XP: Approaching 6 months, need to start making some changes

SafetyTurtle
on 3/3/12 10:42 pm - Cincinnati, OH
I posted this on RNY as well, but figured you guys and gals might have a different insight, as we all started 50+ BMI and have higher caloric needs.

I'll be 23 week out on Monday, and while I've followed my dietician's reccomendations, and have been losing at a good rate, around 4 lbs a week, taking into account 2 weeks w/o loss at the beginning and 4 weeks more recently.  Anyhow, I know as I start to approach month 6, my body is going to start making some changes and I need to learn how to accomodate them. 

I eat what I think, and by doing a lot of reading on here, is more than what most are at my stage of post-WLS life.  On gym days, it's 1400-1600 calories (I've noticed closer to 1600 the last few weeks, but there have been other changes which I'll explain further down), and on non-gym days, it's 1200-1400.  I do a good job at balancing things so that 40% or more of my calories are from protein, and 30% of them are from carbs and fat each.  I get over 110 g of protein on a daily basis, and usually over 130 g on heavy activity days.  

What I call a gym day has changed recently, as I have started babysitting part time for a special needs, high activity 3 y/o.  And I mean for 10 hours I'm not sitting more than 1 hour cumulative, she's go-go-go, which is exactly what I wanted and looked for when I decided to return to child care.  So that took a bite out of gym schedule, but has me active in a different way for a way longer time.  Still hitting the weights and the pool 3 days a week.  My hubby and I do something active together on Mondays as well, like bike ride or take the dogs on a hike, whatever.  Something that keeps us moving for a few hours.  I'm also going to be babysitting for a friend who just had a baby and is finishing her PhD.  Much more sedentary as all she does is sleep still at 3 weeks old, but I will busy myself with housecleaning and playing with their 2 dogs.  

So with all that background, my questions are these...with still burning nearly 4000 calories a day between being alive, sleeping, swimming, lifting, toddler chasing, housekeeping, baby rocking, whatever...should I keep at 1500 or below and change the make-up of the calories?  I don't want to make my metabolism...I'm not sure of the word...complacent maybe?  Meaning it's used to this, I do this every day, it doesn't change, my body knows when it gets fed and what it is getting fed nearly without variance.  Is this going to set me up for slower loss down the line, or stalling, or not making it to goal?  I'm down 95 lbs, but still have 110 to go.  Or should I be making adjustments for my body learning how to absorb some more fat and calories and such?  I eat full fat cheese, but use skim milk for my shakes (yes...I'm finally able to use powder instead of expensive RTD shakes!) and nonfat Greek yogurt.  Should I switch to low fat cheese at this point?  Will that make enough difference to shake things up so to say with my metabolism that I will keep this rate of loss?  I'm really worried about 1500 calories, it seems like so much, but it's where my dietician says I need to be at my current weight and activity level, and the people at the gym agree.  I just never thought I'd see a 1500 calorie day again after surgery, and I know I don't see a ton of people on here at 1500 calories a day at 6 months out.  

I'm rambling on and on...any advice?  Anyone else there?  

Gina :~)
acbbrown
on 3/3/12 10:54 pm - Granada Hills, CA
My first thought is....if it's not broken, don't fix it! If you are satisfied with your rate of loss (which sounds like youve done great) then keep doing what you are doing. 

But as you get smaller, your overall caloric needs will decrease. So then there's that issue. I'm almost 9 mo out, and my daily calorie range for a normal day is 1000-1200, and for work out days, maybe 1200-1500 or so. I only go higher than that when I'm cycling. 

One thing I wish I hadnt done was increase my calories as soon as I did. While I'm happy with my WL so far, I think if I would have kept them lower, I could have lost more. Once you start increasing your calories, its hard to cut back down in the future (at least for me). 

I can't really say whats going to work for you but I'd say if it were me, I'd try and stay in the 1000-1200 calorie range during WL phase for now. At least that's my plan for the coming months. I'll never been a 600-800 calorie person. 

www.sexyskinnybitch.wordpress.com - my journey to sexy skinny bitch status

11/16/12 - Got my Body by Sauceda - arms, Bl/BA, LBL, thigh lift. 


HW 420/ SW 335 /CW 200    85 lbs lost pre-op / 135 post op
  
~~~~Alison~~~~~

 

SafetyTurtle
on 3/3/12 11:06 pm - Cincinnati, OH
Yeah, that's my concern...that I'm at too high a calorie level for this early out.  I only formulated a 1400 calorie menu at my dieticians urging; I certainly never would have eaten this much or this often left to my own devices, I still haven't felt hunger so I'm always eating because I'm supposed to not because I feel like I need to.

I think I could cut them back, but I do think if I do it needs to be sooner rather than later, and by sooner I mean now, this week. I know I won't physically be uncomfortable due to hunger, but don't really know how to do it, because I know I do need to eat every 2-3 hours (2 on high activity days, 3 on low ones).  I guess I'll just do things like make 3 oz of meat 2 oz instead, things like that?  I know I'll still get enough to feel satisfied, whatever that means at this stage, since I still don't feel much anything except way too much, which I am diligent about not feeling that ever again!

Aaah...Sunday morning streams of consciousness. 

Gina :~)
theshrinkingmimi
on 3/4/12 6:01 am
I agree with ACbrown.  I would just add-based on your last reply- that you don't want to take to many calories away from the protein side of things.  Because of your workouts, I would gues (I'm not a nutritionist) that you would want to keep most of your protein.  This is where a tracker may help. I need to start using one. 
Pre-liquid diet 392; VSG'd on 6/10/11; 5'9"; SW 368/ GW 195?
          
Pounds lost: mth1=26.7; mth 2=21.2; mth 3=24.8; mth 4=13.8; mth 5=14.2;  
            mth 6=11.8; mth 7=9.2; mth 8&9= 17.2    
SafetyTurtle
on 3/4/12 8:54 am - Cincinnati, OH
Oh I track everything I eat and drink, I have an app for www.fatsecret.com, and I actually started using it months before surgery.  I also track for my hubby.  I'm a bit of a fanatic LoL

Most of what I eat is protein.  I rarely eat anything that doesn't have a protein count.  The exception is my fruit before swimming and weight lifting, and even that has a couple grams of protein in it.  I don't drink anything with calories other than my protein shake.  So finding a non-protein food to deduct calories from is hard.  

I am gonna play with the menu this week a little bit and see what I can do.  I don't expect there to be any weight loss this week, as it's my PMS week and I bloat now.  Never did before surgery, nor did I have cramps.  Oh well.  I'll take PMS for better health.  

Gina :~)


YankeeRose
on 3/5/12 2:57 am - Meadville, PA
Hi Gina! All I can tell you is what my surgeon told me - that I should be eating 1000-1200 cal a day. He told me not to go over 1200 cal and no more than 1 cup of food at a time. Most days I get between 800-1000. However, he also told me to only eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day but that does not work for me because I cannot eat enough to do it that way and get all the protein and calories in so I eat something usually every 2-3 hrs.

Tammy
Luck 'o the Irish
HW399/SW362/CW219/GW130
*37 lbs were lost pre-op
       

Brenda C.
on 3/5/12 7:57 am
This is a hard one to answer.  We are all different.  How our body deals with nutrients, how it burns them, there isn't a standard that really fits for all of us.

In my case, I actually was fooling myself.  Evidenced by my food journal.  I have become HARDCORE, including even a baby carrot snack.  I also was doign mostly swimming - so having to add more varied activities has helped me start losing again (I am 15 months out).  I have questioned the amounts I was told I should be able to eat & still lose (1611 caloroes daily), as I need less to achieve weight loss.

Chasing the 3 year old around will be a good activity, but definitely do other exercise -- strength training, walking, biking, swimming.  I hate to admit, but "muscle confussion" is a necessity.

Just remember, this is a journey, so enjoy it.

Brenda : )~
SafetyTurtle
on 3/6/12 9:12 am - Cincinnati, OH
Yeah everything gets tracked...so I know when I screw up food wise.  It isn't often thankfully, the goal is too important for even ME to screw it up.  

I do walk a lot, my good friend and I both like to wander stores and parks, and this little kid definitely is looking forward to nicer weather as much as I am, so I see lots of walks and bike rides in my future, since they have a trailer and I have a bike now.  Swimming is still my fave, and I'm sad that I won't get to go every day anymore.  

Yeah, my calorie thingy says I can eat a huge amount, too, but of course I realize the max number they provide is to maintain my weight, and I certainly don't want that!  I aim to be at 50% or less of their guidelines.  I'm doing good today, been really being conscious of everything I decide to eat.  Going beyond tracking for the now, and more like eating for later...does that make any sense?

What is muscle confusion?

Is that why I'm falling all the time?

LoL  

Gina :~)  



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