lsereno

I've been at goal two years next month. As for the "what's next" question, for me it's been more of the same! I have more treats at goal, but not a huge amount of them and not every day. I still weigh daily, exercise about every other day, take my Vitamins, and am grateful to be living life at goal. I have an entire wardrobe of goal weight clothes. Each season, I bought a few items. Just this last Christmas, I replaced my winter robe. I reset my bounce range to just two pounds because I found that a five pound bounce let me eat too much crap before climbing back on the wagon. I stay here to give back and to keep my focus on staying at goal. I'm never gonna be the person who can just ignore what I eat. Lynda

When I start slipping, I track my Fluid and food using a whiteboard on the fridge or a small notebook if I'm traveling. I keep my Vitamins on a pill holder by my toothbrush so I remember to take them. And I keep a stock of low calorie, healthy foods at home and don't bring home foods that are too tempting ( for me that's cake, Cookies, chocolate candy, and Cheetos among other things) . I keep foods that are easy to grab and eat, like low fat cheese and lunch meat, Greek yogurt, in season veggies and fruit, so I can eat something healthy without much work. I weigh every morning because it can gain weight quickly if I quit paying attention. Lynda

Congrats and welcome to onderland! Love your Christmas outfit and dance. I'm saving you a seat on the goalies bench. Since you're already rocking hot heels, my vote for a goal present is jewelry. An ankle bracelet, smaller ring, bracelet, or necklace. Lynda

Ugh. Me too for January overindulgence. I think I was depressed after seeing my body fat percentage and I worked really hard to toe the line over the holidays. Whatever. I'm back in the saddle and looking forward to a trip to Palm Springs in a couple of weeks. I'm gonna rock the Midcentury look at Midcentury modernism week there. Lynda

Well you don't see them on there saying " I stayed at goal the right way, with medifast". That's because it is a temporary diet. Keeping the weight off year after year is where the pedal meets the metal. Lynda

Agreed that it's important to have a good instructor. You can use more weight if you'd like, but in addition to the weighted bar, the class uses exercises including planks, lunges, and squats that can change body composition without any additional weight. I really loved my class, taught by a friend of mine, but I can't hold the weighted bar over my shoulders. I seriously considered taking the class even without the weighted bar, but the final nail for he is that my friend only teaches evening and I have to exercise early in the day or I just won't do it. You don't need to lift weights to change body composition. You should see the muscles on some people in the Dailey method class I'm taking! Lynda

I would taste them yourself post op. I'm another that did not like it, but many do. My fav Protein powder was GNC gold Standard whey in French vanilla. Pre-op I liked it in chocolate, but post-op I only liked it in Vanilla. Lynda

I like Body Pump but couldn't do it because of shoulder issues, it's a great class though and a great workout. As far as planks, just start somewhere. Do it for a few seconds instead of the whole time or modify by resting weight on your knees instead of your toes. Just keep that line along your back and legs straight. Lynda

Congrats! What a nice one year surgiversary present! Lynda

Hi Jane, My year three begins in May. I'm with you- constant monitoring and adjusting my diet based on that is needed for me to stay at goal. I wish it were different but that's my life. Lynda

I couldn't eat oatmeal till I was more than a year out. I enjoy it now. I mix 1/4 cup quick cook oats with 3/4 cup Water and cook 2 minutes. Lynda

Here's another story on them with more details: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/twin-doctors-experiment-low-fat-low-sugar-diets-article-1.1597066 Lynda

Stock your house with healthy foods you enjoy. Track your Fluid and Protein intake. Limit treats to one or two days per week and measure them out before eating. Participate in the weight loss challenges. Current one is valentines day. Make a list of things you enjoy other than food and refer to it when head hunger hits. Buy yourself something fun that you couldn't wear before. Doesn't have to be expensive. Lynds

That timeframe is different for every person. Ask yourself these questions: Can you get all your Protein in? I had no room for anything besides protein and a bite or two of veggies for a few months. Do acidic foods bother you? I couldn't eat most fruits till many, many months after surgery. I missed the stone fruit season the year I was sleeved. Do starchy foods make you sick? I couldn't eat bread, Pasta, potatoes, or rice till about 9 months to one year. Are you losing weight consistently every week? Some foods are pretty calorie dense. I didn't eat those foods till I was close to goal. Does eating that food make you want more? Some people have to give up certain foods because they cannot eat them in small amounts. There are many foods I only eat when out because I know I would eat more than I should if they were in my hone. Lynda

Go back to an earlier stage of eating. Maybe just Protein drinks and Water? I'd go to the emergency if I couldn't keep liquids down. Lynda

keep adding calories from healthy foods till you stabilize. Add Snacks if you can't eat enough at meals. It's a fine line between losing, maintaining and gaining. Everyone's caloric needs are different. Lynda

would love a telephone support group for vets. My nearby in-person support groups are not that great. Lynda

I was able to eat barley before I could tolerate potatoes, rice, or noodles. I agree with others- everyone's different and it's important to try nutritious foods periodically and see if you can have them now. At almost three years out, I can tolerate almost anything except most dairy and tortillas. I can eat 1/2 small corn, but even a few bites of a four one doesn't sit well. Lynds

Coming up on three years out and the only foods that still bother me are tortillas, milk and milk products except hard cheese and greek yogurt, and greasy foods if I eat more than a bite or two. Early out, there were a ton of things I couldn't tolerate, but it's a very short list now. Lynda

Soy Latte. I often make my own by heating a cup of soy milk and mixing in a packet of Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Lunchmeat rolled around low fat string cheese Veggies with dip made from greek yogurt and Ranch Dressing mix Apple slices with PB2 (defatted Peanut Butter powder that I buy online from Amazon) Frozen grapes Sugarfree Hot Apple Cider Mix Lynda

Clear liquids: Sleepy Time Tea Full liquids: Greek Yogurt thinned with Water and sweetened with Splenda Early restaurant meal: Crab cocktail First veggie favorite: frozen mixed veggies Nowadays I don't really have a favorite. I rotate among a pretty wide array of Proteins, veggies, fruits, and whole grains. Lynda

Hi Dee! I was almost 55 when I had surgery. It will be three years ago this May. Sorry you will need two surgeries. There are many band to sleeve revision people here so you will get lots of good support. There is a forum specifically for band to sleeve revisions too. Lynda

I signed up for two months of The Dailey Method. Planning to go tomorrow for the first time. Your trainer has you on quite the workout! I walk a few days a week, but never four miles. Lynda

I freeze stuff in baggies. I seal it almost shut, insert a straw and suck out the air. It's a trick I saw on Good Eats (Alton Brown)

I eat a snack between each meal. I plan them into my day so I don't worry abut it. Gives me a chance to get a little extra Protein and veggies. Like EscapePod, if I am busy I skip them, but most days I do eat them. So maybe for breakfast I have a slice or whole wheat toast and 2 oz. of ham. Then later I have greek yogurt with blueberries. For lunch, I have 1/2 cup sweet potato and 2 oz. of turkey breast and about 1/4 cup raw veggies. Later I have lowfat cheese and whole grain crackers. For dinner, I have 3 oz. steak, 1/2 c. brown rice, and 1/4 cup brocolli, stir fried with a little teriaki sauce. Before bed, I have 2 graham crackers with Peanut Butter and a glass of soy milk. Then a few days a week, I have extra treats, such as a couple of cocktails, cake or candy or a higher calorie meal with a fattier protein and sauce. Lynda