18 months + Post-Ops

Those of you 18 months post op and beyond, who are still trying to lose weight. What does your average day of eating look like? Calories/Protein? I missed such a big gap of trying to lose weight by being pregnant, so now I'm trying to figure out what is 'normal' at this point. I have less than 20lbs to my orignal goal, and I refuse to not get there, but I want to do it the right way (Ie, not throw myself into starvation mode, or be a complete workout nazi).

My calories range from 1000 to 1500, at the upper end.   Protein varies...sometimes on the low end, sometimes the high end.   I drink at least one shake per day, at least one yogurt and make healthy choices the rest of the time.  Yesterday was a "big" eating day for me; for some reason I was hungry all day.  I keep bowls of salad in the refrigerator and allow myself to eat it often on days when I seem so hungry.  I have had to learn, and it has been hard, to eat more often so I do not become ravenous.  Prior to surgery I age one meal per day, at night, and ate A LOT.  Eating small, healthy meals/snacks  throughout the day controls my hunger.  Waking is my favorite exercise and has served me well.  I need to get to the gym more, but like you said and like in times past, I have not become a workout nazi rather simply enjoy being outside walking.

At this point, your calories really need to be based on your body's metabolic rate and your level of exercise because those two things will cause the caloric intake needed for you to lose and/or maintain weight to vary WIDELY.  I, for instance, have to keep my calories at around 1400 to keep the scale from creeping up but other people who are also not particularly active eat a couple hundred calories more than that, and some people I know who are very active maintain by eating nearly 2000 calories.

Your protein intake should not change based on whether you are still trying to lose 20 pounds or are maintaining.  Your body needs what it needs regardless of caloric intake.

Lora

Thanks ladies. I've been eating between 900-1200 (one day at 1200) the past week, and getting at least 80g of protien. I'm thinking today I might just eat without counting calories focusing only on protein first then tonight figure out see what the numbers are. I guess, part of my problems is, I need to trust myself to make good decisions and for some reason I worry about 'doing it right' and feel that I need some type of number to hit ya know? I know that isn't practice if I want to LIVE my life and eat, rather than spend my life worrying about food, while I try to live. Hopefully in another week or so I'll have things figured out and I can go back to sailing along like I was before. :)

I feel your pain!  This last 15 for me has been hanging on for 4-1/2 months now!! My nut was even concerned because my goal in not unrealistic.  It just puts me in the normal BMI range so she tweaked things for me and told me if it didn't start back up (the weight loss) to contact her.  Keep pushin' on! 

If it makes you feel any better, it took me over 6 months to lose my last 20 pounds (and my goal weight was also just into a normal BMI).  Hang in there.

Lora

Morgan,

You seem to have the exercise part of this down (go YOU - it will make a difference!) so when it comes to this last portion of weight that you to come off, it's going to be a lot of work but it will make a big difference - however, you're also going to have to think whether keeping off that last 15-20 lbs is something you're willing to work at b/c it will be the very toughest to lose and the first you'll gain if you're not diligent(not tryin to sound all mommy but speaking from experience)...

Anyhoo, I would do 100-120 protein with about 20 grams immediately post exercise, esp if you're doing any weights at all. And I would increase calories for sure....with steady exercise, I think about 1500 would probably do you good (but everyone is different). Stay off processed food as much as possible and add the good fats such as nuts and nut butters. And DRINK WATER!!! I upped my intake of pure water w/o the add-ins and it really made the difference. I average between 1800-2200 calories per day and will go up to about 2800-3000 on long running days of 6+ miles.

I'm no expert by any means but this is just my take/experience..I wish you the best.

meow