Help from Veterans - Weight Loss after Year 1

Hoping some of you vets could help me out. From June until my fill in September, I have maintained, gone back and forth with the same 2 lbs. I admit, this summer I was making poor food choices (lots of sweets and some alcohol in moderation) and only exercising 1-2 times per week. But since my last fill in September, I stepped it back up, back to better food choices, trying to keep my calories around 1200-1400 /day, avoided sweets, exercising 3-4 times per week (45 min/day). I was just at my doctor for another fill and I have gained 5 lbs since my last visit 2 months ago. I am getting discouraged. He told me that I'm basically done losing weight and I am in the maintaining period. I am confused. Two months ago he said that I realistically can lose another 50 lbs (I would still be considered overweight) and now he is saying I'm done losing? 

I did ask to get some blood work done, which he reluctantly did. Not that I am looking for an excuse because I'm sure everything is okay, but I did have head & neck cancer 7-1/2 years ago and had radiation treatment, which could cause problems with your thyroid years later.

So my question is - please answer honestly. Did any of you vets out there continue to lose during Year 2 and Year 3? Any advise would be great! Thanks,

I am just over 3 1/2 years out and to be quite honest, after the first year  to year and half I lost all the weight I was going to lose.  Now if I lose anything its because of a change in my medication.  I have maintained at 185 lbs. since about my year and 1/2 mark.  I lost a few pounds when my Doctor changed my diabetes meds, but that was only about 8 - 10 lbs.  No more.  I am ok with this, what you have to remember is the smaller you get, the less and less calories it takes for you to actually lose weight.  Perhaps your calorie intake it too high?  I'm just guessing, cause I dont know the answer either.  If you figure it out though, please let me know.

Theresa

Hi,

It's sure frustrating when you have more to lose and it's just not coming off. I feel for you.

I am over 2 years out and have held steady at a 63lb loss. I lost 46lbs the first year and 17 the second year. At the time of surgery my weight goal was a 3 year plan: Year one was to be a 50lb loss, Year 2: 25lbs and Year 3: 25lbs for a total of 100lbs. So, I still have 37lbs to lose. I eat 1400 calories per day and exercise for 1/2 hour 6 days a week; my nutritionist said my calories are perfect for my level of activity and doesn't recommend reducing them. I've tried going down to the 1000 to 1200 range but have periods of feeling faint/weak when I do that.

In regards to your possible thyroid issue. I've done some reading on this and many people have found that results that test in the borderline normal range with symptoms of hypothyroidism can actually benefit a lot from medication. Not hoping you have this issue, but at least it would explain a lot of your situation .

Best of luck to you.

I know it's really frustrating and I feel for you! Before I start responding, I will say that some people do successfully lose weight for 3 or more years, at a slow and steady pace.  I would be ecstatic if I lost 20 lbs in my 2nd year post op or 20 more in my 3rd, but since I lost 75% of my excess weight in my first year, and my body stabilized hard, I have to accept that might be it for me.

So here's my advice:

If you are honestly eating the right amount of calories for your activity level
If you are honestly exercising 3-4 hours a week of more
If you are eating high protein and good nutritous food the majority of the time
If you are satisfied between meals and aren't going around hunting for snacks

And you're still not losing any weight... then this is probably where your body wants to be for now or for the long haul. 

I am 5'7"  and 180 lbs and "could realistically lose another 50 lbs" and still be considered quite average, on the low end of the normal BMI but when I restrict my calories to 1200 a day, when I exercise to the point that seems excessive, my body still really doesn't budge under 180 and I just feel run down and crappy. Much better to learn to love the thicker me at 180 and live healthily. 

I hope this helps you. Don't get discouraged. Also, think about maintaining for a while and then maybe aiming to lose just 10% more of your body weight, then maintain a bit and then lose 10% more. I've read studies that it's very hard for the body to lose more than 10% of its mass at once.

I did lose most of my weight the first two years.  However I could not keep to the 800 calories that got me to my lowest weight.  When I started to eat more, the weight came back.  True enough I did add some bad food choices.  However I  am working my back to low weight by reducing calories slower.  Once filled again I expect to start losing again.  I will post my results.  Wish u the best.
Z

I lost all of my weight in the first year doing a very regimented 800 calorie diet.  As soon as I upped my calories and added back in some of the foods I had banned I started maintenence and have gained and lost the same 10 lbs several times over the last 2 years.

My guess is that you need to shock your system.  If you can go into Ketosis, (keep carbs below 25g per day and maintain that for a couple of weeks at least you will probably lose weight.  If I were you I would start tracking your food faithfully, start measuring portions again and keep your calories to 1000.  Make sure you're getting 60-80 gms of protein and watch the sodium.  Keep sodium under 2000 mgs a day.  Pump up the water intake too!

It's really hard to get back to a strict regimine after a year post op, but I'll bet your system needs a big shop to jumpstart weight loss again.

It's never easy, but it's soooo worth it!

Best~
Lisa O.

 Because ALL the band is help us eat less, we can lose whenever we can get our brains in gear!

I am well over five and a half out and have maintained apart from one blip for four years. But during that blip I regained 27lbs.  I then worked with my band to lose it again. And I did, with no more or no less difficulty than the first time around.

My method of maintaining s to be very relaxed. Because of the small portions, the weight doesn't  go on too fast but it does go on. So I then go back to strict band eating for a couple if weeks to lose it again. So I am orking ith my band to lose wrweight probably about tw weeks every four or so months.

Kate