Hi,

The following is a re-post from the OH site. I would appreciate your comments.

I have been reading the posts about how everyone one seems to be dieting with the sleeve.

Two years ago, I reached my goal weight by eating 800 calories (mostly liquid protein). Once I began eating normal food, I began to crave carbs and overeat. I steadily gained weight until I reached 233lbs (it took less than two years to gain much of the weight back). When I saw that I had gained 100 lbs, I scheduled my surgery within the week.

Now that I have the sleeve, I can tell my stomach will not allow me to binge eat, so I will no longer be eating thousands of calories a day. Will I lose weight if I just make healthy choices without counting calories? Has anyone lost weight without going on a structured diet?

I am just so weary from my years of dieting...

Toni

all i can say is calories carbs and stuff do count. im being honest and i agree with you i'm weary of dieting too. and i will also admit with the sleeve i Do feel like i'm on a diet but like you mention i can't binge so in the end..................on a postive note i'm acepting that i'm just one of those people who will always have to watch what i eat to keep my weight down and after much whining and complaining to everyone and anyone who would listen i have accepted that. and once i hit goal i will always treat myself but it will always have to be in moderation. but i just wanted to chim in and say you are not alone luv!

xoxo,

nikki

TeacherToni, I totally understand your comment, I too have always been watching and counting and so on, until . . . I started taking phentermine (big mistake never do that) and then i would eat whatever i wanted but in moderation and i lost 100 + lbs within 10 months, of course, exercise fit in there too. . . but i firmly believe moderation is the key. . no i didn't go wild on sweets or pastries, but stuck to 3 meals a day of whatever i wanted, no snacking and lots of water. . it worked and once i heal from this surgery and can eat normally again, i will definately go back to my routine, because this time I have to eat in moderation if not less. . . but i don't think counting calories will be in my agenda this time. . . carbs yes, calories no. . . good luck you're going to do great!!

This is the way I see it. I can do this diet for the sleeve because I know it will be the last time. What makes dieting so weary is hitting your goal. Struggle to maintain and then gaining it back. This time you diet for the months that it takes you hit goal and maintaining is much easier because you can't over eat. That is what I'm looking forward to. Being able to change my lifestyle for good!

I no longer feel like I'm dieting. I was super strict with my carb/calorie intake the first 4 months, but that is because I wanted to maximize the "honeymoon" phase. Now that I am at goal, I eat anything and everything I want just in moderation. The sleeve keeps me accountable, and over the last 7 months I've been able to make the "better" choice. I still indulge with a miniature Snickers here and there.

This is just my opinion, but consuming 2000-3000 "healthy" calories a day is not going to get you to goal even with the sleeve. Unfortunately, until you get to your goal weight, you'll have to use the sleeve as a tool, and do most of the hard labor.

Wow, at this time I can not even imagine eating 1000 calories let alone 2,000 - 3,000. . that to me is unimaginable. . I'm lucky to get in 600 calories a day! My calorie count daily is anywhere from 539 to 595 . . .

I still count - just my way of holding myself accountable. I spent a ton of $$$ on this, and I am determined to get to my goal weight. With that said, I don't feel deprived or that I am missing anything really. Today I have had 597 calories so far, burned 450 calories at the gym. Part of those 597 calories was a brownie sundae to celebrate an accomplishment of my oldest son. I weighed it out, just a tiny serving because that's all I can eat, added each item into my tracker and here I am sitting just under 600 calories. It was sure yummy. Diet?...what diet? Still low on protein, so probably will need to add something late tonight, or up it a bit tomorrow. My sleeve allows me to have these treats occasionally but helps me control the amount. In the past, I would have eaten 10 times the volume and it would have completely thrown me off the diet wagon. (How on earth do you eat and track a 2100 calorie dessert and say you're dieting?) Basically, my sleeve helps me eat like a skinny person.

Wow, at this time I can not even imagine eating 1000 calories let alone 2,000 - 3,000. . that to me is unimaginable. . I'm lucky to get in 600 calories a day! My calorie count daily is anywhere from 539 to 595 . . .

I can get in between 950-1000 per day with just 3 meals. If I snacked on "healthy" stuff, or supplemented with Protein drinks a couple times a day, it really isn't difficult to hit higher calories.

On Fitday.com, for me to maintain my current weight, with my workout regimen, they recommend that I consume no less than 2250 calories per day. I almost fell over laughing.

I can get in between 950-1000 per day with just 3 meals. If I snacked on "healthy" stuff, or supplemented with Protein drinks a couple times a day, it really isn't difficult to hit higher calories.

On Fitday.com, for me to maintain my current weight, with my workout regimen, they recommend that I consume no less than 2250 calories per day. I almost fell over laughing.

that is funny!!!:frown1:

2250 calories - what in a week???

:drool::lol0:

I'm weary of dieting too. I looked back and out of the last 7 yrs, I was dieting for six of them!....South Beach Diet, lost 75 pounds, regained 60, Lapband surgery, lost 65, regained 55, and now...the VSG. I still feel that the South Beach diet taught me the most I've ever known about the food I put in my body and taught me to read labels and understand. I follow the South Beach Diet principles with my sleeve, ie; healthy carbs, higher Protein, no junk carbs like white flour, rice, potatoes, or sugar.

I'm a bit more forgiving of myself now and allow myself to taste special treats. Thankfully, with the sleeve, that's finally enough...just a taste.

My hope, once I reach goal, is that I'll be able to quit being obsessed about food entirely. Eat only when I'm truly hungry and be satisfied with just enough of healthy choices. I don't think that's dieting....so I'm planning to live "diet free" at that point.

There are days when I literally have to force myself to remember to eat. I drink a protein drink every morning. I saw my band doctor because he did my recent gall bladder surgery and he told me to start supplementing with another protein drink if I don't want to lose anymore weight. I'll admit that there are days that I totally pig out on junk food, but I don't feel like I am dieting in the least.

Thanks for all of the wonderful comments!

I have only been sleeved for 11 days, so I am still not eating very much. I am managing to get half my Protein in, but I will be upping the grams each day until I at least hit 60 grams.

I am looking ahead to when my stomach heals and is able to hold more food.

I agree with Linda and Tracy...I don't want to be obsessed with my weight anymore, and I want to eat like a skinny person.

My main changes in my eating habits are to avoid simple sugars, eat 60 grams of protein, and refrain from grazing all day.

Thanks!!!!

I'm weary of dieting too. I looked back and out of the last 7 yrs, I was dieting for six of them!....South Beach Diet, lost 75 pounds, regained 60, Lapband surgery, lost 65, regained 55, and now...the VSG. I still feel that the South Beach diet taught me the most I've ever known about the food I put in my body and taught me to read labels and understand. I follow the South Beach Diet principles with my sleeve, ie; healthy carbs, higher Protein, no junk carbs like white flour, rice, potatoes, or sugar.

I'm a bit more forgiving of myself now and allow myself to taste special treats. Thankfully, with the sleeve, that's finally enough...just a taste.

My hope, once I reach goal, is that I'll be able to quit being obsessed about food entirely. Eat only when I'm truly hungry and be satisfied with just enough of healthy choices. I don't think that's dieting....so I'm planning to live "diet free" at that point.

Tracy - I can TOTALLY relate to what you said... I too have lost and gained. I lost 80 lbs with my band, I was 20 lbs away from goal when it went caput. I must say, for the most part, I never "dieted" with my band, which spoiled me... once I lost it, I went right back up... to over 200. I know from years of Weight Watchers, South Beach, YOU! on a Diet, and all that jazz, that I can do that if I need it. And, without the gnawing hunger buzzing in my head all the time, I think the sleeve will be like the band for me, a bite here, a bite there... the restrictive nature of the sleeve (as with the band) will really work for me. Or at least, that's my true and sincere hope and prayer for us all!

We can do this, and I can't wait to get started! :001_tongue:

Toni

I bet this could have been written by any of us that have battled our weight. I wish that I had all the money I have spent for diets, pills, ETC!!!

That is the thing I love about the sleeve, no diets! You can only eat a certain amount of food! You know it is like being NORMAL! I have many thin friends who only eat small amounts and they are done, I'm just like them now!! You will not have to diet anymore, but you will still need to be careful what you put in your mouth.

Good luck!!!!!

WHAT???

2250 a day??? I would be 220 lbs again, and in no time!!!

that is funny!!!:lol0:

2250 calories - what in a week???

:lol0::lol0::lol0:

I can't help but think we are all here because we are tired of dieting.....but what is needed after the op (which I am considering at the moment, 2 surgeons to see and chat to) is careful dietary habits after the surgery.

If you look at the document Tiff posted about the Sleeve Diet Guide, while you can still eat everything in time, you need to make careful decisions to maximise the efficiency of the operation, (and your money!!), but also for your health.

The 60% Protein will help to minimise hair loss (something I am petrified about!).

I don't think that learning about this stuff and having to calculate some things each day is too much to ask considering where it will get me in the future. If I had bothered to do that in the past I probably wouldn't be here now looking for such a drastic solution! And thats with a history of 21 yrs of battling with diets, yoyoing, and never reaching my goal. But in hindsight everything is so much easier!!