Not Loosing Weight! & Miserable

[ElleMarie]

Boliver, it is 19 days post surgery for you. Are you eating any solid foods? As I recall I didn't any until three weeks post op. 5 day pouch test is great but honestly it shouldn't even be on your plan at this stage.

What type of food are you eating right now? Suture lines need time to heal, it isn't about stretching at this point (it WILL cause stretching issue if you over eat early on) it is about ripping open which is infinitely worse than stretching as it can be life threatening. Docs give instruction during the post op period NOT about losing weight but about healing in the healthiest fashion possible.

If you are off plan, I would schedule an appointment ASAP and see doc and or counselor/nutritionist. We all have issues, it is what brought us to where we are. Now is the time to do what you need to do to heal. Please seek out help to make choices for your health. ((hugs))

[michelleb]

I had my surgery Nov. 2, 2011 - Prior to Surgery I lost 84 lbs on my own through exercise, changing eating habits, and B12 injections.

Date of Surgery I weight 301 lbs
Now: 263 - STUCK!

I don't know what to do, what to change or what not to change... I'm personally sick of seeing everyone on face book who had surgery with me loose and loose weight. I feel like a failure and did I just waste a ton of money for nothing? Seems like only I could screw up weight loss surgery.

I work a demanding position 13 hours a day, behind a desk - Is my sleeve broken or am I?

Can anyone help me?

Can you give us a typical day of eating? How much water etc.

[Dee Leshuz]

What ElleMarie said in post #13, plus-have you had your Resting Metabolic Rate tested (by a hospital or by a device such as the BodyBugg)? Having the raw numbers to work with makes it a lot easier to see what's happening and/or wrong.



ETA

grammargirl, we don't really know why she got to 300 lbs. until she tells us, there may be metabolic issues beyond the usual stuff...I'm pretty good about talking about my own experience b/c that's the one I know the most about.

[grammargirl0309]

I guess for me, just diet and exercise NEVER worked; I couldn't sustain eating 1200 calories. I would get so hungry and binge for days or week, and yo-yo up and down. The sleeve gives me control and will power I never had before. It's EASY to eat less, whereas before it was hell, torture every day. I've had great success, but I work out a lot, and I really think that's key. You HAVE TO move, especially if you're sitting behind a desk and don't have an active job. The sleeve isn't a magic bullet; it's ONE piece of the puzzle. You should feel less hungry and fuller quicker, but if you're not drinking your water, eating mostly protein, counting calories on MOST days, AND working out, the sleeve won't magically make the fat melt away. You still have to work every day. You got to 300 pounds because you overate and probably couldn't control your food intake; I know I couldn't, and I was 202 pounds. Now you have a tool, but you have to use it.

[leilani]

I will say that for me, it WAS a magic bullet. During the first 7 months I lost 85 pounds and for the last 8 months I go from 159 to 162. I never exercised, always ate whatever I wanted. I did not get all my protein or fluids. I was not the ideal patient. My husband and I were actually worried that it wasn't going to stop! Then suddenly, that was it. Done. I have tried to change things up; more fluids, more protein, more calories, less calories. But still no exercise. I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this is maintenance. My body has adapted itself to maintaining my weight ( I am 5'8" and my BMI is 24.2) at the 1100-1200 calories a day that I get. According to all the charts and everything out there, I should be losing weight with that calorie intake. I understand that if I exercise, I would lose. So the charts and bmr and my fitness pal do not take into consideration that our bodies have gone through some great trauma and this is the response. I should be at a maintenance level at 1600 calories not 1200. But there it is, this is where my body is at, and I am getting ok with that.
After writing all this, I realize that I didn't say anything helpful to you, I'm sorry! Someone on here had said that wound this time to expect a stall of up to 6 months then things will start moving again. I hope this is the case for you!

[desertmom]

2 years ago I saw a therapist that gave me normal foods list and portions sizes.Not a diet.I started exercise and I lost 3 pounds every week without fail.Until I lost it again on holiday after losing 60 pounds on 1700 cals a day.

Now for the first 2 months with the sleeve I struggled and struggled.Really eating only between 800 and 900 cals counting carbs and proteins and fats.

Then I stopped.I decided to not count but feel.I dont snack anymore,no water 40 min after food,less water,yes less,only about 1500ml per day.I eat salad,I eat 50 carbs a day and I eat 6 oz of solid protein per day.Thats it.Not counting calories for now.I just dont eat to much and I dont snack anymore. 3 meals a day,thats it.

I have lost more than 15 pounds upto now this month and its not over yet.

Do something different.Just try something different.If you feel you're eating to little eat more.If you are eating to much,eat less.If you snack,try stopping.

I had no expectations of this surgery,I've been disappointed to often.Now I know it works if I work it.But if it slows down again,ok,2 pounds a week is still going down and not up.

Just keep chugging away.I also wanted to lose faster and easier.Took me 2 months to make peace with this and I still dont exercise.

Hope you can make it work as youve had the surgery now.Cant go back,its done.

xxo

[Munchkin]

A lot of the questions raised in this thread is answered by the documentary "Weight of a Nation" by HBO. You can get it for free on Amazon.

When we reduce our calorie intake, our metabolic rate goes down. The body is conserving energy. We have to exercise to bring the metabolic rate back up. 30 mins brisk walk a day is all we need.

We have to reduce calorie to loose weight. Exercise burns so little calories that it is not the main vehicle to loose weight but exercise keeps our metabolic rate up so it helps us loose faster.

And for us who have been obese, our metabolism is broken. We will never be able to consume the same amount of calories as a person (same age, same gender, same height, same weight) who has never been overweight. We typically need about 20% less. If we eat the same amount, we will gain weight.

I can always loose weight on my own. Yo-yo diet for years. I was never able to maintain the weightloss. I hope the sleeve helps me achive this. I also am an emotional binge eater. The sleeve does stop me from eating too much in one setting when I fall for a moment of weakness.

Weightloss journey is hard. No doubt about it. Don't give up. You have made great progress. Keep going.

[Boliver]

Hi Elle Marie,

I don't think I followed my diet plan religiously. I don't overheat but I try to chew on meats like e other day, I had a California roll and a few bites of pork barbecue skewers. I stick to my soft foods 95% of the time but I eat sometimes but not to the extent. I havent lost any from last week and I am also exercising. You think my stomach is already stretched? Also, my nutritionist cleared me on stage 4 soft foods.

[Boliver]

I left a message with my nutritionist so she can call me back.... Thank you all

[grammargirl0309]

I will say that for me, it WAS a magic bullet. During the first 7 months I lost 85 pounds and for the last 8 months I go from 159 to 162. I never exercised, always ate whatever I wanted. I did not get all my protein or fluids. I was not the ideal patient. My husband and I were actually worried that it wasn't going to stop! Then suddenly, that was it. Done. I have tried to change things up; more fluids, more protein, more calories, less calories. But still no exercise. I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this is maintenance. My body has adapted itself to maintaining my weight ( I am 5'8" and my BMI is 24.2) at the 1100-1200 calories a day that I get. According to all the charts and everything out there, I should be losing weight with that calorie intake. I understand that if I exercise, I would lose. So the charts and bmr and my fitness pal do not take into consideration that our bodies have gone through some great trauma and this is the response. I should be at a maintenance level at 1600 calories not 1200. But there it is, this is where my body is at, and I am getting ok with that.
After writing all this, I realize that I didn't say anything helpful to you, I'm sorry! Someone on here had said that wound this time to expect a stall of up to 6 months then things will start moving again. I hope this is the case for you!

Why are you so opposed to exercise? It's not just about the weight loss. It's good for your heart!

[itsmytime]

I always get so frustrated when i read this type of issue. I am not frustrated with you, I'm frustrated FOR you. I, too, would be very disappointed, disillusioned, upset, angry, and feel cheated if I had the sleeve surgery and wasn't losing weight. I cannot for the life of me understand how you cannot be losing much more weight with the amount of calories you are eating. It's unbelievable. I have to agree with the other poster who said that it could be your hormones or thyroid levels. That is just about the only thing that makes sense. Also, trying to eat a little more or a little less depending on your intake to rev things up. You do have to play around a bit to figure out your body. Some people lose more on a few more calories and some people can only lose with minimal intake. It's confusing, I agree. I really hope that you take the advice given and get in for a FULL thryoid panel with t3 t4 and all of it. Also, it could be your hormone levels. Pre-menopausal, post-menopausal, low levels of this or that. It could be so many things. It really could be beyond your control. Don't count yourself out yet. Make sure you are eating protein first and not drinking with meals too, simple things to keep in mind.

I honestly wish the best for you. We are all sleevers here and here to support each other. I know that any of us here would be devastated if our sleeve journeys had been a disappointment. Let us know what happens.

[Cattitude]

I also feel for you OP, I'd be very frustrated. I agree with the poster that said you need a full workup. Also. posting your food intake here could be helpful.

[lgoody36]

I am 10 months out and have lost 60 pounds. I chose to lose slow as I wanted to minimize loose skin. I have friends that have been sleeved. Each of us have individual experiences. Those that workout continue to lose, those that do not have very slow weight loss and stalls. The sleeve itself is not the answer, we also have to do our part. 127 pounds lost is an AMAZING achievement! You should be very proud of yourself. I am sorry your not losing weight as fast as you want but with the determination you had to lose weight before sleeve and with your weight loss after, I am certain you will achieve your weight loss goal! Try not to get discouraged, in the end all will be well. Good Luck to you!!

[cowgirljane]

I too would be frustrated.

I have had very good success with the sleeve, but after a lifetime of yoyoing weight, a part of me is just waiting to start gaining weight again.

I feel that although my losses have been very good - considering how much I exercise, considering how little I eat, i should be losing even more...lol. I have put a big effort in - trying to maximimize that first 6 months or a year when that "window of opportunity" is the best. So, for all my efforts, I am still obese. I am thrilled with my results, don't get me wrong, but it isn't like I am "poof" now skinny. I KNEW that would be the case, I had been well coached by doc and nutritionalist so I think I have had very realistic expectations but there is still a part of me that can't wrap my head around still being fat after losing so much weight.

There is something about "calories in" and "calories out" that don't make sense. I too use myfitnesspal.com and don't lose weight anywhere near as fast as the "math" says i should.

My only conclusion is that the experts don't really know how this all works. Sure, there is a relationship between calories burned/activity level and calories consumed, but it is more complex then it appears on the surface.

I think that expectations are sometimes unrealistically set. You can go on this forum and imagine you might lose 150 in 6months because SOMEBODY had that result. Frankly most people's results are closer to 5-10# a month after the initial loss - I could lose weight that fast on weight watchers. I can regain that fast, or faster, after getting tired of weight watchers too.

What is different for me, and this has been alluded to by other posters - is when I derail and go off plan, the smaller stomach keeps it in check. I am still nervous as heck about long term because I KNOW that people can and do regain after weight loss surgery. It isn't the magic bullet, but it is the magic helper for me, at least so far.

So, you have gotten a lot of good advice here, I think what I would do personally is diligently and honestly journal all food and exercise for a month to really see the patterns. I don't lose weight unless I eat very little. I don't understand it, people around me don't understand it - how is it that i survive on microquantities of food. I think I must have that "starvation gene" and it just doesn't take much to keep me going. I guess this explains why I was 300# but never felt like I ate the enormous quantities of food that you stereotypically think a woman of that weight eats.

[lgoody36]

I read on a site that there were some sleevers had to go back for a second surgery to maximize weight loss when there surgeons initially made there pouches too large..... I don't know how often it has happened but I guess it may be something to look into......