Long Time Post-Ops....We've Confessed. What's the Plan?

I have gained 15 pounds between February- May. In that short period of time, I allowed my self to indulge in larger portions and lots of chocolate.

Six weeks ago, I started jogging again and I am committed to jogging no less than 3 times per week.

I am no longer eating chocolate. I gave it up about 2/3 weeks ago and have done surprisingly well so far.

I am monitoring my portions better and stopping at feeling satisfied as opposed to waiting to feel full.

I have been taking my vitamins which have made a huge difference in how I feel. (although I wonder if vitamins could be the cause of my increase in appetite)

I wish I was motivated enough to incorporate some other exercise routine in to my day, but as of now I only have energy for the jogging.

I attempted to give up sweet tea but that did not go so well. I first tried water for a few day but noticed that after about a cup, I was done and just wouldn't drink anymore for the day. Then I tried splenda but that I HORRIBLE in hot liquid, so I had to give that up. Now back to my sweet tea. I realized (or rather rationalized) that I have been drinking sweet tea since day 1 and its not the cause of the weight gain. I drink no more or no less than originally and I was always able to maintain even with drinking my tea. So since I have not found an alternative, I will continue with my tea

I will also visit the boards on OH more often. I had stopped for a while but know that being here is a big part of my maintenance plan.

can I ask how you used the splenda?

I make sweet iced tea with it - but use the splenda Blend, not straight splenda and I make a simple syrup of it rather than just dump it in and try to get it to dissolve.  To me, it does taste different that way.

My apologies,  I went to the breakroom to check the brand of sweetner I used and it was sweet n low not splenda

Every morning when I get to work, I make a large hospital sized cup of hot tea to steep, cool and have ice added later in the day for my sweet tea and at the same time I make a hot regular sized cup to drink immediately. Well, I tried with the sweet n low (not splenda as originally stated) and it was horrible. Someone said that when the artificial sweetners are aded to hot liquid they taste awful and it was surely true becuase I immediately added ice and the taste greatly improved. But, since I like starting my day with a cup of hot tea, I gave up on the artificial sweetner.

Do you think if I actually used splenda, it would taste different or are all artifical sweetners the same in hot liquid?

Chile - sweet and low is the azzcrack of sweeteners!!!LOL

you MUST do yourself a favor and invest in splenda - it WILL change your life - the taste is RIGHT ON THE MONEY! 

Maybe try phasing out the sugar out a little bit at a time.  If you gradually add more Splenda it might not be such a shock to your taste buds.  Adding a wedge of freshly squeezed lemon makes a difference too.

I'm just gonna have myself COMMITTED.  lol

All kidding aside, I need to rededicate myself to a few things.

Firstly, I need to refocus on drinking all my water on a daily basis.   Its something I haven't been doing consistently.  

Next is remembering to take all of my vitamins daily.  At one point, I'd begun to have things going on inside I was totally unaware of until my blood tests came in. 

I have started to rededicate myself to working out more regularly.  I had been too "off and on" lately-not at all consistent. 

On an off-topic note, I also need to rededicate myself to focusing on aspects of my life NOT related to weight maintanance (though, if I ever get to 400 lbs again, I WILL toss myself from the top of the brooklyn bridge) such as my writing. 

I am a week sober today..  Made hubby a drink the other day and wasn't tempted to sip.

I think I will join the weigh watchers on-line. What do I have to lose except more weight?

I will increase my powerwalking to at least another mile. I know my dog will hate me but oh well, he need to work off his belly fat.  

Rhonda - have you thought about weight training or resistance training at all?  You've been walking for a while - may be time to 'shake' things up

My plan is to follow the basics !!

Back to water, protein, exercise and vegetables !!  

64+ ozs of water daily.

Have to give up the alcohol !!