Question:
How much should I be eating?

I will be 7 months post-op on March 2. Sometimes I can't seem to eat much at a time, but sometimes I feel like a bottomless pit. How much should I be able to eat at this point? Also I sometimes get in slumps and eat all the wrong things for a few days but for the most part I try to watch what I eat and I try to excercise 5 days a week. I usually do 30-40 minutes on a precor which is cardio and about 3 times a week I do light weight machines to tone. I have only lost 79 lbs. I started at 240 and am down to 161. Shouldn't I have lost more? It seems like I really have to diet and excercise to get any weight off now and then it is very slow. Could this be the point for me where my weightloss is about to stop completely? I'm so frustrated. I want so badly to get to my goal of 135. It sounds like it would be so easy to shed 26 lbs but it seems to be getting darn hard. I have however finally gotten into a size 10 jeans. I was starting to think I would never see anything smaller than a 12. I am so greatful for what I have already lost but want it all off. I guess we are never satified.    — kimber2 (posted on February 28, 2006)

February 28, 2006
Kimberly I am about 7months out also and also want to get down to 135 lbs. I feel the same way as you. My trouble is I am not exercising as I should. Today I ordered the Ab Lounger XL. I can't wait until it comes in so I can excerise at home easilier. I am now down 91 lbs but it felt like I would not lose for the longest and then this past month I lost 10 lbs.! Don't give up you can do it! Laural 313, 292, 201, 135
   — Laural D.

February 28, 2006
First of losing 70 lbs in 7 months is awesome, so slow down & step back & say to yourself, I guess I am right. 2nd, you were not that heavy to start with, the bigger you are, the faster you lose. Everyone is different in how they lose weight. If you are not eating mostly protein & staying away from those carbs, & dirinking that 60-80 oz. of water a day, your weight loss will slow. I doubt that you are done, your body is trying to catch up to the rapid weight loss. Hang in there do not panic, stay off that scale for a week or 2 than weigh & wow, you should have dropped some more. It will slow down & it does get harder as you approach the year. This is not always easy, you have to work at it the rest of your life & choose healthy foods. or it will not work & you will not keep it off. Marilyn, the Bearlady
   — Marilyn C.

March 1, 2006
First off let me congratulate you on your 79lb. loss! I am 16 months out, total loss of only 89lbs. and have been going through some of the same things as you are and sometimes I feel like I am a failure! I had my surgery on October 19, 2004 and started at 255lbs. I am only down to 166 lbs. and wonder each and every day if I will ever make it to 150 lbs. much less the awesome goal of 135 lbs. I also feel like sometimes I can't eat much at all and sometimes my pouch is a bottomless pit too! I am still in a size 12 and wonder if I will ever see anything smaller than that. I just have to remember that a size 12 is much better than the size 22/24 that I used to wear! I know it's really hard and gets so frustrating at times but we have to just keep doing the best we can and hope that the rest of the weight will eventually come off and if not then I guess that's where our bodies were meant to be! :) I would love to correspond with you if you would like to....my email is [email protected] if you would like to chat. Good luck to you, drink your water and don't give up! :) Destrie
   — DestrieLea

March 1, 2006
Congrats on the 79 lbs! You are doing great. I am 6 1/2 months out and I too feel I can eat too much at times, but then other times I get full easily. I keep track of what I eat and count EVERYTHING. When I have ate the correct amount I stop. Don't know if I am different than others, but I really haven't gotten my hunger back yet. I can stop and not "crave" anything. Guess I'm lucky. I look at the % of weight loss per week, not so much the pounds. I have been losing between 1 to 1.5% of my weight per week.
   — Jerry S.

March 3, 2006
79 pounds in seven months works out to over ten pounds per month average, so you are doing well! It would be better for you to not eat stuff you should not, except occassionally as a treat. It takes time! I am a year out, and have not reached my goal, either!
   — Novashannon