Ok vets - time to help me out

Alison, I totally get the frustration in everything you are saying!  I always enjoy your advice and encouragment on the boards.

I don't have any fabulous advice.  I certainly am not one of the "anti carb" folks on the boards.  I actually don't even count carbs (not a requirement of my nut and it's been working for me so why fix what ain't broke?)!!!  I know I take in more then 40 g of carbs a day but I am still trying to eat exactly the same way I have been eating since 1-2 months post op.  My fitness level has increased substantially over the past 7 months and my intensity has increased in my workouts as well which is why I believe that I continue to lose without spending too much time worrying about carbs, etc...I'm working out 6 days/week for an hour (cardio/strength training).

When it comes to label reading I concentrate on fat and sugar content...that's it.

Also wanted to be one of the first on this thread to CONGRATULATE YOU FOR A 220 LB LOSS!!!!  That's freakin' PHENOMENAL!!!  Have you talked to a plastic surgeon?  Wondering if some of the loose skin could be removed to get you to GOAL!!!  I'm sure you must have at least 20 lbs they could remove, yes???  I know I probably do!! =)

I have a hernia in my stomach and cannot wait to lump a repair and a tummy tuck together next summer =) 

Anyway, you are fabulous!  Don't be discouraged.  You'll get to your goal!
Maria

HW- 315 (Nov 1st, 2011)
SW- 288 (Dec 20th, 2011)
CW- 200 (today)
GW- 160 (Dec 31, 2012)

Ok, so I was in the exact same position as you. Now I'm 3 pounds under goal, I like to workout quite a bit too. In January I decided to follow the primal blueprint type of eating. I modified it a bit, don't do quite as high fat as some of them do, but I was morbidly obese so it's different. I stick to the primal eating pretty strict, it was a bit of adjustment at first, particularly working out without eating all the simple carbs. Anyhow, I stayed fairly low cal but eat more fat, more meat, no grain at all. It has been really surprisingly easy, I'm not craving, not hungry, lots of energy, not stalled on weight loss anymore and I feel great. I do believe everyone is different as far as what works for them. This is what works for me. Read the book, the Primal Blueprint. Sometimes too much cardio is just too stressful on your body, also I find that running intervals weekly is really great. Good luck!

 Alison, I know you rock the hell out of running but do you lift?  If not, you may want to consider it adding it to your regimen.   The lifting combined with interval cardio training may be what you need to kick thing up.  There is all kinds of science as to why that combo is most effective but will spare you the details for now.    I really think (my non-vet opinion) that the answer for you shaking up the routine, not the nutrition, 

Alison, one of the things to look at is the timing of the carbs that you are consuming in addition to the overall level of carbs in your diet. What I worked out with my RD (who is associated with my PCP and not any bariatric practice, and has more of a fitness nutrition orientation, though as a certified diabetic educator is certainly well up on the value of low carb diets when they are appropriate,) is to have a meal/snack an hour or two before a workout that is relatively high in complex carbs and moderate in protein and fat. That did make a difference for me when doing endurance workouts beyond about an hour (primarily swimming for me,) but seemed to make little difference when doing strength workouts of 60-90 minutes. I didn't really increase my calories when I did this, but simply reallocated what I was consuming and when, though carbs overall did increase some (from 70-90 to 100-120 range, so I was far from the Atkins level to begin with.) My typical meal for this use was a slice of whole grain bread/toast with a couple ounces of meat and some cheese. And, the timing did seem to make a difference - when I had one of these small sandwiches for a late breakfast on the way home from a morning fasting blood-draw, maybe 3-4 hours ahead of the workout instead of an hour or so, it didn't seem to have much benefit to that day's workout.

Arguably, where you are at now is more of a fitness goal problem rather than a bariatric goal problem, and the two can have quite different nutritional requirements. Losing twenty pounds in the process of getting into shape for a medium term goal (few months out,) is not an unusual problem for many active people, and is a different on than that of a relative couch potato trying to starve out that last twenty pounds.

Good luck and healthy workouts!

I got nothing for ya since I am still figuring out my own path.  Just wanted to say that you will figure it out and achieve whatever goal you set out to reach.  

All the best to ya! 

Hey Alison,

Have you heard of carb cycling? A few years ago I was working with a professional trainer who was also a nutritionist. Many body builders do "carb cycling." only one day or two, do you drop your carbs to like 30 to 40 grams. The other days you increase them. My trainer was adiment about eating 1200 calories and having plenty of healthy carbs, no white flour but things like sweet potatoes, veggies, etc..

Google it and see what you think. I added a ton of muscle while losing weight and this was preVSG.

Best if luck!

Just want to make sure you understand where I am coming from.  I am totally anti-carbs during the losing phase for most people, HOWEVER, I am totally pro-Allison every time.  :)   I know this is hard, and I hope you find the right balance for you, I am sure you will in the end.  I am pulling for you to reach all of your goals.  Huge hugs to you, and don't feel like you have to stop posting about it, we can learn from you and we can cheer you on.  Carbs are just food, you are what matters in this.

 I totally understand - it's a good approach for some people but for my sanity sake, I can't make weight loss my sole purpose in my life. I have to be able to find some balance before I go off the deep end. I'll reach my goal without a doubt - it may just continue to take me longer than my impatient side would like, but i am okay with that for now. It's the trade off i'm willing to make. 

Okay, I read what you are trying to do and I thought about it some more - I have a friend who lost 40 lbs in 3 months on a phyiscally intense diet.

Basically, you eat a protein with a carb. You NEVER eat white carbs. She'll have Quinoa with chicken, beans with fish, blueberries with red meat, that sort of thing. She lives in Cali and I just texted her to get the name. If they have a website, I'll attach it when she gets back to me.

 Im not going to try and exercise my last 20 lbs off - really, I just want to be able to train for my half marathon and a summer triathlon and actually be able to improve my time/distance/speed but running on 40 g of carbs has me feeling like dead weight. I dont want to go on a carb diet and start eating bread and potatoes but I do want some high quality energy....I'll figure it out I'm sure. I mean - even though im struggling - I still have my motivation and commitment to me, my health and my fitness so regardless of how I get there - my goals are in sight :)