Almost 5yrs post-op - what does everyone eat?

Different people can ( and do ) eat different things

. There are vegan folks who post here ... I personally eat super low fat but high carb and never gain ... others try paleo or Atkins ( which would probably give ME a heart attack lol)

Exercise is the common denominator that universally works .

Even if it's just walking around the mall ... movement keeps the weight off and keeps you from eating out of boredom.

Eventually it helps to start a business or finish getting your degree ... just not to be bored or be boring. ((()))) hugs

so much depends on how active you are, how much weight you're trying to maintain, your metabolic rate, etc. I had to play around with various ranges to see where I could maintain my weight. I'm fairly active and muscular. I feel and look my best at the higher end of my normal BMI (about 150 lbs) but have managed to creep up about 10 pounds, give or take, over the last couple of years. When I was at 150, I could eat 1500-1700 calories to maintain that. Unfortunately, it only takes an extra 50-ish calories a day, every day, to get to and maintain at 160 - which isn't much. So...I need to eat at the very low end of my range - or below it - to get back down there - which has been a huge struggle, for some reason (being more-or-less stuck in the house for two years because of COVID hasn't helped).

anyway, suffice it to say, there are people who have to eat 1200 calories to maintain, and others who can eat 2000. It's really an individual thing - you have to experiment to see at which point you start losing weight again. The rule of thumb White Dove gave you is a good starting point, but depending on your activity level et al, you may end up a little above or below that.

I've counted protein grams since the day I had surgery (actually, I started that six months before...). At about a year out, I started counting calories as well. I've never counted fat grams. As far as carbs go, my program was pretty balanced, so they didn't really limit carbs, but it was pretty rare for me to go over 80 grams before I hit maintenance - mostly because my calories were a lot lower in the first few months after surgery, and I had such high protein requirements (I have to have 100+ grams a day or my prealbumin level tanks). I don't worry too much about carbs any more (other than the sugary/starchy kind), but then, I'm not particularly sensitive to them. A lot of people on here are, though, so that's something to consider if you're sensitive to them as well.

Me too! 5 years out in June.
I have maintained at Dr's goal, but my goal was always 10 lbs below his. I did reach it about 2 years after surgery, but after that it's been an up and down in that 10 lb range. Right now, after the holidays, I'm in the upper range and working my butt off to get lower.

Cals: 1,000 -1,200

Carbs: 20-50, but trying to keep it around 20

Protein: 80-100

When I try to lose I keep these numbers on the low end. I also workout 6 days a week (3 days weight training and 3 days jog).
It's a struggle but I'd rather battle 10 lbs than 120 lbs.

As you can see our experiences are all over the board. You have to determine your needs...desires. You need to find what works for YOU, and it is not a diet... it is a lifestyle.You have to make the decisions and see how your body reacts to the changes as you tweak your intake to fit your needs. count where your carbs are now... and reduce them thru the day.

.. My breakfast is one pc of toast and all protein... it is a late one. if i eat snack next: it is 3 oz protein and 0.5-1 serv. a carb ( 2-4 saltines?-sometimes this is my late night snack.). my evening meal is typically 6 -7 oz protein.it usually takes me a while to eat this meal. ...because i t is so dense. If i don't get something around 8 pm my stomach wakes me with acid at 3-4am... i am often up past midnight.and set no alarm.

I am 25yrs post op, one of the earlier WLS surgeries... I call it a RNY on steroids. i had pouch extremely small., banding above and below the pouch, and a total of 2 intestinal revisions. It included a appendix, gall bladder removal and multiple cysts removal, an open abdominal procedure.I do not do any exercise as "exercise.-program"...but incorporate it into my day. If we go shopping i park further out, make an extra lap or two around the store. do yard work, and garden and animal care... my baby is soon to be 38.

I have NEVER counted calories,, I DO keep up w/ protein intake, and carbs.Fat tlls me when i get too much or too little.

After my surgery i have had poor tolerance for fats.. choose the purest ones i can find.. olive, avacado, and real butter./ghee. I try to avoid all genetcally modified and engineered,/synthetic foods, raise part of my vegetables.

.My goal is to get 35-50% protein for my first meal of day and remainder in one meal and a snack.My goal is never over 50grams of carbs.

I rarely eat any fruit and most must be cooked.an occassional section of orange or one inch of a banana. I don't tolerate fruit well.throws off blood sugars. or trouble with digesting.

..ice cream+ up to one ounce of regular ice cream combined with a lactose free whole milk of one ounce.(once every 2 months- truly a treat) I use LF whole for coffee creamer..up to 2 oz a day. I have to secure part of a half gallon for beyond day 6....usually freeze in small cubes.( silicone small muffin trays work for this, then after frozen put them n ziplock in freezer..)

There is a long list of things i can not digest including all legumes, nuts, legumes the whole family that includes cabbage and broccoli + bell pepper, tomato, and eggplant. i basically am on heavy meat,..with enough of other things i do tolerate to allow it to go down.. and keep blood sugars stable. I found out restricting carbs below 20 grams does not work for me. (protein digestion takes much longer than carbs so my sugar bottoms.befre it can be utilized) I have also begun a form of intermittent fasting..i vary that according to my ability