Question:
I need some advice and help!

First of all....I don't believe in the whole "hibernation syndrome" thing. You know, the theory that if you eat too little, your body will think it is starving itself and stop losing weight? Well...that may be true for some of you...but not me. Unfortuantely. I am 6 months open RNY postop. I have lost 110 pounds. My starting weight was 301, I now weigh 191 lbs. If I eat the way my surgeon and support groups tell me to...nothing happens. The scales will stop moving for weeks. Sometimes...I even gain a pound or two! As soon as I stop eating so much and REALLY start cutting back...I lose again steadily. What sucks, is that I am hungry all the time and feel like I am suffering for every pound that I lose. I can only eat about 400-500 calories a day to lose. If I increase that amount, I don't. To me, the math is simple: EAT MORE and GAIN...DONT EAT and LOSE. I am sad by this, but also determined. I must have a slow metabolism or maybe my body just doesn't require as much food as everyone else's. I dont know. I feel like I am losing slow compared to some people, but I try not to let this bother me. I lost 10 pounds this last month...which seems kind of slow. I try to cut back more to compensate for it, and then the weight loss will start back up again. I also exercise pretty regualrly. I have four small kids, go to college full time, and take some P.E. classes...so I am always busy and moving. What else can I do? Eating more is not my answer. I have proven that theory wrong more than once. Does anyone else expereince this? Meaning, do you have to really watch and count every bite in order to lose? Do you have to be hungry? Is there a way to NOT go through this? Thanks... (open RNY 7/23/02 -110 lbs)    — Shawnie S. (posted on January 26, 2003)

January 26, 2003
Have you had your Thyroid checked out? You might have Hypothyroidism. Also if you are working out then you will be gaining muscle mass which is heavier than fat which might be why you are not losing weight but perhaps you are losing volume. Are your clothes fitting loser etc.... When you go into extremely low calorie intake you will start cannabalizing your muscle mass - which might be the pounds you are losing. Cloth size trumps the scale. Eat and work out and you should do fine. <p> Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
   — John T.

January 26, 2003
hello shawnie, I couldn't agree with you more.. I was on an 8 month platue.. Eating the way the Dr.s and group support suggested .I was exercising everyday also..I cut back on my exercise and i decreased my calories for about a week or two.. Calories were about 500-700. I started to lose weight.. Well i felt like i was starving all the time so once again i increased my food intake and what do you know.. I stopped loosing again..We must be the onlt two people who have experienced this.. I feel like i am hungry all the time.. I was also a slow looser... 19 months out and am now down 100 #'s.. I struggle for every pound.If you find something that works for you please pass it on.. I too need help.. Best wishes.. Sharon Shelman
   — Sharon S.

January 26, 2003
Back in all of my reading and education about trying to lose weight, I remember there's a theory that we can adjust our body's 'setpoint' of where we should be with fat/muscle mass and overall weight. You may, by having so few calories in order to lose pds be actually teaching your body to require this severe starvation mode be kept up. I don't have the specifics, but there's been a lot of work done in this area - and you may need to up your calories and being expending them by very specific hard exercise in order to start retraining your body to allow you to have more calories. Or something in that general area. My fear for you is that yes, you may get to goal on 500 cals a day, but then how do you maintain? That's no way to live. I think it's about focusing on how you're using the calories - and I hate to break it to you, but going to school and taking care of the kids are not intense exercise. And taking 'some' PE classes also probably isn't enough to get your bod to realize you want it to act a certain way. So, now that I've given you vagueness, I'd really suggest you search for good info on setpoints and how to move them. Or talk to a doc that specializes in metabolism - they for sure know what I'm talking about. You may need a very specific program to get your body 'reset' so that after you get to goal you don't gain it back. Good luck
   — Susan F.

January 26, 2003
When is loosing ONE HUNDRED AND TEN POUNDS in ONLY SIX MONTHS not a rousing success????!!!!!!! I honestly don't understand how that isn't absolutely wonderful! And, 10 pounds a month loss, is nothing short of spectacular! C'mon girl-get a grip! Keep up the great work & best wishes in your process.
   — Heather N.

January 26, 2003
To clarify a few issues about the exercise ( I personally feel it is pretty intense)- I get up everyday at 6am, take care of four kids under the age of 7. I clean house, make meals etc, and then head off to go to college full time. When I get there, I probably walk a total of 2-3 miles around campus and up 6 flights of stairs at a brisk pace to get to each class on time. I go to school approx. from 1pm-9pm. I also take Areobic Kickboxing. When I come home, I usually do another 45 min on my treadmill or do an exercise video for step aerobics w/hand weights. This is my daily routine...I really don't think I could do any more exercise without killng myself. :( I am already so tired as it is. My doctor already told me to increase my calories, because he did not feel it was a sufficient amount for the activities I was doing. But then it goes back to if I eat more, I dont lose. :( I appreciate all your advice, please keep it coming. I know I cant be the only one out there dealing with this. Thanks.
   — Shawnie S.

January 26, 2003
I think your weight loss is above average and respectfully think your expectations are way too high. Also it's not just how much we eat but what we eat. If your gaining weight easily, evaluate what your eating during this time. We will always have those fat cells waiting to be filled, but its how we use our "tool" I would suggest for a person that has a slow weight loss and perhaps a weight that doesn't budge (I don't think you fit into that catagory) to be checked for Hypothyroidism and/or insulin resistance. Both can slow the weight loss and medication can help.
   — ZZ S.

January 26, 2003
While I certainly agree that you should have your thyroid checked for Hypothyroidism, I would also suggest you have your adrenal gland checked as well. Many doctors fail to test this without a patient specifically requesting it and this too can slow weight-loss down even with very few calories being consumed. Anyway, I sure wish you continued success and hope you DO find an answer so that you may nurish your body better while you lose :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 30, 2003
Metabolism has a lot to do with how fast or slow you lose weight, along with what and how much you are eating. Eating too much or TOO LITTLE will slow your metabolism down. You should see a dietitician to make sure you are getting adequate (500-700 is NOT enough, esp. with your schedule) calories and from the right sources, along with exercise. Are you drinking enough water, getting enough protein? Good luck.
   — Tanya C.