Question:
I've lost 37 pounds in 2 months. Am I doing anything wrong?

I'm happy with the loss, but it seems like it should be more by now. I'm definitely not a lightweight - I'm 4'9" and started at 333. I lost 19 in the first 2 weeks and only 18 in the last 7. I'm getting all my protein in (80-90 gms)with the help of 2 mini Real Meals shakes a day. I'm eating around 700 calories a day and walking 3 or 4 times a week. My biggest problem is the water, but I can usually get about 50 - 60 ozs. a day. I talked to a nutritionist yesterday and she recommended cutting out one of the shakes. Should I do that or keep doing what I've been? Thanks for your help.    — lstone86 (posted on July 22, 2003)

July 22, 2003
Yes, cut out the shakes. I had the same problem. I didn't lose any weight for 6 weeks but when I cut out the skakes and got my protein from fish,eggs and chesse, then I sarted to lose again. Tuna is good for lunch and snacks.I also added gound beef at two months and that was good also.Hopes this helps.
   — myra J.

July 22, 2003
At 2 months out you should be able to get most of your protein from "real foods." Also, you may try to up your calories a bit to keep your body from going into starvation mode. Too few calories will cause your body to think it is starving and hold onto all your fat for a rainy day. Try small, protien-rich/lower carb meals every few hours. It works for lots of people. Maybe it will work for you, too!
   — ctyst

July 22, 2003
DON'T ditch the shakes. ADD some calories. This will jump start your weight loss.
   — mom2jtx3

July 22, 2003
Yes listen to your doc. Give up one of the shakes that is what i had to do. I drank one shake a day and i did start losing more weight.Good luck
   — chris L.

July 22, 2003
I don't drink the shakes and only have here and there when I was trying different ones. Since I never found any I really liked, I ditched the idea - so I can't comment on whether you should or shouldn't cut them out. HOWEVER, I wanted to agree with a previous poster (Linda B.) who said you should up your calories. At my 3 month appt. I had lost only 48 pounds and man was I depressed! I discovered that by eating more (which I suddenly could during my 3rd month) that my weight-loss increased significantly. By end of 4 months I'd lost over 90 pounds and today is my 1 year anniversary and I've lost 175 pounds! Really, eat more! I'd recommend shooting for between 1000 and 1500 calories a day. Oh and the 60 ounces of water is not bad at all. My nutritionist has me drinking between 50 and 80 (the higher end if I'm out in the heat or I'm very active).
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 22, 2003
(1) Your weight loss is pretty much on track. After the first big month, 10 pounds per month is a pretty typical average loss. I wouldn't assume anything's wrong with your eating plan based on your weight loss because it's going along well so far. :-)<P>(2) If you're going to review your calorie intake ... What's in the 700 calories you're eating? Check the protein to carb gram ratio. If you're eating too many carbs ... and how many is too many varies from person to person ... then it IS time to put more emphasis on protein foods. Try fitday.com for tracking. Personally, I tried to keep my protein gram intake ahead of my carb gram intake while losing weight. Others are far stricter about their carbs than I was, though.<P>(3) You say you're getting 80-90 grams of protein in two shakes? Manufacturers tell us that people with normal tummies don't really absorb more than 30 grams of protein per serving; with our readjusted plumbing, we probably absorb less. Adjust your shakes so you're getting 30 grams per serving; the rest is not being absorbed.<P>(4)Are you adding things to your shakes, like skim milk or fruits? Try to find a shake you like that you can drink with just water (or additives that don't have a lot of carbs and sugars). The purer the shake, the better. I like Proscore 100 Chocolate, but I've heard good things about Chocolate Whey Stack, too.<P>(5) The last thing I'd do is eliminate your protein shakes. At only two months out, I could not have gotten enough protein from food -- not if I wanted my protein grams ahead of my carb grams, which was my formula for weight loss. I needed the shakes to do that. I've been at (or under) goal for over four months now, and I still use two shakes a day to keep my protein well-represented in my diet. Sure I eat protein foods ... but I like my shakes too. I can't understand why any nutritionist with a patient only getting in 700 calories a day would say ... of all the things you're eating ... to eliminate protein shakes. Others want you to "up" your calories (but not with shakes). Why??????? I'll never understand it; there's no logic to it (unless you hate the taste of protein drinks).
   — Suzy C.

July 22, 2003
Original poster here - I just wanted to thank everybody for there responses. I figured I'd get a variety of answers, but I still wanted to get some opinions. And Suzy, in response to your questions, I am getting 60 grams of protein from the 2 shakes and the rest from food, and I only mix them with water. Thanks again for your responses.
   — lstone86