Healthy_life2

I would go back to your surgeon to make sure everything with your sleeve is still OK. Most likely it is, but it's still good to check. If it is, it should still work - it'll just take longer this time to lose the weight. Go back to basics - Protein first, then veggies, then, if you have room, a small serving of fruit or "good" carbs (like whole grains). Watch your portions. Log everything that goes into your mouth. Exercise regularly. You know the drill.
it takes work to maintain a weight loss. This isn't a "set & forget" kind of deal - the surgery is a strong tool that serves as a strong tail wind to get you where you want to go, but it also requires a lot of work on your part to keep it off. At almost five years out, I still weigh/measure most things and track everything I eat. I have to stay within my maintenance calorie range or my weight starts heading north pretty quickly. Yes there are days I overdo it, but then I'm back on track the next day. I CAN'T let it get out of hand or I'll wind up gaining it back. I also weigh myself daily (although once a week is fine, too, if the daily fluctuations bother you). When my weight starts to creep out of my "acceptable" range, I'm back on it. It can be a pain sometimes, but then, I never EVER want to back where I started!!!
good luck to you. You can do this!

if you're on a low carb diet, then no. If not, then it's fine - as long as you watch your portion size and log it. You might want to mix some Protein Powder into it, though. I used to have it occasionally once I hit maintenance (never ate it while I was in weight loss mode), but I always added Protein powder to it.

@Ginanatucci

Glad you enjoyed your time in Italy. You are almost two years out. Do you need to work off just the 8 pounds? Or do you need to lose more than that?
Five year out, All I can offer is what works for me.
If you need to lose more than 8 pounds - Go back to bariatric basics. Eat the food on your dietitians plan, hydrate, log food in an app and exercise
If you are maintaining and need to work off an 8 pound gain - Log and stay with in your dieticians weight loss calories and macros My carbs are around 55 to 66 grams. Yes, I have a half a cup of of whole grain oats. I make sure my carbs hit my range for the day.
google bariatric friendly recipes. It may help if you are in a food rut.

Don't waste this surgery and opportunity to get your weight off
You said, "I was instructed to avoid bread, rice and Pasta for 3-6 months " If its not on your plan, don't eat it. Trust your medical professional before anyone's advice on this site. (It does not matter what others are doing or if their plans look different)
Call your dietitian/surgeons office and ask if you can eat bread, Peanut Butter, or BLT . Or any foods you are questioning

What I wish I knew before I had surgery five years ago.
When vets told me you will be able to eat more as you progress was so true.
Working on the mental battles of weight loss was not easy. Overcoming my behaviors was one of the best gifts out of surgery. They are not 100% gone. I manage them much better.
I'm older 45 day of surgery - 51 now. All the stress over vanity was a bit ridiculous for me. Honestly, I look better not obese. My loose skin is livable and I have gained muscle weight lifting. It has filled out the skin a bit. I looked into plastics twice. I backed out both times. I am happy with my body and rock my old fart self.
Transitioning to maintenance was not what I had expected.

What I wish I knew before I had surgery five years ago.
When vets told me you will be able to eat more as you progress was so true.
Working on the mental battles of weight loss was not easy. Overcoming my behaviors was one of the best gifts out of surgery. They are not 100% gone. I manage them much better.
I'm older 45 day of surgery - 51 now. All the stress over vanity was a bit ridiculous for me. Honestly, I look better not obese. My loose skin is livable and I have gained muscle weight lifting. It has filled out the skin a bit. I looked into plastics twice. I backed out both times. I am happy with my body and rock my old fart self.
Transitioning to maintenance was not what I had expected.

What I wish I knew before I had surgery five years ago.
When vets told me you will be able to eat more as you progress was so true.
Working on the mental battles of weight loss was not easy. Overcoming my behaviors was one of the best gifts out of surgery. They are not 100% gone. I manage them much better.
I'm older 45 day of surgery - 51 now. All the stress over vanity was a bit ridiculous for me. Honestly, I look better not obese. My loose skin is livable and I have gained muscle weight lifting. It has filled out the skin a bit. I looked into plastics twice. I backed out both times. I am happy with my body and rock my old fart self.
Transitioning to maintenance was not what I had expected.

@amithistrose
You are at goal weight, Right? If you work out at a gym, ask the staff or trainer for help.
These people have great information from expereince @BlueCrush @BigViffer @Albus @oldbriannomore @NurseMichael @PWMDMD @JessLess @AZhiker @Diana_in_Philly
Some links that may help:
Bodybuilding.com Lifting data base. Shows how to use the equipment and form.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/
Body building. com Lifting plans
https://www.bodybuilding.com/workout-plans/
Muscle and fitness workouts
https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts
https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/418762-is-it-possible-to-build-muscle-after-the-sleeve-im-about-to-find-out/
threads on the topic of lifting

Love your name - I sent a request. My name in MFP is fit_chickx

Honestly though these are unrealistic standards and I’m happy where I’m at.

Love your name - I sent a request. My name in MFP is fit_chickx

@BoredFatGirl
Good video, thanks for posting it. I like how he teaches patients on how to eat post surgery. I also like Dr. Weiners take on the subject of stretching your surgery,. *video below*
The difference of surgery restriction becoming less as you progress out vs sleeve stretching.

@BoredFatGirl
Good video, thanks for posting it. I like how he teaches patients on how to eat post surgery. I also like Dr. Weiners take on the subject of stretching your surgery,. *video below*
The difference of surgery restriction becoming less as you progress out vs sleeve stretching.

Menu - (note training for distance run)
coffee - unsweetened cashew milk, banana Post workout recovery meal - oatmeal raspberries - Protein Water - lunch - Homemade chicken sausage and vegetable Soup. Flat out bread and tuna salad wrap snack - sugar snap peas and hummus dinner - Chicken salad with hemp hearts sliced almonds marinated artichokes chick peas 50/50 spring mix - sweet potato Night time snack - Yogurt - frozen raspberries - chia seed and cashews
@FluffyChix
I don't believe the post on intuitive eating was making an assumption about not trusting our selves. Or did I miss something?
To log or not to log is a personal choice. It's finding what works long term.
@Greenfeather65
IMHO, I believe maintaining is NOT a one size fits all plan. Calories/ maros will look different for each of us. Some of us have health issues, food addictions,, have a great metabolism or a high fitness level. We all approach maintaining knowing are risk factors. Its also possible for risk factors to change with time.
Some can maintain with ease. They have la good relationship with food. They can do intuitive eating, keep and eye on the scale and not get complacent. Don't need to log food anymore.
Some may have eating disorders/ anorexia behavior/obsessing. They may have a harder time getting out of weight loss mode, Backing off of logging may be a better approach. Without getting complacent and regaining.
Some, still are trying to increase calories/macros with tight surgery restriction. They may need to log to find where there body stops losing weight
Some are struggling with old behaviors - or binge eating, food addiction, stress emotional eating. They may need to log for accountability.
Some have regain years out. May need to log to get back on track.
Off my soap box *smile*

@BoredFatGirl
Good video, thanks for posting it. I like how he teaches patients on how to eat post surgery. I also like Dr. Weiners take on the subject of stretching your surgery,. *video below*
The difference of surgery restriction becoming less as you progress out vs sleeve stretching.

So here I am again asking for advice....
I haven't slept walked for years..
I'm half way through my pre OP diet still have about 18 days to go.
I've been doing really well lately. Got over the hump...so I had thought.
Then it turns out last night I slept walked made my self a Peanut Butter sandwich. Ate it all except the crusts (which is odd I love the crusts) 😞
I've put baby locks on the pantry tonight. I don't really know what else to do.

I'm sorry, I had to smile big. I sleep walk, too. Haven't done it for years, but had done it since childhood.
The fact that your poor mind is so hungry, it's rebelling, idk I find it a little endearing! But do not despair, in my experience the baby locks should work. I used to sleepwalk and go around the house opening doors, but if a door was locked(even if the key was in it), I would move on after a couple times trying the handle.
I would suggest you put those baby locks on fridge too if possible, until your brain catches up to your new lifestyle. Or better yet, get rid of the bread, If you live alone. If you only keep healthy food in the house, even if you slip, you'd still be ok.
Best of luck you on your journey, and remember "One day at a time"!

Nope. Never herd of liquid carbs pre - op
Clear liquid diet is usually to shrink your liver pre - op. Most surgeons will recommend you adhere to a strict clear liquid diet days prior to your surgery. Clear Liquids will include broth, sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, Water and possibly one Protein Shake each day. Again, follow your surgeon’s instructions.

I completely understand what you are feeling, as I was there myself a few months ago when my nutritionist told me to double my calorie intake. At first I simply couldn't do it, because I didn't have the capacity to eat that many calories without resorting to junk. In addition, I was terrified of carbs and fat, and it took a long time to adjust my thinking.
At this point, I find myself eating fairly normally and I no longer obsess over numbers. I should note that I'm not a big gym person (cardio or weight training) and therefore need fewer calories than you would to maintain a healthy weight. Like so many things on this journey, it's more a mental shift than anything else.

I may buck the trend a little bit here. I personally wouldn't say you are truly in the maintenance phase yet. Maintenance is more than just hitting a body weight and staying there, it is continuing on with an established lifestyle. At one year post op, most people are still in the honeymoon phase. It is easy to get complacent and even easier to break newly formed habits. I'm betting you haven't bottomed out yet. Then after that is the rebound gain (which is normal) and that's when maintenance truly begins.
Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the desire to get strong and do things that our bodies previously could not do. However there is a price to pay when you start training yourself to eat to a caloric surplus for muscle growth. You still have stiff scar tissue that gives you the restriction with your sleeve. A year or two of being the strongest you can be AND the leanest you can be would better serve you long term than a race to get big muscles and lift heavy things.
I am now 5 years out myself and I ate to fuel my lifting. I usually only hit 2500 calories a day. Now I have some old injuries rearing their head and typical age related limitations forming, but my established routine of 2500 calories does not fit with my reduced training. So now I am contending with head hunger again and I almost forgot how insidious that really is in regards to my goals. I've actually gained 5 pounds in the last 2 months and I don't think it is muscle!
I could recommend all kinds of ways to get your calories up and do it an a relatively healthy way, but I would strongly encourage you to nail down the tracking of calories and macros. truly determine what size/weight you want to be, and then make a long term goal. I know it is exciting right now, but this is not a race to the finish and then done. This is a marathon that lasts the rest of your life.
If you still want high calorie ideas, then here goes:
Avocados - learn to love them. Substitute them for butter, eat lots of guacamole, or eat it with an egg. Nuts & seeds - cashews, pecans, and peanuts are very high in calories because of the fat content. But it's a good fat! Beef - there is no substitute for high Protein and fat content. Hamburger/Meatloaf are good examples. Sausage - I still tend to go for the chicken sausage links or turkey sausage patties. They just taste better to me now. But old fashion pork sausage is high in both fat and carbs. Full fat milk/cheese/yogurt - And I don't mean any of that yoplait or velveeta crap. Eggnog Ancient grain bread - not the fluffy "wheat" bread that is just brown Wonder Bread, I mean the dense stuff. Good carbs and high Fiber. Dried fruits - dates, figs, apricots... high in fiber and natural sugars. Helps keep you regular too with the all the fat and protein listed above. I wish you the best of luck and I envy you the time period you are in right now.

Jake you have almost made goal and are on you way to a healthy life style dont be scared of food that you need to fuel the machine that is your body to run that marathon choose smart food and healthy you can do it i know you can look how far you have come

I'm over 2 years out from surgery now, and I average about 2600 calories a day (closer to 3000 calories Fri-Sun, and closer to 2200 Mon-Thu). I've been doing this for over a year now, and have been maintaining between 220-225lbs (6'3").
Your capacity will change over time. Your relationship with food will as well once you stop thinking of yourself as a dieter/weight loss mindset and shift to an eat-for-performance mindset. I still track food every day, but not for weight loss purposes, rather for hitting my macros (specifically protein) for fitness/performance goals.