Just a curiosity poll/questions for the ladies..

I notice the same thing about not going off the wagon for days.  I think I felt so deprived after the first year that I tended to want junky stuff more and now I realize that it'll always be there and there's no need to eat it all at once, lol.  So when the newbies ask questions like "will I ever be able to eat pizza or ice cream again", I totally get it.  But it does take a while to realize that yes, we will eat everything again and when you finally do, it becomes less important.  Does that make sense?

Laura

Totally makes sense, and at least for me- a lot of what I thought I'd miss the most... isn't all that great tasting as I recalled when I do have it!

Other things like ice cream, well.. I can have a few spoons, but I dump now- only found that out in maint as I never tested the waters before, and ice cream or other super-rich fatty sugar combination things like icing will get me if I overdo it.. fats alone or sugars alone, fine.. Uncommon, but I'm one that does it.

I've had it hit me a half-doz times and I'm learning my tolerances slowly. I can have a small serving of desserts, or just a few spoons of ice cream (big culprit).. but pigging out like pre-op days, over. That's fine with me as I've gone sugar free except for a nibble here and there at parties or out (or my occasional bit of dark chocolate..)

The dumping thing seems to get better with time for most of us.  I had it too, especially with full fat ice cream.  I would feel horrible, nauseated and immediately sleepy.  But it went away after about 2 1/2 years.  Now, I do keep a variety of Ben and Jerry's flavors on hand at all times but I only seem to want about 2 spoonfuls anymore and am done.  Same with candy like snickers, milky way etc.  I buy tons of the stuff because I have this weird thing about having things around when I want them but the thing is, I walk right past the huge bowl constantly and only grab a piece every couple of days.  In the old days, my head would have been stuck in the bottom of the bowl, lol.

Good to know!

I do hope it passes eventually. Funny story- first time it happened was on our anniversary trip back in June, had gotten a full fat/full sugar/rum drinky at a bar, had about half and started to feel horrible. Had to retreat to the jeep and do some hyperventilating and lay down till it passed.. My husband thought I was drunk, only later when it happened again on the same trip with a fatty fruity sugary smoothie did we both make the connection! Then later frozen yogurt & ice cream bit me. I used to finish a pint in two days.. Now a couple oz is about my max!

Frisco has noted I'm not normal before- I have a couple bags of dark chocolate in the house, I rarely touch it- but it's there, just in case! 

Ht/Wt/activity?
5' 8.5" and 138.2 lbs.

On the weekends I hike a lot - major hikes at least one of the two days. A major hike is at least 10 miles or at least 2000 feet of elevation change, sometimes both. Other days I walk/ride my bike a lot or do DVDs. Try to have deliberate exercise of at least 60 minutes 3 or more days in addition to the hikes. I don't lift but do a push-up and crunch program for some upper body and use resistance bands on some of my DVDs. I hate 'working out' though, and only do the DVDs when the weather won't allow me to go actually do something.

What is your goal range, lbs spread wise?
I'm struggling with the goal range thing. I'd like mine to be 145-150 or even 150-155, but since I weigh 138, there's some disconnect.

What is your average weekly caloric intake to maintain your particular range?
I need about 1800 or so to maintain, more in weeks that I've been very active. It's hard for me to get there, though, hence my struggle to maintain. I've been hitting it pretty consistently lately. I think I'd need to get closer to 1900 to get back where I want to be.

What are your Carb/Protein goals in maint? 
I'm still pretty high protein - I shoot for at least 110 a day and beat that comfortably. Usually by the time I get my calories in I'm up near 150. Even now as a vegan I do two protein shakes a day - I just use this great complete brown rice protein I've found that blends well and flavors any way you want. I get about 70 grams of my protein from those two shakes.

I no longer count carbs, I just keep an eye on the kinds of foods I eat to exclude junk/white carbs. I still eat no bread, no pasta/starches, only a small bite of someone elses cookie/cake, etc. That naturally seems to keep my carbs around 175. I allowed myself to go this high because this is what finally, finally seems to have slowed the weight loss. It is also the first thing I'll change if I see regain beyond getting back to my preferred range.

I also don't count fats. Same thing though - I watch the quality of the foods I eat so the fats I'm getting are healthy fats. Typically I'm zero trans fat and low saturated fats at the end of the day, no matter what my overall fat number is.

For some reason, I always assumed you were in the 2000+ range like Brandilynn.. You may need to be with that routine .

Can I ask what veg foods you go to more often now to bump up your good carbs? I've been doing lots of squash, mushrooms, nut flours, nuts.. but still eating clean, and on my 1600cal days, if no alcohol contributed to the mix, that felt like a ton of food to try to get into me. I am slightly concerned with the return to work and need to get in enough to slow-stop my losses when the time comes (soon), that I may be hard pressed and have to return to more than one shake a day again.. though I love my shakes, so not a huge deal, just a timing issue really.

I do like the good fats, and include sat fat in that category (a lot of info out there on that) but I do avoid all hydrogenated, trans, corn & canola oils.. Mostly get it from olive, butter/dairy and coconut/macnut oils. Love my coconut oil. Completely cutting out almost all processed foods has seriously been a boon along this whole journey, besides the weight loss. 

I just recently re-jigged what I track in my goals and it appears I'm usually at/under 20% carbs, 40/40% fat & protein, with fats being slightly higher than the proteins but MFP doesn't let me fine tune that far. 

I do go over 2000 wen my exercise is high but it's so hard for me to consistently hit 1800.

Good carbs: quinoa, steel cut oats, fruits, beans (love lentils, kidney beans, etc.) You can do black beans or red beans & quinoa like beans & rice. I mix frozen berries in my morning smoothie. I eat a Cliff bar daily and there are a couple of vegan whole food bars I enjoy for treats. Most vegan protein sources have as many carb grams as protein grams or more.

I'm 5'4", 62 yrs old, hypothyroid meds, hike/walk 30-40 miles a week. At least 25 of those on trails in the Redwoods. Unemployed since December so had lots of time and free amusement. Love to walk.

Two weeks post plastics so these numbers are from the last four months, not today.

Maintenance calories 1200-1400 depending on number of miles that day. Carbs under 75 with mostly all veggie/fiber carbs. Rarely white carbs. If I don't exercise 1000 calories, under 40 carbs or I gain weight. One of my bariatric surgeons told me to make peace with the 1000 calories and not feel sorry or myself. My body just doesn't need much fuel. I loved having the time to hike so much over the spring and summer. Loved the additional calories I got!

My legs are muscular and strong. My core is really strong from Pilates. I just had my second arm plastics within 9 months. Once I am completely healed I will hit the gym for upper body weight workout.

Everything will change when I get a job.

Lee, were you hypo pre-op too? Just curious. The meds have got you in a good range?

I too loved the unemployed time.. save for the last few months as it started to wear on me, longest ever since I was 17 w/o a job. Glad (in a way) to be getting back into it.. ask me in a few months and that answer will likely change!

It was nice in that it allowed me to really get out and enjoy hiking again just when my body was capable. I only wish the summer this year hadn't been such a scorcher.. that kept me in the ac more than I would have liked.

I think I was hypo pre sleeve but because it was at the top of the range they wouldn't do anything. Kaiser still uses the old range, not the new recommended range for treatment. During month six I exercised three hours, six days a week with a trainer and could not lose. They started me on minimum dose thyroid meds, then raised them to bring me into acceptable range.

I loved being out of work, but not listing an 18 year career with a great salary. A buyout moved my corporate headquarters to Ohio. This is the first time I have ever had unemployment. It's great but I'm single and in California, it doesn't cover the mortgage. That said, I wouldn't have traded my outdoor spring and summer for anything!

I'm really glad you to a job. I have an interview next week.