Calories in/calories out (and other weight loss truths that have been debunked)

No...this isn't some wise, preachy post. It's sort of a resigned one actually.

The last six months I think I've come to a different place mentally. I realize my body will do what it does no matter what I do. I've altered my body and it is now using a system that even the "experts" in the field don't fully understand. So my strategy from this point out: eat what I know is good for me, have a treat occassionally when I want one and move my body (because in the long-term moving my body will help me preserve it).

But isn't it frustrating how some of the rules we've always been taught don't seem to apply at all?

So I invite you to list one weight loss truth you've always "known" that seems totally debunked by your process after WLS.

Everyone has at least one.

eating before bed is bad for you and makes you gain weight.

Um nope. It's part of how I maintain my weight. I don't wake up in the morning hungry as hell anymore, I sleep better, and it helps me maintain my blood sugar (no waking up in the middle of the night shaky and sweaty because my sugar is jacked).

My mom is diabetic and does it too. My best friend does it because well, she's always hungry. Hasn't made any of them gain weight, either.

Now, it's not a full course meal before bed. I'm not eating a Big Mac. A small snack with protein and some carb is all.

I agree I eat my biggest meal around 8 pm and Im good till around 11 to noon every morning. 

Hmmmm....several really.

1)  Drinking lots of water will make you lose weight-um, no it wont.  I'm living proof of that pre-surgery and post surgery it is near impossible to get tons of water down each day.

2)  Low fat is the way to go--nope!  I only eat real, full fat products, just in limited quantity. 

3)  Only eat 3x a day--no snacks!  Hmmm....this one came from my surgeon's office....and is the worst way for me to eat as I am now having reactive hypoglycemia.  I eat at least 6x a day--and more if I'm hungry--and now the blood sugar issues are gone.  Of course they are tiny meals, sometimes just a couple tablespoons of nuts, but it is working!

Kim

Oh I forgot about the LF junk! It just tastes awful :( I'd really eat less of the more caloric stuff that has some TASTE lol I don't do LF anymore. The tiny bit of cals saved is not worth the difference in taste.

Me, too!  I would much reather eat justa  bit less and have the full flavor than eat mroe of something that's not much mroe than "edible"!

(Good to see you posting again, BTW!)

Lora

 I would say before this weightloss journey I saw foods that were less than healthy for me as being something I had to abstain from. Now I understand that I don't need to entirely avoid those foods. It is all about moderation now. Enjoying a little bit of something every now and then is perfectly acceptable. 

Mindful Eating and having an Eating Coach worked for me. Indeed it is calories in and calories out and exercising. Anything else you will be yo-yo dieting again.

I'm currently reading Influence The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D
Excellent book that I can relate to eating, the influence of people, learning to say no. This is an excellent book about evidence-based research with a 3 yr. program of study on what moves people to change behavior.

So really if we don't change our eating behaviors, we will be fighting all our life to keep our weight off. That's why so many people who have gained weight have given up the fight.
Change doesn't happen overnight, it's baby-steps, a learning process.

I cringe when I read from newbies that it's the easiest thing having WLS, lost weight without exercise can eat what ever they want and the weight still falls off. For awhile these people think they have the magic bullet....BING!!! 3 or 4 years pass and the weight comes back on.
It takes work to maintain your weight loss, lifetime dedication of exercise and Mindful Eating.

Exercise builds muscle and the increased muscle will help you burn more calories.  Only if you gain 20+ pounds of muscle (and who the hell wants that.. or wants to do the work to do that?!?!?)...

Lora

I read a great quote yesterday that I want to share on this topic:

"Calories in versus calories out - doing arithmatic when your body is doing calculus."

I LOVE it.