A question for the big losers?

[phatmomma]

After answering a question about expected weight loss and seeing some people say a stone a month lost etc i have a few questions for the big losers out there...

Seriously now and please answer honestly:

1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things?

2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate?

3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower?

 

[Grace]

Sorry to hijack your thread Julie but can I ask the Big Losers another question?
How are you doing it? Do you feel you're eating plenty?
I'm seriously wondering if I'm not eating enough and therefore slowing my weight loss because of it?

Any sensible advice much appreciated.
I know i shouldn't compare, but I feel a bit fed up seeing my weight loss in comparison to others.

 

[dottychic]

I suppose I would be a big looser so far so Ill answer as honestly as I can
1: I tolerate most things that I eat pretty well. I dont have a massive range of foods really. I do have trouble with meat sometimes "rabid" episodes!
2: At the moment Im happy with what I can eat, I havnt tried anything that I believe might make me dump....Im a coward lol. I try and stay below 10g of fat and approx 8g of sugar per 100g.
3: As Im not even half way yet its hard to say really. I do believe if you loose faster it would be worse but saying that at my age Id expect it to be worse than younguns anyway
I hope these answers help in some way, Ive been as honest as I can XX

 

[phatmomma]

Grace, hijack away, wish i'd thought of them questions. I don't think of you as a slow loser, your ahead of me by 17lb and i was early June for my op... I think your doing great xx

 

[dottychic]

I thought Id eaten lots today but Ive just filled in myfitnesspal and Ive only had 916 cals.... according to them my body will be in starvation mode still! I dont think Ive ever eaten enough for it to say any different.
As regards the skin issue, I think because Ive been a lot bigger than you and Julie my loose skin will be worse anyway. I already have bad arms and tops of legs so I cant see them getting better the more weight I loose. I just think well I look bad with clothes at the mo aswell as without but at least when I loose more weight I will look ok dressed XX

 

[Grace]

Grace, hijack away, wish i'd thought of them questions. I don't think of you as a slow loser, your ahead of me by 17lb and i was early June for my op... I think your doing great xx

Thanks so much Julie. I'm sorry if i was insensitive. I've lost 4 stones 2 pounds since my operation; 5 stones 1 pound since I began pre-op weight loss in earnest when I got my surgery date on July 7th.

I do think that my second op brought me a huge weight loss and without it I'd be heavier: wish I knew why! My weight loss had slowed right down until that op and has again since on the whole.

I'm fed up of losing a pound a week!

But we'll get there honey. xxxx

 

[tkdlass]

If you dont mind me being nosy but can i keep an eye on this thread? i think its very helpful for those who are waiting to be 'done' (for lack of better word)

 

[Grace]

I thought Id eaten lots today but Ive just filled in myfitnesspal and Ive only had 916 cals.... according to them my body will be in starvation mode still! I dont think Ive ever eaten enough for it to say any different.
As regards the skin issue, I think because Ive been a lot bigger than you and Julie my loose skin will be worse anyway. I already have bad arms and tops of legs so I cant see them getting better the more weight I loose. I just think well I look bad with clothes at the mo aswell as without but at least when I loose more weight I will look ok dressed XX

You'll look gorgeous! Mwah!
Maybe there's just no rhyme or reason to weight loss, slow or fast. I've always had a very slow metabolism. It's to do with M.E.
Grace xxx

 

[hsmel]

Not sure I fit into the fast loser category but I feel I have lost my weight relatively quickly.

I have trouble eating even fairly small portions - quite often I feel full after only five or six mouthfuls! I have a great ability to still eat potato . . but meat and fish, depending on type and way they are cooked are 'iffy'. I do however snack on a lot of cheeses (I buy the bags of mini ones), dont worry if they are not the light variety as I dont take in enough calories on a day to day basis, and also eat eggs in all varieties.

I think my losses though are mainly down to the fact that I am very active (not that it helped me when I was bigger and trying to lose weight without the op). Luckily I can and do walk a lot and rarely even sit down during the day (except to pop on here or check facebook!)

I am over 50 and am not particularly liking the look of my upper arms and my tummy looks a little like a deflated balloon but I do think with exercise this should improve - but I am realistic and will just be glad I am thinner rather than toned and svelte!!

I do confess to the odd nibble on things I shouldn't but am trying to curb this as I dont want to get into bad habits again.

Not sure if this helps on this thread but thought I would add my two penneth!!

 

[Dell]

Am I big loser, I've lost 5 stone in.total, since pre op on 17 Sept.

I'm clearly early in the process tho!


1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things?
I tolerate everything I've tried, pasta I avoid as its too bulky and waste of pouch space, sausages seem.too dense, but I've not had a problem for about two months with sickness and have a very varied diet.

2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate?
I wish I dumped, but I've tested it over Christmas and I don't. That's something to watch out for both now and in.the future, for me. The only sad moment I've had was new years eve...I.made an Indian banquet for friends and family and its my weakness..felt very very odd having a teeny tiny amount!


3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower?
Obviously a long way to go, but its fine so far, boobs rapidly deflating but all else ok. Hope the swimming and zumba classes are helping!

 

[ditzeeblonde]

Not sur if I qualify as a big loser but average 4 stone in 4 months post op

After answering a question about expected weight loss and seeing some people say a stone a month lost etc i have a few questions for the big losers out there...

Seriously now and please answer honestly:

1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things? I'm amazed at how well/much I can eat. Apart from the odd foaming after eating there's no difference to how I'd eat before. I don't dump & over Christmas endulged in a little of everything if I had the space!

2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate? Now I'm glad I don't dump so that I can socialise & eat 'normally' in front of people (haven't told many about my op so this helps), I do wish my capacity was a bit smaller but if I'm losing a stone a month do I really want that???

3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower? I have never had loose skin before & have done vlcd where I have lost quicker than post op but I'm older now & have had kids plus this is sustainable. I only started getting loose skin after my op & I think alot of this is down to not being able to drink water in the vast amounts I did before as this helps the elasticity.

I do look at my skin & think it doesn't look pretty, my tummys saggy, top of my thighs are disappointing & I'm not sure I'll ever be able to wear sleeveless tops.... am I ever likely to wear something that would reveal all of these parts of my body? Hell no!!

I'm hoping with time it will get better but I still have just under 3 stone to loose..

Sorry to hijack your thread Julie but can I ask the Big Losers another question?
How are you doing it? Do you feel you're eating plenty?

I feel like I eat more than enough infact too much at times but in reality its tiny compared to what I had before, Christmas was the eye opener to this!

I do keep a really strict check on my carbs, with PCOS, diabetes & a love for Atkins its always done me well, although I am trying to up it now so that my body can start eating more normally on a day to day basis
I'm seriously wondering if I'm not eating enough and therefore slowing my weight loss because of it?

My calorie intake ranges between 800-1000 cals per day so I'm probably not getting enough either, I do think (if possible) a day a week of shocking yr body, high cal days does help yr body from going into starvation mode but if you dump badly & have tight restriction thats pretty tricky!!


Any sensible advice much appreciated.
I know i shouldn't compare, but I feel a bit fed up seeing my weight loss in comparison to others.

Sorry I've kind of rambled but I hope that a couple of bits might help someone. xx

 

[lotsabeefy]

After answering a question about expected weight loss and seeing some people say a stone a month lost etc i have a few questions for the big losers out there...

Seriously now and please answer honestly:

1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things?

2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate?

3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower?

Hi Julie
I can eat most things, although still cant tolerate bread too well.
I honestly dont know if my skin would have been better if i had lost the weight slower as my weight had gotten to such a point that my skin had lost most of its elasticity ant way.
I can hide most of it except my apron which is pretty awful, one day when i'm feeling brave i'll put some pics onxxxxx

 

[lotsabeefy]

Sorry to hijack your thread Julie but can I ask the Big Losers another question?
How are you doing it? Do you feel you're eating plenty?
I'm seriously wondering if I'm not eating enough and therefore slowing my weight loss because of it?

Any sensible advice much appreciated.
I know i shouldn't compare, but I feel a bit fed up seeing my weight loss in comparison to others.

Eat lots of protien and stay away from the carbs xxxx oh and excercise like a crazy person xx

BTW Grace i think your weight loss is great and yours Julie xxxx

 

[simplylucy]

Do I come into the fast looser category I wonder?

1. I have very tight restriction. I tolerate what I eat well but can sometime only manage the tiniest of portions, as in 4 or 5 tea spoonfuls.
I am a mega sensitive dumper so I'm extra paranoid about sugar levels, this makes getting enough calories in quite difficult at times.
For savoury foods I can eat pretty much anything, apart from rice and pasta. I do seem ok with a tiny amount of pasta in a salad but it must be fridge cold!

2. Definatley not, I'm over the moon that I'm a very sensitive dumper, I'd never have done this well if I'd been able to eat things high in sugar. Sometimes I wish my restriction wasn't quite so tight, bit gutting to have too leave such lovely food on my plate! I only have to look in a mirror and that gutted feeling passes very quickly!

3. I'm actually really shocked at how well my skin is doing to be honest! I'm over half way now and I know I have a long way to go but so far so good. I know my tummy is going to be a problem, covered in stretch marks and an apron from having 4 children (3 sections) my battle scars, so it'll always look a bit odd but easily covered!

1a. Not too sure how I'm loosing big amounts! I just eat, have to remind myself to eat, and carry on with normal life!

1b. I'm not eating enough. I'm managing between 500 and 700 calories per day. My restriction is such that even eating a main meal can some times only add 100 calories to my daily intake. I do try to snack more on mini cheese or sliced meat but this isn't possible at work, if I work a full day then I really struggle to get over 500 calories.

I hope my answers help, sorry they aren't laid out well, I'm using my iPhone as my laptop has gone go heaven!

Comparing our weight loss is a natural thing. I think we should all have our age and occupation in our signatures so we can appreciate different lifestyles when comparing!

I'm 32, single mum to 4 children aged 12, 11, 9 and 6. I am a childminder and work in a pre-school!

 

[RoseA]

I can tolerate most things but I'm also a bit of a coward and think I might be restricting myself more than I need to - eg I don't even try to eat bread so don't know if I can tolerate it or not ! I prefer fish to meat now as it's less dense. I've never felt the physical restriction people talk about though - I just know when I've had enough. In the earlier days my nose used to run when I was full ! I don't think I'm eating enough actually and a couple of weeks logging my food on Myfitnesspal has shown I'm having less than 1000 calories a day.

I have dumped a couple of times and didn't like it so I rigorously avoid sugar, but I think I'm becoming more tolerant to it (I'm 8 months out now).

I'm over 50 and post menopause so my skin has lost it's elasticity and my boobs went south years ago anyway. They are completely flat and although I'm now in a size 36 bra I need a G cup to fold them into. However I just bought a bikini for holiday which is a 34H !!!! (see what I mean about curves ?!) I have bingo wings and saggy thighs. My tum is like a rugby ball and looks a bit out of place on what is now becoming a slender frame. It seems to carry a bit of fat still so I don't know if it will disappear in time. I've never had kids and it's not been stretched by pregnancy so I guess it might be harder to lose.

BUT... I still enjoy food and eating out, love my new shape, love the way I can dress it in fitted clothes for my womanly curves (there's that word again...), and if people have a problem with me exposing my bingo wings and saggy thighs then they need to get a life.... !!

 

[Amrac1]

I have lost just over 12 stone in just over 10 months.
Food - I cant tolerate bread, red meat, cold meat, and even chicken on a bad day. However I avoid rice and pasta.
I eat lots of cheese my fav is light philly and cheddar cheese. (again as my calorie intake is low I dont worry too much re the chedder). I also eat bite sized shredded wheat or redi brek for brekkie. This is a bowl full. I also eat pitta breads with philly for lunch or soup. I snack on brazil nuts and baby bels!
I dont miss any of my old foods and in fact I relish the fact that I dont want them.
Loose skin is becoming an issue - I expected it on my tummt but not on the tops of my legs. Would it be better if I had lost weight slower? Maybe but I am exercising very regularly. Also running after 4 children all day!

I didnt set out to be a 'big loser' - in fact the main reason I had surgery was to send my diabetes into remission. For me the weight loss was a bonus at the time. Now it is important. I think we all eat and exercise what we can/want to. As lifelong dieters we know about food and what we should eat. Any advice I give is what works for me but it wouldnt necessarily work for anyone else. So I think whether we have lost 1, 2 12 20 stone we should all be congratulated and we should all be proud of ourselves. So well done to all.
xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Karlos]

After answering a question about expected weight loss and seeing some people say a stone a month lost etc i have a few questions for the big losers out there...

Seriously now and please answer honestly:

1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things?

Yes most things I can eat ok, though I am very restrictive as to what I will eat. I don't do sugars, I don't do fats, I eat pretty healthily. I still measure out portions and don't eat to restriction as I never feel full.


2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate?

No I am fine with what I can and can't eat. Sometimes I feel sad that there are foods that I miss that I won't eat but that is my choice so no I don't feel dissatisfied



3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower?

I really don't know if it would have made a difference. Mine isn't that bad despite losing 232 pounds so I guess I've been lucky in that respect

 

[Mixman]

Seriously now and please answer honestly:

1. How is your eating now? As in do you tolerate food well? Can you eat most things? Still pretty good although I have far too many crisps. I try and eat more veg than I ever have done in my life. I tolerate food pretty well if I have it, it's just the thought of fatty foods especially, puts me off having them. Fish and chips etc.

2. Are you ever dissatisfied with 'what' you are able to tolerate or not tolerate? Not disappointed at all

3. Do you think your loose skin would be as bad if you'd lost it slower? Probably because I'm male, it's not something I worry about. Same issue as when I was bigger, hate my moobs

 

[Bev]

I'm just loving this thread... one thing my wls family have in common... you are all 'tremendous' and thank you for sharing so honestly... love you all and looking forward so much to seeing so many of you in July.

Julie, a brilliant thread... thank you so much for thinking of this one... I keep reading it over and over again, it's just great, for us all whichever stage we are at, it is providing understanding and information from those 'who are wearing the tee shirt!' ... well done everyone xxx

 

[ravelling]

I'm not sure if I'm a big loser and definitely a slower loser now. I'm fighting a post-Christmas plateau and I'm frightened that this might be it for me. I'd really like to lose at least another stone, then I ask myself "Could you live with being a size 14 for the rest of your life?" and the answer has to be yes.

My weight loss has slowed right down over the last few months. I eat larger portions and more carbs than I did initially, so I guess part of my answer is there. I don't eat big portions and try to avoid anything more than 10% sugar. I avoid fatty foods from habit. I'm quite happy with the things I can and do eat. It doesn't affect my life now - for the first time ever, I'm not governed by thoughts of food. My family accept how things are and don't have a problem, either.

I don't exercise enough and am planning to change that this year. I don't drink enough water in the winter months, either as I hate and can't tolerate ice-cold drinks now.

My skin is pretty bad - my tummy is wrinkly, saggy and yet, still has quite a lot of fat! My boobs are the saddest things you ever saw I'm with RoseA on having to roll them up into my bra! I don't think that losing weight any slower would have had any impact on the skin - I think it's the length of time I was fat and my age now that are the bigger factors.