Questions, Advice and Opinions?

Hi everyone.  So...I am about 7 1/2 months out.  My heaviest weight was 279lbs, and my current weight is 167lbs.  My goal is 135-145 by April 15/16.  So... I still have 22-32 lbs to lose.  I have been exercising daily, taking all of my vitamins, drinking between 1.5 and 2 Liters of water a day, and following the plan my center gave me. This plan includes 3 meals, plus 3 snacks if I am hungry or need it. The meals are supposed to include 3 oz protein, veggies, and 1/4 cup healthy starch or fruit if I still have room (which is about 50% of the time).  Snacks are supposed to be protein based.  I get more than 80g of protein daily, and between 500-900 calories. I usually dont get snacks in... maybe 1.  Recently (the last couple of weeks), I have stopped losing weight.  I have changed the type and frequency of my exercise with no change in weight.  I have tried measuring changes by the way my clothing fits, and that hasnt changed either.  Ugh.  I dont want to be done losing yet.  I still have a lot of weight to lose to be in the normal BMI.  So I did some reading.  It sounds like a lot of successful weight loss happens for people when the have very low carb in their diets.  I thought I would try that out and see if it helps.  I am wondering what peoples experience has been with this?  How many carbs is considered low enough?  What is this whole net carb thing and do you use that when calculating total daily carbs?  Do you find that you are dizzy and light headed (i have been the last few days since doing low carb) and what can be done about it?  If I do this, can I start incorporating in healthy carbs once my weight is normal without gaining?  My center seems to think carbs are important, but I have heard so many different opinions about this as a long term lifestyle change.  I just want to start losing again... What are your daily nutritional goals for calories, protein, sugar, fats, and carbs? Any advice to kick start my metabolism and start losing again.  I have seen so many successful people on here... I am hoping you can share your secrets.  Also, a friend suggested I might like to try these as a treat someday.  What does everyone think about these numbers?  Are the carbs really as high as they look or are they lower in net carbs???  How would you count this if you were going to have it as a treat?  Is it an okay choice?

Chatilas Bakery Sugar Free Donut

Serving Size: 3 oz Amount Per Serving

• Calories110.0
• Total Fat3.5 g
• Saturated Fat0.4 g
• Polyunsaturated Fat0.0 g
• Monounsaturated Fat0.0 g
• Cholesterol0.0 mg
• Sodium20.0 mg
• Potassium280.0 mg
• Total Carbohydrate23.0 g
• Dietary Fiber6.0 g
• Sugars0.0 g
• Protein8.0 g

 

7.5 months - you may still have some way to go, but how did you determine 135-145 by April was your goal?  Did your surgeon agree? 

Does your exercise plan include weight training?

Hang in there - as I got close to 150, now 147, my weight loss evens then I lose several pounds at once, then I stay there.  It's different as I get lighter.  165 was my original 'dream' goal, but I just stay on the program and watch what happens.  

Serious weight training once a week, with a trainer, is my secret weapon. My starting weight was close to yours.  HW 284, SW 260. I am almost 1 yeaar out - Surgiversay is 12/22.

I would suggest you eliminate the "by April" part of your goal - you can only control what you do, you cannot always demand a specific reaction from your body.  Also, having such a strong goal number may cultivate a false expectation that anything will be different when you get to that certain weight.  In reality, the routine just continues.  

My goal is to have a healthy relationship with food and my body.  I try to do a good job every day with my eating and exercising, and see what happens on the scale. 

PS - 3 oz is a lot of donut and alot of carbs for only being 7 1/2 post-op.  If it is really good, I would eat it over 2-3 days (I can't imagine it would be that good, but I would not eat it at one sitting.)

Sharon,

Thank you so much for your reply.  I came up with the goal to be 145 by April 21st.  It is my 40th birthday (140's by forty, fit by forty...), and 1 year plus a week out from my surgery date.  My healthy BMI range is 143- something completely unattainable...lol.  I also heard that you lose most of the weight you are going to lose in the first year... that's where that number came from.  My surgeon didn't set a goal for me.  He just asked me what I would like to see happen and said that I could probably do that ( not by any specific date though).  I agree with what you are saying though about only being able to do my part, and not cultivating false expectations.  In spite of my very best efforts, the scale hasnt moved.  I only have control over what I do. I have found myself feeling very stressed out by the numbers and timeline.  I have been doing mostly cardio exercise.  I will try increasing weight training.  Maybe that will help.  Thank you for the reminder about having a healthy relationship with food and my body.  I may have lost that somewhere along the line.  Too focused on goal weight and numbers and not enough focus on health and self love.  Congratulations on your amazing weight loss and success.  You are doing amazing!!!  

my reply disappeared hmm..  anyways

Net carbs = CARBS - FIBER and SUGAR ALCOHOLS(not sugar)

If you really want that donut, I would not eat 3 oz in one day. maybe 1 oz per day etc.

Im not entirely sure how you reach 900 cals in one day at your point, youre only 2 weeks ahead of me and I can still only eat a little food per sitting. Are you recording everything you eat and keeping track? (hope this isnt coming off rude, just genuinely confused)

I see some ppl post about staying under 50 carbs when theyre watching carbs

My personal daily goals: 600 cals 75 protein 30 carbs 20 fat

Julie,

Thanks for the Net carbs calculation.  I think I have only ever reached close to 900 cal once, and it was a day where I ate more food and less protein shakes and liquid (eggs and meat at breakfast, chicken and cheese at lunch, and red meat and 1/2 a potato with supper) with veg. Usually my calories are much much lower.  I am not sure if different surgeons make different pouch sizes??? I have wondered if I am eating too much, but the center tells me I am not, and should increase my food intake.  After that conversation, I had that higher calorie day, but felt gross after so never duplicated.  My friend who has the surgery a month and a half after me by the same surgeon can eat much more than me... so maybe its a pouch size???

Dont worry, you werent coming off rude at all.  I do write everything down that I eat.  Today I ate:

B-1 source yogurt, 1 tbsp genepro protein powder, and 3 strawberries blended with a bit of water and ice

L-3 oz boneless skinless chicken breast cooked in some water with 2 tbsp salsa with 1 oz low fat cheese melted on top.  I also had 1/4 c of spinach

S- Diesel Protein shake with 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder.

?

	CALORIES	CARBS	FAT	PROTEIN	FIBER
Totals:	459	15	7	87	2

 

What do you think?  Too high/much?  Until recently, I was adding 1/4c starch or fruit to those meals.

 

Also...with the number of carbs, do you count net carbs or actual carbs?

 

I count actual carbs, and I do not subtract fiber.  At least for me, a carb is a carb.  Your mileage may vary.

I found that I need to keep under 50/day or so (more in the summer when I am biking) or I start to feel my pants getting tighter.  With 23 g of carbs in that donut, that's practically a half day of carb allowance for me.  

Audrey

I also do not do the "net" carb thing -- I count every one.

I stay under 40 g per day/under 900 calories.  I am 2 years out as of New Year's Eve of this year, however.  At 7.5 months, I was under 700 calories and 30 g carbs per day.

I have lost over 200 lbs -- nearly half of that in my second year.  

I wouldn't eat that donut because that would be more than half the carbs I eat in a day.

Hijack - Impressive stats Kat!  Awesome job!