I'm still losing weight ...

To be honest, I have always had to struggle to keep my weight down, not up, but now I'm really having to 'work' at keeping my weight from dropping anymore. I'm not whining, but I don't want to be any thinner ... never thought I'd say that! At any rate, I've adjusted my caloric intake and I get between 1600 to 2000 calories a day, averaging about 1800. My weight isn't dropping like a rock, but it has still been dropping about 1 lb a month for the past few months. I'm not quite sure what to do. I really don't want to keep losing. Any ideas? Barb

Barbara,
I definitely feel your pain...I'm in the same boat and when I asked the surgeon how to stop he said two words: 'Eat More." which really helps now doesn't it? Sarcastic there.

I've taken to journaling my food and making SURE I keep with the rules of the amount of water and the protein number is up there...Plus, i'm up over 2000 calories a day now and walking but not building muscle cuz...frankly, that number on the scale might give me a heart attack..I want to gain but SLOWLY.

My problem is that I know I want to gain weight. I fully understand that I NEED to gain some weight but when that number goes up alittle, I freak out. I'm thinking "Well, this is it and I'm gonna gain it all back."

My advice to you is to start increasing your calories and keep really good track of it. Then when you find a happy medium where you aren't losing but you aren't gaining, you can play around with physical activity and intake some...See what happens. It's not an immediate thing, this "maintaining mentality",  but you certainly aren't alone...I'm right there!

Hey Dawn,

Thanks for your note. I appreciate your commiseration and suggestions. I actually do track what I eat and my activity on mydailyplate, that's how I know what my caloric intake is. I'll keep it up and hopefully things will level out soon.

Barb

Hi Barbara,
Congrads on your weight loss. I am 3 1/2 years out and I am still losing weight. I increased my workout by taking am and pm classes at my gym and lost additional 24 pounds since April. I am a size 6/8 now and I am comfortable with my size. When I saw my surgeon this past January for my 3 year check up, he stated tha I was at a healthy weight. I told him that I wanted to be smaller at my four year check up and he stated "don't go get crazy". So I guess I have gone and gotton crazy with my recent weight loss. I continue to follow all the rules set out by my surgeon-no sweets (sugar), fried foods, or sodas. I believe your weight will stablize. Are you exercise during the week? If you are taking in around 1800 calories a day, you may want to add some exercise to keep the calories from going into a weight gain.

Best wishes,
Tammie

Hi Tammie,

I honestly don't exercise 'enough'. I'm reasonably active, but not overly. I'm lucky to get 3 30 minute sessions in a week. I'm doing the 1800 calories a day now and can't keep my weight up, so at this point I'm not going to worry about gain. If I start gaining, I'll curtail the caloric intake.

Wishing you continued success,

Barb

I do believe that the body has a way of knowing when enough is enough when a person is in a healthy state (ie not fighing anorexia, bulemia, etc). It sounds like you have a pretty resonable diet going in a good caloric range. I know most people say up your calories, but it might be hard for you to take in over 2000 per day without delving into some "forbidden foods" so I don't think that will work. One high calorie thing that I enjoy are the Supreme bars from Vitalady~I think the caramel has 365 cal and the peanut butter has 400 per bar (30gm protein). I have to restrict myself to half a bar b/c I don't usually have the room for that many extra calories every day (unless I used it as a meal replacement), but something like that might work nicely for you. Good Luck and keep us posted!!!!!!

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for the suggestions!

Barb

Hi Barb,

I've told you many times but I'll say it again, I'm so glad you're a leader and I've gotten to know you as a leader and member!!

Try to increase your caloric intake but, as you know, not just eating more but in what you eat.  Possibly add another planned snack in your day of dense protein with a complex carb such as fruit. 

I truly believe in the powers of our body.  As long as you continue eating healthfully, your body will know when to stop losing.  You'll be able to maintain through the healthy lifestyle habits you've already adopted into your life.

Again, congratulations on your success!!

Cathy

I worried about getting too skinny for a while, never thought I'd drop below 160 and suddenly I was in the 120's. I didn't want to look like some of the pictures I'd seen, when people just wasted away and looked 100's years older. But the loss suddenly stopped and I picked up a couple of pounds, and I've been holding around 130 for several months now. Nobody knows where you'll stop, but most people don't get too skinny and rebound a few pounds if they do. I bet you never thought you'd have to worry about losing too much!