How much can you eat 18 mos out?

Hi Cece,

I am 5"1" on a good day, and when a kind person measures me.  :)  I would not listen to anybody and continue to lose until goal.  I would even try to get a little below goal.  What I wish I understood better early on, is how easy it was to lose then and how much harder it is to maintain now.  The pounds can start to creep back on and it only gets harder the further out you get.  I lost all the way to 101 lbs. and got scared, and started to actively put weight back on until I got up to 103 lbs.  If I knew then what I know now, I would not worry about it at all.  It will take care of itself.  Dr. C told me to go low and I am really glad I listened to him.  My advice, keep going lower until the low end of your BMI.

You have been a lot of help and inspiration. I have followed you for a while because we are about the same size and had a similiar BMI starting out. Dr. C is the only one that keeps telling me to get to around 112 and everyone I see lately tells me to stop losing. I have people actually ask me if I am sick! I know that I don't look sick and I feel great and happy to finally be losing but it is discouraging. To reach my goal will be an acomplishment that I only used to dream about. Thanks for your help.

If I could somehow speak with the me of one year ego, I would tell myself to ignore the comments of everybody around me and keep going down to the low end of my BMI.  They are just not used to seeing me this thin, it takes time for everyone to come down and for your body to redistribute the weight in a more pleasing way.  The weight will bottom out and then most likely start to bounce up a bit.  It is hard to believe that that will ever happen when you are losing, but it does happen to many of us.  Don't be afraid of the low number, go with it, it will not seem that low a year from now.  On the other hand, if you have to do anything really drastic to go lower or keep this weight, I would say back off and find your happy place and maintain there.  I just don't want to see you try to stop the loss the way I did toward the end, as it was counterproductive in the long run.

Thanks, you are a great help. I know that I should only listen to Dr. C because he knows what he is doing. It is funny now because I was so good for so long---measuring everything, counting calories, exercising etc. and losing right as scheduled. Now I am not so disciplined but still losing (a little slower) but it's going down. I do worry about what is ahead of me even to the point of not getting rid of some of my size 8 clothes. Very cautious about that. I like where I am and the size I am and if I get smaller that would be great too---just not bigger. Dr. C keeps saying he is coming to Walnut Creek (wish he would) because I would love to go to a support group but too far for where he has them now. That would probably help too.

Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should eat as much as possible. Also, some DS folks have a larger sleeve. I am almost 10 months out and there isn't anyway that I could eat a 6 inch sub. Even if I could, I wouldn't, I would just stick to the insides and forget about the bread.

Well, I'm only about 15 months out but I could probably only eat 1/2 of that 6" sub. I haven't had Subway since before surgery so I'm not certain, but no way could I eat a whole 6".

eta: I just want to add that I would gladly eat a subway sub. I just haven't yet - not for any particular reason. :)

 I am not quite to 18 months, but I do often share a footlong blackforest ham with my husband.  I eat 3-4 inches and give the rest to him.  Plus, I always eat 2 of his potato chips.  For some reason, it makes me feel like I had the "full meal" to have those 2 chips.  LOL!

18 months out. No way could I be able to eat a 6 inch sub. I can only eat about 2-3 oz dense protein.  I also avoid bread.

 
I'm twenty months out......

I can't answer the 6" Subway question because I ain't even gonna try.......If I were to eat that much bread... I can assure you it's not going to be Subway bread. I'd be eatin some nice bread dipped in some nice olive oil.

I'm thinking no way maybe half.....

Last week I bought 5 meatballs from Subway and ate 3....probably could have had 4.... but why? I was good with 3 (which reminds me..... I hope the maid found the 2 other meatballs in the nightstand drawer!)

Not sayin I eat clean all the time....but I'm not in a contest to see how much I can eat...those days are way over.

frisco

Thanks everyone! Your replies really helped give me a better understanding how it will be down the long road. I am having my band out on the 11th and possibly the sleeve if he can, I can't wait for the sleeve!