8 months post op - very slow weightloss

[Xraychik81]

Hi all!
I am inquiring to see if anyone else has had suck a slow weightloss. I'm 8 months out from gastric sleeve with dr almanza and I've only lost 40 lbs. I'm working out 3 days a week since about 4 weeks out from surgery. I am able to eat almost everything and I do kinda graze throughout the day. I am still trying to get 64oz of water in but haven't made that yet. I do not drink soda, I eat pretty darn healthy but I feel I may be eating way too much. I'm always hungry it seems like, even when I eat a lot of protein. I need advice if anyone can help and maybe encourage me that my weightloss isn't complete. I still have at least 20lns to lose and have been at the same weight for 3 months. Thanks!

[RehabNurse]

I was 218 on the day of my surgery, and at the 6-month point I weighed 164.5, which represents a loss of 53.5 pounds in that 6-month period.

I have not been a fast loser (and knew I wouldn't be), but every pound lost has gotten me closer to my goal. I am now 13 pounds away from my goal weight and was sleeved approximately 10 months ago. For me, the maintenance process will be far more challenging than the weight loss phase.

Other members of this forum have sped up their losses by tweaking the essentials of protein, hydration, supplementation and exercise to conjure up a plan tailor-made for them, so you might want to tweak your diet and water to see if anything changes.

We must keep in mind that this is our personal marathon, and during the length of the race, we can alter the process to see if good things will arise. Good luck to you!

[Belle2]

I wonder if the little bit of grazing is slowing your weight loss. I know my surgeon and dietician was very adamant about not eating anything in-between meals. See if that makes a difference.

[usarmy]

Yes, I have.

[usarmy]

Well said. Thank you

[Sandra3]

Hi Jessica,


Last week I saw my surgeon and nut, they both said that I should not keep six meals after the first month, and usually I had only 4.

My sleeve was January 20 so I'm far away from being at your stage, but from what you are describing, I agree with Belle2. You should try to keep your food intake under control, have 3 meals 2 snacks maximum, and do your best to track your food (and try to drink more! I know it's hard...). Because too much protein is too much calories too...may be you could try to have more vegan protein (less calories) like tofu, bean etc...or even more veggies. Fiber are good for weight loss.

I also see that you were not a heavy weight from the start, so it might also be a reason why you didn't lose faster.

Good luck and take care

[Ann2]

If you're grazing -- nibbling on the kinds of foods people usually nibble on (high-carb, low-protein, unnutritious foods) -- you're not maximizing your opportunity to lose weight easily post-op.

I don't mean for this to sound mean, but it does seem from the language you used in your initial post that you really don't know how much you're eating or how much protein you're really eating. You could be eating 800 calories a day -- or 1500 calories a day. You could be eating 30 grams of protein a day or 80 grams of protein a day.

Regarding your hunger -- the more you graze on slider foods -- chips, pretzels, cookies, sweets, even nuts for some people -- the hungrier you will feel. Those foods pass through your stomach so fast that they don't invite any restriction (put another way, there's no way they can "fill up" even your smaller stomach). And when they're gone, what's left in your stomach is the extra stomach acid (mimicking hunger) that eating those slider foods stimulated. And there you are -- not full and hungry. So you graze more. Rinse and repeat.

Clearly, you're in the "eat whatever I want" camp. But in your shoes I would seriously, seriously, seriously start tracking my food (at least for a couple of weeks) to learn what and how much you're actually eating. And you should probably actually measure / weigh what you're eating. It's possible your estimation / guessing skills don't match what you're really eating.

Final comment -- just because you CAN eat something does NOT mean you SHOULD eat it -- either too much or (during the weight-losing phases) what you eat.

That's my two cents' worth.

P.S. Drink more water.

[Meagan]

Agree with Ann. We all had surgery the same day, and I was amazed at what you were putting down the first week. I couldn't /wouldn't do that for 6 weeks. Just bc u can, doesn't mean u should. I am now underweight, frantically trying to put back on 10 lbs, lost 70. I track on the my fitness pal app, it's super easy bc u can scan barcodes. Also, dont eat more than 6 ounces, 3x a day. If you eat that in firm protein (like chicken), you won't be hungry. You've "got" to stop and take advantage of the couple more honeymoon weight loss months left, bc after a year, it dramatically slows. Yes, your stomach will be forever smaller, but like others said, GET OFF CARBS. Period. Eat the insides of sandwiches and wraps, not the bread. DON'T snack, drink instead.
Girl, I know you work out, you make me jealous, it's got to be an intake issue. Track that food. You can do this, you and your husband are motivated people! Love ya!

[Pam G]

"eat the insides of sandwiches and wraps" Well said!

[thicknsweet]

Uuuummmm can I just say that your bikini pic is sexy as hell lol? I mean I know you're trying to get down into the 140s but DAMN girl. Meagan and Ann had good advice. Track track track!!

[Meagan]

Thicknsweet, I agree , she "is" super cute in person, even day of surgery, and sweet as can be. I can't wait for an updated pic, even if she's not at her goal, I'm sure she looks great. I love her curves in all the right places.

[kleb42]

Id add a day at the gym and make sure you are hitting your target heart rate to maximize fat burning.
Sit down and eat 3 meals a day...grazing will get you right back where you are started and you will always be hungry.
Im only 6 days out, so I shouldnt give too much advice, but youve done great, just keep going.
Maybe do the 5 day pouch test to reset everything?

[Xraychik81]

Thanks girls! I appreciate the advice.. I'm actually doing the fitness pal.. I'm just not understanding why I haven't lost.. I'm getting under 1500 cals A day and 60 grams of protein plus.. I do sometimes eat carbs but not often at all. I eat grilled meat every night with asparagus and spinach and then bring for lunch the next day. My water intake still really sucks tho. I'm trying. I also updated with a gym pic so u can see my progress. It's in my before and after pics. Thanks again and I promise I'll keep up the tracking and trying to get the water in.

[Kindle]

Drink more water. The actual biochemical process of metabolizing fat requires water. Without it, you can not and will not lose weight. That 64oz is just minimum. I usually get closer to 100oz. Every time you reach for a snack or slip into grazing behavior, stop yourself and drink a 16oz bottle if water instead.

Besides drinking more, try eating more protein (60g is minimum) Quit grazing. Eat different things than you gave been....give your body some variety. And, BTW, 1500 calories is probably fine for maintenance, but probably too much to actually lose with. A lot of people need to stay around 1000-1200 calories to lose.

[RRT]

Hi. I still have to push the protein. My labs are always low in protein and I have had labs that showed I was malnourished. Even losing over 100lbs. still labs coming back I wasn't eating the correct foods! It's a bitch getting in all the protein but it would be very bad if protein is not getting into your system. Your body will eat the muscle you have not the fat. I try to get at least 80 in a day. Low carb high protein has been my mantra since surgery and I have kept the fat off. So.....PROTEIN.
I used to love Quest bars for quick protein(was always raving about them here). Ate on average 2 a day. Then they changed the Quest bar formula(nasty).
Found a new yummy bar. Oh Yeah One bars. 1gr of sugar and 22gr of protein. That's my go to protein when I'm pulling 6 12Hr night shifts at work. Lol.