Body looks better than ever but the scale isn't budging...grrr

I agree I need a more balanced diet, but I'm not seeing how that's possible if I can only eat 2 slices of lunch meat and I'm completely stuffed and one more bite of anything causes me severe pain?  I struggle just to get my protein above 80g a day (and that's with at least one shake!), and if I make room for other things, then I don't meet my protein goals. In other words, I can't eat like a body builder because I have a tiny sliver of a stomach and they don't, kwim?

A bodybuilder can sit down and eat 5 eggs, a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, two pieces of bread, and a pork chop. I can eat 1/4 cup of cottage cheese and nothing else for 2-3 hours. A bodybuilder can eat a salad with a chicken breast. I can eat 1/3 of a chicken breast and nothing else for 2-3 hours. Thus my need to drink some of my calories, at least until I'm further out and can eat more.

My point was just to prove that a balanced diet is key. I can understand to a certain degree as far as "not being able" to eat like others. I'm training for a marathon and what is a normal serving or diet to the average marathon runner, doesn't always come out as my "normal serving or meet my diet needs". I do have to make adjustments.

I won't begin to say I know enough about VSG to give you further advice on your diet needs. Maybe, this is normal and expected of a VSG patient. I'm sure only your doctor and nutritionist could give you advice on your diet. Best wishes!

I totally understand and I agree that is why my energy is low. Lifting is hard on the system, even the nervous system. I'm just describing my obstacles and I know I sound like a negative nelly, but I don't mean to. I have the working out part down (LOVE lifting heavy and hard) but diet is my biggest hurdle at this point.

I think I'm mostly grappling with whether I want to continue to cut like I have been, get up to maintenance in the very least, or bulk (eating a little above maintenance) - and bulking scares me but I know I need to if I ever hope to build muscle, especially being female I don't have the testosterone to help me out. I have started a dialogue with the trainer I want to work with and hopefully he can give me some sage advice.

I wish you the very best. I too struggle with the diet part. I'm a work out machine and feel I am in the best shape of my life. However, my nutritional needs are so much difference from the average person so I often feel like I'm going at it alone and hoping I'm doing the right thing. I'm trying to balance my diet and eat whole foods as much as possible. Of course, my portions are much smaller so I hope I'm getting in everything my body needs to keep up with the tough workouts and training. Again, I wish you the best. You look fab!

Have you met with a NUT who is experienced in Bariatrics.  There is a very good one in Atlanta whose name was given to me.

Nope. Can you pm me the info? I'll have to check the rates. My husband was transferred to another department and he doesn't get as many hours as he used to money is really tight right now. :(

btw - I was going to go to Macik! Went to his seminar and stuff. But I self-paid in MX instead.

Mandy,

First, great job, you look AMAZING…keep up the great work!

You've already gotten some great advice in here…I say if you wanna get jacked, get jacked… =) Just don’t worry about your BMI because it is completely skewed if you weight train…I just had my Health Assessment at work, for insurance purposes, and the guy laughed because the BMI results considered me overweight, borderline Obese simply because of my height/weight ratio...I'm 6'6" 240 lbs. (I've gained 30 lbs of muscle in the past 6 months.)  Yes it's scary seeing the scale go up...but you feel better when you track your inches and see you're only gaining size in the right spots! ;-)

Again, great work Mandy!

Adam!! Long time no see!

Thanks for the post. I have been really discouraged these past couple of days, feeling like I will *never* obtain my goal of being a hardbody (hehe) because of obstacle x/y/z but I know I need to stay the course, be the best that *I* can be, and stop the "stinkin thinkin." = )

Hope you and the family are well. Love the food blog, btw!

 Yeaaa, been crazy busy the past few months...between work, the gym 5-6 days / week, and working on relocating to Florida I've had zero time to get on here...hoping it'll calm down soon!  All is well though...hopefully the same for you!

Anyway, I have no doubt you'll get that body you're looking for...just keep up the excellent work! Trust me I know how hard it is....keep your eye on the prize.

 

 Assuming my wife does not read these boards, I am going to say you look HOT.  I wouldn't worry about the pounds.  You're after performance now!  

Just today I had a visit with my surgeon, the nurse practitioner was worried because I had gained 5 pounds since my las visit in Sep, and tried to tell me my problem was I was eating too many carbs (cause I eat natural flax cereal in my yogurt for breakfast)... I'm like.. uhh, I ran a full marathon 3 weeks ago, not really that worried about it...