AliciaKC

Back from vacay with Mr. a few days ago (BEST. VACATION. EVER. Thinking that we should leave the Kid at home more often!)
So all the unnecessary worrying about food and carbs pre-trip was just that: unnecessary.
I let myself eat whatever, there was nothing off limits. Though I did make sure not to eat to a stuffed feeling (failed a couple times, though I admit...damn you eating and drinking at same time!). For the most part, I figured if I couldn't eat something cuz I was already satisfied, I could always try it another time. No biggie.
I had Pasta, bread and rice for the first time since surgery, all of which I tolerated well. I found that while I still enjoy pasta (they must put crack or something in the pasta over there, cuz I just couldn't get enough), I don't really care for bread nor rice anymore. Which is surprising because bread and rice were every-meal-staples for me pre-WLS.
Drank wine like Water. Developed a loving relationship with amaretto. I suspect 80% of the carbs I consumed while away came from liquor.
The morning we left, I weighed 115.6 with 16.5% body fat.
Despite all the food and drink (and the fact that I did not go to the hotel gym once, nor go for a single run the entire time), the morning after the day we came back (2 weeks, 3 days later), I was only up to 119.9 with 17.7% body fat. I was totally prepared to see a 10 lb increase! Now I sort of wish that I tracked my food (I didn't use MFP at all, as I was giving myself a vacay from that as well) because I really would like to know what my average daily calorie/macro intake was. I would guess that it was probably in the 3000-3500 range, though (some days probably double that...specifically the days when I had TWO double scoop gelatos instead of one)
Now for the good part:
I wanted to get back to my day-before-vacay- weight, so I (easily!) went back to my running routine, and ate lower-carb, and kept my cals to about 1000-1300. I track everything I put in my mouth, and weigh myself every day at the same time. And this morning, I clocked in at 115.2 with 16.3% body fat. *drops mic*.
Moral of (my) story is that for those in maintenance, the chances to indulge will come along, take it and enjoy within reason (life is short!), and trust yourself that you will be able to work off any gains, so long as you put in the effort. I am now officially confident that I will be a successful long-term maintainer!
Life is Good.

You know A Lot of people maybe hesitant to post because it leaves them wide open to criticism and unsolicited advice which can sometimes be a bitter pill to swallow.
But
Maybe, possibly, hopefully someone, maybe even yourself, can benefit from hearing your story. I would suggest looking objectively at your story and giving the advice to yourself that you would give to someone else in your place.
Also some goals take quite a bit of time, effort and flexibility to reach. Don't count yourself out just yet. But don't let a 6lbs gain turn into 12, 18, 24...
Good Luck 💙

Gathered all my courage and decided to show off myself in public.

I changed my mind, pants and shoes. I’m really trying to dress less like a sailor lol.

I think the duster is cute @Healthy_life2
I’m headed out to my hospitals monthly support group. I’m forcing fall today, it’s a bit warm but I’m ignoring that.

I’m enjoying how the ladies pull fall looks together. I am stealing some of your ideas.
Went through my capsule wardrobe. I’ve had this sweater/duster for three years. Is it time for it to go? or is it a keeper?

Ok well no men in this. Let’s kick it up a notch
lemme know what u think

Everyone looks so nice! I’m looking forward to cool weather, it’s been mild here so far.
Baby steps, no navy blue in my shirt today.

I actually wore heels today!

Happy Fall! Look forward to the cooler season approaching of fun jackets, jeans and layers in all new sizes. Here's two new outfits. Business meet past Friday, and brunch on Sunday. Wishing I could borrow a few inches from everyone or do you think one of those medieval stretchers might work!? Frustrated to see obesity written in summary notes of a new knee surgeon I saw last week for injured knee. ;\ I loath that in my medical charts! Working diligently toward my final goal and a normal range BMI which is 25 pounds away. Saddened to see the general medical community continues to evaluate solely upon - and defines their patients by possibly antiquated and simplistic charts? No doubt, as ms.sss says our wrinkled fabric (love that description!) aka. loose skin certainly adds a few extra pounds? Any thoughts here? I took my jacket off here for your eyes only... as my upper arms feel like they could weigh a pound each? Not to mention, the tummy, rear and thigh wrinkled fabric. I wonder after major plastics - if anyone has experienced a natural reduction in weight after excess skin removed? Seems logical.

You and your butt look amazing!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

You and your butt look amazing!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

You and your butt look amazing!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Did you have plastics surgey or do do a lot of exercises?

You and your butt look amazing!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Did you have plastics surgey or do do a lot of exercises?

You and your butt look amazing!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Rice-less Poke Bowl (black and white sesame crusted seared tuna steak, shiratke noodles, avocado, carrots, edemame & roasted brussel sprouts w/ bacon bits)
Didn't make much of a dent in it despite being reeeeaaaaaly excited to eat it. What I did manage to eat was delicious, though *gives self pat on the back for being a cook extraordinaire*. Will take another stab at eating it later tonite...

If I ate the whole thing, would have been 375 cals, 36g Protein, 16g net carbs, 16g fat.
Probably ate about 1/4 of it, so macros would be: 94 cals, 9g protein, 4g net carbs, 4g fat

Ok, so today's OOTD was the leggings on the left (with a shirt, of course, lol)
Pic in the middle are my "new" hand-me-down butt-lifter jeans from the Kid and pic on the very right are regular jeans (which actually are also hand-me-downs from the Kid).
It may just be wishful thinking on my part, but I think the butt-lifter jeans give me a little bit of a rounder, higher booty, no?
*sigh* My next step might just have to be butt-padded underwear...

LOLZ
@Healthy_life2, @FluffyChix, if I have somehow managed to gaslight you into thinking I have a body like THAT, then my work here is done.
*drops mic*
😂

ASIDE: Honestly, I love this forum. So good to read other's takes on the same issues.
Now in terms of the current issue at hand, I guess my goal is to just feel good. And like the way I look in the mirror.
Right now, I've got both.
I am "sort of" maintaining at around 1900 average cals I think. I've been between 114 and 117 for the past 6 weeks, and staying at the upper end of this range for the past 2. However, I seem to still be getting smaller (i.e., losing inches)?? My clothes continue to get looser at certain areas, BUT I don't actually SEE any noticeable weight coming off myself these same past 6 weeks. If anything, I think I am rounding/filling out, especially in my face (which I like because I was looking pretty "sunken" before).
I have never had a DEXA scan for the purposes of body fat determination, but my smart scale has me consistently at around 15-16% body fat since June so I don't think I'm building any huge amounts of muscle to explain the inch loss.
Sooooo...I'm not really sure if I should up calories, change my exercise regime, do nothing or what, as I don't want my clothes to get looser, even if I don't actually SEE me getting noticeably skinnier. (also, just to be sure it just wasn't me, I asked Mr and the Kid and they too do not think I got any skinnier over the summer, and that my face looks much healthier because the sunken cheeks and eye sockets have filled in...I was calling myself Skelator for a while back then!).
So yeah. I guess just like with everything else, I just gotta wait and see what happens, right?

Is your goal to look a certain way? (modeling, bodybuilding or sports) or just to maintain?
My goal is to stay healthy and wear the same size clothing. My closet is an investment. I refuse to buy larger or smaller sizes. Fitness goals. I’m not a professional athlete. I don’t worry about my body fat percentage. Weightlifting - bulking limit is 147lbs (*jeans super tight) Cutting to 130s by summer. I don't feel healthy below 125lbs

My body just stopped losing weight when I hit 128 which was fine with me. My Doctor asked me to stop losing too.
I eat about 1000 to 1200 calories a day now, I slowly upped it from 800-1000. I hover between 128.2 and 130.2 like clockwork for over a month now. I haven’t been working out as hardcore so I know I have to keep my calories low. Once I get back to my gym routine I’ll be able to add calories. (I hope) I’m still walking and biking everyday but I’m not weight training because I still hate it.

Hahahahahaha I'm already wearing kids clothes. I've got my 13-year old's hand me downs (that she wore couple years ago) in my closet. Gap kids size 12-14. Abercrombie Kids size 12. I'm pretty short and lost all my boobs so it works 😂

If I didn't have plastics planned, I'm not sure what my goal weight/appearance would be. I personally find my body to be too thin, for my liking, with the exception of my stomach. The excess tummy fat bothers me, but conversely the lack of body fat/skin laxity on my butt, thighs & boobs bother me as well.
For right now, I have an upper limit of 130 lbs. It's really only there for two reasons. I feel like I need some kind of guardrail, so I don't starting gaining again. Also, I want to be lean for my upcoming plastics. I'm going to ask my surgeon if I should get even leaner, and if that would improve the results of my LBL.
I'd say my lower limit is 125 currently. My lowest weight is 125.4, and I've hit that a few times. I don't have any desire to go lower than that, unless my plastic surgeon advises me to.
It's definitely more about how I feel and how I look than a number on the scale. Once my tummy is flattened with plastics, I'll see if I can play around with my weight a little bit. I honestly miss my curves. I would like to have a fuller butt again, and wouldn't mind fuller hips and thighs. When I look at pics of myself during the WL process, I find myself most attractive in the 140-160 range. I'm not sure if I'd want to get up to 160. I'd be pretty far above a normal BMI. That weight might make me feel "heavier", harder on my feet in heels etc., but we'll see!