TOTAL FRUSTRATION!!!

Hello!  I'm Karla and one week away from my 2 year anniversary.  I have been a lurker (sp?) for the last few months, but I totally believe in this site and have been very thankful for all the help and support I've received here. SO!  If you all will forgive me for not really ever talking to anyone out here, I have such a delima and am having a very hard time. Here goes...... Like i said, I'm almost 2 years post-op.  The last few months, I have gained a wopping SEVEN (7) pounds that I cannot seem to get rid of.  I'm watching what I eat, hardly anything at all here lately AND I've been going to the gym doing cardio AND weights.  A lady at the gym told me yesterday to work on weight training doing lots of reps with little weights. I am at a MAJOR plateau and I am not wanting to visit my doctor next week for my check up!!!  AAGGGHHHH!!!! Thanks for letting me vent, however, if any of you out there have any words of wisdom and/or suggestions, I'm open to anything. Sincerely, Karla P.S.  My doctor does not require me to count my protein intake.  I can eat whatever I want, as long as it doesn't make me sick.  I know I need to drink more water and have been trying to work on that as well.

Sounds like you're trying to not eat to lose weight, but I really don't think that works.  Try eating (the right things of course) to give your body some fuel.  I truly believe that you have to eat to lose.  Your body goes into a starvation mode and holds on to its fat to survive.  Plus, you're going to the gym but probably not giving your body enough fuel to burn.  Have you reached your goal weight in these two years? 

I never really reached my "goal."  The morning of surgery, I weighed in at 247.5 and got down to 155.  I'm at 162 right now.  I'd just love to get back to 155.

I still think it sounds like you're not eating enough.  Give it a try and shock your metabolism into burning mode again.  Good luck. 

I was also thinking that you may have dropped your caloric intake back too far especially if you're doing alot of working out. You might want to try to up your calories a little bit and see what happens. Also, shoot for 100oz of water and see if that helps. Sometimes just changing things up a bit can spark a change. Your pic looks great~so cute!!! Good Luck!

Hey there - your dr may not require you to count anything (I don't either) but if you want to jump start the weight loss, maybe focusing more on protein will get that going again.  You also said you've been eating hardly anything at all and that definitely could result in a plateau.  So START EATING.  You probably need to eat more and focus on protein - I bet that would do it since you're good about exercise and water.  Good luck - I think you'll get the 7 lbs off in a few weeks.

I would recommned you see a nutritionaist that works with gastric bypass patients.  What I am hearing is you are not eating.  You have to eat to lose.  I know that sounds funny, but not eating your body fights starvation and that will prevent weight loss.  Take a deep breath and just work on getting a healthy balanced menu and try to stick with it.  Huugzzz Paula

Karla, With that 7 lb. weight gain are your clothes snug or the same or, even loose?  Weight from muscle is denser than weight from fat so you may be adding muscle (which is a good thing).  Also, do not drop your caloric intake when weight training and be sure to feed after a work-out.  I am not sure I agree with the lady at the gym regarding dropping the amount of weight you are lifting over repetitions (you can get many varying opinions on this) as repetition does help you tone, weight helps build muscle (muscle will burn more calories through out the day).  I think you need to increase your weight as you go (this does not as some would like to preach build *ugly* muscle.  What is your cardio routine?  Before or after lifting?  You need to feed your body when demanding it reshape itself (important for recovery and building tone and muscle).