What's on your Saturday menu?

I'd kill for a 5 pounds whoosh!

In my bones, I feel like I should stay the course and wait it out. I figured I wouldn't struggle like this because I know better but the doubt really gets in my head.

I've had that doubt and frustration. Working hard and not getting results right away is maddening. It stinks.

The thing that helps me personally is keeping strict tabs on everything I can. Everything I eat, I weigh precisely and log in MFP. And i keep equally close tabs on my weight. The ham I feed the cat is separate from what I eat. Seriously, I'll give the cat (or JB) anything they want, but if I've weighed and logged it, they aren't getting any.

It's really good, for me, at getting rid of a lot of that doubt and frustration. If I know exactly how many calories I'm taking in, and I know the patterns and trends my weight loss follows, I know what weeks I won't lose much. It helps me, a lot, mentally. But it absolutely is hard.

I have gone stretches where I get away from the above. I drifted in early covid and gained a bunch. I stopped weighing food, and myself. Guessing and winging it are things with which I don't do well. Facts and numbers help me make sense. It's soothing. For me.

You've lost a bunch. You'll do great. Keep grinding.

Thank you! I can see you smacking hands and paws off your ham, lol. I plan everything and stick to my plan, weight myself and my food everyday. I feel good about that. I have to trust I'm doing the right thing and the rest will follow. Adding calories or carbs in my already tiny window is nuts and I'm not doing it.

Adding calories and carbs does not seem to make sense to me, but it is sometimes strange how the body reacts so it will be interesting to see if she is on to something. My personal solution is 10 calories per day per pound that I want to weigh. No forbidden foods and no specific food groups. I do weigh every day. My goal is 136 and I stay under 1400 calories a day. I drink a lot of water and about a quart of Crystal Light lemonade everyday. I also drink some diet gingerale and recently added Coke Zero for the slight caffeine boast. I do not drink coffee or tea.

There have been many times when I was stuck at a higher weight, and it would take weeks to go down a pound. It was much harder when I cooked for another person who wanted things like mashed potatoes, spaghetti, fried potatoes, fruit crisps, and cakes with frosting. I am living alone now and can make a meal out of two ounces of chicken, some green beans and a few spoonfuls of mashed cauliflower. I have a fresh salad for lunch almost every day. I buy the premade ones with things like chicken, cranberry, apples, nuts and dressing in one container because it is cheaper for one person than buying a lot of ingredients that I end up throwing away because they get old.

I have been so blessed that I never regained my appetite after RNY. My friend who had it about 20 years ago is ravenously hungry and has a lot of regain. She is on Monjaro and lost seven pounds in the first week. But as Trish pointed out to me, most of that is probably water. We traveled together for a week and she did not eat a lot of food but at some meals double the amount that I can consume without getting too full. She may have been holding back because she was embarrassed by the amount that I eat and I hope that is not the case.

When I let my calories get up to 1600-1800 my weight climbs to the 160's. I have no doubt I could easily be back in the 200's if I allowed myself to eat more of the things I loved before surgery. I also eat a lot less protein than I did during the first years after surgery. I no longer stay high protein and eat more bread and vegetables now. I order wild caught frozen fish from Alaska because I think it is healthier than what is in the stores and have baked or broiled fish every other day.

When I started Weigh****chers back in 1973 they recommended eating fish at about half your meals. That changed due to all the mercury in fish, but I do believe that baked or broiled fish in moderation is almost the perfect high protein low calorie food. Wild Alaska sells nice sized portions and I always have some thawing in the refrigerator.

www.wildalaskacompany.com

You are very fortunate with your metabolism. I wish mine was like that.

You're working so hard, and you lost a good amount leading into surgery! And you're right- you're doing everything to be successful. I'm glad the clinic is working with you to keep things going, frustrating though I know it is for you. Just a cheerleader over here, but keep going!

Thank you!

Mornin' All!

Party last night was just great. There's a small "core" that seems to show up at most of these (us included), but there are always lots of new people, too. Met several newbies last night - including a woman who's a retired news correspondent who worked for ABC news and NPR (her son lives here, so she and her husband moved here when they retired). And again, that stupid grasshopper pie I made was the belle of the ball. Came home empty-handed. Amazing!

woke up with a wine-induced headache, but I'm fine now, and the weather is perfect for a bike ride. So I'll work on the server project for awhile and then go out for a ride. Not much else on tap for the weekend, thankfully. Last week was surprisingly busy - and next week looks like it might be, too. I figured things would slow down once classes were over, but so far - nope.

QOTD: nothing at the moment

B: protein shake, coffee with half & half

MS/early L: L&F vanilla with 1/2 C fresh mixed fruit salad (no dressing)

AS: L&F salted caramel with tahini (?)

D: probably the leftover pasta with pistachio/basil pesto I made a couple of days ago

have a great Saturday!!

Good morning all. It should be a quiet day here, with rain all day and night. Lots of inside chores to do.

QOTD: Right now I'm listening to Bouncing Ball and that whole album by HoneyHoney. Great album.

Nothing unusual for food.