One of the pulmonary function techs I work with had an open slot in her schedule today, so just for fun I did a repeat metabolic study this morning. My first was last August at my all-time high weight, which showed 149% predicted metabolic rate for my age, sex, and BMI. That was when I bumped up my calorie budget from 1600 to 2200, was finally able to stick to it, and lost 80 lbs pre-op.

My metabolism is in the normal range now (95% of predicted), which combined with my lower BMI now means I need to eat 1735 fewer calories per day than I did 15 months ago just to maintain. If anything, this shows why 80 lbs was as much as I was ever able to lose on my own and reaffirms that no matter how hard I worked, my body never would have let me get this far without surgery. Pre-op, I never could have lived on few enough calories to not gain at this point.

None of the docs, RTs, dietitians, or PTs I've worked with have been able to explain why my metabolism was so high when I was 300 lbs. I even repeated the initial test 6 weeks later because they suspected a calibration error but got almost the exact same numbers. The fact that it's normal now though makes me suspect that some of my medications may have had an effect.

This is an awesome post!  I tihnk we should all get thiis post op to give us a target.

On the 80 pounds and high calorie burn, I think it would take a tremendous amound of work/energy just to hold up 80 lsbs. ONes heart and lungs have got to push and breath against that. Then you have to haul it around .

Here is an "infomal example"- according to SkinnyScientists fitbit...when skinny sits in a chair working, she burns 74 calories an hour.

Last night skating (I was working on a camel spin so not a bit calorie burn..exertion was comprable ot walking) she burned 180 calories in an hour...so carrying around/exercising 140 lbs was 106 more calories (180-74).  106 calories * 24 = 2544 calories more per day to move 140 lbs.

So..it does seem to make sense...

where would i get this done?

The hospital I work for performs them out of the Respiratory Care department. I'm not sure how widely offered they are though or if it's something that's always done in a hospital outpatient department. I believe I've even heard of some WLSers' clinics performing metabolic studies themselves.

I have an RMR 20 per cent over that expected for my age/BMI which thrilled me at this stage of life and my journey ...  

Do you mind if I ask what meds you take? I'm curious if any of the ones I was on (with weight listed as a known side effect) may have contributed to it being so high previously, especially metformin, Bydureon, and/or Invokana.

I am on 1700mg Metformin per day for type II diabetes (which is well under control).  

Very interesting; thank you!

I have had the same drop in metabolism. Its very frustrating when post op you're eating PRACTICALLY NOTHING and still don't look scrawny .

 Things could be much worse of course - I could be unhealthy.  Still I vividly remember eating literally twenty times what i eat now at my highest weight and very rarely gaining weight ( though over the years the maintenace point was way too high for beauty and health ) 

I'm not sure why the medical professionals are confused about why your BMR was higher at 300 lbs. than it is now - ??  Of course a 300 lbs. person needs more calories to maintain bodily functions than a person who weight 150 lbs.