Question:
I have reached my goal weight and still losing.

I am increasing my calories, but....I cannot seem to stop the scales from moving slowly downward. I am up to around 1500 calories per day, which my nutritionist had told me was probably where I should try to level out once I'd lost all my weight. I do exercise regularly, three cardio and one weights class per week, and I have a lot more muscle mass than I have ever had in my life before -- I suspect this is what's driving my metabolic rate upward (yay!). But pretty soon I'm going to reach the limit of what my pouch can tolerate, in terms of daily intake. Has anyone had this problem? And how did you handle it?    — Karen I. (posted on October 20, 2002)

October 20, 2002
Hmmmm. Sure hope I end up with your problem. :) Instead of eating much of your calories (which may stretch your pouch) why not DRINK them. Drink high calorie drinks to get you up to the calorie limit you are looking for. Milk shakes, pop or whatever.
   — Danmark

October 20, 2002
Karen: That's so great that you're doing cardio/weight classes. I need to add weight training.... I have a similar predicament but I had a lap DS. I'm 21 months post-op and my weight loss really seemed to kick in at around 13 months post-op. I'm down below my goal (I'm totally 'at goal' according to the Metropolitan Insurance Charts) and still losing. My surgeon told me to eat more (especially sugars - but the DSer doesn't dump on them). I am also supposed to eat smaller meals more frequently. I am still losing -- I'm at 149 at 5'10" (bmi of 21 and falling...). Now, I want to stop losing and maintain. I'm going to add a 'boost' shake mid-morning and try to get some more carbs in to slow the weight loss down... But, I also have to maintain at least 75-80 gms/protein a day (because of my high malapsorption). I just haven't felt like eating much since this summer. Hope you stabilize at your desired weight! :) All the best, (lap ds with gallbladder removal, January 25, 2001, Dr. Gagner, Mt. Sinai/NYC, preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 now: 149 lbs/bmi 21)
   — Teresa N.

October 20, 2002
I wouldnt worry too much. I got to goal fast, went a bit low and then bounced back a few pounds. Be careful of introducing poor food choices at this time. I did for fear I would go too low and now worry about gain. High calorie liquids are a poor choice. Just eat one extra protein meal daily if you really want to stall things.
   — bob-haller

October 20, 2002
Thanks, guys...Teresa, your stats are almost EXACTLY like mine -- I started out at 307, and am now at 162, at 13 months out. I'm the same height you are, too. Wow....separated at birth, or what? :D Bob, that's good advice about the extra protein meal. I really don't want to get back into bad eating habits, and I could see that happening all too easily, I'm afraid. I do eat a good, balanced diet, and I keep track with Nutrawatch, which I've found helpful. Am thinking that instead of my mid-afternoon fruit (I usually have an apple, orange or pear), I might switch to a nonfat decaf latte; and for my night time snack, I might throw in some jerky or something? That should boost the calories and the protein at the same time. Anyway, as usual, this group has come through for me...can't thank you all enough!
   — Karen I.

October 21, 2002
I'd love to have that problem..still 20 away from goal weight and losing very slowly. My recommendation: graze, and graze on carbs. Not the ideal answer especially if your trained not to graze, but you don't want to lose too much below goal and have the opposite problem. I know grazing and carb intake will halt the weight loss fast.
   — Cindy R.

October 21, 2002
I understand how you feel. I've got the same problem as you. I'll be a year out of surgery in a couple of weeks and I weigh 125 as of today. I've never been at this weight but I'm happy. I really don't want to lose anymore and have been trying to increase my calories. I had a tt 2 months ago and have lost 15 pounds since then. Granted, 5 of those pounds was skin but I hadn't been losing the remaining 10 pounds that fast before my tt. I'm grazing and eat whenever I want to. Hopefully, I'll increase my calorie count enough to make it stop soon.
   — Patty H.

October 21, 2002
Unfortunately, our bodies sometimes find their own levels and it can be above our goal as happens with many, and it also can be lower than our goal, as happens with a much smaller number. We have seen several people go through our support group who just lost and lost and got to where they were told to eat anything that they could tolerate to keep from loosing. Remember, becoming Aneroxic is a possibility with this operation. I would recommend following your dr and your dietician's addvise the best you can and what your body is telling you. One of my co-workers had a long spell of over a year of looking wasted, but then eventually started putting on weight. Just be aware and keep your doctor aware and if you still keep loosing, keep your blood levels checked on a regular basis to make sure you are not becoming anemic or your protein levels go to low.
   — Elizabeth K.

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