Georgia

Thanks for the advice. I was weighing everyday and then slacked off. I need to just get back in the habit and I agree- 1-5 is much easier than 10 and easier on the mindset too!

Well, I'm going for confessional! 16 months out - hit goal around March 2011 (101 lbs down) I did pretty well maintaining until somewhere around July or so, It seems that I started getting really hungry again. Every two-three hours or so. And re-acquired the taste for junk food - and have given in to it at times!! (a lot!) I have gained about 10 lbs. I've got to get myself back in line quickly! I like my size 8 skirts too much to gain back up! Have any of you had the resting metabolic test done that lets you know how many calories are average for you to eat without gaining? I would REALLY like to make sure of this. I was typically having 2 scrambled eggs with a slice of 2% cheese added with a couple slices of bacon for Breakfast. No bread. A Smart One or low cal dinner or a couple fat free turkey or beef franks with another slice of 2% cheese melted on them. Nuts for Snacks and some fruit. Then i my grandkids and daughter moved in and I had to start buying more "stuff" to have in the house. I found that I could easily eat granola bars, chips, frozen pizza!!! I am really trying to get back on track and had started really exercising more (jog/walk 2 - 2.5 miles 4 times a week) then my knees started really bothering me. (I'm almost 58!) So going back to just walking - no jogging. HELP! Any tips you can give I'll take them. I KNOW what to do - just need to get motivated to do it. I've quickly realized that the "head" games STILL can control and I am definitely an emotional eater. Good to have a group to whine to! lol I think it was just so EASY for me to lose the weight I thought i would just be able to sail through life with no effort at all. Dumb!

Yes. My problem is that I am snacking toomuch because I seem to get hungry every 2-3 hours. Weird too ecause until a few months ago I never thought of food and lost so quickly and easily. Just got to get my mind straightened out now.

What are and how much do you guys eat each day and how often?

I also think About food all the time and can't seem to keep myself from snacking. I am seriously realizing that getting thin was the easy part. What do most of you eat and snack on at maintenance? I have allowed myself to gain 10 pounds!

I've never heard that on any plan

What's some updates on maintenance from you fellow VSGers who have gotten to goal? I'm 15 mo out, reached goal and trying to hang on. REALLY , REALLY experiencing so much more hunger right now, I can't figure out what has happened. I did let myself fall into the habit of snacking on some empty calories for a while. Been trying for the last couple weeks to switch to nuts, fruit, etc with lowered carbs (not completed low carb because I get too jumpy). Any ideas on why this is happening? I can eat breakfast (was egg/bacon/cheese now SF oatmeal) and within an hour want to eat something else. Same with other meals. HELP!

You are darling!!!!!! Can't wait to see that baby girl!

Well, I'm 15 mos out and I DEFINITELY have the turkey neck! AND face wrinkles! (sigh) BUT, I'm a 100 lbs lighter and can wear a size 8 skirt and 10-12 top so I guess that's okay! Lol . I'm with the rest - I'd love to have a lifestyle lift!

Well, I joined thinking I had read "<30 OR goal"! I am Georgia, 57 years old, started at 250, 5'8" and now 15 months later at 150-55. (goal was 150) Really wanted a smaller group to "stick to" for encouragement and sharing of similar experiences, goals and issues. Hopefully, ya'll will let me stay! I want to be ACCOUNTABLE, too, Dawn! Finding it much easier and easier to snack and put on a few pounds (and then back off and re-lose them). So hopefully, this will help me stay true to myself and my lifetime goal. Even though we can eat a whole lot less than we did before VSG, it is very true that you can REGAIN quickly if you eat the wrong things! Thanks !

Okay, I SOOO needed to read this! Thanks, TSB, for being honest. I am 15 months out and reached goal (150) about last March or so. I've been able to keep most of it off but have gained about 7-8 lbs (depending on day!) And I KNOW it's because I have been snacking, snacking, snacking! I really seem to get hungry now almost immediately after eating but I know also that I am drinking during meals, and not following all the rules I once did. I truly thought (like someone else said) that I had this down and would never gain again! Yeah, right! I got on here today to research HUNGER since I am concerned about my seeminly never ending hunger. Now, I think maybe it's because I am not getting FULL enough at meals with drinking liquids also. I am also an emotional eater/snacker and boy, have I had the stress in my family life in the last 6 months or so! Thanks everyone for the encouragement I get from this site and having the ability to "bond" with other VSGers. I really want to lose down to about 140 (now at 158) so that I would have 5-10 pounds to "play" with and still feel good about myself. Doesn't it seem unreal that now that we are SOOO much lighter that our minds have adjusted to the fact and we start feeling bad about ourselves when we are up a FEW pounds?? Sure proves the point of what got us into this in the first place - MIND - not just FOOD!

Just informational I am 15 months out and at goal (lost 100lbs and trying to keep it off! lol) As for me, the taste of SOME foods returned after a few months (I've eaten fruit from the beginning) but your taste buds DEFINITELY change and some foods you dearly adored prior to VSG, don't EVER taste the same. In some instances, that's a BLESSING, in others, not so much! lol

Do u have a before and after pic of your facelift? Very interested. 

Great, great great post!!! So true. I realized after losing to goal that in reality that unless I take control of my MIND and my mouth, I will regain weight! Feels so good to reach that goal that you NEVER thought you could reach and then you relax a bit! Becomes very easy to just relax and "let it slide!" lol It is NOT a magic bullet and I was one of the lucky ones who lost weight quickly and without much effort on my part AND I was 56 years old!!!! NOW, I just want to remain where I am - enjoy my life and be NORMAL! (If you know what I mean! ha!) Good luck to all!!

Way to go!!!! I totally agree with you -one year and 2 months out - total loss of 101 lbs and no meds, no c pap machine, no high blood pressure! As you, I have gained about 5 lbs over last month from vacation etc but am losing that now!!!! I have to watch my "snacks" now because I have a tendency to want to snack on "sliders" more than when losing for some reason. Good luck in the future!

It will be. Worth it! I haven't regretted it once!

How do you have your resting calorie tested? I would lobe to know what mine is now that I am at goal.

Lots of suggestions out there (different threads) but mainly, I am told, any major surgery you experience results in hair loss. I can attest to this. My hair loss has been BIG and I am 13 months out and at goal. I THINK, hopefully, it has slowed down but my hair is probably 1/2 the volume it was pre-surgery. Really! BUT 101 pounds lighter and that's okay with me!

Way to go Friends! We "50s" can do it ad do it well!

MLD, that is a VERY good point! lol I, myself, can see the "never" from some people's standpoint and really, if we are honest with ourselves, it should most likely be the same with all of us. NEVER! I'm just not sure I'm that strong! ha!

I admit I have caved to the diet coke cravings on occasion. The only thing I can tell is that I seem to burp more but there are days its just a Diet Coke day! Like Tiffykins, never is a long time. I don't make a habit but I do allow myself some sugar and am at maintenance. Just figuring out now calories I can have per day to maintain without falling into bad habits again.

No I don't take a ppi. Should I?

Are we sisters from the same mother? Lol. I think exactly the same way and then wind up grazing on wrong snacks