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Post by Dudette on Jan 12, 2012 20:19:24 GMT -5
I've been asked many times (sometimes more than once by the same person) what will happen after I get down to my goal weight/BMI. How will I stop losing weight? What's preventing me from turning into skeleton and losing weight indefinitely?
I know the answer to this, but I must not be explaining it well enough because the question keeps coming up. I'm guessing that my friends/family have noticed the huge weight loss already and they're concerned that I'll just keep losing until I end up looking like a concentration camp victim or something. Silly people!
Can anyone suggest how to word an answer to this question that explains the mechanics of how we stop losing weight and why?
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Post by lovy19 on Jan 12, 2012 20:33:01 GMT -5
I've been asked many times (sometimes more than once by the same person) what will happen after I get down to my goal weight/BMI. How will I stop losing weight? What's preventing me from turning into skeleton and losing weight indefinitely? I know the answer to this, but I must not be explaining it well enough because the question keeps coming up. I'm guessing that my friends/family have noticed the huge weight loss already and they're concerned that I'll just keep losing until I end up looking like a concentration camp victim or something. Silly people! Can anyone suggest how to word an answer to this question that explains the mechanics of how we stop losing weight and why? hi Dudette, I was also curious as to how the weight slows down so I created a thread called Massive Weght Loss in A Few Months, if you type that in the search bar or just look it up under the DS forum you will find good info. Hope this helps  |
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Post by mark540 on Jan 12, 2012 20:50:00 GMT -5
When we eat our bodies convert the food consumed into energy needed to operate. When we eat too much excess energy is converted into fat and stored for later use in times of need.
The surgeries we have will reduce our stomach size and change our absorbtion of calories so our bodies will use up the stored fat we have accumulated over the years.
As our stomachs strech we will begin to consume more calories in a day and our bodies will reach an equilibrium of calories in to calories out. We will be relying on our willpower and desires to change our lives at this point along with the malabsorbtion component to keep us at a safe healthy weight.
We can still gain weight by eating the wrong foods and ignoring our commitment to this surgery and lifestyle change.
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Post by msbatt on Jan 12, 2012 20:50:10 GMT -5
Right now, you're losing weight because the calories you absorb (not take in, but absorb) are less than your body requires to maintain itself. As you become smaller, the number of calories your body needs decreases, so the difference between what you absorb and what you burn becomes less and less. Eventually, they balance, and that's where you maintain easily.
And believe me, you CAN overeat and cause the equation to go the other way. (*grin*)
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2012 21:30:59 GMT -5
Your body will adjust to the new realities all in good time. That's the ultra simple answer.
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Post by Dudette on Jan 12, 2012 21:51:13 GMT -5
Good answers! I like the equilibrium explanation. I'll try that one out. What I've been trying to tell friends is that in a year my stomach will be able to handle more food (they see me eating like a bird now) and that my re-routed intestine will become incrementally more efficient at absorbing calories to the point where weight loss slows and eventually stops (if I am consuming enough calories to maintain). They don't seem to get it. I think they are getting all hung up on the malabsorption thing. If they keep asking I'll just tell them... How will I stop losing weight? MAGIC! Idiots.  |
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supershae
Full Member
"You have come this far, Don't give up now." -The Notebook
Posts: 154
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Post by supershae on Jan 13, 2012 13:12:02 GMT -5
This is something I've been asked several times too and didn't know the exact answer to give them. Duh....you're not going to keep losing weight until you are nothing, but I had no idea how to explain how much weight I'm going to lose and what makes that stop at a healthy weight. Thank you for clearing this up.
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Post by bldeck on Jan 13, 2012 14:52:40 GMT -5
I went with "my body will let me know when I get to the weight it is happy at".
Which worked for a while, but as I got smaller people were questioning the surgery. They still question me if I am losing and I haven't lost any weight in a while, but my body was still adjusting so I lost inches.
It will take people a while to get use to the new you and until they do, they will ask those questions.
Betty
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 17:11:56 GMT -5
YMMV. For me, the first realization I came to is that I was not in control of where I ended up. The best I could do was supplement well, get my protein and fat in on a daily basis, and exercise.
My goal weight initially was 200 lbs. I ended up at 159 lbs at my very lowest. I now reside somewhere between 162-166 lbs all the time. For the longest time I stalled at 179 lbs and thought that was my body's new set point. I then started increasing my food consumption and, within 2 months, was down 20 more pounds. The lesson? I was not eating enough calories and was in conservation mode. As soon as I increased my caloric intake, my body continued on its downward trend as mentioned above. Now I've been the same weight +/- about 2 lbs for a year and a half. It's far below where I thought I would ever end up and it's completely due to my DS. It took me where I needed to be and I've sat back and enjoyed the ride.
I routinely consume about 200 gm of protien daily in addition to an almost equal amount of fat. My mantra: protein first, fats second, complex carbs third, simple sugars/carbs fourth (if there's any room afterwards), and alcohol dead last. It works for me and I don't count calories or carbs.
Our surgeon's office teaches patients the 3-2-1 rule. Three bites of protein, two bites of complex carbs, followed by one bite of simple carbs and repeat. I disagree with this (see mantra above).
I know my way is not the only way. All I can do is share my personal experience as others have. What I do know is this works for me and my wife and over two dozen other DSers we have interacted with regularly for the past 2 years (one of them over 10 years out and maintaining well).
So all that to say, "Your body's going to end up where it ends up." You can control the other parameters mentioned above and insure your continued good health. I've significantly over-corrected considering my initial goal, but I enjoy excellent health, eat like a king, and have room for some weight regain if/when it happens. My fat has redistributed so I no longer look gaunt. I couldn't be happier!
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Kyra
Junior Member
DS 2009
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Post by Kyra on Jan 29, 2012 17:23:59 GMT -5
Hi Dudette, Your body will do what it's going to do. It adapts over time. The stomach stretches, the common channel becomes more effective at absorbing, etc. You can't worry about losing too much unless and until that happens. It's far more important to worry about not losing enough when you're in the honeymoon window. If you do end up losing too much, there's a bounce to look forward to. Or maybe you'll get really lucky and be able to maintain your dream weight indefinitely with minimal effort. Did you read the wonderful thread (originally from Diana Cox) about realistic expectations? (Link below.) Getting to your in-my-wildest-dreams weight is not the norm. Average is 75% of EWL, meaning there are many who do better than that and many who don't ever hit or maintain that. It's a surgery to help the morbidly obese become LESS obese and more healthy. And that's what it does, on average. weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=talk&thread=1622&page=1#23282 |
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Post by jillybean720 on Jan 29, 2012 17:53:59 GMT -5
I would worry about reaching goal before worrying about going too low. I never reached goal in the more than 2 years post-op before I got pregnant.
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Post by Dudette on Jan 29, 2012 18:29:04 GMT -5
Hi Dudette, Your body will do what it's going to do. It adapts over time. The stomach stretches, the common channel becomes more effective at absorbing, etc. You can't worry about losing too much unless and until that happens. It's far more important to worry about not losing enough when you're in the honeymoon window. Hope I didn't give the impression that I was worrying about losing too much. Not a worry for me at all. I was just looking for the right words to shut up all the friends/family who continue to ask dumb questions about me wasting away to nothing (of course that's not going to happen!). You're gonna love this one... yesterday my Mom tells me how great I look and asks me (for at least the 5th time since I've had surgery): So, as soon as you lose the rest of the weight you want to lose you're going to go back down to Mexico and have them reconnect your intestines back the right way... right? OMG, Mom. WTF?! LOL! My mother cracks me up. I explained to her (AGAIN) that NO. I am NOT getting anything reconnected once I reach my goal weight. She means well, but I swear to god... sometimes I think she's retarded. |
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Post by muffinsmom on Jan 29, 2012 19:25:07 GMT -5
I like the "magic" answer. Nitwits can only take in so much....
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Post by meredith123 on Jan 29, 2012 19:51:36 GMT -5
I also like the magic answer. People are constantly asking me how much more I'll lose. I still have a ways to go as I'm only 4 1/2 months out and still weigh 186. I tell them I'm hoping to get to around 130, but that I can't really control how much my body would like to lose. I've had people tell me that's to skinny, think they are just jealous. I can't wait for all the coments I'll get as I get closer to my goal, not.
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Post by reinventingangela on Jan 29, 2012 20:21:33 GMT -5
Lol dudette about your mom, my moms kinda the same way at times, but shes crafty...she always finds a way to turn it back to something "Shes been trying to tell me for years"
Shes been pretty supportive about the surgery idea but when I talk to her about post op vitamins to try to involve her (as this is her "thing") she says "see Ive been telling you that you need more D and if you would just get out in the sun for 20 mins every day and walk and..."
I guess thats what moms are supposed to do lol.
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Post by Dudette on Jan 29, 2012 22:04:52 GMT -5
Lol dudette about your mom, my moms kinda the same way at times, but shes crafty...she always finds a way to turn it back to something "Shes been trying to tell me for years" Shes been pretty supportive about the surgery idea but when I talk to her about post op vitamins to try to involve her (as this is her "thing") she says "see Ive been telling you that you need more D and if you would just get out in the sun for 20 mins every day and walk and..." I guess thats what moms are supposed to do lol. Ha! Are you sure we don't have the same mother? My mom is supportive too and she thinks the surgery is terrific. She's glad I did it, but she just has some weird ideas about the whole vitamin regime. That's what got my mom blabbering about getting my intestines reconnected the other day... so I won't have to take all these vitamins for the rest of my life. Stupid me... I tried to reason with her. I said even if I did have the DS portion reversed, I can't get the rest of my stomach back. That's in a dumpster somewhere in Mexico. LOL! Then I went on to explain that even VSG'ers have to take vitamin supplements for life. Then I stopped myself. Why was I even *having* this conversation? I'm such a dumb-ass. She sucked me in again! Heavy sigh. |
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Post by reinventingangela on Jan 30, 2012 1:12:41 GMT -5
OMG yes, thats what I say too EVERY time, SHE SUCKED ME IN AGAIN!! lol
Oh Lord and I quit smoking this month but my mom would blame ANYTHING bad happening to me on my smoking...I could wake up in the middle of the night and stub my toe on the way to the toilet and she would say, well did you leave the drawer to where you keep your cigarettes partially open? because she saw me grab a pack of cigarettes out of my nightstand back in 1993 or something......Im like NO MOM that drawer is in the kitchen! lol
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