Super obese, why isn't the weight falling off me?

What is the diet given post-surgery patients? Can you try that diet for a few days?

I ask because I was told by a surgeon who does these procedures that he believes it is the post-surgery diet, not the surgery, that makes the difference. So my thought is you can try that diet skipping the surgery and see what happens.

You might also try a low carb diet to see if that makes a difference for your specific metabolism. From the low carb perspective, 40% is too many carbs. Try 20-30%.

There's nothing to lose in trying a particular diet approach for 2 weeks to see if it works for you, except possibly fat. You want to be sure you have exhausted all possibilities before trying surgery.

As for why the weight isn't melting off--the answer is you are not doing aerobic exercise.

You may not have access to a lap pool, but do you have friends or friends of friends, or even a hotel nearby that might allow you to tread water for 20 minutes a day? You only need a small pool to tread water.

Read about "target heart rate" and use that to gauge the intensity of your exercise, whatever kind of exercise might become available to you. The strain on your knee will go down as you lose weight and you may be able to start walking for exercise when your weight is lower.

Have you been tested for thyroid and endocrine disorders? I have an endocrine disorder and I have to be extremely specific about what I eat or no matter how low my calories are, I never lose weight.

Hang tight, you can do this and it WILL start to melt off!!!

THIS.

I have a hypoactive thyroid and couldn't start losing until I got on medication for it and had it adjusted quite a few times over a 2 year span. I recommend seeing your doctor. Some simple bloodwork can help shed some light on a lot of things.

By "Dr." do you mean a GP or is it a doctor who specializes in nutrition/diet/weight loss? GP's can get by with very generalized knowledge in different areas (hence the name). Consider discussing the possibility of getting a referral by your GP to a Bariatric Physician, Endocrinologist, or a Registered Dietitian. Be leery of the term "nutritionist". Essentially anyone can call themselves that, depending on where you are in the world.

Consider exhausting all other possibilities before going with major surgery. But, at the end of the day, it may be a specialized case where you may need to. A licensed specialist is FAR more qualified to decide that point than a random Internet forum though. Be safe, and good luck!

I am sorry to say that at your weight it could be a whole host of thinks. The fat could be putting pressure on and disrupting the function of your internal organs. And I wouldn't be surprised if you had a thyroid issue at the moment.

As much as I hate to say it surgery may be the better option in your case. As it may alleviate some of the more extreme effects of all the weight you are carrying around. Hell even the ability to walk around would do you a tremendous amount of good right now. As if you are completely sedentary and your internal workings aren't moving right you may not even be burning 1800 a day anyway.

I have every sympathy with you as my weight got pretty big myself not at the stage you where at. But enough. And Honestly I think you are beyond conventional methods of weight loss. It's time to consider more drastic solutions. As the longer you are sedentary the more your muscles will atrophy. And the more mobility you will lose. You need to realize that you need something that works now. You don't have time t o be patient and wait the process out.

I hope I don't scare you and I sincerely wish you the best.

UMMMMM NO. I weighed almost 400 lbs and was able to do it without weight loss surgery. I still have more weight to lose, but it CAN be done. If you truly don't want weight loss surgery, just keep at it. Open up your diary and let us see it. Don't give up. Don't let anyone pressure you into something you DON'T want.

Here's some information that might help

Log your food accurately and honestly. Go for 80% good choices the other 20% don't worry so much about. I eat lots of delicious food and have consistently lost. Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit:

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff

Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

People really need to stop posting these generic copy/paste messages on threads such as these.

This is a person with 250 pounds or more to lose. 2 lb's a week on someone with that much to look is not "ideal". Any gastric doctor in the world would agree, such as his/hers, would expect much more per week.

The links have valuable information for anyone that needs to lose weight. When I started I had close to 150 lbs to lose, just because it's a larger number doesn't mean the process is different just the deficit amount. And without being able to see her diary the links are the best advice that I could give to her.

^^^ exactly!!

I'm not upset at anything. I'm saying the chart is not relevant to the OP's situation. She *could* ideally lose 5 pounds a week the first several weeks. Almost triple what the chart says.

Those charts lead to threads like "OMG, im losing too fast".

No, you're not. It's just that you looked a stupid chart that is relevant to many, but not to those with 250lbs to lose.

Now you're just being argumentative. Most people in this thread are giving helpful advice based on the OPs available information.
What advice are you offering? As someone whose lost over 100#, I'd think you'd have some helpful insight for the OP.
Those links, by the way, that have helped many, many people on this site.

What is the diet given post-surgery patients? Can you try that diet for a few days?

I ask because I was told by a surgeon who does these procedures that he believes it is the post-surgery diet, not the surgery, that makes the difference. So my thought is you can try that diet skipping the surgery and see what happens.

You might also try a low carb diet to see if that makes a difference for your specific metabolism. From the low carb perspective, 40% is too many carbs. Try 20-30%.

There's nothing to lose in trying a particular diet approach for 2 weeks to see if it works for you, except possibly fat. You want to be sure you have exhausted all possibilities before trying surgery.

As for why the weight isn't melting off--the answer is you are not doing aerobic exercise.

You may not have access to a lap pool, but do you have friends or friends of friends, or even a hotel nearby that might allow you to tread water for 20 minutes a day? You only need a small pool to tread water.

Read about "target heart rate" and use that to gauge the intensity of your exercise, whatever kind of exercise might become available to you. The strain on your knee will go down as you lose weight and you may be able to start walking for exercise when your weight is lower.

That is absolutely false. Losing weight has to do with how much you eat, period. For the OP, even walking around probably gets his/her heart rate right up there.

The OP needs to follow a doctor's instructions.

OP, best wishes to you on this journey. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you won't let the squabbling keep you off the forums. There are some great people here who have lost a lot of weight and who can give you the support you need.

Play ball...


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Here's some information that might help

Log your food accurately and honestly. Go for 80% good choices the other 20% don't worry so much about. I eat lots of delicious food and have consistently lost. Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit:

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff

Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

OP like quite a few people have said, these are great links. Look into weighing and measuring EVERYTHING that you eat. It makes a huge difference. Weight loss surgery is a dangerous and scary option, when you have so many healthier ways to lose. I can understand how frustrating it must be for you to work so hard and not lose, but any amount of progress, is still progress. Read these links, do some research, ask more questions if you need to. Knowledge is power.

*Edited to add at my highest weight, even being post college athlete, I had terrible joint aches. Pool exercises and yoga were really amazing at getting me become fit without hurting myself more. I eventually transitioned into weight lifting, with proper understanding of form and techniques. I suggest you try some low impact exercises, and if you have a pool in your area, look up ways to work out there.

I second the pool idea. Especially with your arthritis. I think it'll really help.

eat a high carb low fat plant based (vegan) diet...consisting of fruits, veggies, brown rice, potatoes etc and the weight will come off...dont restrict your carbs that will give you the energy to get up and move a bit! you will get there it takes time but stick with it...and go with how your body is feeling instead of the lbs on the scale...eat a diet like i suggested and you will feel better...you can message me if you need any specific tips...good luck

What is the diet given post-surgery patients? Can you try that diet for a few days?

I ask because I was told by a surgeon who does these procedures that he believes it is the post-surgery diet, not the surgery, that makes the difference. So my thought is you can try that diet skipping the surgery and see what happens.

You might also try a low carb diet to see if that makes a difference for your specific metabolism. From the low carb perspective, 40% is too many carbs. Try 20-30%.

There's nothing to lose in trying a particular diet approach for 2 weeks to see if it works for you, except possibly fat. You want to be sure you have exhausted all possibilities before trying surgery.

As for why the weight isn't melting off--the answer is you are not doing aerobic exercise.

You may not have access to a lap pool, but do you have friends or friends of friends, or even a hotel nearby that might allow you to tread water for 20 minutes a day? You only need a small pool to tread water.

Read about "target heart rate" and use that to gauge the intensity of your exercise, whatever kind of exercise might become available to you. The strain on your knee will go down as you lose weight and you may be able to start walking for exercise when your weight is lower.

That is absolutely false. Losing weight has to do with how much you eat, period. For the OP, even walking around probably gets his/her heart rate right up there.

The OP needs to follow a doctor's instructions.

OP, best wishes to you on this journey. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you won't let the squabbling keep you off the forums. There are some great people here who have lost a lot of weight and who can give you the support you need.

Whups. Unclear in my post--I meant the reason she's not losing at whatever her current diet (which is making no weight change for her either way), was lack of aerobic exercise. Thanks for catching my mistake.

There are alternatives to surgery but you should be talking to your doctor about them. Ask for other options or find a doctor who will give you those options.

Here's some information that might help

Log your food accurately and honestly. Go for 80% good choices the other 20% don't worry so much about. I eat lots of delicious food and have consistently lost. Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit:

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff

Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

People really need to stop posting these generic copy/paste messages on threads such as these.

This is a person with 250 pounds or more to lose. 2 lb's a week on someone with that much to look is not "ideal". Any gastric doctor in the world would agree, such as his/hers, would expect much more per week.

It's not really a chart to say how much to expect to lose, but a guideline to choose the best deficit when calculating a calorie goal. At least that's how I have always interpreted it to be.

First, listen to your doctor. She/he knows your medical history and knows if you have issues needing treatment.

Secondly, surgery is also a decision to make with a medical professional and counselor. Not from this forum

Third, the links that were posted have amazing information. Maybe you will do things a little differently because of your weight, but as you lose, the education you will get from them is very valuable.

Fourth, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1103164-3-yrs-312lbs-lost-1yr-from-bodylift-and-maintenance

Good luck to you.

Pretty much this.

If you are unhappy with your doc then get a second or third opinion. If they all recommend the same thing then it just may be better to listen to them.

When I first got serious it took over a month to drop any weight. Some of us are just lucky. Hang in there--it WILL work.