Lightweight regaining weight - HELP!

Hi everyone,

I just celebrated my 4 year anniversary. I weighed 207 on the day of my sugery and lost 102 lbs. At only 4'11", 207 was a lot of weight to be carrying around.

I was a model patient for the first two years. I logged all my food, ate 90 plus grams of protien a day and tried to equal my carbs to my protien. However, gradually, at the suggestion of my nutritionist  I started upping the carbs each day. Then I started getting more lax about keeping my food diary and got a passion for trail mix (good nuts I know but very high in calories).

So, in the past year and a half, I've gained back 22 lbs! Now this is only 20 percent of my total loss and not an atypical bounceback amount but... So, in the past few weeks I've gone back to keeping my food diary and accounting for everything I eat. That's the good news...The bad news is I'm not losing. Even though I have not exceeded 1,400 for the last 3 weeks, I have not lost anything. The problem it seems is that I require so few calories to maintain my weight (1,200) that in order to lose I have to drastically cut my calories to near starvation amounts (800-900 a day). This means giving up my current healthy diet and resorting to fairly drastic measures (just 3 protien shakes a day etc). I am fairly active (I ride 3 days a weeks and do Wii fit 3 days a week)

Are there any other lightweights out there who have dealt with this issue? Living on less that 1,200 calories a day is tough. How do you manage and not just keep gaining?

I exercise.  Started as a lite weight and continue to lose consistantly with a caloric intake of 2200 to 2400 calories daily.  Build muscle and you will burn more fuel to maintain it.

Hi just wanted to tell you - you are not alone in this battle. I myself am 3 years out as of this last Aug. and I have gained 5 pds this last month. I know it is not much but I'm freaking out - 5 can turn to 50 really easy.  I was 233.50 the day I had surgery and was 128 -132 up to 3 weeks ago but something has changed I was 137 this morning and I'm looking for help also - if you want to work on this together I'd love the support - [email protected].  

Hi, I am only over a year out. I reached goal in March and have maintained since. My fear of regaining is real. Like you, I am short. Was 221 now 118 at 5' 1/2".

It does not take many calories to maintain our small frames. I just came from my Nut. We did a basil test. This determines my calories needs at rest. Assuming no activity, no moving etc. I am at 1080. She added about 300 for just regular daily activity and movement. So, without exercise I can only eat up to 1400 per day.

What is the answer? I agree with Vi. EXERCISE !! The key is building muscle so you burn more calories and burn more efficiently. I have increased my muscle mass since January and believe without that I wouldn't be able to maintain my current weight as easily as I have. I also did aerobics of some kind 4 x a week for 3 months to get the last 15 pounds off. I now do very little aerobic, mosting weightlifting, some cardio and core exercises.

It sounds like you are doing alot of exercise now, but maybe not increasing muscle mass. Other ideas, definately get back to 2/3rd's protein 1/3 good carbs. Protein is our friend! Don't forget your water, too..

Good Luck,

Kelli