How do I get to goal?

Hi All! I am 11 months post op.  I have already lost about 130lbs and I am very proud of that but I am not where I want to be yet.  I have come so far I am not ready to give up, I want to get below 200lbs but I have been stuck on a plateau for about 3 months and cant lose any lbs... Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can do this?!  I have come so far , I amnot ready to stop losing.  I really want to lose 60 more lbs but I this rate I will be lucky to lose another pound. Please help! Any Suggestions would be appreciated! Jennifer

Once you get near the 200 pound mark, it suddenly gets more difficult to lose the weight.  That's because you are no longer burning as many calories as you once did.  So the difference between calories burned and calories eaten becomes much smaller,   and thus the amount of calories lost per day decreases. That's one of the reasons people have to dramatically increase their exercise to keep losing.  However, you should be forwarned that the exercise can increase your muscle mass and slow down the loss on the scale.  You should really see the results in inches lost, however, which is just as important. You are going to have to be really, really patient now.  If you stick with a good eating plan, and increase your exercise, you WILL lose - either pounds or inches.  It is just going to be slower.   Last year as I got near the 200 mark, my losses slowed down.  I increased my exercise levels and kept eating healthily, but the weight came off very slowly.  But I was building muscle.  I was replacing fat with muscle.  The result? 1. At the beginning of summer I couldn't fit in a pair of size 16 pants.  By November they were too large.  2.  I had plastic surgery in January to remove excess stomach skin and leftover fat.  And low and behold, I look much smaller than people who weigh 15-20 pounds less than I do!  I was converting fat to muscle the whole time, but you couldn't tell because of the excess skin and stuff that was covering me like a blanket! So don't get discouraged.  Keep up the good work, and you will see results -- but sometimes in surprising ways!

Thank you so much for such wonderful advice!  You seem so well informed!  Its nice to know I am not going through this alone! Thanks Again, Jennifer

Hi, saw your post and wanted to share my experience. Im almost 18 months out,and have lost 130 pounds too. And was on a four month stall! But, I got back to basics and increased my water and protein. it made a huge dfference! The scale started budging!! A pound a day for four days now,,and inches are moving again too. I read on some of the other boards that your body will take some time to catch up after yo have lost a lot of weight, to just be patient and it will start moving again. Ive found that to be true. I have about 25 pounds to go to goal,,and I think Ill make it now! But I was worried there for awhile. Blessings Betsy

Thank you for the wonderful advice!  I am going to try to increase protein but this in itself is dificult for me.  I am not a huge fan of the shakes, I tried the liquid , I think its called promod..oh my its bad and I amnot a huge meat eater.  But, I guess if I want to get back to losing, I am going to have to suck it up and just do it!  Thanks so much for the encouraging words! Jennifer

YOU MIGHT TRY SOME OF THE UNFLAVORED PROTEIN POWDER,,THERE IS A SITE...WWW.UNJURY.COM THAT HAS SOME THATS GREAT, I USE IT. I PUT IT IN HOT DRINKS, MILK, CEREAL, OATMEAL, SOUPS,,YA CANT TASTE IT AND IT DOESN' T CHANGE THE TEXTURE. MAKE SURE YA USE WHEY PROTEIN, IT MIXES AND DIGESTS THE BEST. ITS GREAT IN SUGAR FREE HOT CHOCOLATE, ALSO, GNC CARRIES A BRAND OF UNFLAVORED AS WELL. iTS EASY TO GET THE PROTEIN UP IF YA CAN SLIP IT IN OTHER THINGS. HOPE THIS HELPS. BLESSINGS BETSY

You can do whatever you set your mind to accomplish- I know , because I just solved this for myself.. Day of surgery I was 327 and post op I melted down to @205-210. I gaining & losing the same. I also read that you are not on a real plateau- if you are losing inches or pounds. I wasn't doing either- but I have always been an exercise proponet. I began working out at say 30 mins then more than including swimming and exercising- then I got lost- maybe depressed because I wasnt under 200 and not where everyone else was- of my peers that had surgery.  One day  one of my friends- who I hadnt seen in months- who had surgery- had lost all her weight in one year- she went from 280-170- she is taller- like 5-7". I didn't recognize her- but in all the time I was struggling- she was postop- and she sometimes exercised 2-3 x a day- she teaches and was off all summer..and she took jazzercize classes- she said thats what trimmed her all over. I tried one class & realized it  wasn't for me- but I did recognize what I needed- a change from what I had been doing..SOO   This month- 2/2, I joined a new gym- they offer a ton of classes (140 a week) and after a trainer took my assessment- weight. BP/measurements/ BMI ( all of which were accurate) he asked me to set goals- for 3 mos- I said 30lbs- he said too aggressive- so he picked 25lbs. By May 7 thats my goal.. AND everyday since  Feb 7 was my assessment- I have been working out in the gym..

!- I began taking every class I could make- just for the fun and break out of the routine I was in
2- I added my own 45-60 mins of cardio after the class. I do weights 2-3x a week
3- I still drink 60+ oz water a day & take all my vitamins- at 18mos out
4- i bumped up my protein- 40-60gms+ what I eat.
5- Within 45mins of each workout- I drink a protein shake or drink liquid isopure (40gms) or do at least a protein bar or eat something thats high in protein. * Your muscles need it for recovery & to reduce lactic acid*
6- As a result- I have been sticking to 3x meals +2 snacks aday- and grazing has pretty much eliminated itself from my daily routine
7 - ITS EXACTLY 3 WEEKS TODAY- I LOST 10LBS & MADE IT TO ONDERLAND!!!  YAYAY!!
8- You can do it- regardless how post op you are- you make a plan, be consistent and the changes will occur. I am living proof- and I am 50!! 9- I am averaging 1/2lb  wgt loss a day & I'm fitting into smaller sizes again! Also- something I have tried- you might want to purchase a womens fat burner at GNC. Its all natural and 14.99 and I have been taking these since Sunday and they work & might be the reason I dont feel like grazing anymore- its worth a shot. I take just 1x a day. :wave: Donna 327/199/150

Oh- and I forgot - GNC also has an unflavored protein- that I use- 1-2 scoops in yogurt- works great
and you can mix it in with say- Carnation instant breakfast- and not even taste it. I like to mix it with vanilla- add 1/2 banana- tablespoon of peanut butter and ice. Its delcious- also with choc too!

hugs, Donna
327/199/150

Thanks You have given me hope that I too will make it to onederland. Raven