Question:
I am nine months post op and worried about my diet.
I started at 278 and I am now nine months out and I am down to 170. I have gone from a size 26/28 to a size 12/14. I am 5'8 and I do not really want to lose any more weight.I weighed 152 in college 10 years ago. I originally thought that I wanted to be 152 again, but I realized these last 20 lbs must be around my waist because I have ALOT of skin and flab there. Anyway... I am concerned with my eating habits. I want to continue to try to eat healthy, but I dont want to lose that much more weight. As far as my eating habits...some days are better than others. I generally eat 5-6 meals a day. I always feel like a pig.My surgeon suggests 3 meals a day only and no snacks. I followed that for the first 4 months maybe then I abandoned that theory. Some days I can eat more or less than the day before. I worry that I am eating too much sometimes..that is the volume of food at one sitting, but my husband and others around me comment that its all in my head. Sometimes I can eat 7-8 times a day if I dont watch it. Typically I eat pretty normal, but I try not to eat junk foods. I may enduldge in pork skins, air popped popcorn, a few pretzels,sf popsicles or 3-4 sugar free cookies, but that is as far as I go with the junk food and I only eat the serving size mentioned on the package maybe 3-4 times per week. Sweets are my weakness so I try to choose sf chai mixes, sf cappucino powder or like today I made chocolate drops made with cottage cheese, unsweetened chocoalte, splenda and PB. I ate two of those cookies today. So far today I had a steak taco for breakfast, 1 slice of lunchmeat and cheese with veggies and mustard on 1 slice of low carb bread for lunch. 2 of those cookies I mentioned earlier for snack and a Ceasar salad for dinner. I typically only drink water and ocassionally drink Crystal light, but its mostly water. No pop or juice, just water and Crystal lite and sf chai or sugar free cocoa made with carbcountdown milk. I am afraid of gaining weight, but dont want to lose too much more. I feel like I overeat everyday. I also fee like I experience head hunger alot more throughout the day. I do notice the more carbs I eat the more cravings I get. I feel like I am babbling and going on and on. I see other people that had the surgery at my job that have gained some of their weight back and it makes me worry. If I continue to eat super healthy I will lose weight, right? If I dont it healthy I will gain right???? What do I do? — ToriJ (posted on March 24, 2005)
March 23, 2005
Hi TJ,
First let me congratulate you on your terrific weight loss.
I have a suggestion. You may want to try and tabulate how many calories
you are eating per day that is allowing you to maintain your current
weight. You could go to Fitday.com and list everything that you are eating
for at least a week. You probably want to get on the scales at the
beginning of the week and then at then end to see if you loss more weight
(you will need to increase your calories) if you maintained your weight
(count up the total calories that your consume to maintain the weight) of
if you are gaining you will no to cut back.
Its still and will always be important for WLS persons to get in the
appropriate proteins, vitamins, etc... and the good carbs - leafy green
veggies, fresh fruits, etc...
Hope this helps.
Lyric
— Lyric
March 23, 2005
I am pre surgery so I don't have an answer for you, but I have the same
fears as you. I worry now about will I gain, how do you maintain and such.
I want to say "congrats on your great weight loss." That is
terrific. May I ask you a question. I love cappaccino and chia tea, But I
can't seem to find the s/f, you said you have both, could you please tell
me where to find it?? Thanks in advance for your time and trouble, and
again congratulations!!!!!! Rita
— Incredibleshrinkinglady
March 23, 2005
Rita,
What you are doing is called Grazing, you must adhere to
3 or 4 meals a day and stopsnacking or yes you will gain
weight back. Be careful & set a routine down for yourself.
Our Doc also wants us to eat 3 meals a day no snacks & it works. if we
stick to it.
Marilyn, in AZ
— Marilyn C.
March 24, 2005
Hi, there! We're very close in stats. I'm 5'8" also, and weighed 270
prior to surgery. I lost down as low as 159, but have "settled"
around 165, which is good for me. I don't want to go any higher or lower
at this point. Your eating doesn't sound real bad to me, just kind-of
normal for how far out you are. Just remember to always get in adequate
protein, keep taking your vitamins faithfully, and just see what happens
for a while. I don't think at this point you're going to have much problem
with weight gain, although that could come later. At 18 months out, I find
that I have to monitor myself a little more than I did just a few months
ago. I weigh myself every day as my prime maintenance tool. If I see the
scale go up a couple pounds, I focus more on protein, lower my carbs/sugar
intake, and try to drink more water/fluids. I worry about weight regain
too (don't we all?), but I feel that I'm staying in control thus far. I
try to eat healthy, but I eat "bad" stuff too (although I don't
really consider any food bad, just that you have to know not to eat too
much of it). Best wishes - sounds like you're doing well. Lap RNY
9/11/03, 270/165
— Carlita
March 24, 2005
I am definitely a "grazer" and there are mixed ideas about
whether that is good or bad. I think it is good for you as long as you are
grazing on good foods. I use fitday.com to track what I am eating and my
weight. I then can get an overall picture of what I have done and where I
have been. I find that I am sticking to a low fat diet now instead of the
low carb and that works better for me because it allows me to eat more for
less calories. I am sure there will be people that disagree with that..but
I have done both. Exercise is key, and I am the first to tell you that I am
bad about that! Anyhow, I try to keep good snacks around like you do:
peeled and ready baby carrots, pretzels, fresh fruit, yogurt, and if I
really need something choclaty I do a handful of Teddy Grahams or a Pria
bar...I keep them around and they aren't expensive. I hope this helps you
out! Signed, Molly the Muncher.
— missmollyk
March 24, 2005
there are obviously a lot of opinions. I was told to eat 6 small meals a
day. and that is exactly what I do. If I don't I get overly hungry and make
poor choices. It sounds like you are eating well. I agree with the fit day
idea. i havemaintained the same weight with in 5 pounds for 1 year now. I
think I eat a lot more than you do.
— **willow**
March 24, 2005
I just wanted to add- portion control is everything. Even healthy foods in
large quantites will put on weight whether it is fat, protein or carb too
many calories in will = weight gain. the portions you describe seem small
to me.
— **willow**
March 24, 2005
Yet another opinion here. I can't tell if you are grazing or doing small
meals. Grazing is deadly. Doesn't matter if all you eat is meat, cheese or
raw veggies. Grazing is eating a handful of something every half hour or
so. Small meals have at least 2 hours between them. Small meals are good,
because they satisfy your blood sugar, and allow you to feel hunger, but
not starving, and yet not overstuffed. Sounds like your food choices are
good. I never worry about fats or calories, but just sugar and I didn't
even see many hidden sugars in what you mentioned. Don't try to STOP your
wt loss. Remember there is bounce back at the end, so if you WANT to park
around 170, then touching 150 is a good thing, because then your swing
would prolly be 165-170. I've never seen anyone healthy STAY too thin. I
didn't see protein supplements in your day or vitamins.
— vitalady
March 24, 2005
Hi. I was told by my surgeon to do three meals a day with no snacks. This
week I was told by a gastroenterologist that I still have acid reflux
because I am only eating three meals a day. She has suggested I switch to
six small meals a day. I was worried about that constituting grazing. I
guess I will try it and see what happens. As long as I don't gain any
weight and it helps alleviate the reflux, I will call it a success. I think
we are all different and you simply need to find what works for you. I am
about 150 now and my goal was 140. However, the three doctors I have seen
this week have all suggested that I am fine where I am at. So I may be able
to make peace with my weight at this point. I think the important thing is
if you are happy at your current weight and you are maintaining it, then
that is what is good for you. Best wishes for health and happiness always!
— Donna F.
March 29, 2005
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