Question:
PLEASE HELP--- 9 months post op

I have been trying to consistantly eat 3 small meals and 2 snacks per day. I am wondering if that is to much since my weight loss has been what I consider to be very slow. My doctor says I'm on track but I'm discouraged. I generally have a protein shake for breakfast, a small portion of meat and veg for lunch, a mini bag of popcorn for a snack a few hours later, meat and veg for dinner and then a fruit cup for a snack before bedtime. Then I walk 2 miles 4x a week. I thought this was an okay menu plan but I have only lost 71 lbs in 9 months. I'm really discouraged and feeling like a failure once again. Can anyone give me some insite of what and how much I should be eating at this point? THANKS    — THE NEW M. (posted on July 24, 2003)

July 24, 2003
It's funny how many different plans for RNY patients there are. I'm still a pre-op until August 4 but in my Dr's plan the forbid snacking and say that it slows the weight loss. It also states to eat all protein first with at least 50% of the meal being protein. Maybe try cutting out the snacking and see if your weight loss speeds up any. I hope this helps.
   — Michele Peck (Warwick now)

July 24, 2003
Well, you aren't as bad as you think. You are a "light-weight" and we lose slower than most heavy weights, although you are doing a pretty good job of losing. If you go to the weight loss planner on this website, you will see that you have lost the amount of weight that someone is expected to lose at 80% of your excess weight - this is good, this is very good. The surgery alone doesn't help us lose 100% of the excess weight (you are working hard to get there!!) Lastly I agree with the other poster. Both my Doc and my dietician say - no snacking - it's a bad habit from when we were fat and can sabotage our weight loss. If we have a snack attack we are told to choose protein, not carbs or sweets. Popcorn is a carb. Another suggestion is that you might want to go back to the beginning and do only protein with minimal carbs for a couple of weeks - and take a few minutes to pat yourself on the back!!!
   — M B.

July 24, 2003
I have listed on my profile what I ate at 4/9/18/24 months out. You can take a look to see what I ate at that time just for grins. I had a few months then when my body actually needed MORE food. I ate/still eat every 3 hours or so. How many calories are you eating? Maybe it's not enough to keep your body going at this point. I started at 800-1000 calories for the first 6 months, then to the 1000-1200 range for 6-9 months, then to 1200-1500 until about 1 1/2 years out. Now I hover around 1800-2000 calories a day at a maintenance level. If your body is not getting what it needs, it will hang onto the weight.<p>Another thing that might help is to define your goals by something other than the fickle scale: Clothing size, percent body fat, or even just how great you feel. My clothing size goal was a 12 (I passed that up and now wear a 6). My percent body fat goal was "normal range for my age" which is 22-27% (I am at 23%). If I had set a weight-related goal according to the insurance charts I might be disappointed since I still weigh 130 pounds at 5'2" instead of 105-115. Instead, I can look at my clothing size, my percent body fat, and my renewed vitality and honestly say I am AT GOAL.
   — ctyst

July 24, 2003
I always eat every three hours or so, too -- I frankly do not see how basic nutritional needs can be met by a WLS patient in just three meals, with no snacks, given the small pouch (I know I still couldn't do that and get in enough nutrition, and I'm almost 14 months out). I don't think you're eating too much. My calorie intakes were also about the same as Cheri's for those same post-op periods of time.<P>Instead of getting even more Spartan with your eating ... and perhaps you should be eating more ... I'd examine your exercise. I think many folks need vigorous exercise to get to the goal they want, which means getting your heart rate up higher than a basic walk will do. If you're physically able to do so, consider swimming, exercise machines, and even jogging a bit. It'll be a new challenge -- easier on your body than it would've been 70 pounds ago -- and it'll give you an accomplishment to focus on besides the scale. (Plus, the more you exercise, the more you can eat ... I feel less deprived as far as food goes, because the exercise lets me eat just a bit more).
   — Suzy C.

July 24, 2003
I don't know what you weigh now, but I'm sure you don't burn calories like you did when you started, so I'm with Suzy on this (no surprise there) you probably need to get more exercise... I'm sure doing something 4X a week is great for maintaining weight.. but you'll have to really get your heart rate up more often and for a good length of time to lose more. You can also keep track of your food each day and see if its really an ok menu plan. You might not be eating enough, or maybe too much... doesn't say how much you eat of those things. Exercise and building muscle to stimulate your metabolism are the keys... for me anyway...
   — Lisa C.

July 24, 2003
I'm with the last two ;) Get your heart going! It sounds like you are not eating enough protein to me- put in a protein bar for the popcorn maybe? You didn't mention your water intake either. I have found that when I let that slide I don't lose as well. If your SURGEON says you on track, listen to him. He knows more about your pouch than any of us ;) Take it easy on yourself, and good luck!
   — kultgirl

July 24, 2003
I agree with the others, don't think your eating enough and you do need to have heart pumping cardio exercise. Only other point-why the heck would you consider 71 pounds in 9 months a failure?? Much too hard on yourself, girl. Thats a perfectly respectable weight loss.
   — Cindy R.