How do you put the brakes on?!

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for your response. According the team with my program a 5 to 10% 'bounce back' is normal and it sounds like that's were you ended up. It would be okay I stayed where I am or even gained back up to about 150. I'm comfortable there. I am literally uncomfortable and starting to feel to thin at 142. I know that there are others that weigh less than I do and are comfortable with how they look and feel, but I'm hoping that the weight loss stops soon. I'm going to start looking like a scrawny old lady soon, if I keep losing.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Thanks again,

Barb

I agree Barb~its where YOU are comfortable~not any chart or comparisons to others. I am 5'9" and I was most comfortable at 150~unfortunately my body has a mind of its own and perfers a few pounds higher. For me, it could be a mental issue too~I would love to be in the 140's, but then when I got there I know that I'd love to be in the 130's, and so on~at 5'9" that would be very difficult to maintain in a healthy way. Please keep us posted on how things go in the next few weeks and months!

Thanks Tracy!

I appreciate the note. I'll see how it goes. The next few weeks will be trying. I'm actually sitting in the airport right now as we wait for a flight to NYC to take my daughter to NYU for a major reconstructive orthopedic surgery. I know that last year my issue would have been that I would be constantly 'feeding' my stress ... it will be interesting to see how it goes this time. We'll be in NYC for 2 weeks because she'll be in the hospital for 4 or 5 days post op and then the Dr. wants her to stay near for close follow-up. I'm wondering how I'll do with the major stress. It will be interesting.

Thanks again,

Barb

Hi, Barb... My Nutritionist is helping me figure this same question out.  Later this week I'll have a hormone (24 hour urine collection) test and CT Scan to rule-out problems.  My current Eats are around 1700 calories, whi*****ludes "night eating"... even early AM (middle of the night) eating. The "night eating" should have stopped the loss a few weeks back... so I'm having the tests done. Adding peanut butter was one suggestion from the Nut's Dietician, which he confirmed is a good idea.  Yesterday I had 4 T of Skippy.   Did you reduce any of your other Rxs before the continued weight loss?   I required a  lowered dosage of one of my regular meds to balance with my weight about 4 months ago.  Since that time, I began losing weight again and having trouble regaining.  I am about 18 months post-op.  Prior to this drop in weight, I was eating about 1200 cals / day. Oct: 163.5 Nov: 157 Dec: 150 Jan: 145 Feb: 136.5 April 8: 135 April 12: 130 May 8: 128.5 I have been able to get my weight up a few LB, but that's with eating as much as 2100 calories; 1700+ average.   My exercise is basically walking; nothing fancy... which I need to do more often. I take all of my supplements and drink 64 oz of water daily. All of my foods are weighed and logged.  I am not "big" on weighing my body weekly, but have always taken monthly weigh-ins. We may have 2 totally different problems going on here.  You did not mention how much you have lost and why it is a concern?  Is it that you are experiencing an unusual loss or that you want to maintain (planning for PS, etc.).   I'd be interested in knowing what else you've been told to do.  I am not a happy camper over this additional loss.  At about 5'1", I do not like this "look"! Ro

Hi Ro,

I don't really need to gain, but I'd like to quit losing. We'll see if my Nut comes up with anything.

I hope that all turns out well for you.

Barb

P.S. I'm 5'6" and 50 years old.

Hey, Barb...  My situation seems different than yours... the other Grads advice is probably the way to go.  If you do get any tips about gaining, I'd appreciate know about it.   Your weight will stabilze over time.  Ro

If your body isn't done losing, there's pretty much nothing you can do to stop it other than start breaking all the pouch rules. I wouldn't suggest that. The rules are there so that you learn how to eat correctly and after a year or so of practice it's suppose to be natural.  I thought I was done at 8 months. I was at 146 (my unofficial goal was 150 because all my adult life, that's what all doctors and nutritionists told me) but my surgeon said I could easily get down to 125. I didn't even try and put on the breaks. I didn't try and eat more or add slider foods but I did start figuring my calories and added in two snacks during the day. 11 months post op I was at 122. Then the surgeon told me I could stop. Stop how? He said "eat more." yeah right.  I am eating from 1800 to 2300 calories a day..some days are lower and some days are higher. I'm just maintaining and maybe adding a couple tenths of a pound a week. I journal, I measure, I keep track like I have OCD.  I have heard there is a certain amount of "bounce" when your body starts absorbing better at 18 months to two years (I swear, they move that line further out all the time) but I'm at 22 months right now..Hoping to maintain.  Maintain is the word you want. Maintain is what you want to do. Most of us over the years have never been able to maintain except to increase our weight before WLS..I've been within the same two pounds for 11 months, maybe that's maintaining..Maybe I'm waiting for the disaster that is "bounce". When I'm 10 years out and have maintained within 5-10 pounds..I'll let you know.  Sorry, I'm no help.

It sounds to me like you are maintaining and it is my understanding that the 5-10% bounce back is normal and to be expected. While not everyone experences it, it appears that most do. I'm not that worried about that, I just don't want to look like an old bag of bones and if I don't quit losing, I think I will. I'm about 20 lbs thinner than I was in the photos on my profile in black.

I wish you continued success.

Barb

I definately hear that. I looked like my grandmother until I got my hair cut...Old bag of bones...That's me.

So... I am not alone... Hi, Partner! Today's weight of 2.5 LB after 44 days of increased food intake at an average of 1700+ calories seems a bit slow to me.  I was doing fine at about 1100 calories, when the losing just kicked-in. You have made the very point that concerns me about "breaking the rules", which is what I have been doing to regain.  It took a lot of effort to adjust my thinking and behavior towards eating food in a healthy way.  Now I hope that I am not un-doing all of the good habits that I have put into action over the months! Thanx for the help! Ro