Question:
Hi, I am 4 mos out with gastric bypass. I lost total ovr 120lbs in a very short time

I have been exercising like crazy . I am very happy with the result. Sometimes twice a week i do eat the following items: couple spoons of peanut butter , around 8-9 nuts like almonds/ peanuts/ cashews . Once every couple of weeks couple i have one or two cheat meals. But whenever i do eat above things I am always paranoid of gaining weight back. I watch what i eat and in a very small portions. But still I go nuts about my weight coming back on me. Can anybody help me with this ? Also, i feel dizziness after i sit at one place for a long time and suddenly get up, I dont know why? My bloodpressure is fine and I consume over a gallon of water every day and around 80g protein everyday. FYI, i consume max around 900 calories and burn around 500c in the gym everyday in my routine. So does that mean my calories are too less ? Thanks alot in advance    — mrjack (posted on August 7, 2007)

August 7, 2007
YOU ARE AMAZING AND AN INSPIRATION, What commitment to the lifestyle change you have. I had lap band on 6/18/07 and have lost 30. I know LB surgery is slower than by pass - but I should be exercising like you. Talk to your surgeion about the dizziness. it may or may not be related. Carlotta
   — CDJ

August 7, 2007
We are all so paranoid about weight gain. But we all have to eat in the real world too. If you are eating your 'cheat' meals in small portions and getting in the vitamins and protein AND only do it occasionally I don't see how it is cheating. I would think the dizziness is just from rapid weight loss and all the humongous body changes but have you had your blood profile checked just in case? Sounds like I want to be just like you at 4 mos. Christine
   — Christine M.

August 7, 2007
Jack jack -- BIG UPS -- keep up the good work. The dizziness could be from lack of vitamin D. I get dizzy too -- mostly in the morning and when that happens I increase my Vitamin D intake and that seems to help the dizziness dissipate. I take about 800 IU of Vitamin D.
   — the7thdean

August 7, 2007
Jack- Congrats on the great weight loss! Your food s sound okay, my concern is the dizziness. If you are sure it isn't dehydration go have blood work done. I was getting dizzy and even blacked out a couple times when I go from sitting/laying to standing. I finally got checked after I passed out and bounced my head off the door frame and the floor. My blood pressure was 114/74 but during testing found that when I stood up it bottomed out to 80/60. They found my potassium was to low. Was told it was because I lost so much so quick and once my body caught up I would be fine. I was put on a med that has helped quite a bit. Hope you get your answers, Happy Weight Loss!!
   — Lost4Ever

August 7, 2007
900 calories is not enough for a guy exercising like crazy I would check the old blood suagr sounds like a it may be dropping. you should see a dietition to make sure of your intake vs exercise. You need a boost of carbs before you train to prevent the hypoglycemic reaction it can be a bad bad feeling and gastric bypass patients like you and I must be careful and maintain a more constant level.
   — DonnaB.

August 8, 2007
Let me be the old voice of caution-- not of doom and gloom, but rather of what could be. First, let me explain that many of us have great initial results and are motivated to start living a more healthy lifestyle, which should involve regular physical activity. But, what happens is that for some (myself included), we don't always lose some of those old associations with food--- we still look to reward ourselves with food, we still look at certain foods as a "cheat" and sometimes we even trade exercise for food (using food as a sense of entitlement for the hard work and effort of our exercise regime). Also, eventually, your body adjusts to the high protein, highly active lifestyle and starts to conserve more calories. If you don't watch it, this transformation can lead to weight gain. If you are trading exercise for food, at some point, you will catch a cold, experience a sprain or just get busy where you won't have the time, or the energy or the ability to exercise as strenuously as before-- and there is a risk of some re-gain from those factors. That's why with all the support group work I've done, I try to emphasize that making that break with food-- trying to stop using food as a "cheat", or a reward or a motivation will help to maintain and preserve your long-term weight loss. Also, using exercise for cardiovascular health and emotional well-being is a great reason to exercise-- using it to lose weight (for many of us) is not such a great long-term motivator. You are making amazing transformations-- and you certainly deserve much praise-- but, the key to maintaining that long-term success that you also so justly deserve is to start adjusting some of the behaviors you've described regarding your approach to food. On your technical questions, a net caloric intake of 400 cal. is probably too low. Being paranoid about weight gain can be a help, provided it doesn't make you too stressed (which leads, ironically, to stress-eating for some). Peanut butter is a problem food for some of us, particularly because it goes down easily. The dizziness could be anything from salt retention to a chronic ear infection-- you should get that checked by a doctor.
   — SteveColarossi

August 9, 2007
check your blood sugars
   — bderuiter

August 10, 2007
I would also be worried about "over a gallon of water" every day. You may be diluting electrolytes. When was your last lab work done? I would be concerned about potassium, calium and magnesium.
   — Susan M.