Worries About Weight Loss Stopping

[Roger]

Hello to Everyone,

I am almost two months out now and have dropped from 431 to 358 as of a couple of days ago. Surgery went very well, and I have not had too many "situations" since. I have noticed that I cannot eat eggs without having to make some serious visits to the bathroom within hours afterwards...sad since I loved eggs before. Also, I am starting to really worry about my weight loss slowing down. I have a goal weight of 195 (I'm 6' 2"), and I am losing about about 10 pounds per week. I just can't believe this will keep up.

I only eat chicken out of a can (like Swanson's canned chicken). I can eat about half of a can before feeling full. I've enjoyed a few diet Jello puddings, and I love steamed carrots and green beans. Beyond that, I can still enjoy a mix of V-8 juice and bullion. That's about it. I eat three times a day, and drink as much as I can and when its appropriate.

Does this sound like I'm on the right track? is this kind of what others are doing a couple of months out? I'm sort of worried about returning to "normal" eat (food) since I do not want to stop my weight loss. Any advice from those who have been where I am at this stage? Am I being a bit weird about losing the weight? I do not want to stretch the stomach, etc..

Roger

[niamh]

First off, congratulations on your fantastic loss so far!

The dietary advice I've been given says that returning to normal food is important in order NOT to stretch the stomach. It says if you only stay on semi-solids and soft-solids, then your tummy is more likely to stretch because it's more comfortable and can stretch by degrees. By eating tougher foods that get stuck easier, you are less likely to overeat because you'll notice discomfort.

Having said that, the advice I have also gives a slower regime to solids than many on here - 4 weeks liquids, 4 weeks pureed, 4 weeks soft solids, then back to normal full variety of foods. My surgeon wants a full 12 weeks for healing before putting the staple line under pressure of full solids. He's a pretty cautious guy (which I like), and also tells me he makes the tummy as small as possible, so I guess that's why.

I think your current rate of weight loss will have a lot to do with being at a higher starting weight, and being a man. Having greater overall weight, and a higher percentage of muscle mass than women, means that your resting metabolism - i.e. the amount of calories needed to sustain basic functions, is higher. So eating the same kind of diet as other people post-op who have a lower resting metabolism means you are in greater caloric deficit and need to use up more of your excess weight day to day. I wouldn't panic.

Do you have follow up with your surgeon and nutritionist - I'm sure they'll have lots of good advice if you do!

[aboutime4me]

I woud say you're on the right track and your weight loss is fabulous. It will slow down somewhat at some point, but do not worry. You're a man and you have that in your favor as men drop pounds more quickly than we women. I still eat the chicken in the can and it's good that you get full at half a can. You'll expand your food list as you go along and try other things. As for the eggs, the further away from surgery you might find they don't bother as they do now but one never knows...it could be like that no matter what. Just remember to try for the maximum amount of proteins first and after that the veggies then fruits. I eat very little regular carbs, usually only in the form of a few crackers here and there with soup or tuna fish or the chicken salad. The crackers go down quite easily and I don't want to do that.

Try branching out and eating some other more solid proteins. I tried pork loin roast about 2 months after surgery and it tasted so good and was fine in my sleeve. Have you had regular chicken yet? Also I was good with reduced fat ground beef and ground turkey too. It's funny how little 2 ounces of ground beef looks on a plate.

Good luck and keep experimenting. Let us know how things go along for ya! This is an awesome journey and for the rest of our lives. Enjoy and rock that sleeve to your goal!

[Sunflower]

congrats on great weight loss! I do believe your weight loss will slow down. Mine has slowed considerably and I never exceed 800 calories a day. Your body will adjust to the lower intake of food and exercise. Well done!

[jgilliam1955]

You are doing great! Your body will know when to stop. I wanted to stop at 190 but ended up at 177. The doctor told me I would stop at 180. Enjoy the ride. You deserve it.

[Trustin Sleever]

Hello to Everyone,



Does this sound like I'm on the right track?

Roger

Yes.
Congratulations on the phenomenal progress.

[leesooim]

Congratulations on your progress thus far!

I agree that being a man, you'll most likely be able to lose much more easily and faster than a lot of the women on these forums. However, please DON'T panic when it slows down! Very, very few people maintain losing 10 pounds a week until they hit goal -- it's unreasonable to think that it will happen! Everyone slows down at some point, and while at first it's discouraging, just think that even if you slow down to 1-2 pounds a week of loss, that's still 1-2 pounds more than you were able to lose before I'm pretty sure everyone slows down -- as to when, it varies from person to person. My weight loss slowed way, way down about 6 months out. Good luck!