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...

yesterday was a fast day, I did about 550 cals, this morning woke up 2 pounds down. Today is a norm day - the morning after my last norm day I woke up 3 pounds up, so, I will approach the scale tomorrow morning with trepidation/resignation.

They do say the norm loss is 1 pound a week. We are not norm, but fingers crossed! I ended at 542 cals today. Ended up needing to eat with my meds.... (forgot about that!) So had some banana.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/83317-the-52-diet/

Just looking for another "tool".

Another tool or another eating disorder? This whole thing is not healthy and does not promote the healthy eating diet prescribed after this surgery. Maybe I am not the perfect person to say this but I know that LauraVen is and the fact that people like 'feedyoureye' has drawn someone like her into this stupidity tells me that those of us who have been sleeved are still vulnerable with regard to our weight and we need to have a lot of strength to just stay on target with ad ice from our surgeons rather than being fooled by charlatans.

I am not trying to put a dampened on this, but I don't get it. From what I read, the key to this fasting thing is that you can only eat 25% of the calories you usually eat. But it is based on the standard being 2000 cal/day. I am sure you ladies are not usually eating 2000cal/day.

I've been a keen calorie eater since early out, getting to +1000 as soon as I could (about two months post-op) and steadily increasing since then. I often eat between 1500-2200 cals per day now. I'm not in any way trying to be on a super-low-cal plan the rest of my life, not a fan of that.

Another tool or another eating disorder? This whole thing is not healthy and does not promote the healthy eating diet prescribed after this surgery. Maybe I am not the perfect person to say this but I know that LauraVen is and the fact that people like 'feedyoureye' has drawn someone like her into this stupidity tells me that those of us who have been sleeved are still vulnerable with regard to our weight and we need to have a lot of strength to just stay on target with ad ice from our surgeons rather than being fooled by charlatans.

Have you read about it or are you just going off the very surface notion of 500 cals, 2x per week. I've personally been reading up on intermittent fasting a lot over the past few years anyhow, and this is well-researched. The benefits of it go far beyond weight loss. It's not an eating disorder if you know what you're doing. Many would argue that WLS itself leads to disordered eating, but we know that's not the case (or at least not most of the time). The research is not done by charlatans, nor are we dumb and easily duped. Try doing some research before you wave accusations around. FYE is solid and knows her stuff cold.

ETA: MsS -- sorry about your friend.

I really disagree with the notion that 5:2 is an eating disorder gimmick. I'm eating much healthier by starting this and what's the big deal if we call it "fasting". You really aren't. I've truly fasted many times. Water only. If I am eating 500 healthy calories and the next day eating 1300 or so healthy calories, is that a gimmick? To each his own but those of us out 3 years or so and struggling to maintain are lookin for a healthy maintenance. Don't see anything wrong with it Just sayin.

More power to you, but personally, I would not ever recommend this to anyone, nor would my fiance, a nutritionist. Eating like that is not healthy nor is it good for your metabolism. Your body needs a certain amount of calories each and EVERY day just to function, and what they are prescribing is not healthy. Definitely looks like another fad diet to me. I am with AussieLady on this one.

I could find a load of studies to quote (though the book also covers it well, as does this series about fasting's benefits), but here's just one recent one... from Nutrition & Metabolism, a peer-reviewed journal "focused on the integration of nutrition, exercise physiology, clinical investigations, and molecular and cellular biochemistry of metabolism." Excerpted from Medscape...

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a novel weight loss regimen that has been steadily growing in popularity over the past decade.^[2,3] preliminary findings indicate that IF may be effective for weight loss and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk reduction. For instance, two recent trials of IF demonstrate decreases in body weight of 7–9% and reductions in LDL cholesterol of 10% after 20–24 weeks of treatment.^[2,3]

ETA: Nutritionists should know by now that "starvation mode" is a myth...

Another tool or another eating disorder? This whole thing is not healthy and does not promote the healthy eating diet prescribed after this surgery. Maybe I am not the perfect person to say this but I know that LauraVen is and the fact that people like 'feedyoureye' has drawn someone like her into this stupidity tells me that those of us who have been sleeved are still vulnerable with regard to our weight and we need to have a lot of strength to just stay on target with ad ice from our surgeons rather than being fooled by charlatans.

I think it always valid to visit our eating/exercise profiles to make sure we are not "going down that road" At 7 months(where you are) and at 2 1/2 years I have followed my Docs and Nuts eating plan. I still am, with a drop in calories two days a week(Protein, Water, exerciser)... I ate 500 cals a day every day under my Doc and Nuts supervision 7 days a week for part of this journey already. When weight gain has become so easy, and weight loss has stopped completely before reaching goal while following plan, I think modest cuts and expanded exercise (especially weight lifting and weight bearing) exercise is a valid option. I have asked myself a few times if my behavior has become obsessive.... why yes, it looks like it... weighing every day, logging my food and wearing a fitbit could be signs of this. HOWEVER... Not doing these things lead to weight gain and unconsciousness about the factors that contribute to it. I simply can not eat by impulse and maintain. I have worked hard on dumping the attachment of self worth to the numbers on the scale, have relegated it to a tool status. I say my current and past weight in public... this I used to have so much shame about... now its just a marker of body weight to be taken in the context of health statistics. I am 60 years old(in a few days) I am 188.5 pounds (not underweight by any means)I am after 2 1/2 years 19 pounds from the top of the 'normal' weight range for my hight. I think it is important for YOU to keep track of where you are in your own life and if you would like to, support others in their journeys to better health, mental and physical, but I think your fears are unfounded here. These women have been on this road quite a long time, and what you are seeing is them not giving up on the Quest to better health all round. That is my opinion.

Also, FYI to my "Wanna join me" friends, my scale went from 190.9 yesterday to 188.5 today. My scale most often shows the same number for weeks on end...to the 10th of a pound. So this drop, even water, is out of the ordinary. and this is a number I have not seen since last year. We will see how it goes....

Yeah Feed, ^ that!

My word!!! I sleep and all the excitement starts!

First off feedyoureye, happy birthday! My birthday is on Friday (47) go Gemini's'!!!

Ok as for the 5:2 fast it's not a fast in a traditional sense. And I've read about it and thought I would join in. Yes I'm not as far out as most girls here but I like to try things out for the experience.

Aussie I'm also on the C25k thread with some of the veterans... If you want to yell at someone for making me do something silly PLEASE yell at them! I'm hating it and feel like I'm going to die every time I run

I found yesterday interesting in the sense that I was hungry a lot,,,, it surprised me and made me think about my daily eating habits and though I track my food my eating style tends to be grazing all day...

This week will be challenging I realized last night..

My husband has these things he wants to do involving food.. It's our anniversary this weekend also, so he wants to take off all up and down the coast and has mentioned everything from going to Pescadero for fresh artichoke garlic bread (you buy it warm from the oven and f**k its good)

Goat cheese and wine. Then the next day going to Monterey and spend the night.. Again food and drink!

I also have a party on Sunday for a friend that I might go to..

So my life is food food food everywhere. No worries about me wasting away

Another tool or another eating disorder? This whole thing is not healthy and does not promote the healthy eating diet prescribed after this surgery. Maybe I am not the perfect person to say this but I know that LauraVen is and the fact that people like 'feedyoureye' has drawn someone like her into this stupidity tells me that those of us who have been sleeved are still vulnerable with regard to our weight and we need to have a lot of strength to just stay on target with ad ice from our surgeons rather than being fooled by charlatans.

I will normally "abstain" from jumping into hot topics and I generally stay away from flames when I see them. However, can we all just agree that NONE of us are EXPERTS in any way shape or form? If there was ONE WAY in this world to diet and exercise wouldn't we all be skinny and beautiful?

I will normally "abstain" from jumping into hot topics and I generally stay away from flames when I see them. However' date=' can we all just agree that NONE of us are EXPERTS in any way shape or form? If there was ONE WAY in this world to diet and exercise wouldn't we all be skinny and beautiful? [/quote']

This is true! I think Aussie is just showing she cares about my welfare.. It's true I am nowhere close to as far out as the rest of you here.. But I am no stranger to weight loss and weight gain.

And I like everyone else here, am looking for a lifestyle I can live with., so I like to try things on for "size".

Might I mention that I have not lost a pound for almost two months.....

More power to you' date=' but personally, I would not ever recommend this to anyone, nor would my fiance, a nutritionist. Eating like that is not healthy nor is it good for your metabolism. Your body needs a certain amount of calories each and EVERY day just to function, and what they are prescribing is not healthy. Definitely looks like another fad diet to me. I am with AussieLady on this one.[/quote']

Susan you are so hard to track down!!

I have been wondering about your TDEE and calorie intake have been going?

I also participate on a thread about metabolism and TDEE (yes my fingers are in a lot of pies)

And I have mentioned and reposted a post that you made right after you started it. But would love an update!!

Wonder why if its not like "us" we tend to think its not right? We all do it. We might not vocalize it but we do. Healthy food makes healthy bodies. Anyway you eat it.