Hello fellow sleevers,

just thought I would start a thread for all those who want to get to goal in 2012, regardless of where we are in the process.

I posted it the 'Slow Loser' thread, because that is what I am!! (I am not complaining by the way, just pleased to be a loser...lol)

For me to get there, I know that at 18mths out I need to be strict, accountable and have support from those in the same 'place', who understand that the sleeve isn't a miracle but a tool.

I have done well so far, but the weight hasn't 'melted' off me and since 6mths post op I have had to fight for each and every pound. At first it made me a little bitter, frustrated and I started to get into a 'dark place' about it, now the scale victory tastes sooooo sweet!

I have taken the month of December 'off'... I needed to rest from the constant worry of food, cals, water, carbs and protein... my head was spinning and I was starting to feel very frustrated and overwhelmed at not being at goal again. I needed time out!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas period and I have eaten what I wanted and when I wanted it; this includes ALL foods, no food was off limit and I let my sleeve do its job! The quantity was low but I still enjoyed every mouthful. Interestingly, I found that my cravings were satisified very quickly... 1 or 2 biscuits/sweets, and so on, hit the spot, instead of 5,6,7,... you get the picture. Subconscious damage limitation? I don't know but I like it!

I have learnt a lot by doing this. I now know that I can eat a little more if I 'try'... I know that I can enjoy food again without feeling guilty and I know that food doesn't have to be the enemy. So, with all that, what was the outcome? Yep, I have gained 2lbs above my personal bounce! Oops!

I am not, in the slightest, worried about this because I KNOW what is the cause... sugar and salt! And this time, I am sure it will come off as quick as it went on!

So, what is the plan?

Per my surgeon's instructions: I am going back to basics... yep that ole one...lol

• 3 meals a day - no snacking.
  
• Weighing my meals between 6-8oz depending on what is on the plate.
  
• Protein first, followed by veggies.
  
• Plenty of water.
  
• A limit of 1000 cals a day.
  
• Continue with my exercise - boxing twice a week, gym in work 1-2 times a week (depending on work load) and walking my dog (just over a 2 mile circuit). The exercise is the only thing that I have stuck to in December... I actually enjoy it now!!
  

As a side note, and I ain't sure if my American friends can get this, but here in the Uk, on SKY there are a few fitness channels. I have recorded some aerobic workouts that are really good... they're free and can be done at home... this is saving me some money on classes and DVDs and if I don't like the workout I can delete and look for another!! Bonus!!

Ok, who is ready to join me on the final stretch to goal... hope on board and enjoy the ride my friends...

I did' date=' I left it at IIFYM diet, left everything as they suggested, and it came up -2.4[/quote']

Really because even me a 47 year old woman at 5'4 and 171 pounds and non exercising

Get 1300 calories and 38 grams of carbs??

What's your numbers??

I went in and changed their setting for fats and it gave me like 43g carbs instead. They had it on .45 per pound so I lowered it to the lowest which is I think .35

I chose the 60 minutes per day hard workout, the aggressive fat loss option, the IIFYM diet, the 1g Protein per lb, the .35g fat, the meals per day and I get:

41.3 carbs

193 protein

45 Fiber

and 1545 calories per day

I can tell you right now I am not getting anything like 45g of fiber, I'm probably not getting any at all! I'm getting about half that amount of protein and half the calories.

That's alright I'm not getting that much in either, but I'm slowly adding more in and especially trying to up the Protein.. But SLOWLY .

My metabolism is shot I've done so many 600 calorie diets in the last 20 years its not funny.

I'm going to dig something up that Susan wrote not to long ago and paste it here..

I've calculated my food for today and, with my limited resources, I do not seem to find a way to get only 43g carbs and get 1545 calories at the same time. Every permutation that keeps my carbs that low has my cals topping out around 1000 and my fiber is a pathetic 4g. I had already eaten Breakfast by the time we started this so here is what I have calculated for today:

Breakfast - ham cheese peppers scramble, roasted potatoes, milk

lunch - chicken

dinner - chicken

snack - Protein shake

If I add in vegetables for the fiber my carbs go over. What should I do?

Get rid of the potatoes they are just starch and carbs trade them out sit a veggie that has more fiber..

I think these are good totals to "aim" for but you can up the carbs a bit I didn't calculate my carbs that low and came up to a number closer to 40.

I'm sure with you extreme exercise level you can afford to add more carbs on that calculator

Like I said, I had already eaten breakfast by the time we started calculating this and my resources are incredibly limited, I am deployed. So the only vegetables available have been boiled into submission, all nutrition in them long gone.

Like I said' date=' I had already eaten breakfast by the time we started calculating this and my resources are incredibly limited, I am deployed. So the only vegetables available have been boiled into submission, all nutrition in them long gone.[/quote']

....well that's ok about breakfast! This is a work in progress for all of us!

Looks like with your limited resources , I would just keep it simple Protein and veggies even if they are cooked to death.... And slowly very slowly raise your calories..

It couldn't hurt at this point to at least try!

It couldn't hurt ... unless it makes my chemically stunted body start gaining weight unchecked

:/

Those fiber numbers are mental -- no one needs that much fiber. That said, I'm inclined to low fiber eating for several reasons, and it works for me. The easiest way to up your calories without gaining weight is to cut carbs and increase fats. If you up carbs (non-veg carbs I mean! I never count carbs from veg, but I do for fruit) AND fat, you will gain, but if you cut carbs and increase fats, you will not. Fat is where it's at.

Well, like I said, I have very limited resources and cannot eat my protein powder all the time, but in order to keep my carbs that low and cals that high, that's what I would have to do... I agree those are crazy numbers for fiber, I may have to start chugging metamucil

Well' date=' like I said, I have very limited resources and cannot eat my Protein powder all the time, but in order to keep my carbs that low and cals that high, that's what I would have to do... I agree those are crazy numbers for fiber, I may have to start chugging metamucil [/quote']

There is a lady on the vets forum who cannot stop losing weight. All she eats is protein (from food not powder) so why don't you try that. No veggies ( over cooked or other wise) no carbs no fiber.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/77709-cant-stop-losing/page__fromsearch__1

I read this thread from start to finish over the course of two days. I am so impressed by you ladies. You have worked so incredibly hard and you are an inspiration. Thanks for being open and honest because I have found it so good to know that not everyone just drops to goal effortlessly. I am just beginning my journey but I have subscribed to this thread for inspiration. I promise not to post here until/unless I become a slow loser ( except for this one).

I also read the regain article one of you posted a couple pages back. It talked about how some people need a revision from their first surgery to get to a healthy BMI. I am already trying to be open to that possibility. Have any of you considered a revision to get you there, if you have worked so hard for 2 or 3 years and are still having trouble? I know for me, I hope the sleeve works on its own, but I am trying to be open to the idea that I might need to revise it to DS if I eat pretty much perfectly for a couple years and still don't get there. I tried on my own to keep weight off for so long, and finally decided i need medical intervention. I suppose more medical intervention would not be the easy way out, just the same that getting the sleeve isn't the easy way out. What do y'all think about it?

At two years, I'm not done yet...I really do not want to get a DS if I can help it... wouldn't I have to gain back all of my weight to get qualified to get the DS? I'm not sure how it works. When I saw the Doc for the first time he did say something about getting a DS if I gained the weight back.... you are most welcome to be here... We hope we can be a voice of reason from our experience. ... best of luck to you...

honestly, if I could afford it, I would get a revision.

I think some doctors in the US will do a revision at a discount if you didn't get to a healthy BMI and you can show that you were following a reasonable plan. Especially if you are eating 1000 calories a day and can't get out of the Obese BMI level. I'm honestly not sure about that though and I'm not sure how it works here in Australia either.

Tomorrow is my very first weigh in. I have a feeling this one will be the best one I will ever have. On every diet I have been on it has been that way. I used to make charts that would assume I could keep losing at the same rate. How naive I was! I expect this to take at least 18 months to two years, but at least ill be so much better off than I would without the sleeve!