What are your best tips for maintenance?
For me, I think the two things that help the most are measuring my portions and staying away from starchy carbs.
Now, I don't always get out my measuring cups but I do often. Other times I just eyeball it as best I can but I'm not always real good at that. And I do eat starchy stuff like bread sometimes, just not very often. I've found it makes me hungrier and I can eat too much of it, so I do better if I just stay away.
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I honestly believe being a Vegetarian helped me in losing my weight as well as maintaining it. I am a “healthy" Vegetarian. I eat a wide variety of beans, nuts, seeds, eggs, low fat cheeses, yogurt and milk. I also eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain breads, crackers, cereal and pasta. I am able to eat 1800 calories a day with limited exercise (due to Rheumatoid Arthritis). I count my calories and protein grams daily as well as take all my supplements and drink over 64 ounces of fluids daily. I have never swayed from the rules or eaten foods that are not nutritious. Some may say I am too strict but I am happy being so vigilant.
For me I do the following:
1) Measure/weigh my food probably 60-70% of the time
2) Track. I havent' always been the best at this, and during my 2nd year I put on about 7-8 lbs. I've now lost that by tracking the last 2 months.
3) Exercise. Aside from building muscle and endurance - it makes me FEEL better. Better mood, better sleep, and less likely to eat crap.
Eat every 3-4 hours no matter what
Drink at least 80 oz no sugar liquids
Exercise 3-5 days a week doing things I enjoy like swimming and a walking circuit
Weigh daily (works for me)
I am not a measurer or tracker, I have become very acustom to listening to my body:)
Audra
on 3/6/12 2:38 am
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.