Need advice on maintenance

I was placed on medication when my TSH was over 3.0 and my PCP increased my thyroid medication at around 6 months post surgery, because my T3/T4 were a bit abnormal. My TSH was about 2. something, but he increased my medication based upon the T3/T4 values.

Having a TSH greater than 3 all these years probably did slow your weight loss and may be contributing to your weight gain and difficulty getting the weight off. How is your energy level? Has that changed?
 
Seems to me that you need to be on thyroid medication. My TSH was never above 4 and I was placed on medication. Have your pcp do a full thyroid panel.

Some of the online trackers have recipe counters. It is tedious, but might help to gauge the nutritional value for some of the dishes that you cook more often. Once the values are in, they are there for future reference.

Gail

Yes, I'm definitely going to push my pcp and endocrinologist to get on top of the thyroid. I'm sure they'll want to do a full thyroid panel. It's interesting--I did bring this up to my doctor some years ago, but at that time the lab values were still "normal" so she wouldn't do anything. I was definitely a slow loser even though I was totally compliant with the eating. So we'll see...

I agree with most of the answers.  It's a personal choice, but it wouldn't hurt to lose more.  When I hit 170 I was elated.  I was happy at that weight and said many times that if I didn't get any lower I would be happy.   But I just  kept doing what I was doing and the weight kept coming off.  I said from the beginning I would let my body decide when it's time to quit losing.  Well, I have reached that point.  I'm at 143!  I'm 5'2".  Now I don't want to go back to 170!  It's a mind game for sure. 

I know if I ate that many calories a day, I would gain.  I do exercise every day.  My NUT told me that instead of increasing my food intake, to reduce my exercise somewhat.  WTH!?!?!?  I'm not sure she knows what she's talking about. lol  But, her point was that food it what got me in trouble to begin with, so to add foods is just setting myself up to lose control. 

Sooooo,  I'm still doing what I've been doing and have added 200 calories or so a day and seem to be maintaining ok.  I still weigh every day and log my food.  It's a necessary evil for me to keep honest about what I'm doing.  The increase in calories has been in healthy foods for the most part.  On the occasion that I go "off plan", I go right back on the next day and don't beat myself up for eating "forbidden" foods.

I try to think like someone who has never had a weight problem, but needs to be mindful of what they are eating.  Everyone I know who has never had a weight problem exercises every day and eats right 90% of the time.  I guess they just do naturally what we WLSers need to learn to do.  I'm still learning.....

The head of the Northern California Kaiser Bariatric dept came to speak at one of our support group meetings a couple months ago.  I like him very much.  He's no nonsense, this is your reality, deal with it type of guy.  He said that 5 pounds of bounce back is reasonable and everything else is attributed to food choices. 

As far as metabolism, I've been reading a lot about plastics and people talk about the metabolic change post plastics as well.  Some find that they can eat much more during the initial months post plastics because of the energy needed to heal the body.  Some shed some weight, then come back to the original weight in the months following surgery.  Others keep it off.  I know I had a good first month post VSG where I shed 19 pounds, the second month was 3 pounds and I averaged 3-5 pounds after that.  I never had that 6 month honeymoon phase.  I think it forced me to have good habits or I'd still be over 200!

Even at close to a normal BMI, I have a lot of fat on me.  My Tanita says around 33% body fat.  I'll keep logging my food and staying on track but I'm done beating myself up over my weight.  I'm easing into size 8 pants and feel pretty good about that.  Putting on weight scares the pants off me too Gail.  I don't have room for bounce back!

Marie, I'll be curious to see what your test says.  You look like skin and bones to me, at least you did when I saw you at the picnic this summer.

Ahem, that should be skin and bones and MUSCLES! I have the most amazing guns, if I do say so myself and my calf muscles aren't too shabby either. (It's Fat Talk Free Week so I am going to say something nice about my body every day this week. That's my nice talk for today.)

I find that when I gain weight my clothes still fit. So either I'm gaining viseral fat -- fat between the organs so it won't make me wider -- or muscle or both.

Definitely muscles!!  I love the way you look Marie!  Skin and bones in the case of an athlete like you is a compliment coming from me.  You have one strong body and I really admire you!  :)

I'm laughing because I haven't checked out your calves.  You were sitting on the ground the last time I saw you.

You can check out my hot calves in Nov. 

You're on girl!  Bring on them muscles!

LOL!! I was going to add, and "MUSCLES."

If your clothes still fit, then the weight gain may be mostly muscle, which would be a good thing.

I'm pretty sure it is. But I also gained some boobage ... which may not be muscle but I AM NOT GIVING IT BACK!!