Counting Calories and Resting Metabolic Rate

Wow, Roz! This surprised me! I think I am eating too many calories, which must be contributing to my 8 mos. stall.  Dr. Keshishian had told me not to worry about counting calories - just eat protein first and drink water.

When I fill in MyfitnessPal, my grams of protein is good, my carbs are nice & low - generally under 40 - but my fats are WAY high because of the bacon & cheese I eat alot of. My caloric daily intake is between 1200 - 1700 per day - I thought that was good, because of DS Math, if you know what I mean: [you only absorb 60% of whole grain carbs & protein- even less of fat (around 20%)]

But according to what you wrote, you DID  track calories, especially during the losing phase - and ignored the DS Math thing. I thought it wasn't necessary to track calories, but it makes sense.  

Based on this, I should really cut back on everything, right?? Maybe then the weight will start to fall off again.  Thoughts??

Thanks for posting your thoughts, Roz - look forward to your response!

Oops - Just realized...you have an RNY, not the DS! Still, any thoughts are appreciated.!

I'm not Roz and I don't have a DS but here are my thoughts... not counting calories but just concentrating on protein works fine for most people AT FIRST. But you aren't the first person to run into problems and stall past the 6 month mark doing it that way. Some people need to count calories and be more strict in order to get to goal.

Also I have always heard that you absorb 100% of carbs with a DS even whole grain ones. You can run that by Gina. She's up on that sort of thing.

I would say, if you aren't losing, and it's been more than a month, I'd look into doing something differently be it adding more exercise, cutting back on calories, or changing the ratio of your macronutrients (more protein, less carbs or fat)

Thanks for your reply! I am carefully tracking carbs/proteins and fats.  Per the DS Surgery page, approx 60% of complex carbs and 60% of protein is digested - but 100% of simple carbs IS absorbed - that's why sugars, white flour etc are no-no's.

I do believe counting calories is in order at this point, even though my doctor said never, ever to do that - I am living in this body and must do SOMETHING! I am, what they call, a super-absorber: I started taking all the supplements, and all labs were  all TOO high for calcium, iron, and all vitamins.  One by one, I've eliminated the supplements - and eat basically an Atkins diet.

Only thing I haven't done is lower my calories to 1000 or lower.  Thanks again for your insight!

Ignoring calories...how many grams of protein & fluid?

Also, are you measuring cause many of us slow down and lose inches instead of weight after about 6-8 months. Some of us stair step our way down, others continue to lose. You are far enough out now that a stall is typical. I went 6 months with no weight loss but i did lose inches. And then it started again. But rather than count calories (which are meaningless for a DS'er) count the grams of protein/oz of liquid. If eating only 100 grams of protein, up it to 120-140. Make sure your fluids exceed 64 oz a day.

I am borderline super absorber...partly due to the length of mu common channel...as my vitamins are minimal compared to most DS'er's. For the last nine months, all I took was 3 multi-vitamins and 1 proferren each day...all my labs EXCEPT for D & K came back great. So I am fixing those two. And the 2 months before that, I didn't take anything due to jaw surgery.

I ONLY use MFP on occasion to make sure I am averaging enough protein grams...I ignore their calories because my fat intake makes that MUCH higher than they think it should be. Fat is part of the reason the calorie counts do not work for us.

At 1000 calories, unless that is AFTER DS math, you are not eating enough.

Hi there,

I think I wrote to you privately about this a while back...Originally, I was eating 100-120 gms of protein, 30-40 gms carbs, and around 100 gms fat - and a TON of water - more than 64 oz.  Because my weight loss stalled last May (3 mos after surgery), Dr. K told me to cut BACK on protein - to 80 gms and told me to stop tracking anything - just eat protein & water first. He was sure I would lose too much. HAHAHA!   I did what he said, and nothing happened - for the next 3 mos.  So in September, listening to DS experts here, I upped my protein to 100 gms - and did not worry about fats.  I GAINED 10 lbs in the next 3 mos.  SO January came, and I went back to counting everything - reducing EVERYTHING, bu****er. My calorie intake was between 1200-1600 per day. Here I am on 3/15, at exactly the same 158 lbs. - up 10 lbs from my lowest. 

It makes no sense.  I KNOW calories should be meaningless for me, as a DSer, but apparently they are not.  Dr. K said I appear to be absorbing pretty much like a normal anatomy - and have been since 3 mos. post op.  I must repeat, my stall began as soon as my c-diff and colitis post op resolved - three months after my DS.  I have not lost one lb...rather have regained 10.  I don't get it.

As to my measurements - they've all gone up too.  My clothes from last summer (when I was 148) are tight.  I know Dr. K wants to do a revision - as I do. But, with only inadequate weight loss as the diagnosis, how will I ever pay for it?? He did say the CT scan showed a dilated small intestine....don't know what that means., do you?

Sorry to be so down...it just is so discouraging to be one of the few that doesn't do as well as expected.  It FEELS like failure, big-time.

He did say the CT scan showed a dilated small intestine....don't know what that means., do you?

No, however, I would ask him. And it sounds like your c-diff and colitis messed you up.

It might be enough reason for your medical policy to approve surgery (not officially for a revision) but while in there, do enough of one to fix your horridly slow/impossible weight loss.

I will say that according to statistics, if you have lost 50% of your excess weight, insurance companies consider you a success...not fair but that's how they are. 50% of my excess weight would have been all of 27 lbs lost. I would still weigh in the 170's and still severely overweight if not obese.

And unfortunately, no surgery is 100%...I wish they were.

Liz

Hi there,

I think I wrote to you privately about this a while back...Originally, I was eating 100-120 gms of protein, 30-40 gms carbs, and around 100 gms fat - and a TON of water - more than 64 oz.  Because my weight loss stalled last May (3 mos after surgery), Dr. K told me to cut BACK on protein - to 80 gms and told me to stop tracking anything - just eat protein & water first. He was sure I would lose too much. HAHAHA!   I did what he said, and nothing happened - for the next 3 mos.  So in September, listening to DS experts here, I upped my protein to 100 gms or more - and did not worry about fats.  I GAINED 10 lbs in the next 3 mos.  SO January came, and I went back to counting everything - reducing EVERYTHING, excep****er. My calorie intake was between 1200-1600 per day. Here I am on 3/15, at exactly the same 158 lbs. - up 10 lbs from my lowest. 

It makes no sense.  I KNOW calories should be meaningless for me, as a DSer, but apparently they are not.  Dr. K said I appear to be absorbing pretty much like a normal anatomy - and have been since 3 mos. post op.  I must repeat, my stall began as soon as my c-diff and colitis post op resolved - three months after my DS.  I have not lost one lb...rather have regained 10.  I don't get it.

As to my measurements - they've all gone up too.  My clothes from last summer (when I was 148) are tight.  I know Dr. K wants to do a revision - as I do. But, with only inadequate weight loss as the diagnosis, how will I ever pay for it?? He did say the CT scan showed a dilated small intestine....don't know what that means., do you?

Sorry to be so down...it just is so discouraging to be one of the few that doesn't do as well as expected.  It FEELS like failure, big-time.

Can't see my message - but I've tried responding to you twice now...Hope you can see this one:

Hi there,

I think I wrote to you privately about this a while back...Originally, I was eating 100-120 gms of protein, 30-40 gms carbs, and around 100 gms fat - and a TON of water - more than 64 oz.  Because my weight loss stalled last May (3 mos after surgery), Dr. K told me to cut BACK on protein - to 80 gms and told me to stop tracking anything - just eat protein & water first. He was sure I would lose too much. HAHAHA!   I did what he said, and nothing happened - for the next 3 mos.  So in September, listening to DS experts here, I upped my protein to 100 gms - and did not worry about fats.  I GAINED 10 lbs in the next 3 mos.  SO January came, and I went back to counting everything - reducing EVERYTHING, bu****er. My calorie intake was between 1200-1600 per day. Here I am on 3/15, at exactly the same 158 lbs. - up 10 lbs from my lowest. 

It makes no sense.  I KNOW calories should be meaningless for me, as a DSer, but apparently they are not.  Dr. K said I appear to be absorbing pretty much like a normal anatomy - and have been since 3 mos. post op.  I must repeat, my stall began as soon as my c-diff and colitis post op resolved - three months after my DS.  I have not lost one lb...rather have regained 10.  I don't get it.

As to my measurements - they've all gone up too.  My clothes from last summer (when I was 148) are tight.  I know Dr. K wants to do a revision - as I do. But, with only inadequate weight loss as the diagnosis, how will I ever pay for it?? He did say the CT scan showed a dilated small intestine....don't know what that means., do you?

Sorry to be so down...it just is so discouraging to be one of the few that doesn't do as well as expected.  It FEELS like failure, big-time.

My answer was to someone who had a RNY like me.  You had a DS which is totally different.  You need to eat a lot of fat. 

I don't count calories.  Early out when I was in the "newbie" stage and trying to figure out what works for me I posted on fitday.com so I could keep track of my Proteins and carbs and it showed the calorie count too.  I've been on Maintenance quite awhile now and I only post on fitday.com occasionally so I know where I am.  You would be surprised how many times we are asked about calories, proteins, carbs etc.