Goal and Maintenance

Okay...I am not at goal so I am thinking ahead. I would like to be prepared with options to help with keeping that goal. Yes I am seeking help with maintenance options...I would like to know what everyone is doing if they made their goal and how they are maintaining. Are you exercising more? Do you compensate day to day on calories? How are you staying at goal without a gain. Or perhaps you have a gain and have to work it what are you doing to change your lifestyle to get back to goal. Do you feel its something you can do for a lifetime? Thanks for your input! Debbie

Good Morning! I reached goal last year and have put on about 12 pounds since. But not without fighting it. It is an everyday battle. I still have to watch everything and exercise faithfully. Even to get to goal was a constant struggle. I was never the one who couldn't stop losing. I followed the rules. Once I strayed from the rules is where I started to gain. I now stick strictly to protein and veggies. No processed carbs. As long as you are aware that the weight can come back, you will be successful. Good luck, I know you can do it!!!

Okay I need your help Cacee....what do you consider processed carbs? Pretzels? Flour? Bread? I never put carbs in any categories....they were always carbs. You keep up a good fight don't give up! I do veggies, protein, fruits....and of course my cheese pretzels....I think I am addicted to them! Thanks for your response Debbie

I got to goal about a year after surgery and stay within 5 lbs of it ever since. I like to run daily, so that helps. I eat pretty much what I want (within reason) however, I would be a liar if I said I didn't go overboard from time to time. When the scale goes up, I back off the Wheat thins, candy kisses, and or whatever else I may be dipping into a few times to many and the scale goes right back. I am very faithful with my vitamins and calcium. I am also one of the "never used protein drinks or bars" freaks that roams around here. LOL Can I do this for life? Yes, my tool keeps me in check when I "forget" that full octaine ice cream is not for me. I love to work out. It makes me feel good and gives me energy. I am fortunate that at this place in my life my weight or eating habits are not a "struggle." Tomorrow may be different, who knows? For now, it's all good. Traci 303/131

Traci, Good Job with the goal and loss. I definitely like your thinking here. It sounds like your are your own body's police. How often do you weigh yourself to keep in check? I wish I could run....I do walk and a lot of that! I still have 60 lbs to go to get to my personal goal. Dr. never set a goal for me but he was impressed with loss at my 18 mo check up. I feel good but I want to be sure I am doing the right things to continue to my goal and to stay there. I do protein bars and drinks.....but I am starting to see from my journal that I don't need them as much. I guess its a good thing huh....my pocketbook will like me. Thanks for your response. Debbie

First of all you look fabulous in your pic! I hit goal at about one year out and have maintained for about 4 years now. I finally had the lightbulb go off over my head that said "I don't need to eat" if I'm not burning off any calories - so on days I don't exercise enough I cut down my portions. I've found I like exercising (who knew?) and find if I exercise a lot I can eat more - Hooray! Eating more for me now is still mostly healthy choices. But if I burn off more calories I can have a cookie occasionally or a bite or two of cake at a wedding. If I'm sitting at the computer all day at work and don't move once I get home, it's less calories for dinner and no snack later. My lifestyle changed within the first year of surgery. I was so lucky to have had the surgery and to be losing I wanted to make the best out of it. I have done some things I never in a million years thought I'd do - and it was really fun! While getting certified for Scuba diving I thought to myself - "you're a 50 year old woman-what are you doing?" and the answer was I'm living my life cause I didn't before. With each new experience comes renewed confidence. I like me know and I'm comfortable with who I am. That for me is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow and not regain. I'd never give up this life now for anything. Myrtle.

Thank you Myrtle for your compliment and details on your lifestyle change. Its very interesting to me that you recognize the greatest value of exercise. Expending more calories! I truly like this method and I am thinking I should incorporate something like this now....Thanks for the inspiration! You Go Girl!!! Debbie

I consider processed carbs anything white. Flour,sugar, potato, etc. I try and stick to a South beach Diet. Protein,veggies, fruit. Occasionally I will have a low carb pita, however I tend to want more carbs when I do have a little. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to matter how much I exercise. I have always done cardio and weight traing for 4-5 hrs a week. I tried kicking it up to 6-7 hrs a week because i was eating a little more and not the greatest choices and it didn't help keep the weight off. I have realized that I MUST stick to the rules of the pouch for my body. Hope this helps.