How much should I eat?

Hi everyone, Mostly I lur****asionally I write. I just came back from vacation in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I have lost 110 pounds to date. On my vacation I often walked 7 miles a day along trails in the park. I never could have done that when I weighed 270 pounds. I've started taking magnesium for fatigue in the day and sleeplessness at night. I have noticed a huge improvement. My appetite has returned, I hate protein drinks and I find myself getting my calories from undesired foods; chocolate, ritz crackers, and occasionally a cookie. I don't really know how much to eat, I can't really fit in a lot of meat at one sitting. I think the reason I've lost so much weight is the amount of dairy I eat, carb control milk, and cheese, and carb control ice cream each day. I wish I knew the future. I wish I wasn't so hungry all the time. I was like this all my life, desiring to eat 24/7. So this appetite is nothing new. I hope by choosing protein to munch on I will be able to maintain my weight loss. In a way I can't believe I'm still loosing weight. I feel like I'm eating too much. Maybe I'm just crazy, you know obsessed with food and eating. Well I just wanted to share some of my feelings, in a few weeks I go for hernia surgery. I'm also going to see a plastic surgeon to discuss a face lift. My neck looks about 80 years old. For exercise I walk 3 miles a day. Thank you everyone for posting to this message board, it helps me hang in there.

Hi Susan, I must be doing something wrong, I have only lost 75 lbs, my surgery was same day as yours. I must be eating the wrong stuff. I eat lots of meat, have cheated and have eaten pasta, now im starting to get back in the groove, and Im going to just eat protein & water. ~~~~Buy the way you are doing great~~~~ Jeannie

Jeannie, Hi, I'm new to this site. My surgery was 1/5/04 and I've lost 76lbs. I've been very fustrated the last 3 months. I had not lost any thing until the last 1 1/2 weeks now finally I'm done another 3 lbs. I'm increasing my water and adding more dense proteins hoping that this will start up my loss again. I feel like I'm way behind what I should be although I'm only 34lbs from my goal. I've just ordered some walking tapes that I can use indoors with winter sitting in. I'm hoping this will help also. I'll take any suggestions or encourgement from anyone! I'm really fustrated with the slow loss over the past months. Becky

Ditto from me to you....This is how I feel 24/7 sharon

I know exactly how you feel -- and I have been such a slow loser to begin with. :::sigh::: I find that my main staples are chicken, cheese, and nuts. I have a protein shake in the morning with 1/2 banana. I have been trying to get more shakes in but I keep forgetting. I have been working about 12-15 hours per day 6-7 days per week and so my exercise has really been pushed off. I know I have to get back to exercising but am so tired and then I get discouraged. Lida

I am not sure what made me come here tonight,I usually stick to my local board.I think curiousity is the main reason.I am trying to gauge and maybe compare my weight loss to others.I have lost 78 pounds and fluctuate by 2 pounds either way.I know I should have lost more by now,as I have been at a standstill for three months.I will be honest and admit up front that I havent exercised at all.I am not able to drink the water that is recommended and I am probably not getting in the amount of recommended protein.I am not eating alot of junk foods but probably taking in more carbs than I should be.Hmm guess I just told you exactly why I am not losing more huh?I need some help and support.Do many of you still drink protein supplements daily? What are your average meals like?I welcome any email if it is easier to answer.Thank you for your shoulders.best wishes for continued success!! Carol

Hi, Susan! I was moved by your wonderful ability to walk such great distances. Good for you! Sounds like a great vacation, too! I do believe that area in VIrginia is truly God's country!! And thank you for the tip about magnesium. I am down 101# and suffer the daytime fatigue and the nighttime sleeplessness. I will try that as a supplement. Yes, the appetite returns.....but what I always tell people when they ask about this part is that they didn't operate on my head to take the appetite away. It does stand to reason as we feel better, our desires to eat come back. But here is where we have to make our good choices. I, too, went through the phase of getting calories from the great undersireable foods! My food/drug of choice was potato chips and 3 pieces of Dove dark chocolate at one sitting. Well, then I plateaued!! DUH! Here I am working out like crazy at Curves and I'm picking on that stuff! I got "religion" right away when I saw that one week, I actually gained 2# from these devasting choices I was making. But, I went back to my measuring cup for my meals.....1/4 cup of small meat, turkey, fish or tuna pieces. Another 2 oz of veggie pcs. and a few grapes or slices of apple. I try to get all of this in. If I can't do it at one meal, I save these better choices for my between meal snacks. This way, I have a "food" to look forward to eating, rather than picking up a junk food item. You have lost the great amount of weight because you simply do not ingest the former amount of daily calories, plus, I do agree the amount of dairy helps step up the loss. Try yogurt instead of the carb control ice cream - or the fruit popsicles that are only 30 to 50 calories. You are tempting fate and encouraging your old appetite to stick around and come back! I went through this same thing. Unfortunately, we cannot know the future, as you most certainly know, even though you say you wish you knew what lie ahead. But just think of it this way - it is a great journey, with lots of unknowns. It is our chance for a great adventure in this life - afterall, we only pass this way once! And just think of how healthy you are now and how good you look! You can walk all over God's Green Acres, too! How great is that??? Don't lose hope for protein shakes, either. There is this great web sit called www.femnutrition.com - they have two great shakes, one is called NECTAR and the best flavor is Fuzzy Navel - then the 2nd shake that is also awesome is PROPLETE, with their best flavor being Vanilla/Pineapple. I tell you, they taste like a summer drink....You don't have to kill yourself shaking them or blending them in a smoothie maker. Just pour out your ingredients and mix in a shaker type container. They are delicious! And they will fill you, taking the edge off the desire to eat. Best wishes as you go for your hernia repair. But you must tell me about your face lift consultation. I, too, have the "80 year old" neck!!! YIKES!! The only thing, though, is that I am 61, but I look younger and this falling neck and drooping feature thing is killing me!!!! You must write me back and tell me all about it! Well, keep the faith....and good luck with your surgery. I just wanted to say hi and encourage you. Best regards, Midge Ruhl