DS and typical weight loss?

I know everyone is different, and weight loss truly is a personal, customized journey we all take.  But what is the general theory on weight loss?  I've read that 80% of EWL is the average we can expect from our DS.

I have 100 lbs to lose to be 5 lbs over a BMI of 25.  I am 52 yrs old, 5'3".  My common channel is 75cc.  Starting weight was 240.  I gained about 30 lbs within the last 4 months right before surgery - the purpose was to qualify for the DS based on my insurance company's criteria.  And that melted off of me right away.

 My protein is 115 gms, my carbs are 45 or below, calories are around 1100.  I don't exercise formally, but I live in a very urban environment so I have built up my muscles again.  I am physically active for 4 hours a day, or more.

I lost 50 lbs the first 2 months.  Since then, I've lost another 22 lbs (over 4 months).  I have to really fight to lose more weight now.  Am I through losing? 

Is there anyway I can lose another 25 lbs?  What have you tried to get to 100% EWL?

 

Glad you posted this.Our stats are about the same. (not the weight loss or CC, i'm 150) I was revised to DS on may first and im down 28 pounds and holding. I am working out harder now than i ever have to try to get something going. It's funny how the DS is magic for so many but for me i feel like i did with the crap band. I am trying to keep my head up and think good thoughts. I'm sure you can reach your goal. Just stick with it. Sounds like you are doing great.

I had surgery 12/18.   I am down 97 pounds.  I had a stall that lasted about three weeks.  What helped me drop a quick 10 pounds was a trip to Disney/universal.  We did 7 theme parks in 10 days.  I was exhaused and my legs/shins killed me but it felt good!  I ate pretty much what I wanted on vacation, including ice cream and still lost, so that was very nice.

I am now trying to walk more and keep this weight loss moving.  I still want to lose another 50!!

 

edited to add: 14 pounds were lost prior to surgery.  83 after surgery.

Just curious why you are counting calories?  That is a tiny little number and you are absorbing far less.  You have to take the DS math into consideration and keep you metabolism up so your body doesn't think it's in starvation mode.  I'm working on a little regain and realized that I wasn't getting in enough of the "right" calories.  By going back to basics and trying to eat like I did early out, increasing protein and fat and dropping my carbs to 20 grams per day, the regain has been dropping.  It's reminded me that fat and protein are truly our friends and calories don't really matter.

My calories get counted along with everything else - I log everything I eat on Myfitnesspal.  So I know how much protein and carbs I was eating - and by consequence, how much fat and calories I am eating also.

Everyone says I am not eating enough.  I've tried eating at that 1600 to 1300 calorie range - protein and fats, carbs below 50.  I did not lose any weight for almost 2 months.  As soon as I dropped my protein from 180-190 grms (and as a consequence dropped about 400 calories) to where it should be, I dropped another 15 lbs.  Now it's stalled again.

I am going to add more calories via fat - although I have loose stools while eating 50-100 gms of fat every day.  I'm increasing my vitamin B to try to constipate me.  (For some reason, calcium and iron do nothing for my diarrhea problem.)  This should be interesting.  I bet I gain weight.  But I'll try it.

My PCP told me before surgery that based on my age and size, I should be eating around 700 calories per day.  I fought him on this for years.  I was able to eat more calories by doing low carb, but my body isn't fooled by low carbing any more.  I don't even get into ketosis any more. 

And the saying goes, "We don't count calories, but calories do count."  It's true. 

If your surgery date is December 2012, then you are doing great! You will continue to lose for the next 12 to 18 months. I am 5-7, started somewhere around 245ish in Oct 2011, and think that my weight has finally settled at 135. Many times I thought I was done, as I held 170 for a few weeks (i think I was about seven months out). Then surprisingly, it would drop. That continued for many months.

I made the mistake of buying some new clothes. I figured that even if I lose a few pounds, they would still fit. Wrong! A 20 lb weight loss at 180 lbs is way different than a 20 lb weight loss at 245!....and again at 150 lbs!

Keep doing what you're doing. I can promise you that you aren't done losing six months out of surgery. You really are doing great!

Did you ever have stalls for 2 months? 

I can handle a 2 week stall.  Heck, I can handle a month stall.  When I hit 7 weeks, I start looking for different approaches.

 

 

I never got caught up in the numbers during my weight loss, and I weighed myself daily. I knew that the DS was going to keep working for me for up to two years, quickly at first, and then slowly. I read thousands of posts, did my research, and continue to read here and on the other sites. Nobody, that I can EVER recall, stopped losing weight even before the first year. Somewhere between 18 -24 months seems to be the norm.

This does not apply to revisionists.

For that reason, I never got caught up with "stalls." I can recall slower periods of weight loss, but I quickly reverted to high protein and low carbs. I never ate the high levels of protein that you ate. I have never used protein shakes to supplement my protein intake. I have always shot for 80 -100 grams of protein. It wasn't so long ago, there was discussion on the other site about how much protein a DSer really needs. Perhaps your higher protein levels have slowed down your weight loss?

I have had long periods when I held firm at a certain weight and was convinced I was done (I figured my results would be different because I was a lightweight). I would refocus my eating to a true DS diet, and the weight would come off.

I don't think you are done. From a physical/medical perspective, that wouldn't make sense to me. I would get rid of the carbs and adjust to a lower protein amount. As far as fat, I don't understand how people can consume such large amounts of fat on a DS diet that focuses on protein and low carbs. I guess my fat was limited to what was in with the protein I was eating (like a fatty ribeye) or a full fat cheese or yogurt. The reality for me was that I ate chicken, and low fat cuts of meat like pork tenderloin or beef tenderloin and stayed away from the high fat foods. I make those same meat choices today.

I never counted calories. The discussions about how much fat we actually absorb and how much protein we actually absorb are true! But you are right in saying a calorie is a calorie and too many calories will result in weight gain! So cut out some of the excess fat in your diet for a while and add it back in when you are closer to your goal.

Good luck! I think you have many sunny days you will enjoy ahead of you!

I have cut my protein down to 115 (mathematically calculated, and 40% malabsorbtion taken into effect).  For my weight, I need 60 grms of protein a day.  Carbs below 50, fat 50-100.  Comes to around 1100 calories per day.  I am losing about 2 lbs a week on this right now.  This should get me to 150 lbs.  Maybe 148 lbs if I'm lucky.  But I will stall again.   I can't drop my calories any further.

But I have not cut the carbs drastically, or increased the fats beyond full fat eating.  I will try increasing my fats - as long as I can control the other end.  When I don't have that aspect balanced out (fats verses vitamins), I feel weak and crappy for days.  I'll try the increase in fats, and will drop my carbs (averaging around 40) down to 20 a day.  This should increase my calories a lot, but force my body to burn stored fat for fuel.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.  I was so excited to get this surgery; for once, I was going to be able to lose weight like a normal person.  I hope it works for me.

I think you're doing great.   I was 45 when I had my DS (52 now) and my day of surgery weight was 255 (I lost ten on my pre-op liquid diet).   My first month, I only lost 21 pounds, and I was very disappointed.   At the eight month point, I hit a normal BMI (145) and at my one year check-up, I weighed 124, so I ended up doing just fine.     At just under seven years out, I weigh 127.   I think you should be working to get your protein up over 115 grams.   I still struggle with my protein labs, and I eat a good 125 grams a day.   I was just told I need to increase my protein, so I'm hitting the protein shakes for the first time in years.   

I only weighed once a month.  Yup, once a month.   Let your DS work its magic.  Continue to keep those carbs low until you hit the normal BMI range.