Help...whats the right balance...?

Hi WL Friends....

           I am at goal and have been for a few months but lately I am struggling to find the right balance of carbs and calories....I know its going to be a trial and error finding the balance to keep me at maintenance weight....and that carb monster is rearing its ugly head too!!!  I have worked too hard to get to goal to let myself cave....Any suggestions?  I appreciate any imput you might wish to share....Thank you and have a great day!!!!

Hey, SS...

I thought I was at goal about 15 lbs ago...but my body has decided to keep going. I'm letting it. I TRY to keep the carb monster under control but it is hard.

As long as you are less than 2 years out, your body may not be done. Just keep an eye on it and keep it from creeping up. Focus on protein and fluids.

Liz

Thanks S.S. Liz....

               Im approx 14 1/2 months out from surgery....I guess I still have a ways to go till my two years are up...there are days Im happy with my weight at goal ( 140 and normail bmi) and other days I want to go lower...but I have lost so much off my face...I dont look healthy...so I was only going to go to 130lbs and no lower...thanks for your advice...I will keep focusing on the protein and fluids...how you doing now? 

My face lost the most too...but as those here who are further out have said, the remaining fat will shift.

Normal BMI for 5'3" is 105 to JUST a smidgen under 141. I'm 5'4" and I am currently at a 20.9 BMI. My initial goal was 140 as well, never dreamed I would get into the territory I have. :)

I would go a little lower than 140 so that once bounceback happens, you can stay under 140.

I am doing pretty good as long as I wear the rubber bands most of the time. It helps keep my mouth in place and I don't wear it out trying to do that manually. I'm almost 3 weeks out from that surgery and the edema in my face is going down. He did tell me the edema would go away between week 3 and 4.

Liz

I am interested in knowing too!

I recently reset my goal and have a couple of pounds to go. I really don't want to lose more after that. I am 9 months out.

My surgeon had said when I saw him in January just to keep doing what I have been and my body will decide. Honestly though, I don't know if I want to get any smaller (never, ever thought I would say that!) I know there may be some bounce back. I am around 5'3 1/2".

I am really interested to hear what all you Vets have to say. Thanks Liz for your input. I had not thought about my body not being "done".

Thanks Lynn for your input...I am a little further out than you and at this point maintaining is my concern...after reading Liz's message I am convinced she is right on...good luck with journey...and yes bounceback weight weighs heavy in my thoughts too...

Didn't mean to try and take over thread! Roz had asked me similar question on menus and miles, so I just answered! Sorry - really glad you asked the question as I have been struggling with actual goal, how to maintain, etc.

Thanks!

No Problem Lynn...Hope the info from our LW friends helped you too!!!!

Are you at the goal you or your Dr. set for you or at your lowest weight possible?  Are you at a normal BMI?  When I hit my personal goal I increased my calories by adding a couple of Protein drinks and almost immediately my body started losing again.  In fact I lost another 19 pounds when I decided I was too thin and looked a little pale (listened to other people).  The one major mistake I made in this whole process was increasing my calories at that point instead of letting my body decide what weight was good for me.

Carbs and Sugar are the root of most of our bounce back pounds so if you can control those you shouldn't struggle maintaining.  Base all of your meals on Protein and try not to increase your servings from what you have been eating.    I still have a lot of restriction for as far out as I am and I think it's because I eat small amounts every few hours rather than to sit and eat a big meal 3 times a day.

The most important thing in maintaining is not to let anything get out of control. I use fitclick.com (there are lots of sites)  to keep track of what I eat.  It has an option where you put in what weight you want to maintain and it tells you how many calories you need to do that.  It has worked for me so far.  I rarely go over the calories listed.  I've been maintaining for over 2 years now so I don't do it every day because I am a routine eater so I don't stray from my every day menus very often.

I usually have around 1300 calories made up of 50% Protein (mostly from drinks), 25% Carbs, and 25% fat.  I rarely eat potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta.

My weakness is sugar and honey BQ chips and it is a battle I fight every day.  I still dump so that does keep me under control as far as how much I can have at one time but I have to fight going back for seconds a few hours later.

Hi Roz,

Your input is means so much to me.

I had also responded on yesterday's menus and miles, so here it is again. My BMI at 135 is 23.5. 135 was my "fantasy goal" I set on my first visit with the surgeon - really not ever believing I would get there. My surgeon has never set a goal, but his PA said at one time they consider anyone a success with BMI under 30. They don't put a lot of value in BMI's.

So I see surgeon's PA at end of month and am going to ask. The surgeon said just let your body decide when I saw him in January. I also feel better eating smaller meals, although the NUT's all say 3 meals, no snacks, no protein drinks at this time as I'm so far out. I cannot eat more than 2 oz of dense protein at a time (I can eat about 4 oz of ground beef or turkey though sometimes if it real moist like meatloaf).

Sorry didn't mean to overtake this thread.

Thanks Roz and everyone else for input! Great topic!