The reality of long term maintenance

Yikes, I should count my blessings. The gluten thing must be really tough to deal with since its in so many things. What a struggle you have been through and it continues. I sure don't thing I have it tougher. Thanks for your post. Really helps put things in focus. Diane

I am thinking of you honey, I am sorry this has happened to you.  I feel for you. 

I definately think this has happened to me, the 'food mourning' part.  I am still working my way through it.  I think once I am out the other side I will do one of two things:
-  accept my weight where it is, which is easy, but I may continue to gain a bit at a time
-  or get over it and get back down to where I was, which is a bit more of a struggle, but oh so worth it.

Either way, I will get to the other side of this and be better for it in the long run.

Big hugs to you my dear, you are very insightful, I think this happens more than we realize.

Cindy

Thank you Cindy.  Food mourning is the pits, but you are right, eventually you do get to the other side.  I have one more"other side" to get to....Maint........deep breath........it's coming up....I wonder if I will go through all the steps of mourning again?  I would guess....yes.

You hang in there to honey.

Diane,
I completely agree with what all have said. Though, as you know I am not quite in maintenance yet, but I am practicing! I feel I still have a few more pounds to lose but at the same time I have upped my daily calories. During the week I stay less than 800 (was staying between 500 to 650) but then the weekends are a different story. I have discovered that is the time during which I can indulge a little and still lose (or maintain?). For example this past Saturday we had 17 people over for dinner. We smoked tri tip and chicken and made endless chocolate martinis. Yes. I had 1 martini, small glass of red wine, and a little tiny slice of fresh blackberry pie along with tri tip, chicken and a few bites of grilled veggies.
I think what I am trying to say is what works for me is to stay on my program during the week and allow myself to go off (within limits) on weekends. My sleeve's restriction certainly helps the "within limits" part. I am hoping I can maintain this way when the time comes.
I am also afraid if I don't allow indulgences that I would feel deprived and really go off program. I don't want to ever be that way again.
I am in control of my eating now and hope to stay that way.
Lynda

I don't have the issues you are dealing with, but I wanted to say I think it is all about finding balance for maintenance. I am over two years into maintaining and I think it is easy for me mostly because (1) I wasn't restrictive while losing, so the shift was simple.. And even more (2) I am at a weight that is easy to maintain- my body likes it here... I could certainly drive myself nuts anf be incredibly thin.. But I will take normal and curvy with my side of chips any day.. You gotta just find your easy point.. Just my take almost three years out..

I am not quite in maintenance yet, but my philosophy in my weightloss journey has been similar to yours.  I am not restrictive as others (even more so lately as my doctors have pressed me to up my calories to 1000 - 1200 due to health issues) and I have days where I eat more carbs than others.  Usually a bite of a treat is enough but I don't over think it or worry about it because I have a lot of restriction and my GERD keeps me from indulging too much. 

I am also only 8 pounds from "normal" and 18 pounds from goal, but the truth is, if I maintain where I am now, that would be fine.   (At this weight, the excess removal of skin & tissue in plastic surgery would definitely put me in the normal range.)  So far, my experience has been that if I feel hunger a lot, I haven't been vigilant about taking my PPI's. 

I am learning a lot from Diane and the rest of you all in maintenance.  It's good to see how your thinking might change as you get further away from surgery.

Congrats on being almost to goal! My philosophy has never wavered since I had surgery.. I just wanted control over my hollow leg (lol) and unyielding hunger.. I still eat so little most days per meal that I wonder if this is my final restriction.. A few more years will tell.. My weight is well within normal range (my BMI is 22) so I still figure as long as I get my protein I will eat what I want..

Thanks all for the great insight. I knew I would get a lot of provacative thoughts with this post. Putting on a pound unexpectecly and without explaination was making me fearful that weight would just start piling on again. But I have the tool and I know what to do and I probably need to obsess less. Its been kind of a bad few days with family issues from my ailing mother and differences of opinion on what needs to be done. And my husband had a setback on his preop testing. But all this stuff will pass as will my obsessing about that pound. If it sticks its still ok.

So with the impending 60th birthday someone in our social group asked me what kind of cake she should make. I told her to make what everyone else would like since I wouldn't eat a lot. Then I said how about cheesecake since it probably has the most protein and I will only eat a tiny sliver. This is the evil dessert queen who makes the most spectacular desserts on the plant. Well, whatever it is I will eat a tiny slice and thats that.. My real birthday gift is weighing 119.5 lbs for the first time since about the 5th grade. That should get me over feeling out of sorts about maintenance. Thanks again. Diane

How about a lowcarb sugar free cheesecake?  It's made with stevia, the crust is made with crushed nuts.  I used to make  these years ago....they always turned out good without the guilt.

Wow.....119 pounds......I am impressed.

I'm finding it more challenging as well. I never regret the decision but I'm so stressed out lately maybe even a little depressed that I don't find my motivation to stick on plan to be what it was when I first started this. While I'm still not getting physical hunger...I'm getting wicked cravings and finding it extremely hard to resist them. I think I may be on the boarder of the physical hunger returning...which isn't good.

I'm having a very difficult time motivating myself to track food and exercise. Things that I actually did six months ago. Not sure what the answer is...but I'm taking it one day at a time.

The last couple of days my weight has been creeping up. Haven't deviated from plan but none the less it's still rising. The weight gain is playing mind games and increasing my cravings. I'm thinking if I'm going to gain weight I might as well as enjoy a few treats. Currently I'm resisiting. But I don't know how long I can. Again...One day at a time.