How will I keep it off?

Hi everyone: I just thought I would share my thoughts on this subject. As you may know I have been concerned with the number of calories I would be able to consume once I reach my goal weight of 143. I was pretty sure it was max 1500 or thereabouts. I called my surgeon and spoke to him and his dietician and they confirmed that that amt. is about right. I then asked him about being able to eat more calories because of the malabsorption factor invlolved with wls. He said to me - "If you count on malabsorption to allow you more calories you will be sure to gain weight". He also went on to say that our bodies will adjust and learn to absorb more - so to be happy with the results of malabsorption in the early stages but do not count on it later on. He also said that I will need to see if I can really have that high an amount of calories. My dd is 5'4" weighs 132 and the charts say she can eat 1800 cal per day - but she really can only consume about 1200 w/o gaining. I also spoke with his dietician and she confirmed that info and then I discussed my concern about proteins - she said if I consume about 50 per day that I will be fine. I also want you to know that I found a site that calculates your caloric needs from your weight, age, height and activity level. http://www.annecollins.com/calc/5.htm?1 My doc has always stressed that wls is not the answer to weight loss but a very good tool, but that we have to develope good eating habits and an awareness of what we are eating in order to maintain the weight loss. I have always been able to lose weight one way or another, but I have not been able to keep it off. I am hoping and preparing myself to keep it off this time. The surgery keeps me from being so hungry that I cave in, and the knowledge of what I can eat and how much will help me to maintain my proper weight. Just thought I would share with you, because you might find it helpful. Louise

This is my biggest fear too. Right now, it is not a problem because I am not really hungry, but what about when my appetite returns (with a vengence!)? Will my body think it has survived another famine and try to load up reserves of fat??? Joy

Thanks for posting that Louise. I know with me I hope to not take anything for granted when I reach goal - always easier said than done though, I'm sure. I know snacking is a kiss of death, and I feel comfortable that it's not something I will have a problem with. But like Joy said - when the appetite returns, that may pose a problem. The nice thing is that we will still have pouches instead of stomachs and we can always stick to the pouch rules for the most part. I know you don't want to continue losing so you have to break them a little, but maybe break them in a way that won't foster a dependence if you have to revert back. One thing is for sure - this will be an interesting ride.. Dina

Louise, This is my fear also. I've always been able to lose weight, even as much as 80 pounds at a time. The problem is keeping it off. So far, I notice that I don't have diet mentality this time. I'm hoping that will help. I'm trying really hard to work on my brain this time around. Unlike diets in the past, I'm not 100% focused on what food I cannot eat. The food choices are easy for me so I don't have to count points, decide how many calories something has or try to determine the fat grams. I'm spending my energy on the why's of my eating and trying to gett my habits under control. When I was a kid, my parents had a ritual of reading and having a snack in bed before they went to sleep. The kids couldn't have a snack in bed and we were always told that it was something for grown ups. I really think it's because Mom didn't want to clean the crumbs out of our sheets. In any case, I always thought of a snack in bed as a rite of passage and have been going to bed with a snack for the last 35 years (I had to sneak the snack the first 5 years, hence the birth of a closet eater). This has been my toughest habit to break. Worst of all, it seems to be crackers that I crave at bedtime. I'm trying to switch this to a protein shake at bedtime, but it ain't the same. Connie

Your post is great food for thought. It is something that I am not really thinking about right now. I've been trying to focus on the loss and what I need to be doing to get to my next milestone. For me, in the past, when I think of my goal I, for some reason, subconsiously sabatoge myself. For that reason, I keep that out of my thoughts. I've set very small, incremental goals and that's what I need to focus on. When the time comes to think about goal, I will go back to your post. (I've copied it into a word doc I can save). For now - one day at a time! mgm

Ah, Louise, you struck a chord. The perplexity of this question has much to do with what Connie was bringing up the other day -- how is it that we're losing substantial weight but feel as if we've hardly dropped a pound? We can see that our clothes fit differently; we can see the smaller face in the mirror as we put on our makeup; we can feel the difference as we move our bodies through space; but it's as if we are disconnected from the reality of weight loss. I am convinced that this is some sort of phenomenon associated with maintaining a morbidly obese body for many years, and that it absolutely impacts how we deal -- or not -- with getting the weight off AND keeping the weight off. For now, I eat when I'm hungry, which is hardly ever. The amounts of food I eat is less than what a toddler takes in. I'm not really focused on the rules, in fact, I'm not altogether clear on what they are (Dina, can you lay them out in layman's terms -- sort of Pouch Rules for Dummies??) -- like everyone else, I've always been able to lose the weight and, in fact, am one of the most motivated people I know! Keeping it off is another matter. It starts with truly caring about ourselves, truly and deeply loving and appreciating the God-created individual that we each are. We need to love ourselves with the same passion and commitment that we love our children, or anyone's children -- or pets, or whomever or whatever you love with total abandon and passion -- that's how we need to love ourselves. I'm only just now learning to do that. Baby steps. I wonder who I'll be when I grow up? God bless and be well, Maureen

there are pouch rules for dummies! i can't remember where you find them- maybe someone can fill us in? i have to say that most days i can see that i am losing and it's great but there are some days that i just feel the same-- i have finally hit the 200# mark- started at 230-- but i still feel like i have so far to go! i have found some triggers for snacking and grazing and am trying to work thru them to alter the mindset...... i finally broke down and got my film developed with my "before" pics--oh gosh!!!!! oh- maureen---i don't plan to grow up--i'm like peter pan!!!!!!

Louise, I am also afraid of gaining. I came into this wls with a mind set of "this will be one years worth of training and preparation for a life change of eating habits" Instead of a miracle cure. Unfortunately I have read in other boards that people just seem to think its a miracle cure and havent even really researched. (how scary is that?) We have a good head start for long term success because we know better and research. I think about how later our pouches will be bigger and we will be able to eat and tolerate more but I am hoping by that time I will have things under control. As far as Carnie Wilson is concerned to me its normal to gain 10-12 pounds. (thin people do that also) She is still a great size and nothing like she use to be. I am not afraid of 10-12 pound gain but have to be aware that THATS ALL THAT IS ALLOWED. Then its off to the gym and re-thinking things. Its always going to be a struggle forever, except this time around we will have had lots of practice and a great tool! ((hugs)) chin up! we will be alright Elizabeth M