Rogofulm

Ooooh.... "extrapolatability" and "f**k" in practically the same sentence? Love it!!! Who says people curse because they lack the vocabulary to express themselves properly?

I weigh myself every day and have for 14 months since surgery. If something's not right, I want to know it and get a handle on it immediately. Not next week. Putting off facing the music until "next week" is what got me here. Good luck!

What works for me is regimentation, that is, repeating the same schedule every day. Weekends can be tricky, but I still try to stick to my schedule as closely as possible. Your menu may vary, but try to eat, drink, and walk on the same schedule. Below is an example I posted during my weight-loss phase. I found that the closer I stuck to it, the faster the weight came off. Good luck! As for carbs, mostly I get them from my shakes, Greek yogurt, and the very limited veggies I'm able to fit in after my Protein. Other doctors and nutritionists give you carb targets, but my doctor just says to limit them as much as possible. If you're not logging your food yet, I'd suggest using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/. It helps you keep track of your protein and fluids, but also can help you figure out if anything is going off track and affecting your weight loss. Okay, here's an example of my day: I keep a 2-quart jug and a 24-oz Tervis tumbler (with a handle) both at home and at work. I count my morning protein shake as a meal, not a Fluid. (30 grams of protein) 30-60 minutes later, I have a cup of coffee. (Count it as a fluid if you like.) After that, I drink a 24-oz. tumbler of watered-down, decaf, sugar-free iced tea, like Crystal Light throughout the morning. (Lots of frequent sips) Then I walk for 30+ minutes at lunch. Then it's lunchtime - tuna salad or chicken salad, or leftover protein from dinner. (16-22 grams of protein) and maybe a bite of veggies if there's room. About 45 minutes after lunch, I'll fill another 24-oz tumbler of iced tea and sip that throughout the afternoon, finishing by 30 minutes before my afternoon snack. At around 4:00 or 4:30, my afternoon snack is usually a Greek yogurt (12 grams of protein) or some leftovers. (This is also a good time to get in some veggies or a V-8 if you're getting enough protein at other times.) Maybe a cup of hot tea in the later afternoon. (Count it as a fluid you like.) Then dinner – again, getting 20-25 grams of protein from lean steak, fish, chicken, or pork, and maybe a bite or two of veggies. Finally, another 24-oz cup of iced tea or Water 30-45 minutes after dinner that I sip throughout the evening. If I'm hungry later, sugar-free Jello or sugar-free popsicles are good. And if I'm short on protein or still hungry, another yogurt or protein shake. (I'm not worried about the calories because this menu only provides 700-900 per day.) So that's 70+ grams of protein and 72+ ounces of fluid, with some exercise as well. If you have a regular enough schedule, you can follow it every day. If not, maybe a modified version will work. The big trick is in pre-planning your meals and your fluids, especially if you're going to be away from home or work. In those cases, I always make sure there will be something I can eat, or I bring along a Protein shake or some kind of meat to carry me through. I've also gotten pretty good at restaurant eating. I avoid the bread and salad, order chicken, steak, lamb, fish, or pork, trade in the starch for a second veggie, skip the dessert.... and end up taking half of the meat, and almost all of the veggies home. I know we need to learn to eat "normally", but I'm not there yet – especially when it comes to carbs. When I get to goal weight, I'll work on finding my new low-carb "normal". Hope that helps! Rog

I weigh myself every day and have for the past 14 months. It helps keep me on track. If my weight starts to creep up, I want to know it and address it immediately, not next week. Putting it off to "next week" is what got me here.

We all feel for you,@@Smye, and wish you nothing the best in working through this painful ordeal. Hopefully through therapy and the support of groups like the BariatricPal family, in time you'll regain your footing. In the meantime, please, please don't let this derail your amazing weight loss progress. You're down 150 stinkin' pounds, man! Stay proud and stay strong. These are the types of crises that often cause people throw away their progress for the short-term comfort of food. You need to funnel your pain into the strength to persevere over the food demon. I guarantee you that gaining misery weight will not help. I repeat, eating will not make you feel better! Especially in the long run. Stay focused on your program; and hold onto that as proof that you are strong! Big hugs, dude, we're rooting for ya!!!

You know what, though... Having this knowledge might motivate some people to commit even more fully to the life-long effort required for success. We need to beware the dangers of short-term thinking that tells us if we get to our goal weight -- or to a weight we find acceptable -- that the journey will be over. It's not! That's only the beginning....

Sorry, I missed it when you put it out. So this is another reminder, I guess...

Anyone who has read my posts knows that I'm pretty upbeat and positive about weight loss surgery in general, and the sleeve in particular. That's why it pains me to share the results of a new study that is not terribly optimistic (links below). With that being said, I think what this means is that we need to be put even more energy into getting all the way to goal weight, and then be even more diligent about maintaining it for the rest of our life. Otherwise, some of the weight will come back and bring co-morbidities along for the ride – especially diabetes. So hard as it may be, my suggestion to myself and everyone else is to remember that there is no finish line! We have to stay ultra-focused on our healthy eating programs forever. Of course we already knew that, but this study really brings it home. So let's use that as extra motivation to succeed!!! Washington Post Synopsis JAMA abstract of the study results

I take a timed-release B-12 daily, and my last lab work showed that my B-12 levels were through the roof.

Thanks so much for the kind words! Like you, my biggest fear was of gaining it all back. I'm four months into maintenance, and so far so good. I'm staying within a 4-pound bounce range right around my "ideal weight". Most days I'm below my target weight, and some days I'm above it, but never by more than 2 pounds. Then I jump on it and get it back below the target. My experience may not be "typical", but I'm finding that as long as I avoid starches and sugars, nothing else matters. I eat 80% Protein (and fat) and 20% healthy veggies. I eat ridiculous calories worth of meat, nuts and cheese and maintain my weight just fine. I suspect that if I ever let the refined carbs slip in, I won't be able to get away with the high fat and calories. But I'm in a strange, and kind of cool place right now. Yesterday my family went to costco for Protein shakes. And while my wife and kid were grazing the tasting stations, I found myself filling the cart with seaweed Snacks, seaweed salad, frozen quinoa and kale mix, and avocado oil for cooking. From a former sugar/carb junkie that seems insane. And yet, those were my choices. I find it almost impossible to believe! I wish everyone could have that same type of out-of-body experience. Eat to live!

Haven't tried it myself, but I believe this is what people are referring to when they talk about the pouch/sleeve reset. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html

...the day you can finally pull your pants and belt up to an actual, honest-to-goodness waist! And it turns out to be more comfortable than wearing them under your belly like you did for all those decades. And you don't have to keep pulling your pants up every five minutes because your stomach is pushing them down. In other words.... When you're no longer shaped like one of those blue bulbs used for sucking the stuff out of a baby's nose.

I'm very open about having had surgery. If someone asks how I lost all the weight, I say, "I had bariatric surgery last June. I haven't had a starch, or a sweet, or fruit juice, or a soda, or alcohol since then. I eat mostly Protein and vegetables, and I get exercise 4-6 times a week. It;'s hard work, but it's SO worth it because I feel great and I'm much healthier than I was before." Then if they have more questions, I answer them honestly. If anybody has a negative response, they haven't shared it with me. They usually say, "Wow, good for you!"

...you go on vacation and lose 2 pounds. ...you gain a few pounds and don't freak out because you know you can knock it back off in a couple of days. ...as so many have said before, someone you've know for years doesn't recognize you. Happened again last night. I saw someone at the theater and I said, "Don't I know you?", and she answered, "I don't think so." Then I told her my name and she said, "OMG, I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize you!" I'll take that one with a smile every time!!!

Before WLS, my driver's license weight was off by 60 pounds. It still is... but in the other direction!

And you have three saggy butts.

Tater tots? Are you kidding? Did you get an eating plan from your doctor? What does it say about starches? If you didn't receive any information, call them ask why the heck not?!! I'm at my goal weight, and I STILL won't touch the "white stuff" (potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta). Good luck!

For those of you now fully in maintenance mode and doing well at maintaining your weight, would you please answer these questions? 0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Sleeve 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? 3 months 2. What's your current height and weight? 5'6" and 145 lbs 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? Don't count them at the moment. 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? Same as during weight loss phase, only with the occasional healthy carb like quinoa, barley, or brown rice. Not as careful to avoid corn as before, but still no "white stuff" or sugary sweets. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? Very limited! 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? Still eating lots of nuts, cheese and Jerky. Probably too many nuts. 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? White stuff, sugars, alcohol. 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? Walking 3-4 times a week and gym once a week. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? Active on Bariatric Pal and my local monthly surgery support group. Use sharing my experience with others as my "therapy". 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? See my story for lots of advice and tips.

Woo HOO! You go, Bariatric Hero! That is so fantastic!!!

When you put on a few pounds and that's okay – because it puts you closer to your goal weight.

And yet, very cool too!!!

Booze is liquid sugar, kind of like ice cream and fruit juices, so it can slow down weight loss. Plus, it can lead to other less-than-optimal choices. I guess it's just a question of how strictly you want to stick to a program and how quickly you want to lose. Many people feel that depriving themselves too much during the weight loss phase can lead to giving up. I tend to be an "all or nothing" kind of guy, so my approach was to get to goal as quickly as possible and then figure it out from there.

As a rule, ESPECIALLY in the honeymoon phase of WLS ( up to 18 months post surgery) you will still probably lose weight eating a few carbs. But as early out as you are, you should be eating protien and veggies, leaving little room for carbs (bread, crackers, etc). Protien is most important right now becuase you have such little real estate in your tummy, you gotta eat what counts. Those carbs from white stuff gives you no nutritional value right now. Another thing about a WLS person eating carbs is that it can be a slippery slope. Sure, you can't eat very much right now, but the sleeve relaxes after a while, and a few crackers turn into a box (these are also considered slider foods because more can be eaten) I don't know about you, but I could easily polish off a box of Cookies once I get going. That's why I choose to stay away. They also make me crave more carbs and sugar, and the next thing you know, you're stalled or gaining. No thanks! You will have plenty of time to introduce a few carbs the closer you get to goal and then maintenance. For now take advantage of this ever so important time when you're able to lose weight easily and minimize the carbs and get your protien and veggies first! After all, we all didn't get fat eating chicken and broccoli, did we? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ I agree with @@Babbs completely! During your honeymoon and weight loss phase, you will lose best if you limit carbs to those in dairy and green veggies. No starches, no refined sugar, and no alcohol. Once you get to goal weight, you can experiment with whole-grain carbs like brown rice, quinoa, barley, whole-wheat Pasta, and sweet potatoes to see what effect they have on your weight maintenance. That's where I am now -- taking baby steps to discover what works and what doesn't. This is for the rest of our lives, so there's no need to rush back to foods that used to be a problem for us. For example, as much as I love bread, I'm choosing to avoid it altogether. Good luck!

Okay, you got me with this one! Gotta try that!!!

Maybe after surgery you'll change your mind about this. I've had a protein shake just about every morning (except maybe 4 days) for the past 15 months. It's part of my switch to an "eat to live" mentality. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy food – I do! In fact, my wife is a wonderful cook and we love going out to restaurants. It's just that food fuels my day now, rather than vice versa. Good luck!