Confused.

My surgeon's plan isn't low carb either. His menu has things like pasta and quinoa and brown rice on it, which aren't bad foods. However, I took it on myself to go low carb. I don't go as low as some others on here did during weight loss though. I think 25g is the average for some I've read, but that is too restrictive, so I try to stay at 40 and under. I read recently that the average American eats 300 carbs a day, so I think 40 carbs is okay for me.

My surgeon's plan is 3-4oz of protein, 1/2 cup veggies and 2 TBSP starch. You can't add one until you can achieve the other. But, yeah things like brown rice and quinoa were on there.

I don't get how you can add those things during WL phase and still get in your protein!

Do you do under 30g net carbs or total carbs? I would love my weightloss to look like yours!

It looks like you're on your way to similar weight loss! I eat 30g total, not net. My 2 week average is 26g. My macro is set at 40g and I never hit that.

My surgeon wanted me at 1000 cal by 6 months. I did that, but I'm not losing and I think my body thinks I'm in maintenance. So, I'm dropping back down to 600-800 until I meet my goal.

That sounds like a really good plan, to me

Smart.

At 3.5 years out and after 220 lbs lost -- I can assure you that 1000 calories a day is definitely maintenance for me. I have 1245 days logged in MFP to prove it.

Here is my opinion. Most WLS centers consider your weight loss successful if you only lose 65-70% of overweight pounds. Their diet promotes these stastics. I find the vets here, who have lived with wls, to have better advice.

Here is another example. I listed to Dave Ramsey and paid off all debt. His big push is the "snowball". Pay off the little debt first, and then proceed to the next debt. This does not make sense to people who are financial consultants and people who study money. You should pay off the highest interest rate first, and then work your way down. Well, Dave has been in the business of helping people pay off their debts. What he found is that when you pay off the smallest debt first, it encourages you to stay in the game and keep working the program. You know, like real experience, not book learning. Most people would argue that it is wrong and you could save more money, if you pay off the highest interest first. It is true, but people didn't get in debt by using logic, they got in debt because they wanted instant gratification. He address the psychological reason.

When dieticians give us their diet advice, they are correct that a balanced diet is good for you. But, they have not addressed the emotional issue. We want to eat because food either tastes good, or helps us deal with emotions. So, if the combination of fat,salt, and suger cause us to crave food more than a person who was never overweight, then we should stay away from the triggers.

New habits take a while to develop. So, I think you should stay on high protein, low carb and learn to listen to your body and not eat foods (simple carbs) that cause you to overeat.

I am in maintenance. I have eaten 1x, pasta, cake, cookie and several times chocolate. They don't bring me happiness. I do eat fruit 1-2 times a week. I eat many vegetables daily. I also eat pretzels and candy. Tonight I had 9 jellybeans. I don't want to eat candy, but it is something I am working on. I usually eat 90% healthy and 10% not so good. I weigh daily. When I am in the low range, I can eat some junk food. Then I am in the middle range and have to go low carb for a day or so.

The vets say year 3 is bad for weight gain. I may not be able to consume pretzels and candy. I work a very physical job 8 hours a day. I burn a lot of calories. I ate 5-600 the first 5 months, then 7-800 calories until maintenance. I currently eat about 2500 calories a day. If I quit my job, I would probably eat about 1300 - 1500 calories a day.

I have seen people not reach goal, gain weight in the first and second years. I have seen people gain after 5-6 years and even after 10 years. I will have to be diligent all my life. My WLS center did not tell me, I learned this from this site and the vets and the people who come back. I will always be learning and adjusting my food intake. I will have to be on gaurd, to make sure that stress and bad times in my life do not cause me to turn to food.

It is a journey, there is no finish line, the course keeps changing. Good Luck

This is the best explanation of Ramsay's method I've ever read. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this response. It is true that the hardest part is getting our "head in the game" and it's always good to get advice on how to accomplish that.

My wife and I went through Dave Ramsey's financial peace class and it has really changed how we look at money. I would never have thought to apply the same ideas to weight loss though. That helps a lot!