Lisalu

Maintenance is so tricky It sure is for me. I am at about 129 lbs now which I can live with. To stay there I see a nut, go to Overeaters Anonymous and eat no sweets. The weight is gone but the obsession is not. I tried the 5:2 and it just didn't work for me. I would binge on my food days. I know that's not what I was supposed to do, but somehow it set off my food obsession even more. It's too bad because I think intermittent fasting is healthy, but I can see that nothing is one-size fits all.

Perhaps it's a gift of my age, but I just don't care if some people in program object to my WLS. I'm a food addict--well more specifically a sugar addict and a compulsive eater. I was that at 200lbs and I'm still that at 130lbs. I need support if I am to maintain my food plan and stay healthy. For me that's OA right now. There will always be someone in program who objects to something I do. They may object to the fact that I take antidepressants, they may object to my understanding of HP, they may object to my WLS, they may object to my nutritionist's progress-not-perfection food plan. The thing is: they're not me. They don't necessarily understand my past, my reasons. I understand those things and I'm doing what I believe is best. What I do in the future may change based on my evolving understanding, but the best I can do now is seek the truth through prayer and meditation and follow the leadings I'm given. This is much easier for me because of a wonderful and supportive nutritionist. I can only afford to see her monthly but she keeps me on track. I'm eating better and not gaining, so I feel pretty successful. Would I like to lose 10lbs and be at my 1year post surgery weight? Sure, but I'm 5'3" and healthy at 130, so it's OK if I stay here. Glad this forum exists. Thanks.

I was a grazer before surgery and could still eat constantly if I let myself. There isn't anything wrong with snacking per se, but for those of us who eat w/o being hungry, it can be a problem. If I can fit in 500 calories into my pouch and eat 3X a day, then I'm at 1500 calories and pretty much OK. If I eat 6X times a day and still go for 500 calories per meal, then I have a problem. Some people modulate how much they eat when they eat more frequently. Sadly, this was never the case for me. You are almost 10 lbs below goal now, so the snacking doesn't seem to be hurting you. A word of caution, though. I can eat a lot more now than I could at 1 year or even two years out. If the same ends up being true for you, the snacking will lead to weight gain.

My fasting days are Monday and Wednesday. I was going to try to put in one non-food treat on one of those days. It's a little tough since I work full-time, but I could probably manage once a week. My idea is to do some nice things for myself on fast days that I don't allow myself on other days. Optimally, they would be relatively inexpensive. Here are some ideas I have so far. 1. Get a mani or pedi at the beauty school 2. Get an eyebrow threading 3. Shop for a kindle book on amazon (instant gratification) 4. Buy something unneeded but fun like bubble bath, sexy undies or a kitchen toy 5. Take that bubble bath by candlelight 6. Linger at Starbucks with a coffee and newspaper 7. Get a 15 min massage at the mall What do you do to reward yourself?

Looked online for more non-food treats. I was doing great until I got to the one that said: 1. car rides 2. extra sniff time It was a list for dogs!

Me too M2G, I never ate that much at one time but I was always eating. One can pack on the pounds with constant grazing. Tomorrow is a fast day and I'm looking forward to it. It seems like a reset button. Cool. Let's see how I feel about it tomorrow, LOL.

Hey Georgia (and others), Why do you find yourself looking forward to fast days? What does it bring you (besides weight loss) that you value?

Hey all, First fast day went great. It was easier than I expected. I think I had a little over 500 calories. Jazzed.

Well, I did it, my 2-day fast for my colonoscopy. (BTW, I passed w flying colors. I don't have to do that again for 10 years.) It was easier than fasts before VSG but harder than I had hoped. I slid right into day three of a pouch test. Now on day 5. On Monday I will begin my 1st official fast of the 5:2 plan. I'm kinda scared. My two days are going to be Monday and Thursday. On the other days I hope to follow the Cornell University bariatric eating plan. I had a rude awaking at the GI clinic. I weighed 136 lbs (dressed) AFTER a 2-day fast and colonoscopy laxative purge. That means that my pre-fast weight was probably over 140. CRAP! That's up 20 lbs from my lowest weight. I am glad you all are here. I need the moral support.

Hi All, Long time since I've been on the boards but my new year's resolution is to come back. My surgery was June 2010. I've had weight gain issues. I'm probably about 135 lbs now--still a healthy weight but 1) I'm afraid of continuing to go up and up and 2) I really did feel better at 120 lbs. Sooo, what to do? Considering 5:2. Actually, I'm doing a modified 5:2 this week because I have a (routine) colonoscopy on Thursday. My doctor has a two day fasting protocol. I am on day one. so far, so good.

Ok, the weirdest thing for me yet is a huge salt craving. I've been sucking on saladitos. For those of you unfamiliar, saladitos are salted dried plums. One saladito has at least a teaspoon of salt. Mexican kids love them and I've never been able to stand them at all--I couldn't understand why anyone anywhere would ever eat one (well you don't really eat them, you kind of suck on them). Now I want them every day!! Right now if you offered me some m&ms or a salidito (assuming I could eat the m&ms), I'd choose the saladito. How weird is that?! Anybody else with weird cravings? Reminds me of being pregnant.

Globetrotter, we must have a similar surgery date--I'm almost at 3 years too. I know you have struggled, but I must say from your photo, you look awesome.

Hi All, I'm 3 months from 3 years out--yikes. Noticing more symptoms these days, an occaisional charley horse, some fatigue. At last blood work, my Vitamin D was low and my A1C a wee bit high ( 5.8). Other tests looked fine. What is all meand is that I should be following my surgeons plan, but I've been a slacker. I resist following his super low-carb diet though my blood sugar says I should. I even resist daily Vitamins. Really I've been a crappy patient lately and I'm not sure why. Maybe I need to find a life coach. I'm not sure what would help me be accountable. My clothes still fit and I look pretty much the same, I think. I've been too scared to step on a scale.

Hi Y'all. 125.2 this morning. I read my post from last week and I'm up about 1/2 pound but not concerned. Bought a fitbit pedometer and getting my 10,000 steps every day. Feeling healhier. Now to deal with those sugar craving--yikes!

Hi All, My Surgery was 20 months ago. I am now about 12 lbs below my original goal of 135 (Ht: 62.5"). I began with my surgeon's plan but found it too restrictive. I then followed the Cornell plan down to goal weight and below. Then I kinda fell off the wagon. Last year I could eat anything and not gain, in fact for a few months, I was trying to put a couple lbs back on. Beginning in August, my weight began to creep back up. I gained about 5 lbs (from 120 to 125). Most of the gain came from 1) being able to eat more and 2) sweets. I've always had a sweet tooth, and sadly the surgery didn't end that. So on Ash Wednesday, I went back on the Cornell Plan which involves 3 high Protein meals, 1 high protein snack and no sweets. OK, I've been jonesing for the sugar but my weight is coming down. My question to my fellow maintainers is this: Do you follow a food plan and what does it look like? Do you snack, graze or just eat meals? Carbs? Sweets? How much protein? Thanks in Advance.

Couldn't get to the scale yesterday, so I'm a day late. 124.8 this a.m. Not as bad as i feared. i will weigh myself next Monday and report. I'm grateful for all of you.

I'm struggling. I've gained some--maybe 5-7 lbs (haven't been on the scale) and some things no longer fit. The other day, at the store, a size 8 dress didn't fit. WTF? That seems impossible. I'm not sure how to get back on track. I'd like to be about 120lbs for my wedding at the end of february but I'm always so hungry. It stinks.

OK, OT but you are my sleeve peeps and I've gotta tell you. I'm getting married!

Hi Y'all, I celebrated my two year anniversary in June. I have gained less than 5lbs since my lowest weight and I'm still 10 lbs below initial goal. At 5'3" I weigh about 123lbs. All that being said, I must respectfully disagree with Scorpion (and many others who have said the same thing) that it is all up to us. When we were fat it wasn't all up to us, nor is it now, IMHO. Some of it is motivation and some is luck of the draw. Some folks' intestines regrow some after RNY and there are cases of fundus regrowth (google neofundus for more info). Most of us will regain some weight after this procedure but few of us will regain most of it. Thank God. Yes, we must remain vigilant and remember that the sleeve is a tool not a panacea, but we must also be realistic. Most of us leave this procedure with the vow that we will be one of the very few with absolutely no regain. I believe this is counterproductive because if we do gain a moderate amount, we are likely to feel like failures and can easily begin the self-defeating cycle of overeating and isolating. That's where the real trouble begins.

I'm envious of those of you who don't get hungry. Hunger was less after the sleeve but it never went away for me. Sometimes the hunger was actually reflux but even w a PPI, I still get hungry. Oh well, things are SOOO much better than pre-sleeve.

The special k thing wouldn't work for me. The only thing that works consistently for me is low carb. I don't love it but it's probably better for me as I had borderline high blood sugar before my sleeve. I love me some carbs, though, LOL. I got on the scale September 1. 123lbs. I haven't gained beyond the 2-3 lbs I gained in the past year. Go figure. I'm continuing w the no sugar thing since I have a giant sweettooth and I don't graze, but to be honest, I'm surprised my weight hasn't gone up. I can eat so much more than I could 1 year ago. I'm very very grateful though.

Oh NannieG, do I ever hear you. I am 2 years plus out and it's HARD. I can eat a fair amount and boy can I gain. I haven't gotten on the scale in a month. I will September 1st. Like you, I don't exercise enough. The sleeve is certainly a tool and not a silver bullet. It will always be a struggle. Right now (for the past 3 months) I'm not eating sweets and it does seem to help.

Well I've been on HRT for a couple weeks now. Things are evening out. I no longer feel like I could eat the paint off the walls. Unfortunately my weight is up to 125. It could be water weight from the progesterone or perhaps real weight gain for the week and 1/2 that I was eating like crazy. Now to take it off. My goal is 119.

OBgyn just put me on HRT. I need it because of insomnia, mood swings, lack of libido, the whole 9 yards. I've been on for 5 days and I'm ravenous. It's scary. I surely hope it's temporary.

Interesting how we define slider differently. I went to breakfast yesterday and had 2 scrambled eggs w spinach. I ate all but a bite or so, but I don't consider eggs a slider food for me. Before I had this surgery, I could've eaten a 4 egg omelet with cheese, so 2 w/o cheese seems reasonable. Carbs, especially sweets, are true sliders for me because I can easily eat a couple servings at one sitting if I let myself. I too will eat like crazy w/o my PPI.