ms.sss

5'2", ♀️10m PO, maintaining 120.6 lbs this morning So yeah, apparently I gained 3+ lbs overnight. A few months ago this would have had me planning a real low calorie day (or days) to bring the number down immediately. I now know this is likely just a fluctuation and I have no need to be too concerned unless it keeps going up over several days. I've come a long way, baby. With that said, my food intake at a bar last night are not for the faint of heart. Menu for Yesterday, Monday Sep 16: Totals --- 3390 cals --- 169g protein --- 182g NET carbs --- 214g fat 9:00am (0 cals) peppermint tea + ½ stevia packet 12:00pm (280 cals) salad greens + cucumber + capers + vinaigrette 1 oz cheddar cheeese 1 oz smoked turkey breast ½ oz almonds 7:30pm (917 cals) ¼ cup scalloped potatoes 125g quiche Lorraine ¼ tbsp pickled ginger 30g seaweed salad 7oz various sashimi ⅓ moon cake 10:00pm - 2:00am (2100 cals) 1 mini chocolate chip cookie ¾ cup trail mix (almonds, cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate) ½ order of nachos (tortilla chips + salsa + sour cream + cheddar cheese + jalepenos 3 shots of rose gin Exercise: 5km run (I've given up trying to do the 10K again for now. Too much pressure!!!) 15 mins strength training (arms)

I hated it too when I started (and still do, to be honest), but it makes such a difference (the condition of my arms just after 3-ish months of strength training makes me super happy). Once you start seeing the results, it will suddenly become easier . Don't forget to take before pics!!

While I don't notice any "enlargement" in my lower abdomen since increasing carbs (ie., food and drink shenanigans), I have noticed "hardening" (most likely bloating) there...which I actually don't mind cuz it makes it look nicer/firmer, lol. My measurements are still slowly getting smaller everywhere except my thighs, which seem to be staying the same or possibly getting a tiny bit bigger...?

LOLZ @Healthy_life2, @FluffyChix, if I have somehow managed to gaslight you into thinking I have a body like THAT, then my work here is done. *drops mic* 😂

^^ Yeah, what @Healthy_life2 said. Best way to find out is to play around with your calories, track that and your exercise levels and see what happens. It took me about 3 months to figure out I maintain probably around 1900 with my exercise routine, and I'm 5'2", 117lbs.

❤️❤️❤️

They do look comfy. I'd wear those to lounge around in for sure, but I prefer tight, tight, stuff when working out, keeps everything in place...lol

I want these.

For me its not so much the fit but they way the fabric was sewn together...the stripes don't line up at the pleats, nor do does the mitering at the waistband...its a little distracting...though I'm sure your fabulousness would be the rightful focal point if they were in a solid colour or different print (or if the stripes lined up better)

Love games! 5'2" female, 10 months post-op, in maintenance: Water: A+ Water is easy for me, I loved drinking water before surgery, and still do. My water bottle is an appendage to my arm. Protein: A I used to have to supplement with a protein shake regularly, then occasionally, now only rarely. But I basically always meet/exceed my requirement. Food Choices: B+ I'm mostly on track to eat nutritiously, but am known to indulge once in a while (but only once I got into maintenance) Portion Control: C+ I am not as vigilant in pre-portioning my food as I used to, so there are times here and there that I eat too much, and get rewarded with foamies/barfies. Mindful Eating: C+ (See Portion Control above). I find that this is an issue especially when socializing. Exercise: A I've been really good about getting some sort of exercise in every day. The majority of the time it is planned/dedicated run/workout/class, but even if I don't do any of those, I'll be doing something that gets me off my ass and moving. Vitamins: A+ Never miss them. Self Image: A I am so full of myself its disgusting.

ahhhhhh...a GREEN smoothie. Totally forgot about those, I had dessert on the brain. I have all these ingredients. Once my avocado ripens a little more am going to make this!

5'2", ♀️10m PO, maintaining 117.3 lbs this morning. It was a cottage getaway weekend with friends and I was prepared to eat and drink out of the norm and I pretty much did. Guilt-free, may I add (getting better at this, not sure if this is a good or bad thing) WARNING: Sunday (yesterday) was a food/drink free-for-all and my not be suitable for all viewers. Fri Sep 13 --- 1136 cals --- 25g protein --- 94g NET carbs --- 60g fat Sat Sep 14 --- 1958 cals --- 100g protein --- 71g NET carbs --- 107g fat Menu for Yesterday, Sunday Sep 15: Totals --- 3519 cals --- 179g protein --- 172g NET carbs --- 254g fat 9:00am (276 cals) 2 cups coffee 2 strips bacon 1 square of dark chocolate pumpkin seeds 12:00pm (846 cals) salad greens + carrots + cucumber + Parmesan crisps Chunky blue cheese dressing + blue cheese crumble 2.5 oz of various cheese 3oz ribeye steak 2:00pm (465 cals) salad greens + green apple slices + vinaigrette ⅛ slice quiche Lorraine 3 gin and tonics 5:30pm (255 cals) ½ slice apple pie coffee 8:30pm (1677 cals) 1 slice quiche Lorraine 10 kale crisps with 2 tbsp of nutella 150g chicharron ¾ cup almonds 10g dark chocolate 1 gin and tonic Exercise: Friday: 1 hour hot yoga + 20 mins on the treadmill Saturday: NONE Sunday: NONE

ASIDE: Honestly, I love this forum. So good to read other's takes on the same issues. Now in terms of the current issue at hand, I guess my goal is to just feel good. And like the way I look in the mirror. Right now, I've got both. I am "sort of" maintaining at around 1900 average cals I think. I've been between 114 and 117 for the past 6 weeks, and staying at the upper end of this range for the past 2. However, I seem to still be getting smaller (i.e., losing inches)?? My clothes continue to get looser at certain areas, BUT I don't actually SEE any noticeable weight coming off myself these same past 6 weeks. If anything, I think I am rounding/filling out, especially in my face (which I like because I was looking pretty "sunken" before). I have never had a DEXA scan for the purposes of body fat determination, but my smart scale has me consistently at around 15-16% body fat since June so I don't think I'm building any huge amounts of muscle to explain the inch loss. Sooooo...I'm not really sure if I should up calories, change my exercise regime, do nothing or what, as I don't want my clothes to get looser, even if I don't actually SEE me getting noticeably skinnier. (also, just to be sure it just wasn't me, I asked Mr and the Kid and they too do not think I got any skinnier over the summer, and that my face looks much healthier because the sunken cheeks and eye sockets have filled in...I was calling myself Skelator for a while back then!). So yeah. I guess just like with everything else, I just gotta wait and see what happens, right?

Hahahahahaha I'm already wearing kids clothes. I've got my 13-year old's hand me downs (that she wore couple years ago) in my closet. Gap kids size 12-14. Abercrombie Kids size 12. I'm pretty short and lost all my boobs so it works 😂

YOWZA. You look phenomenal! HIgh five, lady ✋🏼

I know I keep saying this, but chicharron, baby! Crunchy, salty, high in protein, fat and ZERO carbs! Edit to add: of course probably only when you are out of the losing phase as its really high in calories...

Smoothie was definitely sweet. I put in a teaspoon of Stevia, which i realized after made it a little too sweet. Will cut the amount next time. I've never heard of a savory avocado smoothie...what would you put in it? ...and on the other note, a sugar-free Popsicle surely is OK, no matter what time..?

5'2", ♀️10m PO, maintaining 117.4 lbs this morning. Didn't eat past 7:30 last night! Yay! Menu for Yesterday, Thu Sep 12: Totals --- 1526 cals --- 117g protein --- 37g NET carbs --- 109g fat 9:00am (0 cals) peppermint tea + ½ Stevia packet 12:30pm (140 cals) salad greens + carrots + vinaigrette 90g pan fried chicken in butter 3:00pm (188 cals) salad greens + vinaigrette 11g almonds 100g pan fried chicken in butter 5:00pm (505 cals) avocado smoothie (130g avocado + 2 cups almond milk + 1 tsp Stevia) 50g chicharron 7:30pm (685 cals) 19g beef jerky 35g almonds 50g chicharron 125g green seedless grapes 20g dark chocolate Yesterday's Exercise: 15 mins strength training (arms) 15 mins strength training (core & but)

Question for the maintainers out there: how do you determine when its time to start weight loss/gain efforts or stay the same? I mean, do you have a specific amount over/under your maintenance weight that signals a time to get back to basics or increase calories? Or do you rely on what you see in the mirror? How your clothes fit? Body fat percentage? I am starting to think that how much I actually weigh may no longer be a good indicator of whether I should be losing/maintaining/gaining....

Same! Every. Single. Day. at least one of my meals is pan-fried/grilled chicken breast with salad! I recently gave in and got a Costco membership just so I can buy chicken breasts and salad greens in bulk.

@2Bsmaller18: give it a bit more time. Based on your menu post above, you were only at 1100 cals this past Tuesday (2 days ago!) Which, as discussed is most likely too low calories for you. Keep at 1400 for a couple more weeks (though more and more you sound like you are like me, and may need to go up to like 1900). Avocados. Switch your 2% milk to full fat. Red meats. Potatoes. Salmon/Oily Fish. Full-fat mayo in your chicken salad. It's hard. I had a difficult time mentally getting around the high cal stuff (still do a little). Keep at it. (and keep venting if you need to ❤️ )

This has happened to me 3 times now since surgery and each time was because I went to bed too soon after eating. Could this be the issue with you as well?

5'2", ♀️10m PO, maintaining 116.5 lbs this morning. I forgot to take my body measurement yesterday (Wednesdays are body measurement day for me), so I just pulled out the tape and made note of them now. Despite my weight being pretty much stable for the past few weeks, the inches seem to be still coming off (oh, boobs, why are you forsaking me?!?!). The one place that is starting to trend upward though are my things...must be all the running? This now has me thinking that if I take the butt exercises (which i HATE) more seriously, I can increase inches there too. Menu for Yesterday, Wed Sep 11: Totals --- 1600 cals --- 127g protein --- 60g NET carbs --- 104g fat 9:00am (0 cals) peppermint tea + ½ Stevia packet 1:45pm (285 cals) salad greens + vinaigrette 51g avocado 15g almonds 92g pan fried chicken in butter 4:30pm (364 cals) salad greens + carrots + vinaigrette 110g pan fried chicken in butter 40g chicharron ¼ leftover protein bar 6:30pm (413 cals) ½ cup hot & spicy peanuts ¼ cup cottage cheese ¼ cup raspberries ½ cup green seedless grapes 9:30pm (538 cals) 3 buffalo chicken wings 2 tbsp blue cheese dip 2 tbsp red hot sauce 49g chicharron ½ cup protein ice cream Yesterday's Exercise: 15 mins strength training (arms)

@FluffyChix, thanks for your sharing your point of view, its interesting to see your thought processes. I agree that the menu on this specific day was not ideal. Luckily these types of eating days are not the norm and come few and far between. Also, not sure about the anorexic categorization based on this one day's attempt to curb the snacking? Though in the end the conclusion was that snacking is needed anyway, so maybe this point is moot. Going to post yesterday's menu now, which is what I think is my happy medium... P.S. I also agree with you that I need to stop eating so late, its a bad habit I picked up on a vacation last month. I have been staying up longer now just to digest my food so I go to bed on a relatively empty stomach. Bedtime has consistently been about 2 or 3am for the past few weeks. I get up around 8am, so am not getting enough sleep, and am pretty tired by late afternoon (which Mr. thinks is why I have been gravitating towards sugar at the end of the day). A vicious cycle all of my own making! Need to work on that...