How do you Maintain!

Hi Everyone, This is for all the people who have had their surgery at least 2 years or more that can tell me how they were able to stop losing and maintain their weight.  I just don't see how your body just stops losing the weight if you can't eat a lot anymore.  I have been able to eat a little more than I did since I had my surgery 5 months ago, but I still don't eat a lot.  I need some insight on how you finally maintain your weight. Melissa

Hi Melissa, January will be 3 years for me. I lost the weight very quickly - I never hit a plateau; I was worried I would lose "to much weight" (it's still strange to say); when you body gets use to the change you put it through it will be happy with what you put in it - you just still have to be careful how much carbs & sugar intake you have. I'm able to eat basically three meals a day (average size) and I've maintained my weight for a year. Good luck on your journey, ~Amy

Hi Amy, Thanks so much for the info.  But I feel like I just don't know how I will ever maintain my weight because I can't eat a lot and I don't eat sugar or carbs because it gives me an uneasy feeling.  Once I have reached my goal if I still think I can not eat enough I will contact my nutritionist.  You are probably right that my body will finally be happy at some point, and I should stop losing, but I just don't see how that is when I can't eat that much. Melissa

Believe me, your body stops losing eventually, and then the real work starts!  At 4.5 yrs out, I'm a creature of habit and that's how I maintain.  It's very easy to graze bits of food all day long, when you should be drinking.  Grazing = weight gain.  I also lost quickly, all of my excess weight in about 9 months.  I don't feel that I eat very much, but when I'm with my skinny sister (always thin!) or out with non-wls friends who are thin, they eat about as much as I do....I guess compared to the amount of food I used to eat, which was NOT normal, I don't eat very much!  But, it's enough to maintain my weight around 149lbs and I'd have to eat even less and exercise more to lose the 10 lbs I'd love to lose.  Yes, your body will stop losing and, as I said, the real work will begin then!

Melissa - Don't worry! Your body will let you know. You can also control it by eating higher caloried food in the protein department if you need to gain a few. Just relax and enjoy the ride. Something else you might want to look into is www.fitday.com. I use it and many from the PA boads use it. It has helped me to see how much I burn and how much I need to take in to maintain. Good luck.

Liz  (former Yardley, Pa resident / FL resident since Sept. 2007)

Hi Melissa,  I am 5 years post op now.  I tell ya, your body will (for lack of better choice words) sabotage against you! Once your body gets the hang of your "routine", it will pretty much say, "ha,ha,ha, you're not surprising me anymore and now I can try to slow your metabolism down and rest".   When your body is onto your "routine", it will get lazy again and want to rest from all the hard work you've done.  For example, my sister is a runner and she lost her weight by running and eventually started marathons. She lost 75 lbs running in the beginning. That was 15 yrs ago and now, she is back up to 175 lbs. She still runs marathons (runs 35-40 miles a week).  You see, over time, her body found a way to slow down because it got used to her routine.  What I do now that I am 5 yrs out, my body wants to maintain at 125 lbs if I allow it but just eating the same way, same routine day in, day out and do the same old exercise routines at the gym.  I want 115 lbs so I am forever, every week choosing 2 new protein food choices to eat and change my exercise routines once a month.  One week, I will do chicken and ground beef (always eat a salad and a vegetable with each protein meal). Another week, I will choose fish and pork chops, another, ricotta cheese (I make no pasta lasagna) and beans.   With exercise, I started with water aerobics (easier on the knees), then eventually, I followed my sister with the love of running.   With each routine I made up, my body responded well but then it started to resist me again. I now mix it up with cardio running, free weight, machine weights, Astanga Yoga (just chose different ones to keep my body guessing and on its toes).   If you always keep your body guessing, it will work in your favor. Don't think eating the same food  routine will work.  You need to change it!  You need to eat /graze 5 x a day (protein first, then veggie, then salad and only if you have anymore room or desired to eat, the complex carbs) , you need to drink water, you need to sleep and you need BM's (yep! Let me know if you need more clarification on this one).  Also, the way your prepare your protein food choices, and the veggies or the dressing in your salad will contain the carbs you need so don't worry about those mash potatos, rice or pastas. If you don't eat alot, then snack this way 5 x a day.   I can eat every hour because I don't each full meals.  Eating steadily throughout the day will actually help you lose more weight than get you into plateaus.

Hi Sue, Thank you so much for the info.  Congratulations on your successful Journey.  I wish you well and I will be praying for a successful Journey for you husband.  Thanks again. Melissa