First Post Here!

Hey everyone!  Most of you hopefully know me from the VSG board but if not I am Melissa......lost from 390 to my goal weight of 150 by 13 months post-op.  It's been a crazy awesome journey for me so and the past month and a half I have been trying to figure out maintenance.

I say trying because I feel like I just can't consume enough calories to stop the weight loss from happening.  Then when I do get in more calories I get stressed out that I am over-eating!  It's a constant battle and I have continued to lose weight down to a weight now of 138 pounds at nearly 5'9. 

I've gotten some great tips about managing maintenance but anything that anyone could add would be much appreciated!  At this point I am just trying to be kind to myself!

Hey Melissa! I remember you!

Lol, for me at least cals were no problem to get into me- I ended up upping my fats significantly, and slowed/stopped it that way. My fastest halt came from peanut butter, but that needed to go away as something about it makes me not want to stop after I've had it.. but a handful of macadamia nuts, or some cream cheese whipped in my yogurt, mayo or butter in my foods=maintenance or slow loss depending on which way my activity is running. I dropped a little too low for my liking at one point as well, but then settled a titch higher where I don't look overly gaunt, save for my poor chest! It's a balancing act for sure..

I can't eat more meat at a sitting, but I can mow down salads or green beans and butter- so I eat big veggie snacks as needed- more good nutrients, plus some fat to get those vites out of the greens, and I seem to be happy- plus the munching makes my mouth happy.

Welcome to maint, you have done fantastic!! 

Welcome! You have done fantastic. Added fats, nuts, nut butters are good fats, will add healthy calories, and will help to slow your weight loss down.

Welcome Melissa!

Fiona

hey welcome and congrats on your success!!!

i had the same issue when i got to goal. i blew right past it and lost another 15 lbs or so. it was hard to eat enough while still staying away from junk calories. I used to eat a blob of peanut butter every night and that helped stop the losing. also dietician said use 2% milk for awhile and add in some complex carbs.

the good news is that this will pass and level out after some time. you will gradually be able to eat more. seems like it takes until year 2 or 2.5 for sleeve to really mature and reach capacity. now i have to avoid that blob of peanut butter or i will gain. i did regain 3 or 4 pounds from my low. my doctor told me not to worry as a few pounds back is so common.

so resist the urge to eat ice cream and focus on staying with healthy habits and add in nuts, cheese and such as you can. if possible, get a bod pod or other test of resting metabolic rate to help you calculate the calories needed in maintenance. talk to your nut for ideas.   gl.  diane