VSGAnn2014

I'm not unsympathetic. I'm new at maintenance, too -- I reached goal about 7 weeks ago and have dipped down 4-5 more pounds since then. I'm now struggling to allow myself to eat more (1600 - 1700 calories daily) so as not to lose more weight. It is an odd head trip -- this trying to stay in a bounce range and not to lose more weight. We don't have a lot of experience at doing this, eh? But I'm sure we will figure all this out. Like we figured out how to work our sleeves to lose the weight.

Coming back to this thread after commenting on it 3 months ago. Now, all I think about this topic is this: Why does it matter to "you" what others want to do? Let them do what they want to do. And you do what you want to do. This is only one of millions of topics / decisions about which there's no universal right or wrong. Peace out!

Roger ... Beef / turkey Jerky Greek yogurt cheese Doesn't take a lot for me -- just a serving. On the cracker front, the only ones I now eat are Wasa multigrain (high fiber) crackers.

@dena1258 I would venture a guess that your "well meaning friends" don't know squat about weight loss surgery. You'll do fine. Just do what your surgeon advises. Don't get fancy. Don't overthink it. Just do each day what you're supposed to do then. The weight loss phases go faster than you'd ever believe. Soon you'll have more energy than you've had in decades!

Yeah, there's certainly a lot of work to be done in maintenance. And it's not just around what the scale says. It looks to me like you're uncovering some issues that it's time to address. Your anxiety over what are minor, un-serious, not everyday, but still normal eating behaviors seems out of proportion to anything you did or even the circumstances of your weekend. Every day cannot be the same. How boring it would be if it were, eh? The excitement, the adventure, the fun of life usually comes on those days and eras when we're not living a "normal" life. So unless you want to sew yourself up in a mummy case or cloister yourself in a a virtual post-bariatric food nunnery, you'll have to learn how to navigate unusual circumstances. And by that, I also mean -- learn how to try new things and celebrate life appropriately. Maintenance -- it's a whole other thing. P.S. I've always thought it made sense for anyone who'd lost all their weight to gain X pounds and then lose X pounds. We should not live the rest of lives in mortal fear of gaining and then being unable to lose 5 pounds. Or 10. Or even 20.

Wonderful post. And a great perspective. Congrats on all your NSVs. We'll hear more about your Survivor adventure, I hope.

Shaking my head. A month after VSG surgery I had gall bladder surgery. The anesthesiologist said just before we went into the operating theater, "Wow. You don't look big enough to qualify for bariatric surgery." And he didn't mean it in a nice or a good way. On that date, thanks to pre-op diets and the first month of post-op eating, I'd already lost 30 pounds. I just said, "You should have seen me 3 months ago." Jeez -- what else can you say to an asshole who's just about to put you under general anesthesia?

I'm 10 months and 5 days post-op. My highest weight was 235. Surgery day weight (after my own 2.5 month diet and the doc's 2-week pre-op diet) was 216. In 8.5 months post-op, I lost another 66 pounds. And now 1.5 months later I've lost another 4-5 pounds (am now stabilized and fluctuating a few pounds, as I'm learning what maintenance for me is like right now). So call it 90 pounds lost in almost 13 months. Yes, it's easier to lose fast during the first 6 months post-op. But IMHO it doesn't matter how long it takes you to lose your excess weight. Here's what matters: (1) that you lose all the weight you want to lose and (2) that you learn how to and then maintain your weight loss. When you start on this journey you are apt to worry about stuff that you have little control over -- things like (1) how fast will I lose? (2) when can I eat "normally" again? (3) will I have loose skin? (4) how much of my hair will fall out and how bad will it look? Although I'm a huge fan of self-education, when taken too far those kinds of questions just feed anxiety that detracts from your own power to control the only things that matter: (1) am I eating enough Protein? (2) am I drinking enough Water? (3) am I taking my meds and vitamins/minerals? (4) am I becoming more active and exercising enough (for me) and doing the right kinds of exercise (for me)? (5) am I surrounding myself with people who support my weight loss and staying away from those who undermine my progress? THOSE are the things that matter. Your hair will grow back. Your skin will do what it wants to do -- and then it will change for several years after you stop losing weight and maintain your weight. And you don't ever want to eat like a "normal" person ever again (consider that 70% of American adults are overweight or obese -- THAT'S how "normal" people eat these days ... ugh!). Focus on what matters. Refuse to obsess about what doesn't matter.

It could be a leak. It could be gas. It could be something else or nothing. But you won't know unless you get examined medically.

I agree that you've lost a lot of weight very fast. Faster than me. I don't think I'm fat anymore. But feeling relatively slim is also a new shift in perspective for me. I wear 8s and 10s right now. Not 6s. I think if you're really wearing 6s and feel fat ... that's a little strange. Sixes are very, very small!

@@Babbs ... I weigh things out pretty well -- and have also learned the sizes of certain kinds and amounts of foods because I've been doing it so long now. If I see 4-5 confirmations of a food in the MFP database, I trust the data. When MFP gives me "zero confirmations" I look for corroboration of the cals / nutrients elsewhere. If I can't find listed in the MFP database a specific dish from a specific restaurant, then I just look for that dish or a similar dish from a comparable restaurant. I try not to let it make me crazy. Bottom line -- it has worked for me. I'm still using MFP and probably will for the first 6 months of maintenance. I have a lot to learn still -- am only 1.5 months into maintenance. And yes, I've lost another 5 pounds past my goal. But I'm also now lifting weights and doing strength machines at the gym, so I expect I'll gain some muscle weight. Trust me, I do NOT want to turn into a skinny minny. And I doubt I will.

Some thoughts about Peanut Butter ... How many of you have measured out an even tablespoon of peanut butter? Having done that recently, I was surprised to see that a tablespoon of peanut butter is about half the amount my brain thought a tablespoon of PB would be. And since one tablespoon of peanut butter is very high (95 calories - yikes!) for only 4 grams of Protein, I've decided that two tablespoons of peanut butter (what it takes to thinly cover a piece of bread or a Wasa multigrain cracker) is simply not worth 190 calories it "costs" me.

The doctor's name was "Dr. Kelly," the OP said. The table broke when a different patient (not the OP) was on it -- so said the insane surgeon. Honestly, for a surgeon to say something like this in a FB group says to me: This surgeon is typing under the influence of something -- alcohol or drugs. Seriously. Not kidding. At all.

I don't think of chili as a slider food at all, since the kind of chili I make has a lot of ground round in it and black Beans (great source of plant Protein and high fiber). It also fills me up and sticks to my ribs. I can't eat any more of it than the pure meat Proteins.

Fascinating thread. Some insightful comments here. @@livvsmum ... You are beautiful!

Dense proteins means high protein, low carb foods -- like meat, fish, fowl. Less dense but still good protein foods are Greek yogurt, cheese, skim milk. And, of course, protein drinks.

It's therapy time. I started seeing a shrink a year ago before my surgery, and it has been very helpful. Binging and other abuses of food don't get better just by wishing them away. Best wishes.

My mouth is still hanging open at your surgeon's FB comment. Unbelievable. I think your new approach is a good one. Focus on Protein, Water, a few healthy veggies. Avoid all processed carbs and (for now) fruits. Move a little more every day. Also continue to focus mentally on your long-term reasons and goals of health, a better life, etc. Fantasize about all that, engage in positive self-talk, hang out here and read lots of success stories. Remind yourself of what a marvelous opportunity this is for us all. Are you eating slower, chewing very well, not drinking with meals? Do you know about all those behaviors?

Sorry I didn't read more carefully .. I now see you have been sleeved. Best wishes to you.

You are so not ready for weight loss surgery right now. Wait until you're ready to change your life. WLS by itself doesn't fix weight problems. You have to do so much more than take a deep breath and count backwards until the anesthetic takes effect. Not being snarky.

Met with my shrink today, and we continued the discussion about, "Now what?!" We decided that during the next month I'll identify the new metrics I want to track re fitness and strength building. During the weight losing phase I focused on the scale, my daily calories, and my Protein grams as my prime metrics. I won't stop tracking those. But it's time to expand my focus to include some new, different metrics. I've gotta think about this!

My surgeon approved me for coffee at 10 days post-op. I now drink 1/2 cup to 1 cup of coffee in the morning with the same amount of hot skim milk. I had no alcohol until 5.5 months post-op. Since then I have 4 ounces of wine 4-5 days a week. I reached my weight loss goal at 8.5 months post-op. I'm now 4-5 pounds below goal. Doing great.

For the record, @@joatsaint is a guy, not a "lady." Not sure any of the other are actually "ladies" either, but ....

You guys are wasting your time. You can eat everything you want later on -- but not all on the same day and not as much as you used to eat. And by that time, you won't want to eat like you used to. FTR, I didn't do food funerals. I was just so ready to change my life for the better, it seemed like a terrible idea and sort of disgusting.

I think many people are in your shoes. I have dieted successfully in the past, but have gone back up every time, ever higher. I started at just under 40 BMI and am now just below goal. I think VSG surgery is an amazing miracle. It won't fix you. But it will give you a real fighting chance to fix yourself. And that makes all the difference.