Surgiversary and maintenance!

I have finally reached the promised land...maintenance!!!

It took me 2 yrs (to the day) to lose 121 lbs and the last 30 lbs (and 15 months) was all due to my perseverance. I give the first 90 lbs in 9 months to RnY, but the last 30 lbs are all mine; my sweat, blood and tears.

Now that I have reached my personal goal another version of struggle starts, maintenance. I have a deathly fear of rebound and regain. So I came up with my 10 commandments. Please feel free to add to my list if you think I've missed anything. I am planning on framing one copy and put it in my closet area where I will see it every morning. The other copy will be pinned to the bulletin board above my desk.

My 10 maintenance commandments

1. Thou shalt have liquids (water, coffee, tea) throughout the day, aiming for at least 80 oz.
2. Thou shalt feed thyself with dense protein first.
3. Protein bars shalt be considered equal to candy bars. Thou shalt use them only in extreme emergency when no other protein is found. Hence, thou shalt not buy boxes and boxes of protein bars, but one or two single ones for dire emergencies.
4. Icecream (the high protein low sugar version) shalt not be consumed on a daily basis. The treat shalt be consumed bi-weekly, preferably monthly.
5. Thou shalt not eat nuts as a source of protein due to lack of willpower in front of said nuts. Nuts shalt be a no-no in thy diet.
6. Fruits like berries (during summer season) shalt be consumed with moderation. A tub of blueberries from Costco shalt not be considered moderation.
7. Chocolate chips and sugar free candies are thy downfall. Stayeth hence from them.
8. Thou shalt workout 5-6 times a week (one hr each session), come water, flood or other weather calamities.
9. Thou shalt weigh thyself on a weekly basis, and plan accordingly if an increase is observed.
10. Thou shalt go to monthly support meetings even if considered boring and redundant.

you look just great, Sheila!! And yes, maintenance is hard - I gained 12-15 lbs (depending on the day), but luckily, I still look fine and am still in the normal BMI range (although at the top of it...). But regain is not inevitable. Sounds like you have a good plan!!

I love your list! Oh, and congratulations!

wow!! Just look at you, you gorgeous, slinky thing you! Happy surgiversary! Awesome job! I love your commandments, all of which I too should always followeth! Except for the ice cream one. I regardeth ice cream, even the low-low-cal versions, as kryptonite!

You are just amazing! Congrats and well done.

Way to go that's impressive!!!!

Love your rules and you look amazing! Maintenance isn't easy and it looks like you have a good plan in place. I was at support group last night and asked why they never have regain as a topic or maintenance. (2 hour support group, first hour is lead by a NUT second by psychiatrist) Lucky our NUT said he was going to add that to the list of topics he works from.

I'm deal with a 5 pound regain after my mom died. I know I can get it off, it's just going to take a bit more work. I'm back on track!

I suggested the same topic to my group 3-4 months ago but nothing yet. I think the problem, at least for my group, is that people who come to the meetings are either pre-op or freshly post op. I don't think we have anybody beyond two years. Except for one lady who had it 14 years ago. Anyway, somehow after two years people fall off, or think they don't need it and won't come to meetings. That's why I put it as my 10th commandment; I need to go to these meetings that I call my AA meetings.

We have 2 different meeting a month, 1 for newbies and 1 for veterans over 6 months. I think we have a few just at 6 months, 1 at a year, me at 2.7 years and like 6 that are 4 or more years out. The Newbie group is really small about 5 people total.

You look amazing! Congratulations