Goal on the horizon question!

I'm 3.5 years out and I did bounce over the past last year around 10 pounds after not having any bounce back for 2 years. But I am always higher in the winter so it's really more like a 5 pound bounce back in the summer and 10 pounds in the winter. According to a bunch of friends I met 2 weeks ago who hadn't seen me since I got to my lowest, I look much better now, not so gaunt. Not sure I agree with them, but it did give me pause.

Also, our bodies are designed to eat every 3-4 hours. If you are up for 16 hours a day, as most people are, that's 4 times of eating, not 3. Plus some people do better with maintaining their blood sugars if they eat every 2-3 hours and that means eating 5-6 times a day. 

I agree with Gail that as long as it's planned, it really doesn't matter. Everyone has to come up with a plan that works for them. If your plan is to eat 1200 calories in 4 meals of 300 calories each how is that worse than eating 1200 calories in 6 meals of 200 calories each or 3 meals of 400 calories each. It's still 1200 calories!

I also don't agree that 1 string cheese at 1 year out becomes 2 and then 3 as you get farther out. Or rather, that can happen even if you stick to 3 meals. But it doesn't have to. In fact, I used to eat 3 string cheeses for my afternoon snack but these days I've cut back to 2 sticks. And I feel fine and I'm no more hungry than I was before. I was eating more before because I was burning more calories but now that I'm burning less, I eat less food.

This subject has caused others to pounce on me on the other board to the point I had to actually use the block button.  I was so saddened by ones response one night I thought my daughter was going to jerk the mouse out of my hand and do it herself.  I tend to get my feelings hurt waaaaay too easily.  I hate that, but I do.  This issue causes a lot of emotion in people, so I am always hesitant to give my opinion after being chastised for sharing my thoughts and what worked for me. Yes, I have encouraged people to go as low as they want, with their doctor's blessing, and not let anyone talk them out of it.   So this is my disclaimer...THIS IS MY OPINION...I am only saying what works for me.

I hit my goal and immediately bounced up.  At one point it was 8 pounds.  I take full responsibility because I got there pretty much effortlessly.  My goal was 128 I hit it, and I promptly got back up to 136.  First I stayed between 130-133.  Then it was 133-135. Then it was 134-136.  And that was when I said enough.  Today I weighed 132.  I would like to live in the 128 to 132 range.

I am 5'9" and 128 is the bottom of the chart for me.  I am small framed and wear a size 7.5 shoe, some 7's and wear a size 4/6.  Even at this weight and height, I still wear a 4/6.....no 0/2, and that is not my goal nor has it ever been my goal.

I feel the best at this weight, and in 2004 I weighed 148 after dieting and exercising.  I told myself 16+ pounds less after ungoing surgery was not unreasonable.  My labs are good and my surgeon is fine with me at this weight.  I had my two year appointment in January, and I actually gained 1.5 pounds, so he knows this is a maintenance weight for my body.  As long as I omit pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, crackers, most sugary foods, I have no difficulty maintaining this weight.    I jumped up towards 137 over the Holidays when allowed myself to eat like I did pre-op.  That stopped the day I saw 137-138 on the scale for the first time since while in the losing stage..

So  in sum....I made certain my surgeon was okay with my goal, my labs were good and picked a weight that I knew I could maintain.  I get flack because I am tall, but you can look at my photos, and I look normal...not overly thin.  We all carry our weight differently, so it all depends.

Dasie you look amazing!

I decided to go down another 8-10 pounds. I'll see how I look and feel at that point.

Thank you everyone for your input.