5 Months and eating a lot! Scared to death!!!

[kprun1]

I was sleeved almost 5 months ago. I normally eat around 1300 to 1500 calories a day which it seems a lot! Last week during my monthly cycle I was able to eat 2000 a day and that scared me to death! I haven't lost weight in two weeks actually I gained 1.4 and I am freaking out I won't lose anymore! I am not even half the way it has been relatively slow for me. Anyone with similar experience?

[Letizia81]

You should maybe try the 5 day pouch test to jump start your weight loss

[kprun1]

What exactly is that?

[irishmadness]

"pouch test" imo is a complete waste of time. Bring down your calories and carbs and own the result associated with the scale. If you are eating 2000 calories you have to sit yourself down and mentally own and adjust the game plan. I see no mention of exercise. Hopefully you are putting that work in. Best of luck!

[shrinkinggirl]

I agree with Brian- whether or not you CAN physically eat 2000 calories there is no reason to because you don't need that much. Lower calories, eat more protein, less carbs and drink more water. As we all know, the sleeve is not magic- you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to succeed.

[CentennialMom]

I'm right there with you. I was sleeved on Jun 5th and I'm able to eat more also. As a matter of fact, I was able to eat a whole Taco Bell bean burrito last night for dinner. Granted, that was ALL I could manage, but I've noticed that I can eat more now. My weight loss has been slow and I've noticed that I tend to either gain a little right before my cycle and then a 2Lb loss for 2 straight weeks afterward. So, as long as the scale continues to creep downward, I'm happy.

I try to exercise weekly but the last couple of weeks I've slacked off. So, I know that that is essential to overall weight loss and maintenance. I'm consuming 1000-1300 calories a day. We just have to be more careful with the quality of food that we put in our tummies.

Good luck with your journey....

[cowgirljane]

Don't mean to dogpile, but I concur with what others have said - I imagine most of us "could" eat way more then we do. It isn't a question of how much is it possible to eat, it is more like how can I use this tool to follow the guidelines to maximize the weight loss for my own particular situation.

I know that getting a lot of education, both on my own and from a GOOD Nutritionalist made a big difference for me. Even 10 months out, I still eat with appetizer forks and use a tiny plate. I do get hungry and I do desire food now (as opposed to the several months when I really didn't).

I don't mean to sound so negative, but I have had good results in my opinion, and that has come with watching my food intake, following the rules, increasing my overall activity in addition to working out at the gym. Wish it weren't so, but it is - the weight doesn't come off me just as a result of the surgery. I appparently need all that to lose weight and what the surgery helped me with is taming the insatiable 24/7 hunger so I can make better food choices and reduced the volume of food that I need. Thats it.

I disagree that the pouch test is a waste of time. I have never done it before, but am doing it this week. Not because I am out of control, but rather that I missed my first ever weight loss goal (my 10 month goal, missed by 3 pounds) and I want to get back on track since i am not done losing. I feel that over time I have let creep in too many carbs and this is a way to help me reset. It is serving as a tool to get back to the way I ate in the early days, it is just another way to accomplish that goal. It is not for everyone but I think for some situations, it is useful. this link has more info, plus the blog has links to some interesting short articles - gives you something to think about anyway.
Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

[irishmadness]

The pouch test holds no relevance and if you really read the nonsense you have to question the knowledge of who came up with the diet. You would be better served by milk of magnesia. Cut your carbs and keep a steady level of activity. If you stall ignore the scale for 5-10 days..Don't fall prey to they hype of yet another persons diet.

[Truffles]

The pouch test holds no relevance and if you really read the nonsense you have to question the knowledge of who came up with the diet. You would be better served by milk of magnesia. Cut your carbs and keep a steady level of activity. If you stall ignore the scale for 5-10 days..Don't fall prey to they hype of yet another persons diet.

In a sense you are right if you only look at the physicality of the 5-day pounch test. However, what I think you are failing to recognize is that weight loss/gain is not only composed of the physical. There is a mental/emotional side to it for many people. I think that what the 5-day pouch test accomplishes is resetting the mental aspect. It is a definitive tool that they can point to and use in mentally preparing themselves to examine their caloric intake and correct their behaviour.

If you need a physical analogy, you might look at it as swimming laps in preparation for a swim meet. You and your trainer know that you need to place your arms at a certain angle relative to the surface of the water. The first timed practice lap was well over the allotted time to win. The trainer resets the stopwatch and you dive in with a better understanding of the relative angle your arms need to enter the water. This time, your lap time was better.

[irishmadness]

My thing is this, you waited to have the tool to get things done. If you add yet another thing or tool to try tomorrow you never really own that the issue is up to you to fix. There will always be a new diet or idea to follow. The pouch test is yet another tool that will fix your "problem". What you really need to do is fix the problem for yourself with the clear data before you. So many times I see a "stall" or a not losing weight post and a blind man could tell them why in 5 seconds flat.I have been there and it's emotional to see the numbers not dropping,but you own it and make it happen. Sorry if this comes off as not caring or mean but I find so many are just misleading themselves. They know exactly why they are stalled and need to be accountable.

[Truffles]

My thing is this, you waited to have the tool to get things done. If you add yet another thing or tool to try tomorrow you never really own that the issue is up to you to fix. There will always be a new diet or idea to follow. The pouch test is yet another tool that will fix your "problem". What you really need to do is fix the problem for yourself with the clear data before you. So many times I see a "stall" or a not losing weight post and a blind man could tell them why in 5 seconds flat.I have been there and it's emotional to see the numbers not dropping,but you own it and make it happen. Sorry if this comes off as not caring or mean but I find so many are just misleading themselves. They know exactly why they are stalled and need to be accountable.

Oh, I agree that people need to be accountable to themselves. However, people take different roads to get to the same place.

[kprun1]

Wow thanks for the responses and advices. All of them are true and applicable. I think it could be worth trying the 5 day pouch thing. I have nothing to lose but weight!
In the other hand i realizad i continued dragthing my old stinky thinking about food especially sweet stuff!
I am not alone anymore with this problem THANKS!

[xxtac66]

Kari, I am almost 5 months post-op and have similar concerns. I am stressed out to the max right now with other things and the munchy habits have kicked in. My brain will NOT leave me alone!!! I am going to do the pouch test as well because it's not my body that needs resetting...it's my brain. I am also going to re-read my nutritional guidelines given to me by my surgeon and get my head back in the game. I am doing more exercises which helps with stress relief and I am not giving up hope. I think it is fairly normal to have a relapse period but we can shake it off and get back in the saddle with our weight loss. I am NOT going to be that person who gave up 85% of her stomach to FAIL!!! Not gonna happen!!!

[themouse1960]

I think we all have to do whatever works for ourselves. Whether it be the 5 day pouch test, owning up to whatever we are/aren't doing, seeing a nutritionalist, etc. Do whatever it takes to jump start the loss. I know I will be 1 year out in 2 days and some of my bad habits are rearing their ugly heads. I may take my own advice and go to a counselor. Hang in there all!

[kprun1]

Brigitte you are right! I get it now when they said again and again "it is just a tool". I have been battling this 'disease' almost all my life. So many diets and weight loss programs I can’t count!...still the food addiction is there and it won’t probably go away ever but as I telling myself I am not the same person I was before the surgery! The surgery gave me back the physical capability I had lost and overused over time. I know and I feel it. I need to recommit myself and reset my mind like Sonja was saying. I will try the 5 days mostly for that but also taking myself in a positive way.

Thank you guys I feel I am not alone