What works for me in maintenance

This is sort of a premature post because I have only been maintaining for 4 to 7 months, depending on how you count when I got to goal. But to get some new discussion going I am gonna just toss this stuff out. Here is what I am doing to keep my weight off:

1. Food journal daily as I did in the weight loss phase. The main purpose here is to make sure I get in the 70 g of protein that my surgeon says I should still do. Hard to get enough unless I track this. At the end of the day if I am short I have a protein hot coco and that does the trick. And as long as I track protein I track carbs and calories. Calories seem to be in the  1100 to 1200 range. If I keep in that range plus get the protein the carbs ususally take care of themselves and are 50 to 70.

2. Weigh everyday and try to record it in my journal. This is like Elina says - just gotta keep on top of it even though we all know that we can be up and down a pound or two on any given day with no clue what caused it and it may have nothing to do with some particular food item. Just an accountability thing which the food journal also is.

3. Go to support group. Lapsf does come up to our remote area and even though there are not many people that come, I go every time and listen to the preop stuff. Dr. probably thinks I am nuts to keep listening to this but I learn something everytime and it keeps me thinking in these terms. Also am maintaining and lost more weight than those who don't show up. A reminder that I have to keep changes in place for life.

4. Check in on OH daily. Always  useful items here.

5. Found an array of items I can take for lunch that travel well. Single serving cans of tuna, cubes of cheese, almonds or flatbread rollups are my staples. And always keep a protein bar around even though I hate most of them.

5. Go to the grocery store more often and buy less per trip. I used to do the big store run every 10 days. While i still do this for non-perishables, I find the need to stop every couple of days for fresh veggies and low fat dairy stuff. But its lots easier when not carrying 125 extra pounds around.

well thats about it. looks like i am on a big diet the rest of my life. so be it. its so much easier with this sleeve and I like being slim so much I am willing to do what it takes.

So who is next? write down your maintenance habits.

Diane

What's left to say?  I do what you do and will gladly do it for life. It is soooo worth it for me.  I rarely mind at all.  It is kind of becoming second nature, which to me means I have to look out for complacency. Just stay the course for life.

One of my few good habits is to just get moving. I don't exercise, per se (although I *did* join a gym today), but I walk to the mailbox instead of drive.. I park far away.. I dance around with my kids and give them piggy back rides.. I go upstairs whenever I need something instead of sending the kids.. just little things I never did before, and I think they make a difference.

Pretty much the same thing, only I exercise 5-7 times a week. (twice daily on some days).  I'm eating 1100 to 1400 calories a day.  For some strange reason, yesterday and today I had enormous restriction, so I've had less than 1000 calories.  Guess that's why the scale moved down again.  I'll take it!

Beyond some of the things you listed, I pack lunches/meals in advance and use my pedometer everyday to ensure I get my activity in.  Although I do formal exercise from time to time, I make sure I fall into the active to highly active range (according to guidelines for amount of steps you should take per day)

I feel really guilty if I don't go to the gym.  I was going to the gym before WLS and I am sure that is why my skin is not so bad. I worry if I do not stay dedicated to weight training, I will get flabby. I am
58 but I don't want to be 58 and flabby.

I too weigh every day. I have to . It's the only way I can maintain . I need to know what I weigh every morning so I can choose my meals accordingly.

What has worked for me for the past 2 years is I think in large part having made peace or at least  an accord with myself, my emotions and food. I truly believe this has been a huge part of my success and has allowed me to have a very different relationship with myself, my weight and my eating.
Another thing that has worked for me is having become physically active. I went from being a couch potato to becoming an avid hiker. I find it is something I love and something that helps me not only physically but emotionally and spiritually as well.
Although I do not track, per se, I am mindful of what I eat and how and when I eat. I am also mindful of the amounts and the portions I eat.
I have allowed myself to be comfortable with a weight that I can be at peace with myself about and there is a 5 lb variance that allows me to, in my world, not have to obsess about every bite I eat. For me to be able to maintain and not get back in to my black and white, unhealthy, eating disorder, addictive type eating this , I truly believe has been crucial to my success and comes full circle back to the having made peace with some of my demons around food, emotions and eating.
Accountablity and support are also keys to my having been able to maintain for the past 2 years. I have a great therapist and many friends that are supportive of me and walking through this journey with me.
For me not being on a diet for the rest of my life is what is allowing the sleeve and my life changes to help me continue to be slim and do what it takes daily to keep up my success.