Re: set point

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01/29/2000 6:50:21 AM Pacific Standard Time,

rudnicki@... writes:

> anyhow, thats what I know of set point - and with wls I

> think our plateaus mimic those set points and it takes a

> huge effort of concentrated determination to move us down

> the scale and get the next set point.

> and then of course there is the theory that there is no such

> thing as set point.

> Sue

I used to believe in set points . . . but I can honestly say that I don't

think I have one. Since adulthood and going on my first diet, I have never

been any particular weight for longer than a few weeks. Since the bypass, I

no longer weight myself unless it is at the doctors office . . . that way I

avoid the " head trips " and number focus. I have no idea if I plateau or hit

the so called set points. I am hoping that eventually my appetite and

metabolism find my natural weight . . . or 'set point.' I have heard that at

your natural weight it is hard to gain weight or lose weight . . . you just

kinda stay the same . . . wouldn't that be nice?

Vicki in CA

[Guest guest]

I have a friend that used to say, that you can only gain so much weight in a

day . . . believing her we used to go on fast food frenzies . . . thousands

of calories in a single day, LOL. From my understanding of the way the

energy-metabolism cycle works, all changes in intake or energy output need to

be sustained over a period of time in order to produce a metabolic change.

So, that means that one day of exercising, or one day of overeating or under

eating with not produce a significant change. This makes a lot of sense to

me . . .

Vicki in CA

[Guest guest]

>>>>

>Could someone explain to me about

>this " set point thing " melissa J

>>>>>

I definitely don't have a medical definition of it or

anything, but I have had doctors tell me the same thing

about set point. from what I understand our bodies have

certain places - set points in weight - that they are

comfortable at. For me, I spent many years in adolescence

and young adulthood in the 170-180 range and that seemed to

be a set point for me. I also spent a decade of time at

240-250 and each time I was pregnant that was where my

weight ended up at. Each time I dieted down from the 240

range where did I end up? 170-180. over my 40+ years, of

which 30 were spent dieting in some form or fashion, I lost

50-100 pounds 6 times and lots of little amounts all in

between. [obviously always gaining it back] but my body no

matter what diet or method, always had places on the scale

it seemed comfortable at and thats where it went. I had one

other place the scale went a few very brief times and that

was 140 - very very brief and very very few. when wls

became a reality I hoped my ending weight would find that so

called set point since many doctors in my area seem to use

'set point' as an excuse for everything - including my

hypothyroidism. when we moved here I went without thyroid

medication for almost 2 yr. because it took 6 doctors before

I could get one to re-prescribe my medication and actually

do a blood test - most insisted I was an obsessed 140 pound

woman who was freaking out over gaining weight [70#in 7mo.

w/ no meds] and was just reaching my set point and should

accept that. I should have sued the pants off of every one

of them when I ended up hospitalized by doctor #6 when my

blood work came back so low, my thyroid not functioning.

[but that's another story]

anyhow, thats what I know of set point - and with wls I

think our plateaus mimic those set points and it takes a

huge effort of concentrated determination to move us down

the scale and get the next set point.

and then of course there is the theory that there is no such

thing as set point.

Sue

[Guest guest]

>

>I used to believe in set points . . . but I can honestly say that I don't

>think I have one. Since adulthood and going on my first diet, I have never

>been any particular weight for longer than a few weeks. Since the bypass, I

>no longer weight myself unless it is at the doctors office . . . that way I

>avoid the " head trips " and number focus. I have no idea if I plateau or hit

>the so called set points. I am hoping that eventually my appetite and

>metabolism find my natural weight . . . or 'set point.' I have heard that at

>your natural weight it is hard to gain weight or lose weight . . . you just

>kinda stay the same . . . wouldn't that be nice?

>Vicki in CA

>

It was interesting to read about not ever staying the same weight as a

pre op... I resemble that remark very much! <s> ... I costs a lot to

keep clothes in every size for the different seasons...

Currently as a post op, I *seem* to have a wide range of calories I

can take in which do not seem to affect my weight up or down... I go

from 1500 to 3000 without much effect it seems... 1500 or less feels

like dieting for me ... I but I don't seem to lose weight from it...

I try reduced carbs, exercising, cutting sugar, more fiber/veggies, a

various methods, but my weight stays about 160. If I do 3000 for many

days in a row, it may go up 3-4 lbs, but then I do 2000 & the weight

goes back to 160. I can get to 158 but its hard to get lower or maybe

I need to be more diligent for longer. I'm still playing with all the

variables. Also, I know that when I was losing weight, I ate more

calories than I do now... it seems that my range of 1500-3000 before

experiencing weight gain is narrowing as time goes on.

Trish

distal rny 9/97

5'8 " start 315; now 160

[Guest guest]

I am hoping that eventually my appetite and metabolism find

my natural weight . . . or 'set point.' I have heard that

at your natural weight it is hard to gain weight or lose

weight . . . you just kinda stay the same . . . wouldn't

that be nice?

Vicki in CA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

I have been the same weight for several months now - like 4

I think and just go up and down with pms by a few pounds but

basically am the same all the time regardless of more or

less water, more or less protein, more or less carbs - I

hope my body has found it's natural weight or set point and

I hope I stay here.

any grads who are more than 16mo out and who have been at

the same weight for any length of time care to share - are

you at or near goal and for how long have you maintained a

set weight and do you feel like your body is just going to

stay right where it's at........ or do you fear with time it

will go higher since we have all heard about those dreaded

10-15# we supposedly gain......

sue

[Guest guest]

I am nearly 16 months postop and my weight has been around 168-170 since my

hernia repair and tummy tuck in November. I am working out and putting on

some muscle, but not gaining a lot of weight. Remember that I am very distal

and have a lot of malabsorbtion. I eat few CARBS and this helps keep the

weight down. When I eat too many CARBS or fiber I spend a lot of time in the

bathroom getting rid of them!

Bob Altman

220 Pounds Gone Forever, But Not Forgotten!

[Guest guest]

I think thats pretty funny about the gaining weight in a day ) !!

.... was a nice chuckle!

>From: HaaseVP@...

>

>I have a friend that used to say, that you can only gain so much weight in a

>day . . . believing her we used to go on fast food frenzies . . . thousands

>of calories in a single day, LOL. From my understanding of the way the

>energy-metabolism cycle works, all changes in intake or energy output need to

>be sustained over a period of time in order to produce a metabolic change.

>So, that means that one day of exercising, or one day of overeating or under

>eating with not produce a significant change. This makes a lot of sense to

>me . . .

>Vicki in CA

>

[Guest guest]

<< I am nearly 16 months postop and my weight has been around 168-170 since

my

hernia repair and tummy tuck in November. I am working out and putting on

some muscle, but not gaining a lot of weight. Remember that I am very distal

and have a lot of malabsorbtion. I eat few CARBS and this helps keep the

weight down. When I eat too many CARBS or fiber I spend a lot of time in the

bathroom getting rid of them!

Bob Altman

220 Pounds Gone Forever, But Not Forgotten!

**********

Just remember if you are trying to build muscle your body will need more

carbs. Your body needs a mix of proteins, fats and carbs to properly build

muscle tissue. If you are eating mostly protein and fat your body will not

have all of the building blocks to build muscle. You need to increase your

carbs to create enough glycogen. A good mix (I think) for us is about 40%

carbs, 40% protein and about 20% fat. Since you are not having problems

digesting fat you could probably do more fat and a little less carbs but the

mix should be almost 50-50 carbs and protein (a little heavier on the protein

since with our particular surgery style we metabolize carbs a little more

than protein). I am still working on the exact mix but right now I am doing

heavy bodybuilding so I eat about 200 grm carb, 150 grm protein and about 45

grm fat. I think this is just about the right mix for my current level of

activity. Maybe Charlotte (our nutritionist) can advise you on the best mix

to start.

I'm still trying to figure this one out myself!

Betty D.