VSG Maintenance Group
wake up call
Today I woke up and was in my usual morning routine of cruising the OH boards and getting my head around the day. I sort of use this time to get my head in the game food wise and behavior wise for the day. I also will go over my previous day's food and behavior and reflect upon that, if I deem it necessary. I deemed it necessary today!
We had a dog club party here on Saturday. There are plenty of left overs. I have grilled chicken breast and tri tip - that's great. Love having the pre cooked protein ready to go. Also, fresh veggies already cut up and ready to snack on - another good thing! On the not so great list is left over pesto pasta salad (mini shells, olives, roasted peppers and pesto), chips, crackers, dips, ice cream, chocolates, and cake.
What I realized today is that having these foods around has been a great wake up call. The foods have helped me face the fact that below the surface of my consciousness there has been a drive to want to eat like a "Normie" since I hit my goal weight. Understanding that drive is making me feel very confident.
I've been in maintenance for less than a month. Now, don't get me wrong, even with tat underlying drive I've been on plan probably 95-98% of the time, but I've allowed myself a few indulgences and they are usually planned. It's just that having the party food around made me want to choose that crap food for a snack yesterday and watching my partner munch on chips and a 7 layer bean dip made me want to munch on it, too. I had a damn protein bar instead and felt resentful because of it. He also had a left over piece of cake. I wanted one, too, but didn't . As he foraged through the fridge looking for something good, I wanted to join him. Hmmmm...... (FYI, Ron is tall and thin and I don't begrudge him his eating habits. He has been absolutely supportive of me during this entire WLS journey - not a day goes by without him asking what I need from him to be successful - so he's absolutely entitled to have a mindless boredom eating day.)
It's clear that I have some more work to do and I'm actually okay and relieved to have this realization. Last night in the midst of craving chocolate I was terrified of regain and feeling panicked and a lack of control.
I'm looking at this as a healthy wake up call. I have work to do. This part of my journey is just beginning and I have a lot of new road to travel until I find the "Land of Comfort and Routine" when it comes to maintenance. I think I miss my structure of 800 or fewer calories a day and fewer than 40 carbs. Finding my way is a bit more difficult than I thought it might be.
So, I'm on it and so thankful that I have this forum to come to. There really are very few people in my RL that understand the changes I'm continuing to navigate. Thanks so much for reading and being a support!
We had a dog club party here on Saturday. There are plenty of left overs. I have grilled chicken breast and tri tip - that's great. Love having the pre cooked protein ready to go. Also, fresh veggies already cut up and ready to snack on - another good thing! On the not so great list is left over pesto pasta salad (mini shells, olives, roasted peppers and pesto), chips, crackers, dips, ice cream, chocolates, and cake.
What I realized today is that having these foods around has been a great wake up call. The foods have helped me face the fact that below the surface of my consciousness there has been a drive to want to eat like a "Normie" since I hit my goal weight. Understanding that drive is making me feel very confident.
I've been in maintenance for less than a month. Now, don't get me wrong, even with tat underlying drive I've been on plan probably 95-98% of the time, but I've allowed myself a few indulgences and they are usually planned. It's just that having the party food around made me want to choose that crap food for a snack yesterday and watching my partner munch on chips and a 7 layer bean dip made me want to munch on it, too. I had a damn protein bar instead and felt resentful because of it. He also had a left over piece of cake. I wanted one, too, but didn't . As he foraged through the fridge looking for something good, I wanted to join him. Hmmmm...... (FYI, Ron is tall and thin and I don't begrudge him his eating habits. He has been absolutely supportive of me during this entire WLS journey - not a day goes by without him asking what I need from him to be successful - so he's absolutely entitled to have a mindless boredom eating day.)
It's clear that I have some more work to do and I'm actually okay and relieved to have this realization. Last night in the midst of craving chocolate I was terrified of regain and feeling panicked and a lack of control.
I'm looking at this as a healthy wake up call. I have work to do. This part of my journey is just beginning and I have a lot of new road to travel until I find the "Land of Comfort and Routine" when it comes to maintenance. I think I miss my structure of 800 or fewer calories a day and fewer than 40 carbs. Finding my way is a bit more difficult than I thought it might be.
So, I'm on it and so thankful that I have this forum to come to. There really are very few people in my RL that understand the changes I'm continuing to navigate. Thanks so much for reading and being a support!
Early maintenance is not easy. It is really where all our head issues start to come to the front and we are not always ready to deal with them. Sounds like you are paying very close attention which means you are going to do great. My advice in early maintenance is to have a clear weekly or monthly goal that is pulling you forward and that you can measure your success with regularly. Yes, you will be able to eat more and get away with more in maintenance, how much more is for you to figure out and then learn to live in those parameters. It is not easy because the numbers and behaviors needed to stay in your goal range is so different for everybody. You are doing the most important part; staying aware and accountable. Ultimately, that is what will make you a long term success story.
Welcome to maintenance and the inherent challenges. It is a journey of self-discovery and increasing awareness. Being mindful and aware will help to keep you grounded, so that you don't slip into "a little of this, and a little of that." It is easy to slip into the mindless eating, which is why, it is important to preplan for going off plan. Then it is a choice, not deprivation. When I make a decision to go off plan, it is a decision and a choice. I have learned not to look at not having certain foods as a choice and not one as deprivation. Most of the time, I just think, "It just isn't worth it." I never want to go to back to where I started from. Helps me to keep my sanity. Attitude is everything.
Good job with getting the food out of the house. That is what I would do, or dump it in the garbage, which I have done at times.
Early maintenance was scary and now that I am further out, it is still scary at times, but it is a learning process and this forum is great for the support that you will need.
Gail
Good job with getting the food out of the house. That is what I would do, or dump it in the garbage, which I have done at times.
Early maintenance was scary and now that I am further out, it is still scary at times, but it is a learning process and this forum is great for the support that you will need.
Gail
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