A new blog & related dicussion topic: Foundation of Success

I have posted a new blog entitled "Foundation of Success". Please read the blog and the associated questions and then come join in on the discussion of this topic.

I look forward to your participation and input.

Now that I'm over a year and a half out, but my husband has just started his journey a couple of months ago I can see this topic from multiple perspectives.

I do believe that both short term success (getting the weight off) and long term success (keeping it off) are based on having a good foundation. I think that you can lose a lot if not all of the weight you want to lose even if you don't do a darn thing that they tell you to, but now that I'm more than a year and a half post op, I can see that learning to incorporate the life-style changes that provide that stable foundation is what is likely to keep us strong and stable for the long haull and that's what we really want isn't it.

For me, it's important to 'eat' my protien, and I'm able to get about 15 to 20 grams of protien in at each meal/snack. I always try to lead with aboubt 3 ounces of lean protien. Now, mind you, my DH who's only a couple of months out can't get it as much as I can at one sitting, but he will with time. In the meantime, he suppliments some with protien shakes/drinks. I would say that I average 70 to 90 grams of protien a day.

I generally do a pretty good job of getting my fluids in. I consume 64+ ounces of fluids a day. It is usually some combination of water, crystal lite, and decaf coffee or tea. When I don't meet my quota, it's usually because I get busy and forget. Most of the time, I do better if I'm drinking something where I enjoy the flavor.

I do take my suppliments daily, but have to admit that sometimes I don't get all of my doses of all of my suppiments in. Lately, I've been keeping a pill box in my purse with extra vitamins so that if I've forgotten and see them, then I'll take 'em. It's not that I don't want to, but I am terribly scattered-brained and tend to forget. This new tactic seems to be helping a great deal. I'd say that I now get 80 to 90 percent of my vitamins which is a big step in the right direction.

I wear a pedometer and I try to get in at least 10K steps a day. My husband and I are also joining a gym and will start going on a regular basis. This probably one of areas where I really need the most improvement.

Good topic, Barbara.  I will try and address each of your questions as you asked them:

How do you incorporate protein into your daily diet?How many grams of protein do you average?
Protein is the main part of each meal/snack I consume.  I usually average at least 90-100 grams per day

How many ounces of water do you drink daily?
I always get in at least 64 oz a day, but feel the best with approximately 100 oz.

Is it challenging to consume the amount by your doctor?
I have always been a big believer in hydration.  So the 64 oz minimum was only challenging early out post-op.

Do you take your supplements daily?prescribed
What is your vitamin regimen?
I  try to be faithful in taking all my supplements and have added several that I feel are necessary for optimum health.  I have incorporated my supplement schedule with my meal/snack schedule, so that it becomes automatic.

Do you exercise? 
What do you do and how often? I do exercise, but it varies.  When it is warmer, I will go to water aerobics at least 3 times a week.  But when I can't do this I have a "Gazelle" or elliptical at home along with both yoga and pilates DVDs to workout with.  I also do a lot of walking when I can work it in.  In the growing months I also count mowing the lawn as part of my exercise since I have a walk mower and it takes more than 1.5 hours to complete my lawn.

I look forward to seeing other responses to this thread and how everyone is handling their daily schedules.

Wishing everyone great success in their journey..............Carrie