Question:
I havent lost a pound in 2 months... :-(

I will be 1 year post rny on 10-23-09. I have lost 125lb but I am still 30lb from my goal weight. I havent lost a single pound in 2 months... One thing that has changed for me is college started, I work full time and go to class full time. Also, I feel as though I can eat more than I should be able too as well as I eat the wrong foods due to my hectic and exhausting schedule. I realize I need a change, I need help to get back on track. I would like to start a food journal but HOW MANY CALORIES SHOULD I BE EATING? Carbs, Protein etc. (I am 5'9", 215lb, female, 22yr old) I do not have a nut and I have had no follow up appts with my surgeon. I feel as though I had surgery and got kicked out the door. I dont want to ruin this gift I have been given, I just need help getting on the right path again. Please help me, do not yell or discourage me, I am just in search of guidance please. thank you!!    — LauraMarie (posted on October 20, 2009)

October 20, 2009
It's good that you reached out for help on this site. Try Googling Bariatric Support Groups in your area, and make the time to get involved in them. You are overloading yourself with school and work; and need to re-evaluate your priorities. Hopefully you'll move your health back to the top of the list. Be kinder to yourself -- a full class load and full time work is unreasonable. God bless!
   — Janell C.

October 20, 2009
It's sad if your Doc didn't give you any follow up visits after your surgery. How could you be successful without any support? That would be hard to do. Sometimes I feel like I got kicked out the door and I have had follow up visits. Anyway...you should be eating about 1200 calories per day and writing down what you eat so you can keep track of it. Get at least 65 ounces of protein in first, followed by fruits veggies and then some carbs. Also drink your 64 ounces of water daily. I know your life is busy, but it's so important to TRACK your food. We can all support you here, but you definitely need a support group. If you can find nothing in your area I would go to Weight Watchers meetings, but follow your own plan. Or try to find an online support group. Good luck and keep us all posted about how your are doing.
   — katiecakes

October 20, 2009
First of all congrats on your weight loss so far!!! You should be proud of yourself! We are actually in the same boat. (kinda) I will be 1 yr post op rny 10/22/09. I unfortunately have further to go to goal than you. I am only 5 feet 5 inches and currently weigh 232 but I feel fantastic because I weighed 342 the day of my surgery! I will get to my goal and so will you. Lately I've been wondering if I'm eating more than I should be able to. I plan to contact my nut. Is there ANY way u can get 1? As for the food journal I do keep one because for a min I felt I had a problem with grazing. My journal was not so much to count calories, it was more to see what time I was eating, what I was eating and the amount. I've stopped the grazing but I still keep the journal. Everything I eat goes in it. If I'm away from home and eat I put it in my cell until I can get home to write it down. It helps me be accountable so if I make a bad choice......it's right there in black and white to see and I try not to do it again. (TRY lol) It's just an excel spreadsheet I can send it to you if you want or u can go online and there are tons of them u can print out or even do online. I don't eat many simple carbs at all. No chips, rice, pasta I avoid them as much as I can because personally I feel they are SO counterproductive to our weight loss. I know u are busy but u may need to plan ahead for meals and snacks. Take your food WITH you. Its harder to make a bad choice if you've prepared it yourself and KNOW it's good for you. I won't even go to the mall without some type of protein or fruit. Take 1 day and cook at home for the week if you can. Then put them in little bowls in the fridge or freezer. Grab one on your way out the door. Put it in one of those insulated lunch bags. Have fresh fruit in your bag. U can eat that walking from 1 class to another. Protein drinks-measure out your powder in a small snack bag and mix it when u get ready 4 it or carry RTD's with you. Our body doesn't know if we drank that protein or chewed it but protein keeps you full longer than simple carbs which just make u want MORE carbs. Stay away from vending machines there's rarely anything good for us in there. Do you exercise? That's very important too. Even if only for 30 mins u need some type of cardio. I have great videos I'll do right @ home because gyms aren't my thing. I also do water aerobics @ the park district, I'm learning to swim, and have a small group class twice a week. I know u don't have time for all that but make time for something if you're not working out. That alone should start your loss again. I'm sorry I've written a book! (and still have more to say!!) I can TOTALLY relate to you lol I don't have all the answers just trying to share what's working for me. Mainly you've gotta bring your meals and snacks with so u can stop choosing bad foods. If you want add me as a friend and you can also email me @ [email protected] God bless and continued success!!
   — a_voluptuous_one

October 20, 2009
Congrats on the weight loss. I understand what you are saying about losing. I am 10 months out and I have only lost 3 pounds in the last 2 months and I know how discouraging that is. Do try to find a support group. I know you have a hectic schedule and I understand that also. I am working over 80 hours a week between 3 jobs I have. Food journaling is a great idea. If you want to use online journaling there are tons to choose from. I was told I should be eating between 1000 to 1200 calories. Get at least 60 grams of protein. I was told not to worry about anything else because we shouldn't be eating a lot of carbs of fat as that can cause dumping. I spoke with the counselor the other night about my not losing and he said that protein needs to be the number 1 thing because if you don't eat protein, you won't lose weight. Also, getting exercise in. That is one thing I haven't been doing lately. Before, I would walk a mile before lunch and I have even quit doing that. I am going to start that back up. I have 45 minutes for lunch and walk the mile in about 15-20 minutes. That still gives me plenty of time to eat since I can't eat a lot anyway. Just try to get any activity in that would be considered exercise. Just one other thought that came from the counselor. He said sometimes we stand in our own way of progress and we jut need to move out of our own way. I have really been trying to think about that in decisions I make. Perhaps that will also help. Good luck and keep me posted how it is going.
   — Dawn A.

October 21, 2009
Hi there. Well, first of all I would certainly hope that no one on this website would get on here and yell at you or say something discouraging. None of us are perfect and we should all be on here all here to uplift and encourage each other. I had the VSG surgery in June of 2008. I have lost 75 pounds and want to lose at least 20 more but have been at a stand still for several months now. I basically eat very healthy, cheat a little every now and then with half a hamburger or something like that. I've stayed pretty true to my diet. Of course your schedule and hectic lifestyle is going to effect the food choices you make cause I'm sure you are always in a hurry or with friends who eat just about anything. I understand that this makes it tough for you but try to keep your goals in mind and the reason why you had your surgery in the first place. Trust me, I know how easy it is to slip back into the pattern of eating like I used to. Especially considering everyone around me it's like that. I recently had to discipline myself from the bad habits I had allowed myself to get into again. I asked advice from others here who had the same surgery as me and were further out. I'm not sure how many calories you should be eating but I do know how important it is to do your very best to think before you make your food choices. Just take one day at a time, one meal at a time and ask yourself before you choose what you are about to eat....Is this healthy for me???? It's not just about our weight...it's about our health. I know I would eat the wrong things and then feel guilty which only depresses you and makes you want to eat more. So, I have found that we are our own worst enemy. You can do this. You are strong. You made the decision to have the surgery because you cared enough about yourself and you wanted to be healthy and look good. At least you are maintaining and not gaining at this point. Just be careful and don't let your food choices start ruling you. There are many people on here who will encourage you and give you good advice. The best advice is within yourself. Make wise choices for you. Try to get friends to eat somewhere that may have grilled chicken sandwiches available....vegetable pizza....I have found that if I can still go out to eat with friends or when my schedule is hectic, I can choose options that are similar to what others are having but it's a healthier alternative for me. I eat baked chips rather than fried.....sugar free, fat free pie that I make at home....etc....there are lots of choices out there for us we just have to discover them. I took the path of if I'm craving something, I find an alternative choice that is close but won't blow my diet. I used to sit and eat a whole bag of Nacho flavored Doritos...I made an alternative choice to try Quaker rice cakes that were flavored like nacho cheese. It worked. I can eat a couple of those and the craving is taken care of and I haven't blown my diet. If I crave sweets...for instance pie or cake? Or something chocolate. I make a killer pie that is reduced fat graham cracker crust (Keebler) whip up 1 box of the sugar free/fat free instant Jello pudding topped off with fat free cool whip. No one in my family believed it was fat free and sugar free....It takes 5 minutes to put it together. So my advice is to try this route...try thinking of things you crave or you tend to go for and find an alternative that is close but not fattening. It works for me and I think that is the key. Finding what works for you. You can do this!!!! It matters to you or you wouldn't be on here asking for advice so, you will find a way to be successful!!!! Good luck to you and God Bless.
   — Jodi L.

October 22, 2009
I always say the same thing to people that are losing weight by looking at the scale and it is this: YOu might be losing inches and not pounds. Inches don't show up as a lose on the scale. But you can measure yourself weekly to see if that is case. Or a change in how your clothes fit will be a clue. A lose doesn't always have to be seen on the scale for it to happen. I don't know why the inches melt away and don't show. I can't remember that part. But, it is pretty crazy in college anyway, and to try to journal your food would drive you crazy. So, I suggest each Sunday you sit down for about an hour and try to plan your menu for the week. You should be eating between 800-1000 calories for post op one year. Most of your plate should be protein (70% protein, 20% carbs, 10% fat) That way, if it is planned you won't have the reason to eat crap, it will be on your menu and you will know what to eat and even what time. Eating on the "run" as you will, you cause you to make bad food choices. Hope you can find this helps you.
   — Kristy

October 22, 2009
Good answers. About a month ago I started using Nutrimirror.com - a free journaling tool on line and I love it. I am 9 months out and have lost about 120 have 80 more to go to where I really want to be - will settle with 50 more - but it has been going very slow for me too, but at least on this food journal I can see what is the problem. I consistentl eat between 1100 and 1200 calories. I know I am not drinking enough water- so I am trying to up that. Also I eat too much cheese to get my protein and that has so much fat and sodium, even the low fat kind. The journal said I was not getting in enough vitmain c (it tells you what you are doing wrong). SO I started eating one bell pepper a day - which by the way has more vitamin C than oranges. I just love that journaling tool. Basicaly I am averaging 1.5 pounds, sometimes 2 pounds a week - and I will agree it is frustrating. Thanks for all the good answers..
   — patcas

October 29, 2009
plateau!!! that is what i think it is! I was told that you just go on a protien drink for 2 days and that you will start lossing again. Atkins is great. Drink alot of water! or vitamn drinks
   — jlw_life