Question:
Excessive eating or fast metabolism?

Background: I had surgery Jan 2002. I'm almost 2 years post op. I started out at 261 size 26 and now I'm 135 size 4. I have maintained the same weight (up and down maybe 3 lbs) over the last year. I have eaten the way I am eating for at least a year. I still dump bad on sugar (I avoid it like the plague) and too much fat. Here's my question... I feel like I eat ALL DAY long. Literally. For example, it's just 2pm today and here's what I've eaten: whole peanut butter & jelly sandwich, one large croissant, 1/2 a large apple, 2 sugar-free small peppermint patties, 3/4 cup homemade macaroni w/real cheese, 1 cornbread muffin and 5 diet cokes. I'll continue to eat a few snacks and dinner tonight. I have eaten this way for the last year. I don't gain weight and I don't lose weight. I know this for sure because #1 my clothes fit perfectly, and #2 I'm a scale whore and weigh myself at least ONCE a day. I'm sure I'll be bashed for eating carbs. I have a few days where I do eat mostly carbs, but then I have days where I eat almost just protein. Am I screwing this surgery up? Am I failing? Or has my metabolism just kicked into overdrive and burns this stuff off like crazy? Am I alone here? Does anyone else do this or am I just nuts?    — Goldilauxx B. (posted on October 24, 2003)

October 24, 2003
Do you know how envious people are going to be reading what you eat in a day and staying a size 4??! How can you even ask or think that you are a failure?? I am a month after you post-op and while I do snack alot and seem to maintain a size 10, I can't imagine eating all that and staying a size 4. Definitely not the norm...I'm wondering if you di eat sugar would it be the same? Will it last? Who knows, but as long as you are maintaining, taking your vitamins, your labs are fine and you weigh daily, don't worry about it. Its working for you.
   — Cindy R.

October 24, 2003
I don't think you have ANY reason to worry... Some people just become lucky in that they can eat whatever and not gain and maintain.... I think it's wise that you keep an eye on it.. And from the sounds of it you'd do the right thing if you happen to start to gain weight... My best friend is 3 yrs out and can eat whatever and in pretty good size amounts and maintains her weight.. She started at 290 and is now 155... Also, I read that if you start out as a "lightweight" or only needing to lose 100-150lbs those people tend to have to actually consume more not to go UNDERweight..... Don't stress! Take Care
   — baybekmbrly

October 24, 2003
Cyndie, I am the same way. Only, I don't dump on sugar unless I eat a huge amount of it. I am two years post op, I weight 130lbs and have for the last year. I eat constantly, and have for the last year..lol. I have actually tried to curb it before and lost 10lbs. in only a few days. Thats not what I want!!! I hate eating now, I have ever since the surgery, I have to force myself to eat. But unless I want to lose more weight, I have to. I have always thought it was because I was only 265 when I had surgery, about the same as you. Who knows.
   — RebeccaP

October 24, 2003
Wow. I feel better now about those ten Hershey's kisses I just Hoovered. ;-P <P>I'm about 17 months post-op, and started out and ended up about where you did. I also eat more now than I thought I would get away with. I don't think I've blown the surgery, but I also don't believe I'll continue to "get away with" eating as much crap as I do these days, not indefinitely, anyway. But, it's hard to motivate myself to do better, because my weight stays the same. I know I'm not "being good" compared to my early, relatively angelic post-op phase, but I'm not exactly the pre-op devil I once was either.<P>I think as long as we stay near the scale, remain aware of what we're doing (and what we might have to do to "undo" it), and are prepared to hunker down if things go south (north, actually, if we're talking scale), we'll be okay. I still do protein first and I still exercise, and I'm thinking, maybe those things are still carrying me through all the peripheral (but scary) stuff going on in between, nutritionwise. I dunno, but time will tell.
   — Suzy C.

October 24, 2003
My question to you is this... if you ate 3 square meals, would you lose weight? If you need to eat to maintain then you gotta do it. I would find out first if you are eating too much. And the only way to do that is to eat 3 square meals and see if you can't maintain. Also, and this is a big also, are you exercising? I can eat way more on days I exercise (I am only 4mos out!). And finally, as much as you think you ate, you probably have only eaten about 1000-1200 calories. You add dinner, you have 1600. That's maintenance level.
   — mrsmyranow

October 24, 2003
I know how you feel. I sometimes think that I am eating constantly, but I maintain at 120-123 (size 6). I weigh every day and pray that it doesn't change. I do eat mainly protein and avoid white carbs, exercise 5 days a week and drink lots of water. I tried eating "normally" and felt faint and lost weight, so I guess it is a good thing and the way you and I are supposed to eat.
   — Penny D.

October 25, 2003
I am 6 years post. My surgeon has told me and his patients 5 small meals a day and we can eat snacks in between. So what I saw in your post was not to much for being 2 years post. You are maintaing and doing well so be happy about that. I would get rid of the scale though. It can make you a slave to it. In all the 6 years I have yet owned a scale. I just wait until I go to the Dr. I judge my weight by my clothes. If my clothes are getting a little to tight I know I need to cut back on some of my snacks. There are days I feel like I am eating all day long. Then there are days where I don't eat hardly anything. I think what you are eating seems fine. Of course breads fill me right up fast. My husband looked at your post and said it looked fine as well. He also said you are a slave to your scales. You are two years out and maintaining. You don't need them anymore get rid of them. Enjoy life. Enjoy the new you.
   — christine M.