what should i do?

Ok so lets say i was thinking about listening to the "you eat too little calories" peeps. I am a 43 year old woman who achieved significant wight loss (170 pds) though bariatric surgery and lifestyle change. I am 5' 9" i weigh 172 today and my low last april was 166. Now I cant seem to get and stay under 170 for more than a day. Now I know much of my excess weight is skin but I thought i would and up closer to 150 or 160 not 170. I do a very intense workout called MSVP thrive 5 or 6 days a week. It basically the workout recommended for border patrol, firefighters etc to stay in shape. I generally eat 1500 calories on a high protien diet i try not to eat back my work out calories which i count as 800 which actually may be low for the workout i do. But I struggle at night with wanting snacks/ sweets. So if you were my advisor how many calories should i be eating? I wanted to shed that last 20 but is it even possible without losing all my hard earned muscle or plastic surgery? Thanks for any advice...

Replies

  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
    Honestly, being a bariatric patient changes the rules, particularly depending on which type of surgery you had. You are likely going to be one of those special snowflakes.

    Really you should see a nutritionist who specializes in bariatric patients.

    Also, I am not familiar with that exercise program, but if it doesn't include heavy lifting you might want to look into that. But again it should be discussed with a medical professional who specializes in your needs.
  • bkknauer
    bkknauer Posts: 28
    My workout has a ton of heavy lifting it is covers everything cardio, strength power, flexability etc. for over a hour a day. Since I had the Bariatric sleeve which greatly decreased the size of my stomach but doesnt impact absorbtion i have more fexability in what i eat.I The bariatric diet which I followed religiously for the first year is 800-1000 calories but I cant maintain that at my level of physical exertion. I probably should go back to the doctor since I am oveerdue for my two year. They are thrilled with my progress its me that wants no excess weight. I think I could do what I am doing now and maintain around this weight indefinatly. I even had to take 10 weeks off this winter for a hysterectomy and didnt gain much weight. Maybe I am at maintenance and dont know it? Maybe I am suppose to be a size 14 and need to adjust my expectations or do i just need to be stricter. I dont know,,,
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Honestly, being a bariatric patient changes the rules, particularly depending on which type of surgery you had. You are likely going to be one of those special snowflakes.

    Really you should see a nutritionist who specializes in bariatric patients.

    Also, I am not familiar with that exercise program, but if it doesn't include heavy lifting you might want to look into that. But again it should be discussed with a medical professional who specializes in your needs.

    I agree with this 100%. Your situation is unique. I am a big fan of the "eat more to weigh less" method, but you need to be consulting with a specialist, not listening to a bunch of yahoos on the internet.
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    Honestly, being a bariatric patient changes the rules, particularly depending on which type of surgery you had. You are likely going to be one of those special snowflakes.

    Really you should see a nutritionist who specializes in bariatric patients.

    Also, I am not familiar with that exercise program, but if it doesn't include heavy lifting you might want to look into that. But again it should be discussed with a medical professional who specializes in your needs.

    I agree with this 100%. Your situation is unique. I am a big fan of the "eat more to weigh less" method, but you need to be consulting with a specialist, not listening to a bunch of yahoos on the internet.

    I'm an *kitten* not a yahoo!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    I don't know if we are truly comparable, but I am 5'9 and my goal weight is 165. I would be perfectly happy at 170. Anything lower than 165 is not sustainable for me. However, I have seen people who are 5'9 that seem to sustain much lower weights, like 140, 130. I look sick at 150, so....
  • bkknauer
    bkknauer Posts: 28
    I don't know if we are truly comparable, but I am 5'9 and my goal weight is 165. I would be perfectly happy at 170. Anything lower than 165 is not sustainable for me. However, I have seen people who are 5'9 that seem to sustain much lower weights, like 140, 130. I look sick at 150, sothank you that is helpful...

    thank you that is helpful...
  • ApexLeader
    ApexLeader Posts: 580 Member
    I don't know if we are truly comparable, but I am 5'9 and my goal weight is 165. I would be perfectly happy at 170. Anything lower than 165 is not sustainable for me. However, I have seen people who are 5'9 that seem to sustain much lower weights, like 140, 130. I look sick at 150, so....

    have you thought about switching to "goal measurements" rather than goal weight? 150 at 15% body fat looks vastly different than 150 at 30% body fat.
  • bkknauer
    bkknauer Posts: 28
    I guess it comes down to I wondering how you figure out if you are in starvation mode versis you have found a healthy weight your body wants to just maintain...
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Super Congrats on your success.:drinker:
    Without being a snowflake eating 1,500 and burning 800 is not reccomended and will not get you the final results you want.
    Try eating more calorie dense food adding 200-300 more calories without adding much more food causing overfullness.
    Examples inclued full fat dairy, nuts, avacados, beef, pork & potatoes.
    Good Luck on your continual journey.:flowerforyou:
  • bkknauer
    bkknauer Posts: 28
    yes one of my greatest regrets on this whole journey is that i didnt do any measuring. I do occasionally go to a support group meeting that has one of those fancy scales that tell you fat/water etc and I have keep track of that but havn't been in a few months.
  • namluv
    namluv Posts: 194 Member
    Great work! I have no firm advise, just food for thought. I am your exact height and current weight right now andcurious what is your % bf? I am 10/12 and 27% bf at last measure. I think and have been told by many that I look FABULOUS right now. I have been down to 150 and didn't look as good as I do now; I am not sure my bf at that point but there is the phrase "skinny-fat" floated around that I think applies to my state then - the scale said I was thin but my body fat % said otherwise. I would also adhere to the advice of others and seek the input of professionals.
  • bkknauer
    bkknauer Posts: 28
    i think i need to find out my body fat percent too i think that would help me figure out if i still have fat left to lose or it is mostly skin...