Falling below goal, any ideas?

blakemama
on 11/25/06 4:46 am - Eureka, CA
Hi Mary. I'm almost 14 months out from surgery now with a small frame. I'm not as petite as you are, though. Did your doctor suggest how much peanut butter you should eat? I have a carb control Skippy peanut butter that I love. I'd like to know what portion size your doc suggested. Thanks! Cheryl
Ruby R.
on 11/25/06 6:24 am
I do not remember my doc saying what size of portion to eat. I would think whatever size portion that is on the jar. Just remember the secret of our lives should be balance in all things. I often fall short, but I try to remember not too much or too little of anything. Please remember not to create a food problem for yourself. Good luck.
Jane M.
on 11/24/06 10:10 pm - Williamsburg, VA
Cheryl, I think your looking fantastic. I kinda wish I had your problem! I'm struggling to get to goal weight. I'd actually like to be about 148 but I think I'm dreaming. I'm 158 now. I don't think your too thin, but I would work on maintaining for now. You may still get a 10-15 bounceback weight which can and does happen to some folks. I got it, and now I'm struggling ot get it back off. Looking Good! Jane
blakemama
on 11/25/06 5:03 am - Eureka, CA
Thanks Jane! Maintenance is my goal. The fear is the bounceback, and that I'm still on my "honeymoon". When did you gain your weight? Did you notice one day that it started going up or did it creep up too slowly to notice? Cheryl
Kathy & Rich
on 11/25/06 12:26 am - Fairfax, VA
I am not one of those who feels that one can never be too thin (or too rich). I think whether you are too thin now is up to you most of all, your doctor and your loved ones to decide (sometimes we need others to tell us what we often cannot see.) I think there some post-ops for whom their body keeps wanting to lose, others whose body/pouch doesn't easily allow them to eat enough to stop the losing and lastly those who have ended up with an eating disorder. Sounds like you are the first or the middle one. Whether you are the last one, only you can decide. If you restrict yourself to 800 cals a day because you are fearful of gaining... then perhaps the latter is an issue for you. Sounds like you eat healthy and it is okay to be simple-white-carb phobic as long as you are getting in a good mix of the complex ones. How often are you eating? Do you take in protein supplements daily? Protein supplements are a way to get in some more healthy calories a day if need be. For extra calorie punches, you can make a shake with milk (I know sugars...but if it slows down or stops the losing.. it can be a good thing) or at least Hood Calorie Countdown milk which will add 80-90 cals per cup. Also, you can add some fruit into a shake for more cals. A shake that is 100 cals from the protein alone can be boosted to 200 with milk/low-carb milk and then up another 50 to 100 with some fruit. You might want to go and get metabolic testing done. My husband and I did months back from a personal trainer. I found out that my brain and body cells need 1300 cals to function without any physical exercise. With daily movement, up to 2000 cals. At 2000 cals a day, I maintain. So, if I eat more than 1300 and less than 2000, that is a cal deficit for the day and I should lose. If I exercise, this range goes up by the additional cals I burn. I do 3 protein shakes a day, 3 meals and sometimes a snack (piece of cheese or sugar free ice cream). I seem to be maintaining well which I'm quite pleased with. But I do eat alot more than you do and am easily at that 2000 cal level. Heck, cheese is my fav food group and at 100 cals a slice - wow! Good luck, Kathy
blakemama
on 11/25/06 5:09 am - Eureka, CA
Kathy, thanks for the information. I have been having 2 protein shakes a day and cheese for snack. I even started making my shakes with 4 ounces of kefir or yogurt. How do you get a metabolic test done? I'd like to find out what my optimum calorie count should be. When I'm not in the middle of a fibromyalgia flare as I am now, I do a lot of brisk walking. I use the recumbent bike when I'm hurting from fibro - but exercise has become a big part of my life. I've cut it down, but not out. It would bever good to know what my calorie needs for maintenance should be. Thanks again! Cheryl
(deactivated member)
on 11/25/06 1:32 am
Hi Cheryl: I find myself in the same unchartered waters -- who would have ever thought I'd be working on GAINING weight or at least trying to maintain?? (An aside for those of you not in this position: it isn't all roses. My skin is hanging atrociously from my breasts on down to my calves and every additional pound lost seems to exacerbate this exponentially.) I reached my goal weight within a year using a very low carb, low fat, low cal food plan and slipped below goal even after upping my calories by 1/3. I do agree with you that adding carbs, after we've learned to get by without them, just doesn't seem to be a good idea. And simply upping the protein may not give you enough of a calorie boost because you won't be able to eat enough of it if your pouch is still as small as mine seems to be. I went to see my surgeon's dietician for advice on all this and she recommends adding healthy fats (peanut butter, olive oil) back into my diet and adding another "feeding" into my day, perhaps nuts or cheese, etc. I do also recommend you get a metabolic test done if one is available in your area -- mine revealed that I did not have as sluggish a metabolism as I would have thought, and indicated that I could intake almost TWICE the calories I had been restricting myself to without gaining weight. I never would have dared trying that -- even WITH the dieticians' advice -- without the test numbers, but I've been trying to hit the 1200-1500 cal range (from a year of 600-800 cals) for the past month, and to my surprise, I haven't gained an ounce, and it HAS slowed my loss. Now, it's quite an eye-opener to discover that I can eat this much without any weight gain, and it does still make me a bit nervous as I was perhaps the most rigid post-opper that my surgeon's office has ever seen (!) But I *do* weigh every day to keep a close eye on things, and I realize I may need to eventually reduce these cals once malabsorbtion wears off. Best wishes for a quick solution for you, Susan RNY August 2005 263/150/122 5'4"
sp1209
on 11/25/06 2:27 am - AL
OK, probably a dumb question but what is a metabolic test. I mean, I know what info it would give you but how is it done and by whom?? i would like to have this done. TIA Susan
(deactivated member)
on 11/25/06 2:51 am
Hi Susan: Not a dumb question at all! The test is really simple and painless -- you simply breathe through your mouth into a tube (sort of like the end of a snorkle) which is attached to a small portable device on a cart for about 10 minutes. Yup, that's it! The results were printed out instantly. I think it measures your base metabolic rate by assessing the heat expelled by your breath during the elapsed time, but I'm not quite sure. I understand there are other more complex tests (water flotation test??) but this is the one that can be done in-office. Mine was available from the dietician in my surgeon's office and even covered by my insurance. Other people have had them done by trainers in well-equipped gyms, etc. I'd call some nutritionists/dieticians on your insurance plan (if you're covered) and start there. I have to say that having a scientifically-based number, even if it *IS* just a range, really gave me some comfort as I'm totally rigid about my intake, log every morsel into Fitday etc. It's just my personality (and my fear!) to be monitoring this closely and I'm not sure I would have dared go this far with the calories (even if I *am* struggling to maintain or even gain) if I hadn't had some indication that excessive weight gain would be unlikely. Good luck with tracking down the test, Susan
blakemama
on 11/25/06 5:18 am - Eureka, CA
Well, after reading the last few posts, it appears that a metabolic test would give me the best information. I'm consuming 600 to 800 calories. I don't think I've ever eaten more. I am adding some good fats, avocados, nuts and seeds - but there's only so much information to be had without this metabolic test. I'll keep your vigilant attitude, as it would make me nervous to eat so many calories in a day. If I add more calories, I'm sure I'll be an every day weigher, too - just to keep a close eye on any gain and catching it before it goes up higher than I want. I am also a "rigid post-opper" and that's a part of my life now. I follow the rules set out for me, but perhaps too rigidly. I do eat when I'm hungry and choose full fat cottage cheese snacks or mozzarella sticks and even brie or goat cheese. Cheese is my favorite food, I think. I'll eat olives sometimes too. Yogurt (the carb control one) is a fave for me. Thanks for the suggestions. Cheryl Open Fobi October 05 240/140/127-130
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