9 Months Out -- Hard Time Motivating

Hi All,

I had my DS surgery in July 2008.  My SW was around 420.  I've lost 140 pounds since then.  This is fantastic, and has taken care of  the main complaint I had, which was my knees hurting and having a hard time moving around.

Now that life is much easier, I'm having problems being motivated to "diet."  I'm able to eat a pretty substantial amount of food -- as much as someone who has never had WLS.  For example, today I ate a KFC drumstick/thigh meal with a piece of corn and mashed potatoes, some chicken marsala, red peppers and carrots dipped in caesar dressing, a "lasagna" made with 2 slices of low carb bread, meat sauce, ricotta and mozzarela, and a fried egg sandwich on low carb bread.  All of this came to 2600 calories. 

This seems like alot of food to me, but I don't feel like I "overate."  Granted, by DS calorie calculations, I ate about 1200 calories.  But I don't know what's going on with me, why I can eat so much.

I'm still losing weight, but really slowly -- about 8 pounds a month.  This feels so slow considering I still weigh about 280.  But I feel like I can't make myself eat less.  That feels too much like a diet, and then I get really resentful.

Has this happened to any of you?  How have you dealt with that long period after you had your initial fast weight loss and entered that long period of only moderate weight loss?

Most people on this board had RNY but there are a few DS patients and I hope some of them speak up as I don't really know too much about your specific dietary rules.

I do know about weight slow down though, and 8 lbs per month at nine months out is still a very good pace. As you get smaller the amount of calories you need per day to survive goes down so your weight loss slows. Its normal.

It sucks.

I lost steadily from 440 to about 260 and then it got harder. 250-240 were battles. I'm trying my darndest to get into the 230s right now and very slow going. You may find the same, or you may not. Upping your activity as much as you can, drinking as much as you can, and following whatever your rules are for your surgery is all you can do.

And yes, I agree, sometimes it feels like a diet. I try not to think of it that way but sometimes that's exactly what it is.

If you haven't already, you may want to post on the DS board as well.

All the best!

First of all, it doesn't sound like you are eating way too much for a DSer.  It's normal for us to lose some restriction as our first couple years pass by.  I have days when I can eat a LOT and I don't think anyone would know I had WLS (although my friends who don't know I had WLS think I eat pretty lightly.) 

Eight pounds a month is very good - not fast but remember we have a longer window than those who had RNY, so if you lose 8 pounds a month for the next ten months you'll be at 200!  And you may well lose longer and have bigger losses some months (or smaller, of course.)  Don't worry about eating less - just try to have a lot of yummy protein snacks around and try all sorts of different things.  Keep a list of everything you like so you don't stand in the kitchen thinking WTH you can eat (my problem!)  This is not a diet, this is a lifestyle and the biggest rule is get protein in.  Don't make it into a diet or worry about eating less per se.  If you want to speed up your loss, you know cutting carbs usually helps but if you don't mind slow and steady, keep some mashed potatoes in your life.  It sounds like you are doing really well!



 

I am only 3 months out---and I can eat alot.   Of course not as much as before but I do think it is alot.   I am trying to measure my food intake.   I am focusing more on my protein and water and I was surprised the scale move again.     I am trying to eat smaller portions and more often because in 2-3 hours I am hungry..not super hungry but  I am ready for some yummy food.     I am a little nervous I don't have alot of restriction and only 3 mos out---I have to be careful not to overeat and at times I think I do.    Especially, with soft foods I get more.    I don't want to fail and I don't want the DS to fail either.    Try to focus on the protein and water I think it will only help with the continued weightloss      and congrats on your 140lbs lost that is super !    Hope to see you in ONE-derland !
Maricela

Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts with me.  I am focusing on protein more and upping my fluids.  I think I overeat sometimes (or eat more than I might otherwise) because I'm not taking in enough fluids.

I hope I can keep an 8-10 pound per month loss going.  I'd like to get down to 220 pounds or so.  That would be a dream come true!

Julie