What is maintenance to you?

1. What can you say about WLS Maintenance based on your experience?

2. What are some good questions you had/ have about maintenance?

3. Where do you turn for Mainteance support and information?

4. Which is harder -- WLS Loss or Maintenance? Why?

I am not sure when Maintenance begins. it is especially fluid when trying to maintain a balance, which requires intermittent wt loss.  

 
1. What can you say about WLS Maintenance based on your experience? 

It was a slow transition for me(months).....was not like the next day as my WL had pretty much stopped.
My maintenance regime is about 80% the same as WL.....just a little more calories, carbs and added fiber.

2. What are some good questions you had/ have about maintenance? 

Maintenance is one big "Question" this is where you really find out your tolerances and if you really have the disciplines to maintain.

3. Where do you turn for Maintenance support and information?

My surgeon directly, my surgeons support group, my surgeons nutritionist, right here and certain WLS pals....

4. Which is harder -- WLS Loss or Maintenance? Why?

It's looking very apparent that the WL phase was the easy part for me. WL was a pretty a "fixed" program.
Maintenance is much more "Free Form" that has structure with leeway that will/can test your inner resolve.

frisco

Ditto what Frisco said. Maintenance really begins before you hit goal because its a transition, not a one day switch the day you hit goal. so you need to think and study ahead on how you are going to increase your eating and calories without junk food and empty calories. And you have to go through a process of figuring out your caloric needs to maintain. So frisco is right that maintenance is alot like weight loss because you should still journal food and weigh regularly for quite a while.

Even though I was a slow loser I though the weight loss was pretty easy. never felt like i struggled. in maintenance i find i face more challenges because i am not on a narrow program and also look like a normal person to others who offer me food. Plus there is no end to maintenance. its forever. so i kind of take it one day at a time.

diane