Honestly, this could go either way. I react to stress to different situations in different ways. Other times during high-stress situations, I gained weight.
I forsee a continued loss for now, as I am stressed and it kills my grazing. But I think once things settle, I could see a bounce up, because a new set of stresses might offer the opportunity to Graze All The Time. If that doesn't make sense, it will.
I am seven years post roux en y gastric bypass, and maintaining a quite average weight of about 160-165 lbs, and in the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE I am very sedentary. I am currently waiting for exploratory abdominal surgery for a hernia, so I am likely a bit more sedentary than usual and I have been reading even more than usual.
Today, I'm reading about calories, because, it's National Eating Disorders Week.
I read yesterday the suggestion that a person post weight loss surgery should take in 800 calories per day, even in the long term.
It's absolutely normal for an early post op weight loss surgery patient to eat very little, even much less than 800 calories, but NOT AT YEARS POST OP.
I'm not a doctor, nutritionist, but I would definitely consult one if you've found someone that suggest YOU eat 800 calories beyond the first few months post operative-ly.
I curled up and died inside. It could have been the hernia moving, but I died a little more. The average woman requires about that many calories just to Eat, Breathe and Sleep. That's like, starvation. That doesn't even count peristalsis! You're going to shrivel up by using your calories to poop, that is, IF YOU CAN POOP.
A 500 to 800 calorie diet is actually often prescribed for obese people.
It's a very-low-calorie diet, but typically includes a DOCTOR and LIQUID or SOLID, NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED PRODUCTS. There's a reason you see a doctor to follow these plans. Some of you might take in a diet like this for pre-op weight loss, or as your post-op plan. But, it's not forever. These diets are meant to trigger pseudo-starvation. They work.
"Diets of less than 800 calories can lead to numerous complications, including heart arrhythmia's, which could lead to death. Extreme dieters are also at risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low blood pressure and high uric acid, which could lead to gout or kidney stones, she says. Also, losing weight quickly could lead to gallstones and thinning hair because dieters are getting the minimum amount of nutrition, which can affect hair and bone density." - CNN
(This calculator is meant to be an estimate only. Actual calories needed to maintain weight may vary based on muscle mass, activity and a variety of other factors such as illness, pregnancy, etc. If you are obese, your actual caloric needs may be less accurate. This is because a small percentage of fat tissue actually burns calories. The remaining amount of fat tissue does not burn calories. Please keep this in mind when using the calculator.)
By consuming these calories on an average daily basis, you should maintain your weight. However, if you are looking to lose weight, here are some tips:
Most health professionals recommend slow weight loss as the safest and most effective approach. A sensible weight-loss program allows you to lose weight gradually -- about one-half to one pound per week. Gradual weight loss promotes long-term loss of body fat, not just water weight that can be quickly regained.
To lose one pound, a person must burn 3,500 calories more than are consumed (500 calories per day over the course of a week). For example, reducing calories by 300 per day and increasing daily activity to burn off an additional 200 calories should result in a weight loss of one pound per week.
That's the calorie intake I should aim for (assuming I also had a stomach with normal metabolism) to continue being sedentary, and to maintain my current weight. It's nearly right.
And, if I'm maintaining my weight right now, it means, I'm doing "something right." Go me.
If I want to be 160 pounds?
I should basically, generally, not as a rule, but overall... eat 1600 calories.
I'm okay being 160. This is good. I am eating basically on demand and it's working for me right now.
I'd like to be 140 at some point in the future after I have surgery. That means eating 1400 calories. Fine.
If I want to be 80 lbs?
WAIT.
YOU WANT TO BE 80 POUNDS?!
You used to be 350 pounds, or so. We all have had weight loss surgery.
<thud>
Right. You see the dilemma, I should hope.
I do not count calories as a rule, but if I were to go ahead and do it to prove that I hit that level -
"Because, there's no way a WLS person eats that much."
Oh yes I can. Oh yes we DO. And, many post ops can eat much, much more than I do. You just don't pay attention.
I am sure that I eat at least 1200-1800 calories each day. Some days are lower than others, and I am certain that there are days where I go up into the "Normal American Woman range of 2000 calories." Those are the "fast food" days -- or the "out to dinner" days -- or the days that involve highly concentrated calories. Those kind of days aren't often, as I don't go out much, but they do occur.
But, 800 calories? I'd shrivel. 80 lbs here I come.
This is my current typical day -
Coffee +unsweetened soy milk, which I have several times a day = 200 calories total
Smaller meals - 200-300 estimated calories each - a typical portion size for a FULL MEAL for me? A SmartOnes Entree.
1400 calories + any extras = total calories
Why are we promoting 800 calories as a healthy goal for long term post op calorie intake for our peers? I understand the fear of regain. As someone who has already BEEN THERE, I get it entirely. But, dieting is how many of us GOT FAT to begin with, and severe caloric restriction can only damage us further post weight loss surgery.
After your first year post surgery, stop the insanity, would you?
That first year is all about the weight loss, you are forced into a state of starvation, your body overthrows your brain and you lose weight. That's it. You do not have a choice in this matter. But, soon after, you do have a choice.
Choosing to eat at a starvation level is scary business. Please take care of your body.
I haven't been on the scale in at least a week. Last time I stepped on it - I had a near fatal reaction and jumped off. I believe my husband had a similar reaction to his weigh-in because he is currently eating: a banana.
For motivation - I looked at some at-our-lowest-weights photos I have up on Flickr. When I heard one of my kids say, "That isn't you?" I knew it. I'm fat again. When they saw Dad's picture, they said that he's not "pointy anymore." That's special.
It's not just a simple weight gain though, we have both aged considerably in the last five years. The two of us at one year post weight loss surgery were beaming and skinny-ish, at least for a few months.
I got pregnant and lost THAT part, pretty instantaneously. I went from a low of 149 to a high of 210 lbs. There was no Pregnant Glow. (And, for the record, that's bullshit. Pregnant women are puffy and tired. And sometimes a little pukey.)
After the birth'o'baby, I was about 190 pounds. I was able to peel off some of that excess weight gained, and I did see ALMOST my lowest weight again, at least once. I hit a low again in the late summer/early fall of last year, and I saw 152.
But, what has effected me MORE?
Long story short, I started having seizures in January of 2008. (Not getting in to that now, but if you read MM.net you can find it all there.) I was placed on several medications (all that did not work) and finally a medication called Topamax. That, while it didn't stop the seizures, Gave Me A Super Side Effect! Weight loss, and maintenance! And the urge -- to WALK.
Since being removed from that drug, I have consistently regained. Some medications have a side effect profile that includes weight gain, whether it's because I am constantly STARVING, or it's causing me to forget that I've already eaten and grazing all day long. (I vote both.) But -- the drug stopped the grand mal seizures.
It doesn't help that I also have reactive hypoglycemia since roux en y gastric bypass, which can cause insatiable hunger to maintain decent blood sugar levels. When I tank out --- I am eating wallpaper and shredding into cracker packets.
Whether or not the blood sugar and seizures are related -- I have no idea. But, the side effect has been weight gain, and in any situation, it's NOT what I want to have continue.
I guess what I am saying to YOU is -- I believe there ARE reasons for weight regain aside from just shoving too much down the pie hole. (WHICH I COMPLETELY ADMIT THAT I DO.) I feel that regain can be emphasized by other issues, like medication, hypoglycemia, injury, dietary issues, etc. For me, it's a combination, and something I will have to deal with -- FOREVER -- or until I find a cure. (Laughable.)
For someone like my husband -- who is also dealing with a regain -- it's simpler. He eats too much of the wrong type of food. His calories taken in are simply too high. To lose weight, he just cuts out the excess and moves on. It seems simpler, and usually works immediately in his favor.
Overall -- I feel that we have been pretty successful by maintain a significant amount of weight loss, however seeing enough of a gain to realize that it's easy to keep creeping UP is terrifying.
At this stage -- nearly six years post-op, we can both eat regular sized meals, and trying not to eat 6-8 of them a day? Is HARD. Hunger happens! I never, ever thought it would be possible to eat in quantity when I first had surgery. In fact, had I known it would be realistic to eat a meal again? I might have skipped that whole last supper thing -- and the food mourning!
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