Ive Always thought Diet = weight Loss......

[Val]

As most of you know Im an older bander...
I have dieted since I was 16 years old and always thought my body works badly..
I shall explain
a few years ago I went to see Dr Ashton a specialist in weight loss etc

I stuck to diet religiously and went to gym 5 days a week..
I did loose 5 stone but as I continued it began to regain he said it was an equation what you eat minus exercise leaves you with a gain or a loss dependant on what caloriess you consume or use up

I also did Cambridge diet for 5 weeks, first week I lost 1 and 1/2 stones then following week I gained back 5 pounds???
I continued for a few more weeks and each week I stood still or gained, can you believe it???

Well now as you know I'm banded the last 2 days have been awful I had food stuck and I have only been on liquids..
Today I thought I would weigh myself the result is the last 2 weeks I have stayed the same..
my question is..
How is this possible when I am on such a strict weight loss program...
Im sure my body is so screwed up I don't loose weight correctly. I thought with a band you would loose 1 or 2 pounds each week, that's all I ask..
so why does this happen..
its so disheartening especially as you feel so in control and doing all the right things

 

[top_kat]

On all diets. Through all methods of weight loss surgery, having stalls and even gains is incredibly common.

Just because we may be consuming less or on liquids etc only, it doesn't necessarily equate to weight loss, and this is why it is often recommended that you are taking measurements of yourself as well as weight as there can be times when your body will change shape but not necessarily lose weight.


My losses slow down for example when I am on liquids and mash and it is only when I am eating "normal" foods that it will tend to kick start on the losses.

There is a theory of something which you may often see referred to as "starvation mode" - now, some people actually dispute that it exists. But its theory can often be used to explain why we may stall or indeed put on.

When we are consuming much reduced calories, our bodies go into a kind of "agh shock!" moment thinking that its not getting enough food and as such, what it then does get it will hang onto for dear life - as such its hanging on to what we are eating and therefore stalls the weight loss or indeed retains what you're eating, adding it to the stores that your body has because the body is fearing a reduction further in food and as such wants to prevent any longer term "starvation"

one of the things that we can do is to shake up the diet. So to have days where you eat more. To shake up the diet to fool the body, so if you limit carbs for ongoing, have a couple of days which are higher in carbs. Up the protein as much as you can.

You will often see people here who say they work to carb/protein limits, I lost a lot of mine following a max 70g carbs minimum 70g protein but even following that, I still had to do the body and diet shake up as it gets used to what fuel it is getting. If it feels its not getting enough then it will hold on to what it is getting just in case its going to be "starved".

Other factors will also come in to play for different people, variations in monthly cycles, water retention. Some people find they lose more if they are working out less than more. Ive done lots of work outs this week, tripled the amount I walk, and yet I know I haven't lost. But, I also know that my shape has changed as a pair of trousers that were uncomfortable a week or so ago, fit comfortably.

One thing try not to focus on weight only. There will be physical changes that happen which aren't reflected on the scales. Take measurements of your body - chest, waist at biggest point, actual waist, hips, thighs, upper arms, necks and keep a regular chart of how these change.

But, it is natural regardless of what diet, surgery, loss programme you will follow that there will be stalls, there will be times we put on. It isn't necessarily that your body deals with dieting differently, its natural for everyone whatever they are following. But the body will hang on to whatever it can when the amount going into the body is much reduced.

Yes it is average that you lose 1-2lbs with a band, but its still common to have stalls and to put on. When you look at a wider picture if you've lost way over that amount, with weeks perhaps if you've lost 3, 5 or 6+lbs then it does tend to even itself out so it can help to look over a longer period of time.

As you go on over the months, you will often see a pattern emerge and it is disheartening when your losses slow down, its devastating when you put on when you know that you've followed your guidelines, but these ups and downs are so normal whatever way we are trying to lose weight.

Hang in there Val!

Also, remember with the band, we are making a LIFE change, for healthy and ongoing eating and as such if we are making those changes to our diet, to our well being, that is something that cannot be measured on the scales either. Even going out and making a healthy choice not to eat something but to have an alternative, thats a good thing too

 

[Val]

Hi TK
As ever you are my friend and saviour:wave_cry:

I do agree with everything you have taken the time to write to me..and its just nice to hear someone say..
your doing fine, Hang on in there..

I am just so eager to be a different person I, unlike many other don't have the luxury of time
I'm probably one of the oldest on here and I want to be different so badly this time

I have booked a holiday for America in June next Year and so want to be near to what I aim to achieve

I know I have to be patient but it was good to vent, I was so looking forward to updating the weight loss thread and showing a loss, sadly I never did my measurements and I do accept what you said my clothes are all getting big on me..

I don't know why we need that needle to show a loss as it is only part of why I am doing this journey

I will try hard to be patient

I am doing fitness pal and I average 700/800 cals a day sometimes I do hit the 1000..so its says I should be having 1600 so I know I'm not eating enough
I just though it would equate Don't eat =loose weight :/
silly girl aren't I

 

[top_kat]

NO! You aren't silly by any stretch of the imagination!!! So dump those negative nilly thoughts in the bin Mrs lol

Don't go by what MFP tells you in terms of what you're needing to be eating, if you log the exercise it will also offset that too so its kind of like a mis representation. If your provider doesn't give you an idea of what sort of cals that you should be having, its worth upping them a little.

700/800 cals is not sustainable for a longer period of time Val and its at that sort of level that this supposed "starvation mode" will kick in. As such, my weight was coming off when I was on 1100 cals a day, I know that flutterby here too, she was on 1100 cals a day as that is where she found that she was losing more. You want to be finding a balance and finding a level of cals where its enough but its also helping the body to lose, protein first because it burns it better of course but there still needs to be enough entering your body.

It seems strange to say and hear this, but it could just be that while you're eating the right things, you're actually just not eating enough and increasing the calories that you're taking on board could be what you, but more so your body needs. My own provider suggests 1000 cals for the very reason to keep the body with enough energy and to avoid it thinking its starving and hanging onto all it gets.

I think you will probably find that you're not eating enough in terms of calories, so you're following the guidelines and plan great but its just not enough and your body is hanging on to whatever it does get because it isn't getting very much.

Take some measurements today, start a record going forward. Try upping the calories to around the 900/1000 for a while and increase water as that can sometimes help if you're not getting enough on board give it a few weeks to a month or so, see what happens and changes. It maybe that at the end of the month you then need to make other changes, to how or what you're eating. its that constant change that doesn't let the body become used to what you're doing

 

[Val]

TK
you are truly a great mentor and whatever you say makes so much sense

Right.. as from now Im going to do just what you said..its understandable that 800 cals is not enough and I am a sensible woman and should know better

Right I am off to find the tape measure and will make more of an effort to consume more good proteins
I have to stop being afraid of food and look to it as nourishment..not the enemy

So lets see what next week will bring
Im also having a fill on Tuesday so I know it might not give restriction but physiologically I think we all need our fill to feel as thought we are in partnership with our band

I simply don't know what I would do without your valuable advise...your a star xxxxx
Hugs Val xxx

 

[top_kat]

Anytime, you know you can PM me to vent or rant or anything at all

I have to stop being afraid of food and look to it as nourishment..not the enemy

It is ^^^^^^ this. This is one of the things that is hard. We have battled with our relationships with and about food all of our lives. When we are overweight, its the enemy, we have such a focus on what we put in our mouths, whether we are dieting and being "good" or whether we aren't and being "bad"

One of the things I personally have tried to focus on changing with my band is that I don't want to see foods as good or bad anymore. But I am the only one who can change that cycle - I think for the first time that this is my chance to do it, with the band. As such my provider doesn't ban any foods, so I approach the band and what I eat with that open view. That if they don't ban foods, then its ok. As such, I don't deprive myself. I will have something which I would have classed as a "treat" as a normal part of my daily foods. So whether it be chocolate, an ice cream, a cake or whatever, I have it, I don't consider it a "treat" and it fits into the daily allowance of calories etc so I then don't look at it as being "bad".

We have to take the time to work on our relationship with food, finding what triggers us. When my son went for his surgery I hit the vending machine for chocolate. And I know that my old habits of emotional eating and indeed over eating are still very much there, that the band even if restriction was ok, won't take those away. But I make different choices but those choices are the balance . . .

I think we need to try and look at food in as healthy a way as possible, not good, not bad, but just a balanced amount and if we deprive ourselves in certain ways, then we find that we crave, or start secretly eating it . . .and the band won't change that.

Only we can

 

[Val]

Once again so right....
I am going to make an effort to view all food as acceptable.. its just the quantity and nourishment value I will look at

Then when I have lost most of my excess weight I may do what my one daughter does to maintain her weight
If she wants to eat something she considers a treat or higher in cals, then for one meal only she forgoes her main meal..
so she has her treat etc as her meal
Now I don't want to say this is the answer for everyone but it worked for Ruth and she will happily, maybe once or twice a week have a food she would not normally have instead of her lunch??

Example
She still likes the odd Cheeseburger for lunch or she may have a bag of Cheese and onion crisps or a chocolate bar whatever she fancies but she would not have the meal as well
She has lost about 5/6 stone and looks and feels great

Please remember this is not advise this is just what Ruth does....always check with your provider

 

[sarahrob]

I've gained weight each time I go onto liquids after my op and each fill. I know it beggars belief - yesterday I didn't have 600 calories in the whole day yet I had gained 1lb this morning!

As Top_Kat says, look at a longer-term view. Short term is great and motivating when you can see weight coming off, but we're in this for the long haul, so a longer view gives a truer picture. You're doing brilliantly, don't get disheartened by a number x

 

[flutterby1966]

Thanks to tk for the lengthy responses. I agree

You are 5ft10 and have a bmi in the 40's so your body needs more than 800 calories a day to keep it running healthily. A few days so low it can cope, but longer term it's not going to be enough to ensure you have the right level of nutritious food. Also if you are so low in calories, you are likely to end up feeling deprived and as soon as the losses aren't there, think 'to h.ll' with it then go off the rails. Best to work out what is going to be a healthy, sustainable balance for the rest of your life. I too have full fat things; sweets and chocolate and I build them into my normal daily allowance (rather than seeing them as treats and forgoing meals) ... But I do plan my protein and veggies etc first ... Then if there is spare, I really enjoy my "treats". My maintenance level is around 1600-1700 calories a day ... Much lower than 1400 a day average and the lbs just drop off ... And I am one of those banders who actually doesn't exercise much apart from walk my dogs.

Minn you will get there, it's still early days and its fun learning, so keep your chin up xxx

 

[Val]

I've gained weight each time I go onto liquids after my op and each fill. I know it beggars belief - yesterday I didn't have 600 calories in the whole day yet I had gained 1lb this morning!

As Top_Kat says, look at a longer-term view. Short term is great and motivating when you can see weight coming off, but we're in this for the long haul, so a longer view gives a truer picture. You're doing brilliantly, don't get disheartened by a number x

Thank you Sarah..just what I need to hear xxxxx

 

[Val]

Thanks to tk for the lengthy responses. I agree

You are 5ft10 and have a bmi in the 40's so your body needs more than 800 calories a day to keep it running healthily. A few days so low it can cope, but longer term it's not going to be enough to ensure you have the right level of nutritious food. Also if you are so low in calories, you are likely to end up feeling deprived and as soon as the losses aren't there, think 'to h.ll' with it then go off the rails. Best to work out what is going to be a healthy, sustainable balance for the rest of your life. I too have full fat things; sweets and chocolate and I build them into my normal daily allowance (rather than seeing them as treats and forgoing meals) ... But I do plan my protein and veggies etc first ... Then if there is spare, I really enjoy my "treats". My maintenance level is around 1600-1700 calories a day ... Much lower than 1400 a day average and the lbs just drop off ... And I am one of those banders who actually doesn't exercise much apart from walk my dogs.

Minn you will get there, it's still early days and its fun learning, so keep your chin up xxx

We are all so lucky to have you experts to share this information you have gathered with us
Im slowing learning that you have to eat enough to loose weight

I will get the concept I have too, I have to succeed this final time

I do concentrate on my proteins then veg..then I sort of don't have much carbs but as from now I am upping to more cals per day
Thank you once again for all the time you all spend posting replies
This site is the best!!!!!!!

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

val, remember what you said to me the other week i was getting too hung up on the scale, you need to heed your own advice. You can and are doing this! At least a stall isnt a gain! Change it up and start eating more cals 800cals isnt going to do you any favours! x x x

 

[Val]

Your right Kirstie..too hung up on the scales xxxxxx

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

Your right Kirstie..too hung up on the scales xxxxxx

Good luck for the rest of the week my love x

 

[Val]

We can all do this journey together that's the really good thing..we are not alone xxxx

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

No we're never alone x

 

[femfrankie]

I am so glad that you posted this today minn. Not been well this week and not really in the mood for food but have mainly stuck to soup /liquid etc since Monday. it's not my weigh day but the lure of the scales was compelling today because I thought that I surely must have lost weight with being unwell etc.... Instead I have had a gain of 6lbs!! I still can't believe it
Thank you TC & Flutterby for your very informative replies x

 

[Val]

I am so glad that you posted this today minn. Not been well this week and not really in the mood for food but have mainly stuck to soup /liquid etc since Monday. it's not my weigh day but the lure of the scales was compelling today because I thought that I surely must have lost weight with being unwell etc.... Instead I have had a gain of 6lbs!! I still can't believe it
Thank you TC & Flutterby for your very informative replies x

Its crazy isn't it...really makes you think

And aren't we lucky to have people that care like TK and Flutterby:553:​

 

[Banderbird]

Well, after being on loads of diets, and being obsessive about calorie-counting, I'm done with all that.

I'm in this for the long term, I'm not going to weigh myself day in, day out - I'm just going eat smaller amounts, watch what I eat and exercise.

If the weight doesn't come off, I will look at my eating habits, but I am making a conscious effort to make the right choices. I am also determined to follow all the rules of the band, and make it help me!

I am in this for the long game.

I don't expect anyone to agree with this post by the way!!

 

[femfrankie]

Its crazy isn't it...really makes you think

And aren't we lucky to have people that care like TK and Flutterby:553:​

It gut wrenching hun. Told Yve earlier that I kept getting on and off the scales to double check :cry:
but this is the story of my life and I should have known that the chances are I would either be the same weight or bigger because it always happened in the past. I had salmonella poisoning many years ago and for two weeks survived on water and those sachets of rehydrate... Thought the only good thing to come out of it would be a massive weightloss hahaha. I didn't gain but I was exactly the same?! My friend who had the same meal as I and suffered likewise lost a stone and a half :sigh:
Like you Minn I think my body is uber screwed up and if it wasn't for the well informed fantastic people on this forum I think I would be a quivering wreck in the corner of the room. :thankyou: