Ways to get back on track

Thought it might be helpful to post ideas on how to get back on track. We all have things that work for us and it is time to share. Maybe it will help someone else here too.

A couple of the ladies in my UCLA support group swear by this (I have not tried it): #1 Do for 10 days to break plateau #2 Drink 2 quarts of water a day #3 You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamin & mineral supplements each day. #4 You may consume up to 3 oz. of the following high-protein foods, 5 times a day: * beef, * pork, * chicken, * turkey, * lamb, * fish, * eggs, * low-fat cheese, * cottage cheese, * plain yogurt (or artificially sweetened), * peanut butter, * beans/legumes. #5 You may also have: * sugar-free popsicles (avoid juice popsicles), * tea or coffee, * sugar-free sodas, * sugar-free Jello, * broths & bouillons, * Crystal Lite drinks. For Vegetables eat from only this list: Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, Brussels sprouts, Asparagus & Cabbage For Fruit choose only from this list: Cantaloupe, honey dew, watermelon and strawberries #6 IF IT IS NOT ON THE LIST YOU MAY NOT HAVE IT! #7 Keep a food diary and try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily.

I find for myself that the less sugar and white flour I eat the better I feel and the less the cravings are there too. So I try to do high protein, low carb as much as possible. Another venue for this is "low glycemic" eating. There are many recipes, eating plans that focus on low glycemic eating. One woman on the UCLA list only lost about 50 lbs with her WLS and never could get below that. She had her surgery a few years ago. A year ago she discovered Shari Lieberman's plan for low glycemic eating and has followed it faithfully and is now a size 4 and willing great. It helps me too to start my day with exercise. If I have done that, I seem to be more motivated to stay on track. I just started doing self hypnois CDs yesterday to help keep my focus on being a healthier me. I will let you know how I do with them. Mary

Also participating in support groups both on-line and in person is a major help too. It always helps to know that there are others who are going thru what we are or similiar. That someone really understands.

All what you said are great things to do. I also found that if you do not buy anything but healthy foods to eat and no junk it helps to stay on track. If my kids are around they want junk they buy it themselves I do not. I do crave chips and chocolate chip cookies every now and then but make the cookies myself and eat a few chips from a very small bag to satisfy my cravings. I try and eat plenty of protein and veggies and fruits as often as I can. I gain and lose the same 3 or 4 lbs every month and feel my body is confy where it is, but want to get to 190. Am at 210 now. I water load a lot also and eat when I am hungry, but late night is now my biggest problem with grazing every hour. I usually eat natural popcorn. Which helps but then 1 hr later I am wanting something more. I exercise late and I wnt to eat afterwards. So I exercise early morning and start my water loading 1 hr after I eat. I also notice if I am busy or have something to do all day I don't graze and eat when I am hungry and stay away from foods that I do not need. Irish

I so agree with you, don't keep tempting things in the house. Drinking lots of water too. Thanks for posting. Sounds like you are doing good at keeping on track. Mary