I should have posted here

Hi all,  I posted on the regular vsg board and realized afterward I should have posted here instead.  I cant figure out an easy way to x-post nor how to copy it.  If I had more time this morning I would re-type it, but must go to work now.  If you have any time to read it on the other board I would appreciate any feedback.  It is entitled - Still trying to figure it out 18 months out.  

I appreciate any thoughts at all.

Annie

Here is your post------

I knew when I had surgery I would struggle to lose and keep it off. I have - according to my endocrinologist - something wrong with my metabolism that hasn't yet been discovered by science. However, I am also super compliant by nature, so hoped that sticking 100% to my high protein/very low carb/ very low calorie plan would make it work. It did....but.... I lost about 110 lbs and got to a "reasonable" weight, but still about 20 above where I want to be. I would need to lose 35 to be at a truly healthy BMI, but I know my body won't get there and I am ok with that. Actually, I would have been happy with another 10 lb loss, truth be told. So I eased up some in my eating because my weight loss had totally stopped. I admit I eased up a bit more than I should have, and gained 9 lbs in 6 months. I now have been rigidly back on plan. I lost 7 lbs and now have stopped again. I certainly might be able to get a bit more off...but even that is questionable. When I went back to eating only 500-600 cal per day (much harder to do at 18 months out) I had to cut back my exercise. I just don't have the energy. I don't stop, but the intensity goes down. So why am I posting? I wonder if anyone else has extreme difficulty maintaining (or still losing a little) when they stop losing above where they want to be/should be. I am struggling as to whether I should try to maintain where I am - or keep trying to lose. I just don't have clarity over this and don't know what options I really have. Annie

Hi, and welcome to the maintenance board where the fun-chums dwell and support each other.  Maintenance is a mystery and a puzzle- is for me anyway, and I am trying to work it out myself.  I originally set my goal at 150 with a 5 pound swing either way.  I dropped that to 145 with the same swing.  Lately, I've considered trying for 140 as a goal with the 5 pound swing.  Same question as you- (I'm borrowing this advise from another who was wise enough to post it my way)-  How badly do you want it AND how hard are you willing to work to keep it (the lower goal).  There is a sanity issue here, for me, at least.  That is in finding that place where I can live comfortably and maintain my weight.  I think I can lose the few extra pounds, but at what cost?  If keeping those pounds off makes my life a miserable hell, whats the difference from when I was obsessing over my fat, miserable weight?  I guess I'm rambling about balance...  It sounds from your post that you have already overcome a great metabolic battle- Congratulations! and well done you.  Should you try to lose more?  Don't know- your willingness and body will come in agreement as you continue the journey (at least that's what I'm hoping for me)  Should you maintain what loss you have made?  Absolutely!!!  We're here to encourage and support- stop by anytime!  Bonnie

Bonnie, you are my hero for posting for me and also for your very helpful comments.  I think you are a wise woman and I will think long and hard about what you have said.  And that said - you have done a rockin' job yourself!

Annie

First Anne. I want to congratulate you for pulling back and making that critical correction in the direction your weight was going. Even though I was a 600 calorie a day girl during weight loss, I can't imagine going back to that this far out so I commend you for taking that daunting task on.  

As Bonnie said, it really does come down to what you are willing to do to hit and maintain a lower weight.  Realistically with your endocrine issues, and with nowhere else for you to go with your calories, (for which you've had to give up exercising), I guess it all comes down to how comfortable you are with continuing at such a low calorie level , combined with how quickly you are losing weight at that intake. 

The good news here is that you are back in control and the decisions are yours to make.  Take care.  Stick around here if you think that might be helpful. Personally. I don't find the general forums all that informative when it comes to dealing with the realities of maintenance, but maybe that's just my experience.  

Anne,

I'm no expert at maintenance myself, having fallen flat on my face with a substantial regain while my inner fat girl did her best to convince me I could learn to enjoy sugar in moderation.  She's a vicious liar, and I'm working on getting back to goal, VERY slowly.  Sigh...

Obviously you have a much bigger challenge with your endocrine issues, but I wonder if prioritizing low-cal over exercise isn't counter-productive.  Yes, I know the "starvation mode" issue is widely regarded as a myth, and I agree, but I do think that given the opportunity, your body will cannibalize muscle over fat when you're eating at a deficit.  If you can nudge your balance back in the direction of slightly higher calories that you burn off with exercise, you may be able to end up with the same net intake and build / retain muscle, keeping your base metabolism higher.  Or can you work on strength training options that are less demanding of energy level? 

your comments make good sense and I appreciate them.  I would say the "slow down" in exercise has been a set back for me.  I think the real solution for me (and probably most people) is finding that elusive balance between calories and burning them.  I will most likely do some form of what you suggest in the very near future.  I need more food and I feel better when I move.  

Annie

Hi Linda, thanks for your note.  I do realize I am very uncomfortable at this calorie intake level.  I am doing it temporarily to try to get these pounds off that I gained and would hope for a few more.  However, eating like this, having no endurance for exercise and having a general funk most days is not something I can do very long.  You and Bonnie have given me a lot to think about.

I, too, find the main board a rather useless place for my issues.  I think I may start coming here.

Annie

Sorry to hear about your issues - I'm curious what you are eating?  What's a typical day of food look like?

Hi Tom,

I eat nearly the same every day.  This is only what I have been doing this past month while back in weight loss mode.  I am not a huge meat eater.  I tend toward vegetarian and was vegan for about a year before surgery.  When I was first post-op and food didn't matter to me, I was able to eat more dense protein.  Now it tends to repulse me.  Rather than make me feel full longer, I find I feel an odd sense of dis-satisfaction after eating meat.  So this is what I eat:

meal 1 - a cup of 1% fat cottage cheese 

meal 2 - egg whites w/ laughing cow cheese OR a protein shake

meal 3 - 6 oz (80 cal) greek yogurt with 1/3 cup blueberries

meal 4 - some sort of meat - usually chicken.  3-4 oz. (usually 3) and 4-5 pieces of raw broccoli

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Annie