Just a few questions

I'm so glad I found this forum! I just want to do a little comparing to what others are doing? I want to be sure I'm on the right track so here are a couple of questions: What are you eating at this stage? You can give me info on # of calories, how many meals & snacks or just give me a sample menu for a typical day. Do you exercise at all, daily, rarely, never? I'm at the point where my weight loss is starting to slow down but I still have a long ways to go. I want to make sure I'm doing all the right things. I know I need to get serious about exercising - I do exercise but not regularly so I need to kick it in gear. And if you wouldn't mind sharing, what was your starting weight, what's your goal weight and how much have you lost so far? I know everyone loses at different rates depending on many different factors but I do like to just get some other perspectives. Happy Wednesday - today is my Friday!!! I'm starting a new job Monday and today is my last day at my current job. Carrie

Hi Carrie! Here are my answers - kinda long (sorry!): What are you eating at this stage? I'm eating approx 1/2 cup per meal, protein first, then veggies. I'm not supposed to snack...but I do. :-/ Low fat (or fat free) cheese and crackers, some popcorn...I try to eat between 800 and 1000 calories, but usually it leans towards 800 unless I've snacked a lot. I shoot for 80g of protein per day, 40 or so of it is supplements (smartforme, new whey for the most part). Typical day: Breakfast: Coffee with sf creamer, 6 oz low carb yogurt with 2 tbsp ground flax seed Snack: Protein drink (20g) Lunch: 2-3 oz tuna or chicken salad with 1 Tbsp low fat mayo Snack: LF cheese and 4 or 5 crackers Dinner: 3 oz chicken with 1/4 c veggies or salad Snack: Protein drink (20g) I'm currently trying to drop the cheese and crackers and eat fruit instead. Yummy. Do you exercise at all, daily, rarely, never? I try to exercise at least 45-60 minutes every day, but it's really more like 3-4 times per week at this point. Life just keeps getting in the way of all my good intentions. I usually do 30 min on the elliptical and then 15 on the treadmill for my cool down. I also do strength training 3 times per week and take a pilates class twice per week. My weight loss has been very slow, really only averaging 5 lb per month for the past few months. I think if were to be getting my exercise in more consistently and cut out some of the carbs (crackers and my beloved popcorn) I might lose at a quicker pace...but to be honest, I really feel that I'm doing everything I can. I really struggle to not allow the scale to dictate my attitude and discouragement level. I also really struggle to stay free of a "diet" mindset. The doc says I'm doing great, even if I am a little slower than others. My highest weight was 276. I was 266 (on my home scale) the morning of my surgery. I am 202 now. So a total weight loss of 74 lbs so far. My doctor's goal is 168. My personal goal is 135, though I may find I'm happy higher than that. I started in a tight size 22. I'm currently comfy, but floating around in a size 14, and a little snug in a 12. I haven't been that size in around 16 years. Be encouraged! One thing I've learned about this whole journey is that the weight WILL come off. There's really not much you can do to stop it! One affirmation or confirmation I've had is that I've always known I lose weight really slowly. In the past the slow (or stalled) weight loss always discouraged and derailed me. What's cool is that since surgery, though I may get discouraged at times, that discouragement doesn't have the power to set me back with my weight loss. That's been key in keeping me focused on pressing on. And I have to say this group is great! A great bunch of (mostly) ladies who are just such an encouragement to me!! Press on!! You can do this!!! Margaret

Hey Carrie - K - I try to stay between 800-1000 calories a day. I am finding that I have been more hungry lately. I get in about 80 oz a water, but still struggle with the 60 grms of protein. I pretty much eat anything except for the bad carbs. I've been eating Kashi Go Lean w/ FF milk pretty much everyday for breakfast. For lunch I either eat tuna, ham roll ups or a south beach or Smart One meal (about 3/4) For dinner pretty much whatever the family is having minus the carbs. So if I am making burritos or fajitas, I'll just eat the insides. Now if they are eating spaghetti, then I just totally skip what they are eating and make another micro meal or a chicken salad. As far as exercising, I have been on a kick lately. I've exercised everyday since July 5. I can't even believe it. Before that I was working out 3-5 days. My workout consists of jogging for 30 minutes, about 4-5 minutes of situps (all I can do) and then lights weights to tone for about 15 minutes. ( I do this every other day though) Hope that helps!!! Oh, My highest weight was 238, Day of surgery I was 225 and today I am 145. So, I've lost 80 lbs FOREVER!!!!! Now tell us about you!

Hi Carrie, What am I eating? I eat mostly chicken and turkey for protein, I avoid red meat simply because I have to chew it to death, then it has no taste, so what's the point in eating it, right? I eat bananas and seedless grapes for fruit. Veggies, I eat the mixed veggies with green peas, green beans, carrots, and corn...I also eat broccoli and cauliflower mixes, usually with a low fat cheese sauce, I eat mashed potatoes or baked potatoes occasionally. I also eat whole grain brown rice, sometimes with broccoli and cheese, and wild rice. For snacks I eat popcorn or yogurt or a protein bar. I'm supposed to be eating around 1000 calories a day but usually I'm between 750 and 850. I don't eat bad carbs so I don't worry about them. About the only thing I watch when eating is fat, no more than 30% of my calories from fat...lately I've been below 20% on a daily basis. I drink around 70oz. of fluids a day and get 70-80 grams of protein a day, mostly from food. I drink a protein fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast (still can't stomach food first thing in the morning) and that starts my day with 31g of protein. I exercise at least 3 times a week, I really need to increase that to 5 times a week but life always seems to get in the way...it will be easier once school starts back. I ride about 6 miles on my recumbent bike (30-40minutes), then do strength training for about 30 minutes. I'll also throw in a 30 minute ab workout and a 30 minute lower body workout when I have the time (videos). My starting weight was 246lbs. and I now weigh 180, so that's a loss of 66lbs. My goal is 135lbs. so I have 45lbs. to go. I started out in a very tight size 22 jeans, I'm now comfortable in a 16, 14 in stretch pants. My shirt size was 22/24 I'm now in a 12/14. I never had a "honeymoon" period after surgery. I lost 13lbs. the first week then not an ounce for nearly a month. Then it was just hit and miss for another month. But then around month 3 I started losing steadily and I still am, about 2lbs. a week and I'm A OK with that! Good luck with your new job and let us know how you're doing! Denise

I started out at 312 and am now 208, I've lost 104lbs so far, my personal goal is 150, but my Dr said 150-170 would be healthy. I have recently been exercising rarely, like a 1/2 an hour once a week, walking, biking or swimming usually, I've been working swing shift so its wearing me out where as I used to exercise every other day. My typical daily menu consists of lots of tea or Crystal Light, for breakfast I usually have a Slim Fast Low Carb or Atkins meal replacement shake, or a McMuffin from McDonalds with only 1/2 the English muffin, I usually can't even eat all that. For lunch I typically may have 1 taco, a hamburger with no bun or 1 slice of pizza, and I can never finish any of those 3. For dinner I've been eating chinese regularly, I can get a chinese dinner and it will feed me for 3 dinners. I occasionally snack, usually on fruit, melon, strawberries, sometimes 1/2 an apple. Some days I feel that I eat too much and there are some days I just can't push myself to eat. I used to keep track of everything on Fit Day and I was getting about 800-1000 cals on there when I did that. Good Luck with your new job, I wish I could find a new one.

Carrie- Congrats on the new job! I also am starting a new job soon (I am a teacher, so August). It is exciting to have a fresh start somewhere now that I am a bit less "obese"! lol! Start weight: surgery weight 299 (327 highest) current weight 208 (-91 since surgery) Exercise: randomly... never developed a good routine and I have been awful about it this summer Daily diet: I eat about 1000-1200 calories a day and my portion sizes are between 1/2 cup and 1 cup depending on the foods I am eating. Everything seems to agree with me and I eat pretty much whatever I want. The big difference is that I don't want sweets and bad carbs anymore. Instead I really crave meat, veggies and fruit. I eat 4 meals a day. A typical day's menu for me would be: 1) lunchmeat and cheese with some raw veggies 2) baked potato with salsa and sour cream 3) whatever the whole family is eating 4) more lunchmeat and cheese with veggies Snack: various depending on my mood but my latest favorites include... watermelon, an orange, 2 chocolate graham crackers, or a 1/2 cup of raisin bran. Glad you are joining us! Belle

I don't really count. My surgeron told me I need to eat more. I get super hungry like a bottomless pit about once a week. He told me this was my body's way of saying that i'm not eating enough and trying to play catch up. He compared the body as like a huge fire that needs to keep going. Said i'm throwing little twigs on and just before the fire gets too low, someone tosses a bunch of logs on and the fire roars strong again. So i'm trying to eat more. I need to work on excercising more because i'm lazy, haha. My starting weight was 285 lbs. I didn't lose any weight before surgery. I am currently at 178 lbs. I've lost 107 lbs so far. I thought I'd aim for 145 lbs. So I'm about 33 lbs away from my goal.

Hey Carrie!! Here are my answer to your questions and since this is your Friday..Enjoy your weekend!! And how exciting to be starting a new job!! Congratulations!! What are you eating at this stage? You can give me info on # of calories, how many meals & snacks or just give me a sample menu for a typical day. I am usually around 1000 calories a day (give or take 150 calories either way but mostly less). And I pretty much eat what ever I am craving with the exception of junk foods, sweets, bread, rice pasta and potatoes. Do you exercise at all, daily, rarely, never? I typically Exercise at least 4 days a week, but it is usually 6 days. I do at least 30 minutes of cardio and then work with the weight machines. I am planning on starting to doing some aerobic classes a few days a week. And if you wouldn't mind sharing, what was your starting weight, what's your goal weight and how much have you lost so far? HW 327 SW 322 Goal Weight (my surgeons 140, but I want to end up around 168, I am shooting to my doctor's goal so if I experience the 10-15 % regain, I will still be at my goal). I have lost 100 pounds from my highest weight so far.