Any Ideas?

Hello All,
I am almost 4 years out from surgery... I have 3 little girls and my last is 15 months old.  She is my only pregnancy post surgery.  After all is said and done, I still have 20 lbs on from my lowest weight of 160-165.  (I fluctuated in that range for over a year.)  In the last 3 months I have gotten serious about taking the "baby" weight off.  I go for hour walks most days of the week (we are also generally an active family.. bikeriding, walking, playing, going to the beach..etc.),  I track on fitday religiously, and I drink lots of water...   Generally, my calories are between 1500-1800 a day (I find anything below that I get ravenous at night and overeat),  lots of fruit and vegetables, protein is always at least 80 g, and I try to avoid sweets.  ( hard to do sometimes, but I am completely honest in my fitday journaling.)   I do eat carbs, but they are whole grains. Ex: Kashi golean with my greek yogurt, whole grains breads, occ oatmeal, etc...   Do I even need to cut those out?  I feel like I did before surgery.  Hopeless and I am afraid I will give up. My scale is not budging, so I am doing something wrong.  Should I detox completely from carbs?   Anyone have any words of wisdom?  I can't keep doing what I am doing, because after 3 months I am only down 3 lbs.  I was thinking maybe too many fruits, vegetables, and grains.  Lower those and increase protein above 100g.  Does that sound reasonable?  Any suggestions?  I tried the 5 day pouch test and find it makes me crazy... food obsessed... so didn't work so well for me.

 Just curious......how are your labs???

I had my WLS in '08 and I exercised 1 week after my surgery.  Treadmill/walking outside and weights 3x wkly.  I don't eat refined carbs only fruits and protein drinks occasionally at Smoothie King.  I DO NOT GET ON THE SCALES AT ALL.......this will make you a slave.  I rarely eat white refined foods.  My calorie intake is about 1200-1400 cal aday.

At this time I still share meals with hubby and friends or I order an appetizer.  I hope when I'm out at 4 years I'm still doing what I am now.  One never knows.  But, one thing.......I cant go back to taking many HTN meds and the threats of stroke/heart attacks.  Generally, I had wished I had done it on my own as there are numerous problems that come with this WLS.  I have deep regrets having this surgery.

I don't know how much I weigh now......all I know is that I'm a size 2 and too thin.  I just can't seem to gain weight no matter what I do.  Weights and weight bearing exercising hopefully stays off osteoporosis and metabolic bone loss......that is a huge question.  I think the heavier one is the bone loss it less....at least that is what my doc told me. 

My labs were perfect 6 months ago.. I don't regret for a second having this surgery... I am sorry you do... My quality of life being 100 pounds lighter is so much better and so is my childrens.  My only regret is not doing it sooner.  I just need to tweek what I am doing to get these 20 pounds off from having a baby 15 months ago.. I am much more comfortable with myself at 160- 165 pounds.  I wish you luck.

whats helped me is having my protein being at least 10% of my calories 100 or less of carbs
i range from 1000-1300 in the calories..but my protein is always up there sometimes 160
if i dont cheat i loose...

I read somewhere that the protein should be 1 gram per pound of weight..I shoot for 130 a day for myself but that's just what I do...I also get over a gallon of water a day too. Not recommending it for anyone..just putting it out there.

The actual thing about weight is that you lose weight for every calorie you burn OVER the number that you intake..seriously, that easy. You look like you're doing enough exercise to me.

"you lose weight for every calorie you burn OVER the number that you intake"
For us idiots out here (mainly MYSELF!) Can you please explane that again...
For instance, today (according to TDP food & exercise trackers), ive consumed 1043 cals & Ive burned 384 cals. This shows a delta of 659 net cals.
If im understanding you correctly, you are saying that in order for me to lose weight, if i consume 1100 cals, I then have to burn 1100+ cals?
OMG!!!!

If you burn 1000 calories and take in (eat) 1200 calories, theoretically you are not losing weight...you'll be gaining..If you take in 1000 calories (eat) and burn 1200 calories..you're losing weight. Not at a fast rate but you don't want to do it too quickly anyway. It's not healthy.

omg dude.
i have already increased my little 20 mins 3x/week to 30-45mins 4-5x/week of cardio + 60 mins weight training 5x/wk & yoga & 4-6 miles walking trails on the weekends! i FEEL like im getting a good daily work out, but thats all for not if im not burning 1500+ cals!!!

DAMMIT this SUCKS! 
I know it seems utterly obvious - like this is something i should have already know - DUH!!! what did you expect?! But im not fully cognitive when it comes to exercising, proper nutrition, weight loss, or weight maintenance. I basically feel like Im learning all of this stuff for the first time.

Dont' forget to add in your BMR. That's how many calories you burn just by being alive. (Most of it is burned by your brain.)

Your BMR is probably not under 1000 so you are burning at least that much by being alive plus any you burn in exercise or other activities.