What is considered lightweight?

I joined OH in 2008 and visited the site often before and after my RNY 7/8/2008. I drifted away after a few years and would occasionally visit.  I popped in yesterday and the site has really changed since my last visit.  I noticed the lightweight forum.  My surgeon called me a lightweight because I had less than 100 lbs. to lose.  Is the lightweight forum geared towards people who have less than 100 lbs. to lose or what exactly is the forum directed to?

 I lost 70 lbs. and maintained that loss for several years.  In the last year I’ve regained about 12 lbs.  My slacks with a zipper and waistband that I was so proud of no longer fit.  I’m back to elastic waistbands.  I refuse to buy a bigger size.

Instead of cooking for what I need, I tend to cook what my husband and son like.  I eat what they eat, just smaller portions.  My meals are small.  I tend to fill up quickly at mealtime, but snacks are my downfall.  Even the healthy snacks add up.  I have at least one protein shake a day.  At this point, I’m just not sure which way to turn.  I’m thinking about going back to my surgeon.  I’ve not seen him for over 2 years.  My PC runs the same tests he does yearly so I do know I’m doing fine healthwise.  I need to change my eating and I also need to exercise.  A co-worker told me exercise won’t help me lose weight.  Of course, that sounded good to me since I don’t like exercise, but I know it really does help with losing weight.

What food plan do you use?

Yes, a lightweight tends to be around a 40bmi or under (and some over).  We don't really limit who visits us here as to whether they are a lightweight or not as we welcome everyone.

I had my surgery in Oct of 2008 and know where you're at.  I've gained ~18 lbs from my goal.  I need to get at least 10 lbs back off.  I know how to do it - I just need to!

I also don't exercise and need to.  I work from home and sit all day... so that is something I need to get disciplined on.  Yes, I have a treadmill and it mostly holds clothes that need air drying ;)

I like to eat just meals, but also find snacking finding its way into my nightly routine. 

Eliminate carbs.  Try to get 30 or less a day and concentrate on protein.  Carbs in your diet should come from veggies.  Use a tracker like myfitnesspal.com and enter EVERYTHING that goes into your mouth.  You may be amazed at the totals when you think it's not "that bad". 

Luckily for me I'm not a sugar person, but DO love my salty snacks, chips, etc.  I have developed reactive hypoglycemia and simple carbs will set it off - so that helps keep me accountable.

Glad to see you here.  Roz has a menus and miles we post our menus for the day on and you can get some good feedback from there. 

Hey, have you tried Quest chips (Since you like salty) :)  You can buy individual bags to try them at Vitamin Shoppe and I just found you can buy them at www.questnutrition.com for less ;)

1 serving bag has 120 calories, 1.5 g fat, 5 g carbs and 21 g protein!!! :)

I have the Quest chips.  I purchased them from quest.com and loved the first box I got so I ordered all the flavors and now really don't care for them.   They leave a weird taste in my mouth.  I would like to try Quest's protein powder but it is pricey.  Love the Quest bars.  GNC sells Quest products.  They usually have the bars, buy 3, get 1 free.

Nice!  I have heard the quest bars are great, but they are to many carbs for my current daily intake.  I saw on their website they also have pasta... have you tried their pasta?

The Quest bar I had today had 17 grams of fiber so the net carbs were 3.  I've not tried their pasta, but I'm not a big fan of pasta.  It doesn't always go down easily.

I'm going to talk to my NUT next week.  I'm going to ask her about subtracting for the fiber... I hadn't been doing that previously. :)

Hello!  I am new to the lightweight forum, but I have found the individuals on here to be very helpful and supportive.  They post daily about what they are eating every day, so that can give you some ideas.  I am only 3 months out from surgery, so I am still trying to lose.  I would say check out a few forums and see which one you feel like you fit best in... or participate with more than one. :)

My suggestion to you to get back on track would be to do just that... get back on track. :)

My current goals (yours may be different) are at least 80 grams of protein (more is better), less than 40 carbs and at least 65 oz of water or liquid (more is better) daily.  And then get moving.  Doesn't have to be going to a gym or running down the street.  Start small and build up.  Park furthest away at the grocery store, take extra trips to carry the groceries in the house... do some exercises with things you have around the house.  There are a lot of YouTube videos with different exercise videos.

I would also suggest cooking healthier meals at home.  It will only help your family. :)  My son eats what I eat for the most part at home.  For breakfast on a school day he gets cereal or oatmeal (I have my protein packed breakfast ready to take to work) and on the weekends he gets an omelet.  Sometimes he'll have a ham sandwich for dinner and I'll have something different, but other times like last night I grilled burgers with cheese and steamed some broccoli.  My son ate it without bread and I just didn't have the broccoli.

I am new, so I know I am still in the "honeymoon phase", but it took me a couple months to figure out what will work for me and the past month I finally feel like I can say I can do this!!  What has helped me is tracking EVERYTHING!  I use the Fat Secret app (my personal preference on the app, find one that YOU feel is user friendly.... otherwise you won't use it).  I track everything before I eat it.  It makes me accountable and think about what I am putting in my body. :)

Thanks for your comments.  I do track my food most days but I need to be more accurate.  I like the tracker on OH so I'll probably use it.  I have a lot of my favorite foods already programmed in.  I do cook healthy but my husband and son like potatoes, corn and bread.  I rarely eat bread and can pass on potatoes but I love crackers with soup or chili.  I need to find some low carb ones. 

I have a bike and stepper at home so no excuse for not exercising.  I have a torn tendon in one ankle so the stepper does cause pain, but the bike I can use without hurting my ankle.  It is a depository for clothes. I have a TV right in front of the bike and I can also read while I'm pedaling. 

No more excuses.  I will start exercising this evening.  I'm retired but work for a temp service so right now I'm working during the day.  I will also plan my meals curbing the carbs.  Those carbs are the devil.

You'll get it! :)  You sound like you are on the right track! :)  I saw a quote that I loved and I have to say it to myself several times a day... Don't trade what you want most for what you want at this moment. :)