Great idea to train for the LR 1/2 Marathon.  Do they have a 5K race as well?  I don't think I can do a 1/2 Marathon but I used to 'run' 5k's.  I use the term 'run' but my upper body looks like it's running but my legs are walking.  In my 1st 5K the 'Walkers' passed  me.  In the next 5K a wheelchair guy passed me; the next 5k a struggled to beat a 76 year old woman across the finish line! 

I enjoyed my running but have let it slide for the last year.  Like you I have fallen off the wagon and am ready to ride again.

I haven't eaten 1/4 cup (which is only 4 tablespoons) since a few months out.  I maxed out at one HALF cup.  I still eat only 1/2 cup, but I do occassionally go over it if it food that chews down to be less than 1/2 cup (lettuce, some cereals, etc chew down to almost nothing volume wise).

At about my 3 year mark, I started to slightly regain (which I somewhat expected since at about 3 years out the body has mostly compensated for the caloric malabsorption - NOT THE VITAMIN PART - but the CALORIES part).  Since I weight once a week, I noticed the regain even though it was very slow.

I decreased my calories from 1650 per day to 1550 per day.  Now I have leveled off at around 133 (up from about 127 that I was when I was about 1650 before my body finishing compensating and started absorbing more).  I had a comfort zone of 125 - 130 pounds and when I was sure I had gained above that (and it wasn't just some water-weight or poopy-filled fluke, I adjusted my calories down by 100.  I still didn't LOSE back down to the 125 - 130 pound range which was honestly hard to accept at first.  But I didn't want to cut my calories any more than that and I'm at a good weight around 133.  So I forced myself to readjust by "comfort zone" in my mind to 130 - 135 pounds (which is still well within my ideal body weight).  I'd just be lying if I said that wasn't hard.  But if I ever gain to above 135, I will decrease my calories to 1500 (or start exercising which i NEVER do).  But so far, I'm maintaining well. 

So as far as how I eat now, I eat 1550 calories per day, 4 meals per day (each approximately 4 hours apart throughout the day).  I drink lots of water (usually 120 ounces or so) since I want to eat more if I don't.  I still keep my fat % between 20 - 30% calories from fat the way DR Baker advises.  I try to keep my carbs at about 180 or so to make sure I always have enough energy without getting too many where I start retaining fluids.  Protein stays way up there (usually in the 120 - 130 gram range, which is actually a little too high for as far out as I am - I need to rearrange a little to work on lowering that).

Just stop the gain NOW.  Don't wait and don't make excuses for yourself.  You CAN do it.  But don't let it creep up more than it already has.  If you're like me, you didn't GAIN it overnight; you won't REGAIN it overnight either.  So don't let it sneak back up a pound at a time.  You CAN stop it NOW I know you can! 

Good luck and good to hear from you!

Wen

Please vote for my son's essay at the link below so he can have a shot at winning this scholarship.

http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v2/essay29997-Jessieville -AR.aspx

Thanks!

i dont have a surgery date yet i have to do a 6 month supervised diet with the doctor im just now 2 months in so i hope about april or may i will have a date dr eckes is doing my surgery we can still do this journey together i'll just have to be behind u , be nice to have someone to give me heads up on things.
      hope u have a great day too
                 shirley
                                                                                              p.s.
                                                                                  lapbandtalk.com is also a good site to visit

hi pam , it was nice of u to respond to my post, cant wait for my 6 months to be up and get started with my new life change.im trying to go for walks find it hard sometime cause of weather and sometimes time how things been going with being banded hope everything is good how long do u have to be one a liquid diet.