Weird thoughts - ThinnerTimes

Gina · 09-12-2007, 07:47 PM

I am dealing with NEW head issues now. I am over 20 pounds below the dr set goal and I have been told to STOP losing and that my body fat % is too low.

I eat all the time it seems and mostly protein with a few carbs. The trouble is that I am STILL losing weight. I had more than average of the intestine bypassed, and I am almost 21 months out. I am still losing 3-4 a month. I am being fairly sedentary as the more I exercise the more I lose.

When you think about 3-4 pounds it doesnt seem that much... but in 6 months that can be 25 pounds! That is dangerous thin for me.

I am tall and there are parts of me that look anorexic. I am struggling to KEEP the weight on.

Now the head issues ... when I get on the scale there is still a little bit of excitement at seeing the number go down and I know it is no longer healthy. I have been instructed to use half and half to make protein shakes and to use butter on everything.

All these things freak me out. They go against EVERYTHING that I learned in the last 2 years. I know that to stabilize my weight and to be healthy I must once again change a few things.... it is hard.

They tell you that you have to change to LOSE the weight .... they don't tell you that you have to change again at the end to STOP and to maintain. My own gastric surgeon has said stop losing. That is easier said than done.

It isnt a matter of adding a few more carbs... it is a matter of not being able to get in enough cals everyday... especially if I want to exercise. Even with drinking my shake with the rich half and half.

I am struggling to find the balance here. I went on a cruise last week... a lot of walking and I even ate desserts and yet I came home 3 pounds lighter in a week.

I don't know if this makes sense to anyone. I don't have anyone else who might understand I mean lets face it 2 years ago if someone came to me and said I cant stop losing and I cant eat enough I could have been hard pressed to be sympathetic. Even other gastric patients that I know struggle to make goal and then usually gain back a bit IF they make goal at all.

ok I hope someone understands...

Phoenixfire · 09-12-2007, 08:42 PM

I understand. I was at a healthy 145 and had a tragedy. I couldn't eat and wasted away to 115. I looked terrible and felt terrible. My small stomach simply wasn't hungry and if I COULD eat I couldn't get enough calories in to maintain weight.

It took a very short time to lose that 30 lbs and longer to put it back on. I can tell you what I did if it might help.

I stopped drinking coffee (appetite suppressant);
I started eating fried eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was the only food I could really eat and keep down and it had protein. I used plenty of butter - my skin got dry and my doc said butter fat and cream would help;
I drank whole milk, sipped it, and half and half sometimes;
I ate whatever cheese I wanted, frequently
I stopped exercising;
I drank a little red wine (doctor recommended, yes it helped gain weight, but I wouldn't do THAT again. Led to enjoying too much and had to just stop later.)
I started making SOUP. Rich soup, like baked potato soup and the like. It was chock full of healthy calories. It was the only way to get it down.

Now you may not be in the same boat, so take or leave what may help you. I hope this helps some. I had nobody to guide me on this, I did what felt right, followed my cravings, and did ask my doc at one point. He suggested a couple of these. I discovered the others.

I hope you find what helps you. I do know how distressing it is and how it feels. I wouldn't go back to being that skinny again. Even though being fat for so long did make it kind of nice to be so low, it was unhealthy. I'm at 145 or so and maintained that for last couple years. It's the right weight for me

Take care and I hope others help on this. It's a tough one.

porshh951 · 09-12-2007, 11:12 PM

well your 166lbs how tall are you?

If you can eat peanut butter do it. 200 cals for two tabel spoons. You wanna gain weight peanut butter is best way to do it. Mix it with muscle milk if you wish and gets gobs of protein/carbs/clean fats/and calories.

Just take out a spoon and have fun. Its what im doing to gain weight myself.

Mavisavis · 09-13-2007, 06:07 AM

I can't relate.....I'm one of the struggling to keep it off folks!

But I do still like to offer support. I agree with the PB idea and maybe some cheese thrown into your diet.....nuts even. At least they are healthy calories. I sure hope it's just your body trying to stabilize. Keep us updated.

Gina in NY · 09-13-2007, 11:34 AM

The easiest way to put on those pounds is to drink your calories. Get a Starbucks habit - but decaf obviously. You could also go to GNC and get some of those supplements that help you build mass. You know - that stuff for body builders who want to gain weight? (I remember reading and being so confused. It never occurred to me that someone would WANT to gain weight!) Some of them have tons of carbs. I've also just met these gel packs - kinda gross, but they give you some calories quick if you need them.

It is a HUGE head game. I absolutely shut my metabolism down this past spring. I would eat over 1200 calories and gain weight - crazy. I've built it up to being able to eat 1800 calories a day and if I have a tough work out now, my weight does start to go down...slowly... Anyway - I say drink, think like a body builder and relax. You really do have to spend some time learning that this is okay. I remember the first bite of pasta I took a couple weeks ago. I was petrified! As if three bites later, all 120 pounds would be right back on there! We're so brain washed - but now you're changing from a GBP patient to an underweight person. New rules Gina.

You are going to be able to do this - don't worry. You can increase your calories with really good food and you will most likely feel even better than you do now. We say losing the weight is about health - but it is only our commitment to doing whatever it takes to BE healthy that shows us if that is true or not.

fitbefore40 · 09-13-2007, 02:23 PM

Gina, I had trouble losing too much after I had my tummy tuck. I switched to full fat milk (holy cow that is creamy) and I'd do a meal replacement bar as a snack. I took my about 8 weeks to gain 6 pounds back.

But I have to tell you, now that I'm back up to 129, I keep on feeling that I'd love to SEE 123 on the scale again. I know it's crazy and I was SOOO bony 6 pounds ago . . . but part of me wants to lose. It doesn't make sense. But, fight those urges - for me, I struggle somedays with not wanted to eat - but then I think - FUEL - this is fuel for my body and I love to do stuff . . . and if I get skinnier, I won't be able to have near as much fun.

I will admit, I do look at myself and think I'm heavy . . . OUT OUT DAMN DEMONS. I know I'm NOT HEAVY . . . I wear a tiny size . . . I'm smaller than most women my age . . .

Find some truths about yourself, write them down . . and repeat them, tyep them here, whatever you need.

Dyann · 09-14-2007, 03:00 PM

I understand that you are not afraid to take one bite of pasta, but that will reintroduce bad habits that leads to two and three and then a whole bowl. The slippery slope phenomena.

What about skipping the cardio and do weights and build muscle mass while increasing the protein/fats in the diet?? I think the peanut butter idea is great. Just be smart about it and it will level off over time. Too drastic of a change and the see saw can tip in the other direction very fast.

The head games.... I think they are part of life.