Graduate support needed

Okay we all know things change as we get further out. ( Thank Goodness for this Grad board) Anyhow. For 2 days in a row i was vamished and ate 1400 calories. This is the most i had ever eaten. I could have eaten more, but did not. I still need to lose 26 more lbs and i am almost 14 months post op. I was scared Sh_tLess. I can't believe i could eat that much. WHAT ARE SOME things that help you stay full while eating less? Any suggestions on how to increase my wt loss? I eat 1000-1200 calories a day. I excersied 4 times last week and drink all my water. I do carbs, but only complex carbs whole wheat, fruits and vegies.... What else can i do? I never want to go back to 326 and being stuck at 156-157 although a great weight loss... scares the heck out of me. HELP

Hi Melody. I also go thru times when I'm sooooooo hungry and then days when I'm really not hungry at all. I don't count my calories every day, but I know there are times when I eat 1400 cal or more with no problem at all. I exercise quite a bit, so my body needs something to work with. It sounds like you're doing all the right things to me~protein, water and exercise. If I want to feel full longer I will eat dense protein like chicken and that really helps. Also, sometimes just having a small snack like almonds in between meals will make me feel full for awhile. Regaining weight is my #1 fear too, so I can understand what you're saying, but it sounds to me like you're doing great! Tracy B 328/156 5'9" P.S. our stats are pretty close, but not sure how tall you are? My surgeon's goal for me was 165 and I've settled in at 156. Being 5'9", I can carry quite a bit of weight.

Hi, Melody! Don't be scared of how much you can eat. But do be aware of "what" you are eating. That was my problem recently. I was upset because I had regained a few pounds, and then started tracking my eating on fitday.com. Not only was I eating too much (approx 1900 cals a day), but a lot of it wasn't good stuff at all. Too much junk and sweets. So I had to get myself out of denial for that, and tracking my food intake was a huge help. I have whittled my intake to about 1500 cals a day, and it's mostly good food, with an occasional treat in there. Now, I understand that each of us has different caloric needs, and we all have different heights, body types, and frame sizes to figure in there. I looked at your profile, and with you being 5'2", I can understand that you would want to lose more weight from where you're at now. I'm 5'8", big boned, and would feel great to stay around 170 (I'm about 178 right now and trying to lose those 8 and then stay there). Remember, though, to be gentle with yourself, and also think about the fact that most of us who have lost a lot of weight probably look thinner than what the scale actually says. This may be true for you as well. At my lowest weight after surgery (160) everyone in my family said I couldn't have weighed more than 135! It was always that way for me - at 270 most people thought 225 at the most. So if you're feeling well, like what size you're in, and are happy with how you look, maybe getting to a particular goal isn't the most important thing. Here's another side to the goal weight/regain issue. I have a friend, also a WLS post-op, who is now pregnant and is due in August. She went to a low weight of 138, and has gained (with the pregnancy) up to around 175. She told me having seen how she looks now (taking away the big belly of course!) and comparing this to that low weight, she is NO WAY going to try to get that low again. She realizes she looked sickly and gaunt, and likes how her face and body are looking at the higher weight. She told me she'd be happy to get back to around 160 after the pregnancy. She also mentioned that since she is unable to have plastics because of money issues, that being a slightly higher weight makes the hanging skin a little less of an issue. Sorry for the long ramble - but I hope that I helped you a bit. Hang in there - I know you'll do fine, and find what works best for you! Carlita

We all have days when we feel like we've blown it, but it seems they are followed by days when we don't eat much. As long as it balances out no problem. It sounds like from your post that you are doing what you're suppose to be doing at this point in your journey. You will probably get the weight off with enough determination. If not, you may have to mentally adjust at some point to the fact that your body simply won't allow you to reach 130 lbs but is happier at 140-143, etc. Celebrate where you are every day and keep striving for your goal. The only suggestions I have are to go back to basics if you aren't doing that already. ****at at least 4 oz of dense protein before you eat anything else. If you're still hungry eat good veggies, if still hungry eat fruit. Make sure you aren't drinking with or within 30-45 minutes after a meal so that you don't wash the food out of the pouch. I'm 27 months out and let me tell you it doesn't get any easier but it's worth the effort.

Well your normal! I've been through this myself, it comes in phases, some days I don't want anything then others I seem to want anything possible! It sounds like you are doing all the right things, sometimes we get to a point that our body just wants us to maintain at. The key thing to remember is be sure to include what calories your body is burning compared to what you are eating. Since I've started exercising 45 minutes a day I was told to up my calories. Your body needs more fuel. Might ask your nutritionist if you have one what your target calories need to be and what type of exercise are you doing and about how much are you burning. For instance if I maintained my calories at 1000 and I'm burning 600, which I've been riding 13 miles a day I'm actually only get in 400, that doesn't work so I've increased my calories. Don't give up! Amy

Thank each and everyone of you for your input. Today i did much better at about 900 calories and i am STUFFED! i freaked knowing how much i ate. I especially like the comment of eating 4oz lean protein before anything else. I will definately give that a try. My NUT told me to up my calories from 800 to 1000 or 1200 calories a day to compensate for my exercise. I hated to do this as it seems teh more i eat, themore i can and the more i want. IT MEANS SOOO MUCH TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES TO ADVISE. THANK ALL OF YOU. MELINDA

Hi Melinda. I am not a big MEAT person (that means chicken, fish, eggs), so having lots of protein was a bit scary for me at first. When I have those "hungry days", I make myself a HUGE salad and add kidney beans and some lean chicken (for the protein) with vinegar, oil and salt as a the dressing. It is a low cal, high protein, but very filling meal, and you don't compromise your calories. Also, a big plate of fruit like melon always makes me feel full for a while.