Slow Metabolism?

Had my 6 month check up last week and all my labs were good, and have lost 46% of my weight, and was told by nurse that she would have liked to have seen me loose 60% of it by now, and was told I should exercise at least 45 minutes 6 days a week because of my age.  But then the Dr. said I was doing good. I lost 73 lbs in 6 months and I know everyone looses at different  speeds.  I get in my liquids, protein and eat right. We were never told how many calories to eat, only grams of protein and liquids. I have exercised at least 4 days, 30 minutes, so it's not like I am sitting on the couch all the time, but am going to try to do more.  Has anyone else is our age group had a problem with slow lose? What can I do do help get it off? At this rate I may never reach goal! Any suggestion appreciated!

Donna,

Don't get discouraged, you are doing GREAT!!!! 73 pounds in six short months doesn't sound very slow to me ... sounds perfect.

We were not advised about calories either, just protein and liquids. If you are eating, drinking and exercising correctly, the pounds will come off.

Some times we have to increase our protein to get the pounds moving. Sounds weird but it works. Change your exercise routine too. Different exercises, different days - see if that helps. It seems like our bodies get accustomed to the new routines and we have to jiggle things around once in a while.

Annette

Thanks, Annette, I am working on changing my exercise routine up some this week, maybe it has helped! I dropped 2 lbs. from yesterday! Well, that's encouraging! Speaking of jiggling things around........they ARE jiggling!

Donnasu,

I feel as though I am the queen of slow losers and there was a time that I was very disheartened by it, but now I've come to accept that my body is resistant to change and I just have to be more vigilant and stick with the rules of WLS, protein, fluids and exercise and that to do less than I do means my body holds onto it's fat stores.  I exercise a minimum of 30 minutes, but 3 days a week, it's more like 1-1/2 hours between strength training and cardio, one or two days of just cardio. 

There is a woman on my home board (PA) that has not yet achieved goal, she is over 2 years post surgery and continues to lose weight, she has already lost 250+ lbs., so the tool works as long as you work the tool.

What I'd like to encourage you to believe is that goal is not the whole story, but it's more about making the changes a permanent part of our being and having a healthy life.  At my 9 month post-surgery visit, my surgeon said I had lost 51% and she was very pleased with my results, she also said that I should stop focusing on the scale and instead measurements and continuing to uphold the rules.  That's what I do, my weight loss has trickled to about 2 lbs a month, what I do to stay focused is to realize that I move about much more freely and with more confidence then I ever have before, that I look and feel better than I have in the past 20 years and I am so grateful to the friends I've made as a result of coming on this journey!

Wishing you the best of life, Laureen

P.S.  As to calories, my NUT said I should be getting in between 800 and 1000 a day.

Thanks for your input and support! I DO feel and look better than I have in a long time, and like I told my Dr. that I am HAPPY.  So even if I don't reach my goal, I know I am better off than I have been in a long time and I will continue to strive to follow the rules and BE HAPPY no matter what! I am realizing that I'm just a slow loser and will make sure I just focus on how much better things are for me! I sure do feel better about myself and have more confidence so that makes me happy!  At least I AM losing!

Donna, I think that you are doing just fine. I have been out for 11 months (in fact it was 11 months yesterday) and I am down about 101 pounds. I told my doctor that I thought that I was losing to slowly and he did his calculations and he told me that I was right on target. That helped me to feel better. Just keep doing what you are with the exception of maybe increasing your protien, and just leave the results to God. He has no calendars and no clocks and it is going to happen just when it happens. I have learned that the hard way believe me!

Congratulations on the great achievemnts that you have and know that the rest is going to follow. I told my wls nurse when she asked me what I would do if I never lost another pound, that I still would never regret for one moment having this surgery. My life has changed so much and not only the weight loss but the self esteem and my life in general. I am so much more a stronger and positive woman let alone the self confidence in just totally amazing to me. Focus on the postitives that you would never have gotten in your life.

Thanks, Brenda, for your support! Yes, I would do this over again. So far, all as been great, and I am doing well.  My self-esteem is much better and I WILL try to focus on the positives! You are doing great, too!

Gee, I think you're doing just fine. You know, as we get older, we lose more slowly. Hormones have a lot to do with that. (I'm not making excuses here, it's true!) 73 pounds in six months is amazing! It took me three years to lose 180 pounds. I think losing more slowly is probably better in the long run because you're more likely to keep it off and your skin has a chance to catch up. Just my theory. I agree with Annette ... if you want to speed up the weight loss (which I'm not advocating, I think you're doing just fine), you might want to vary your exercise routine. Maybe do aerobic one day, strength another ... but quite frankly, I think your weight is coming off just fine. 46 percent of your weight in six months is quite a feat. 

Keep it up, you're doing great!

Thanks, Annette, I've been thinking slower might be better, as far as the skin  catching up, but it's saggin pretty bad, now!  I'm surprised you kept losing 3 yrs. out!  My Dr. told me we would quit losing after 18 months, and that's what worries me!  You have done so great!

SORRY! I meant Eileen!