1yr and 1 month out and afraid i am eating to much

hey everyone. i am one year and one month out. i started at 374 and am now 183 however i am afraid i am eating to much. when i first had my wls i could not eat bread or pasta or beef now i can eat it all. i am so afraid to get heavy again i try so hard not to eat them.. i am afraid of falling off and gaining. how much should i be eating now?? any suggestions or help would be greatly appriciated. thanks....

Hey Honey!! It is normal to be able to eat all of the things you mentioned at the stage you are in. Really, you need to talk to your Nutritionist and get a good "base menu" set up for you. Just know that as long as you are not GAINING weight, you are not eating too much. For now, I can only tell you to focus on protein and veggies and stay away from too many carbs, even in the form of fruit. I know EXACTLY what you mean about being afraid of re-gaining weight. It is a viable fear, but for all the stories of people *****gained their weight, there are hundreds of other stories of people just like us who have maintained their weight loss for many years.  You're definitely on the right track and very wise to ask questions!!  Hope things continue to go well for you!! Hugs,      Pam

thank you so much for your imput. i am not gaining but i have hit a spot where i have stopped loosing. it does help to hear success stories.. i do eat alot of chicken and veggies i just went wild becasue for so long i was not able to eat pasta and now that i can i am eating the lean cusine meals and alot of them have pasta. but i only eat 2 or 3 a week. i guess i am so used to eating a granola bar and being full now that i am able to eat a bit more, i got scared that i will be a food junkie again...:0) and i do not want that. so thank you and congrats on your journey to. if it was not for you wise folks us newbies could not do it.. so thank you for taking the time to answer me.. heather.. xoxox

HI Heather--you didn't say how big of a serving of these foods you eat. If you're eating only a small amount of pasta or bread occasionally, it should not hurt you. Beef is very good for you, (lots of iron in red meats) --about a 3 ounce serving is ok-about the size of a deck of cards. I'm 2 years (as of yesterday) out--I eat 5 or 6 times a day but only small amounts. For example--breakfast today was a protein bar, morning snack was a 4 ounce yogurt, lunch was 2 ounces of deli turkey, 1 ounce of swiss cheese on one thin slice of whole wheat bread, my afternoon snack will probably be a very small apple with some peanut butter,,,dinner---haven't a clue,,, I can usually eat about 6 sauteed shrimp with 2 tablespoons of green beans A small apple or orange for a snack About 2 cups of green salad---once it's chewed up there's not that much it seems 3/4 cup of oatmeal with milk Half of a small chicken breast with a couple spoonsful of veggies About 1/2 of a normal sized cheeseburger with a couple bites of the bun--I usually rip off part of the bun as I eat the burger. 3/4 cup of cottage cheese About 3/4 cup of all bran flakes or shredded wheat and bran with milk (eat this as an evening snack almost every night to keep from being constipated,,,,,,grrrrrrrrrr, ,I hate that feeling.) 1 to 1 1/2 cups of veggie soup--depends on how dense it is and how much meat is in it. A cup of chili with meat and beans. I rarely eat pasta---only when I go to Olive Garden or if I'm a guest at someone's home. I do eat bread --maybe 4 slices per week but try to eat the whole grain kind. Does this help??---I worry all the time about regaining too-------I'd just have to shoot myself---Just kidding--- My doc told me to eat often--small amounts so that I don't stretch out the opening of the pouch--so that's what I try to do. So far it's working ok.  Best wishes,,,Wanda

hey wanda thank you so much for answering me.. when i get up i have oatmeal 1 packet of the carb and sugar control one. then for lunch i will have a lean cusine and some grapes or 1 of the bumblebee chicken salad and cracker snack packages and an orange or something like that. i will have a protein bar as a snack in the middle of the day. then i will have dinner. but for so long i was able to eat a granola bar and be full for hours.. i am just afraid of becoming a junkie again.. :0)  i was wondering about the whole constipation thing to.. i have been experiencing that for that past few months. not all the time but a few times and it sucks..... so i will have to try the bran... thanks again for your input. it has been helpfull. good luck as your continue your journey... and congrats on being a looser for 2 years.. kit heather xoxoxo

I understand what u mean about overeating, I have also had that fear of going back, thats why, after 14 months out I haven't been near the breads, pastas, rice or potatoes, i decided to stay completely away from it so it wouldnt get me into trouble, both physically and emotionally. I feel guilty if I have put a little more salad on my plate than i should have, those horrible old feelings of bloatedness comes back, and all i have had is a couple extra ounces of salad. If I was u, and if u can do it, please focus on just having ur proteins and veggies, u have come so far, why go back to eating that stuff, is it worth it, and besides, those carbs serve no nutritional value at all. I hope u can find a happy medium in ur food plan. Please email me personally if u need to chat more. Take care and good luck. Joanne

Hey Heather,  I am 14 mos. out and have lost 90 lbs.  I am 2 lbs. away from my goal weight so I am just trying to maintain right now and not gain any weight.  This is what I do every day: 1.  Walk 4 miles (I don't work out, I just walk briskly.) 2.  Drink a protein drink every morning for breakfast.  I have Anywhey protein powder (I found it at Rite-Aid -- it is flavorless) and orange juice (6 oz.)  It tastes like a regular glass of orange juice and I don't mind it at all.  I hate all other protein drinks. 3.  Go onto Sparkpeople.com and they will help you calculate how many calories you should be consuming each day.  (I am able to have around 1500 calories.) 4.  I weigh myself every day so I am on top of things and if I've gained a couple of lbs. I get right back to eating all protein and veggies, no carbs. (I mean the bad kind like breads, etc.) 5.  I try to get in 8 glasses of water. Be proud of what you have lost already -- you are incredible!  Keep up the good work!   Janet