Stop by choice or by your body deciding

Hello everyone.

I will be one year out in August. Right now, I am down 136 pounds from 311 to 175. I wear a size large shirt and 14 or 12 pant. I'm pretty much where my doctors said (they suggested 180), and I'm not sure if I should start adding more calories to maintain. I don't really want to get much skinner (I can't believe I'm saying that!), because I am afraid I will start to look unhealthy. Do most people decide when to stop weight loss and adjust calories, or will your body decide to stop when it wants to?

How tall are you? Without knowing much info about you, I doubt you would look too skinny below 175, imo. I've read stories about a number of post-op patients that artificially stop their weight loss due to fear of being thin and then end up gaining weight and never reaching a normal BMI, and then they re-experience previous medical issues. Weighing less is easier on your joints and other health benefits so make sure you're clear on what you may be giving up if you halt your weight loss now.

I agree with MarinaGirl, unless you are 5'10" or above getting under 175 is NOT going to be too skinny and will certainly be better for your health.

Also, everyone from medical professionals to the vets on here have said that your body does not stop the weight loss on its own. It gets more difficult the longer you are out from surgery, but you can more certainly continue to loose...well as long as you want. I think that I am going to take the advice of another poster (I can't remember her name at this moment) and loose 10 or 15 pounds under my final weight I want to be so that once that bounce back happens I stabilize where I'm happy.

I'm not sure how tall you are but if you are still losing and still not in a normal BMI range i would say keep going the way that you are. Don't add calories yet unless you are ready to accept 175 as your lowest and your ok with gaining 10-15 pounds back. That has been my experience. Especially after a year you will lose much more slowly and it will require much more effort. I say give your self a little wiggle room. 160 was my goal but i got as low as 145 and now almost 4 yrs out i'm at 164 last i checked. Still happy with where i am but wouldn't mind losing 5-10 lbs. That difference is also the difference between normal and overweight BMI.

As far as looking unhealthy.... drink lots of water and make sure to stay on top of your vitamins. I think you will be just fine!

KEEP GOING! As someone who is 4.5 years out and fighting a 20 lbs regain and struggling to lose it, I can tell you that the first year or two is easy and then even year three is ok but then the fight gets serious. Lose down to the lowest you possibly can and expect a slight bit of bounce back. Once your new weight is "normal" and the compliments dry up and your pouch has larger capacity...sh*t gets real. I am not saying that regain happens to everyone but it happens to many. And don't worry about looking unhealthy - at my absolute lowest, people thought I was "skeletal" but truthfully, everyone was just used to be being a bigger gal.

I have people yelling at me everyday, but what shut them up is telling them that I'm technically still Obese by medical definition. Though this week I just crossed into the overweight category (just realized that). Everyone I know that had this surgery bounced. I plan to go as low as I can and then just change the pitch by adding very slowly (no carbs****il I get into a 5 pound range and stay there. Do you really think you are too skinny or is that your 100+ overweight brain trying to trick you into stopping. It's a real thing!

Thanks everyone. I'm 5'10. I am still considered over weight as my BMI is 26 something. I guess its mostly that people keep saying I'm losing too much and wasting away and disappearing. I hear this every day. I've been fat my entire life (the last time I weighed 175 I was in either elementary or jr high school). I believe 160 would get to a normal BMI. I appreciate the input.

I'm currently below goal weight and am charting low normal BMI. People that knew me previously when I was obese think I?m too skinny; however, my doctors and new acquaintances think I look great. But even better, I feel great and my comorbidities have resolved! It seems like people continue to shame fat people when they get thinner, so that's on them and is their issue; it is as if they don't want to change their image of me. I no longer make it the basis for how I determine or accept my optimal weight.

Don't stop until you are under goal or at least in the middle of a normal BMI. It's a struggle to keep it of and you will most likely need room to play with for possible gain. You'll regret stopping now.

I am almost at 3 years out. I am struggling with my weight. I can not eat the same amount of food that I ate at year 2. I am glad that I lost an additional 10 pounds in my second year due to a very physical job. This morning I weigh 147. I am about 10 pounds above what I want to weigh. I have to really diet now. There is no forgivness when I overeat. If I eat too much, I gain weight. I finally had a successful day yesterday and know that each day will get easier to reign in my food. Each time I gain, 2-3, 4 or 5 pounds, I get strict with my food choices. However, each time, the gain is more, instead of a 2 pound gain, I don't pani****il it is 5 pounds. It has now taken me 10 pounds to feel extreme panic. I am not happy with my attitude. So....I urge you to continue the weight loss, down to the lower end of a healthy BMI. It is better to look too thin for 2 years and then be a normal weight for the rest of your life, than to cut the weight loss and not leave room for regain.

Another thing, is that your fat will redistribute. You face will fill out and you won't look sickly. It takes about a year.