curious....

 Ok so like everyone else im sure... i've read a TON of before and after wls stories... im always amazed at how much energy everyone has after losing X amount of weight..  and after X amount of time since surgery...  im just curious  if anyone else here on this board had simular experience as mine... since we all know most start where we are mid way on our journey's, if that makes any sence..  i started 450's and am now 330's... i have to push myself at 5months post op i just dont have the energy that ppl talk about after a 125 lb weightloss...  am thinking its because when they lose 125 lbs its because well most of them are in low 200's by then im still carring around alot of weight.. its not that im comparing.. cuz i know theres a difference... like apples to oranges.. but thats why i wanted to ask here because we all started much higher and have simular body shapes and amounts to lose.. is it ("normal" for us) for me to still be sluggish after 125 loss? and 5 months out? im getting in all of my protein and fluids nearly daily.. there are a few days i drink a lil less or skip a meal.. rarely tho.. everyone on this board is such an inspiration... i love the ppl here... i rarely post on other boards... they just dont get me the way you all do.. 

~Peg

I don't think the sluggishness is related to the number of pounds lost but rather how far out from surgery you are.  I've read a lot of posts from people 3-6 months out who are talking about how their energy has dropped.  It seems that the body finally catches up with what you've done to it at that point.

Are you keeping up with the vitamins, especially your B12?  You might want to get that checked out.

What is your activity level like?  Exercising, as counterintuitive as that sounds, should actually help with your energy levels.

You've lost an amazing amount of weight in such a short time.  You should be very proud of yourself! 

 i had my bloodwork done on the 24th waiting for results.. am getting in vitamins and  had my 2nd b12 shot on 24th.. its every 3 months..  and im excercising but i have to really push myself not cuz i dont like it.. im actually enjoying it.. its just im so tired.... its hard to ride my recumbent bike for more then 15mins at a time.. push myself to do 30 mins when i can.. but just really dont have the energy.. and im needing a nap everyday.. 

I'm sorry you're having so many problems.  I'll let you know in about 6 months if I experience the same thing!

Are you able to sleep at night without any problems? 

I'm just trying to go through all the "fixes" for lack of energy that I was told to try pre-surgery.  I was told to get more sleep, take B12, exercise more, eat more complex carbs.

When I did have energy, I couldn't really contribute it to anything in particular, although I did notice I had more energy when I ate lighter foods and less starches.

Now as a newly post-op, I'm amazed how much energy I have with how little I'm eating.

u know now that u mention it... it might be the fact that i sometimes sleep without my cpap on nites when im just so tired i fall asleep in the recliner.. hmm maybe thats it..  not actually sleeping with sleep apenea i wake up alot when i dont use my machine.. duh me.. gona have to make sure to get my butt in bed with my mask more often see if that makes a difference... ty...

I started out at 407 at my heaviest and 386 at surgery.  I had severe sleep apnea (my tests diagnosed me at 67 episodes an hour--no wonder I was tired).  The CPAP with continued use should work--if you have problems, you have to let the respiratory people know.  Also, as you lose weight, the mask size became an issue with me anyway--I had to keep adjusting it but I still felt better.

The good news is that you may not need it after you lose a significant amount of weight.  I used mine for about 10 months and gave it back almost 3 months ago now.  I had to keep ramping the machine even after having it recalibrated in January after losing 130 pounds.  I don't need it now. 

As far as exercise--I started out with water aerobics, water walking and laps.  As far as the swimsuit thing--I had to come with the mindset that I'm trying to get healthy and if someone doesn't like my flab, don't look at it.  Most people aren't perfect either in a swimsuit.  My energy level started increasing and my ability to exercise increased once I started going below 300.  You also have to mix it up a bit--I found myself that once I started getting below 300 and toward 250, the treadmill, elliptical and weights started becoming easier to do.  

It will come--just keep up your diet, vitamins, water. 

Sylvia

thank u for sucha  detailed perspective.. thats exactly what i was looking for..  congrats on ur success..i

How much are you eating, Peg? I felt like holy hell until I was over a year out because I was eating super low cal like others, but weighed 100 pounds more than they did-- and my body needed more fuel! At 5 months out I was eating 40% protein, but only maybe 750 cals a day-- and that's absolutely NOT enough to fuel a 300 pound body.

The energy does come later, when you are finally taking in enough food to properly fuel the size you are.

yeh thats what im getting about 800 on a good day mostly lean protien a few carbs from fruit n veg... staying away from most any other carbs..  thanks for advice... thats what i was telling my doc.. i said.... its like i dont have enough "fuel" and i burn what i put in b4 i put it in.. when i do excercise.. cuz moving is harder then someone smaller then me..  i burn more with less effort at this point.. but i still push myself...i've researched so much sometimes i think i know more then my pcp whos not a wls doc..  so need a new pcp... working on that this year...

 Hi there, great job with the weight loss.  I am also 5 months out and am also feeling very tired all the time.  I recently had a resting Metabolism check at the nut and found that at rest my body needs 2440 cals per day.  Well I have been working out 4-6 days a week for more than an hour with weights or walking or elliptical plus targetting 8000 steps at least per day.  My biggest struggle seems to be in the AM getting going.  My Nut has had me up my calories first to 1000 and more recently up to 1400.  I have yet to exceed 1200 but it gives me a bit more flexability as I am also targetting 110 g protein per day.  I do not eat allot of carbs because most of them cause me to get sick though that seems to be starting to get better more recently.  I would reccmend looking closely to see if you are getting some good complex carbs like beans and whole wheat especially with your meal at the time of day that you are feeling the most slugish.  I also like a bananna before I work out for the carbs with a little peanut butter.  I also typically have a protein shake in the AM and have been making it with Skim milk or soy milk for some more carbs there.  Helps some but I totally get what you are saying...feel exhausted much of the time. 
Btw i started at 475 and was at 393 day of sugery, I am now at 315 so maybe my body is just catching up since I have lost over 150 lbs in less than a year.  There is allot going on at a cellular level I am sure.  Hang in therem check in with your NUT.
Cynthia