wheat pasta but they tend to make me full fast. I wasn't given an approved food list. Just told to try new foods... if they don't go down (or stay down) then give it a month & try again. I find it funny how every doctor has different "plans" for us. Well I'll avoid carbs & see if my weight loss kicks back in. I better be better about tracking my food... will check out my fitness pal. Thx.

You're not following ANY plan?  Did your surgeon's office not offer any guidance?  

Although every doctor may have variations in their plans, I'm unaware of any physician that advocates eating rice and pasta at 2.5 months post surgery.  

It might behoove you to check out the "Watcha Eating Today" threads that are posted daily on the VSG forum so that you can get an idea of what other sleeved people are eating.  

The fact that you're not following any plan makes me question your surgeon - most of us learn how we're going to need to eat post-op, it's part of the preparation an ethical surgeon will ensure patients have.  Did you not get any guidelines of how you need to eat?  How much protein and liquids you need?  Anything?  

You may not have a strict plan - I didn't either. But that doesn't mean eat what you want! Whichever surgery you have, you should start with filling, nutritionally essential protein, then veggies and complex carbs if room. 

This is not meant to be critical or negative but you might do well to see a nutritionist. Life after surgery requires good knowledge of foods. We don't eat much quantity so need to maximise the nutritional quality. 

All foods also means ice cream, cake and peanut butter cups, too.  It doesn't mean you should eat them.  It only means that they are well-tolerated now.  If your doc gave you no suggested diet plan, then he did you a great disservice.  The sad thing is if you get poor results, he will blame YOU.

Put your head in the game.  Eat dense protein first, a couple of bites of veggies.  Save only a bite or two for whatever you want, be it rice, pasta, or chocolate cake.  The key is to fill up on the nutritional targets, and be full enough to not go butt-wild. 

You need to reevaluate your plan of "not following any plan" or you will not only stop losing, you will gain it all back.

MFP is a good place to start. Get out the measuring cups and food scale to be sure you are recording your food correctly. Good luck!!

Most plans (obviously, not all) call for the following:

Under 800 calories; Under 40 grams of carbs; at least 60 grams of protein; at least 64 oz. water.  

Try sticking to those guidelines and you will likely be more successful.