Nearly 3 yrs out...BOT...and confused

I've recently returned to OH in order to get focused and finally get to goal.  I will be 3 yrs out in April, and aprt from a 2kg regain over Christmas, my weightloss has been excruciatingly slow but continued since surgery.  I still have good restriction and my sleeve works perfectly fine, I still follow protein and drinking rules and havn't got into any really bad habbits.

Short version of why I did not get to goal: severe hypothyroid, PCOS, sleep apnea, fybromyalgia, depression (and 12 months major health issues from medication) plus a fair bit of stress from being full time carer to my husband who has a serious medical condition). 

For the first 18mths I was extremely compliant - sine April last year I was much less compliant diet wise and lost more weight (almost double) what I had in the first 18 months.  In the last six weeks I have started excercising and since Christmas severely curtailed my diet back to under 800 cals/day, did the 5daypouchtest and following all post surgery guidelines, and doing 1.5-2.5hours or more excercise daily. 

Lost 5kg/11lbs so far this year and have stalled (expected) and this is where I am confused.  How different are our bodies 3 years out compared to other 'normal" dieters and also compared to the first year of weight loss surgery?

Is it silly to restrict down to very low calories so far out?  I find it relatively easy to do, but my body *always* freaks and stalls when my intake drops to low (have had to go up to 5 hours excercise daily pre-surgery and that still didn't move the scales:( 

Initially I was hoping that a very low cal diet and heaps of excercise would drop the weight (30-40lbs) in 4-6 months like most people do post surgery.  But - and this is why I am confused - a) Mentally, I am really not happy about having to do this three years out, removing most of my stomach was supposed to stop me having to do any extreme diets again:(
b) I'm older than I was the last 'weightloss campaign I embarked on pre-surgery and I'm finding it too hard to do both VLCD and excercise after only a few short weeks:(
c) if extreme measures arn't going to shift the weight quickly, why shouldn't I just go back to what I was doing last year, higher healthy calories say 1200, limited junk - but still allowing some treats like a normal person?

Three years out and I wish they'd operated on my head not my stomach:(

So apart from the great big whinge (sorry!)  I guess I am just looking for some advice form those that have got BOT years out and got (or getting) back to goal - what are you doing differently now compared to what you did in the first year out?  What are your daily calories and excercise like and is it possible to lead a more normal life with the occasional 'treat" and still loose weight?

Edit to add, part of my confusion follows a phone call to my Dietician who seems to think this far out I need much more good carbs and grains than what I am getting, and less protein which I don't think takes into account my thyroid and PCOS.

Welcome Back to OH!   I'm sorry to hear about all the medical issues you & your husband have had to deal with.  You seem to really be working hard to balance it all. 

I'm sure the replies you get will be varied, since we have all had different surgeries, different doctors and are essentially physically & chemically different.  With that said....I am an RNY GBP 4 1/2 yrs out.  A visit to my surgeon about Revision surgery left me feeling hopeless.  His comments were that revision surgery complications make it too risky (for me) and that unfortunately most WLS patients *****gain weight have a much harder time losing it again.  The meeting was not very encouraging...However, his suggestion was to go back to the initial post-op diet and keep calories between 800 - 1000 calories, but to try to stay closer to 800 calories with 70 g of protein (my requirement).  And of course to exercise my butt off.  All which I am working at. 

Everyone has different requirements and obstacles to overcome, so a one-size fits all approach only works so far.  Some medications can make it much harder to lose weight too, or reacts to certain foods, etc.  Your best bet is to contact your nutritionist and dr. to see what obstacles you may be looking at overcoming and see what advice they may have for you. 

You look like your definitely on the right track. Keep working at it!  Success is sure to come!! 

Hi. Glad to see you here. 
This is really tough... but I also have doubts that your dietitian knows what she is talking about.
IMO - and I am not a medical person, but done enough research- PCOS is associated with syndrome X and insulin resistance.  So, IMO< increasing carbs may make you put on weight and not lose it.  You know your body, so it is up to you to find what works and what does not.

I know that for me carbs = weight gain.  Grains, some fruits, legumes (beans) not only cause my RH (I had RNY) but they also make me really hungry.

But, with as much exercise as you do... I hope the 800 cal is net calories and not total.  That you get more calories and then subtract the calories you burn doing exercise. 

I know that if I get on 800 cal diet - I may initially lose some weight - but after that my body would resent that and I may even gain if I increase the calories to 900.... for a day or 2.

What works for me, almost 4 years post op RNY - is modified Atkins: high proteins (I still malabsorb proteins), low carb (< 50 net carbs - net carbs = carbs -fiber), and mid level of fat...
But I am in more or less maintenance mode.

When I want to lose - I need to trick my body... I need to change how many calories I get per day.  And monitor average. I have to get 1400- 800 cal per day,  with less than 1000 per day average weekly.   

 I think you are on the right track but I would up my proteins and lower my carbs.  I stayed on about 800 calories for the first couple of months but I now and up to 1000 to 1100 a day.  Keep exercising everyday, the weight will come off.  I have lost 66 lbs. in a little over 8 months.  It will be worth it.  I am 3 lbs. from where I was 3.5 years ago and I feel great.

 Hi,

I agree with what everyone said...the trap we fall into is thinking the less calories the more weight we loose.  However, that is not true and if you are working out you need more calories.  Up the protein, eat only complex carbs and mix your workouts up. It's important to do resistance workouts to put on muscle. The more muscle we have the more cals we burn.

Good luck, keep coming here and get the support and encouragement! We know you can do it!!!

Take care,
Kathy

Thankyou for the replies - I have upped my calories to 1100-1200 (actually cycling them a bit) and I am feeling much better than only total 800 calories, plus the scales have shifted ever so slightly downwards).

I'm still wiating for the paperwork form the dietician, but agree that I will keep my protein up and carbs down.  I'm happy with the excercising that I am doing at the moment (and maybe for another 6 months at this level) and don't want to reduce that as it is making such a difference to my body shape and muscle tone, so the extra calories are definitely needed at this stage.