I'm just curious and want something kind of like a roll call to see where we're all at.

I'll be three years out in one month and I'm five pounds away from my pre pregnancy weight and eight pounds away from my original goal.

If you're at goal, how long have you been maintaining within a 5 pound window?

If you're not at goal, how far do you have to go?

How do you transition your mind and eating from loss to maintenance or back to loss from maintenance? Do you go back to basics, restrict calories, get more active, etc.?

I'd like to see some experiences shared here. I'm finding that I just don't make the time to come to VST much anymore. Sure, there's a small measure of burnout (I just avoid most of the topics when I do come around) and sure, I just had a baby a few months ago. But I think a major thing is that I don't like being here as a vet and not at my goal weight. It's silly, because this is exactly where I should be as I'm trying to lose.

I'm struggling. Eating isn't that bad. I'm very fortunate, because I've read a number of threads lately where even vets are having trouble with non-stop hunger or food thoughts. I'm not dealing with that.

But I maintained so easily. I'm not bragging...it's just how it was, and I honestly feel like I deserved it after struggling for 17 months to lose 107 pounds a tenth of a pound at a time! Transitioning from maintenance to pregnancy to loss again SUCKS. I hate it. I log my food and I track and no, I don't feel hungry (thank goodness) and I don't really want to graze or binge (thankfully) but I feel like the SLOWEST LOSER IN THE UNIVERSE and I'm really struggling with my body image and with the idea that I have to eat 700-900 calories a day, and skip the extra cups of coffee and actually pay attention to what I eat.

I want to be lazy again, honestly. I want to be back in maintenance, back at goal and I want my size 5/6 pants to fit perfectly, without being slightly snug. I want to go back to hopping on the scale each morning and not minding if I see the number go up a touch one day and down a bit the next, because I'm already in my maintenance window and a small change won't hurt. I want to see progress again!

I cannot wrap my head around making this transition smooth. It's not a huge amount of stress but there is a very real underlying fear that if I don't manage to get back into loss mode mentally, too, that I won't ever lose the weight and I'll slide into regaining.

Where are the rest of you on this?

~Cheri

Here's some interesting info about 'comfort eating':

http://www.dailymail...atty-foods.html

http://www.huffingto...e_n_909173.html

http://www.huffingto..._b_2372030.html

So it's not just 'bad behavior' or habit, it's biology we're working against! Go easy on yourselves...and try try again.

Thanks for posting these. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but I am sure they have great information.

I really feel like a big part of our battle is all the guilt around eating. We have spent years made to feel ashamed for eating anything "bad" for us which results in bad eating habits, eating disorders, and weight problems. This is the biggest thing I have been trying to work on for 2.5 years already. I am not going to gain weight when I eat a small ice cream cone with my kids once in a month. And I shouldn't feel like I can't ever eat anything ever again. For me personally, I still enjoy food and I love how food tastes. Finding a happy balance between restriction and indulgence is where I sometimes struggle, but it is a work in progress!

Here's some interesting info about 'comfort eating':

http://www.dailymail...atty-foods.html

http://www.huffingto...e_n_909173.html

http://www.huffingto..._b_2372030.html

So it's not just 'bad behavior' or habit, it's biology we're working against! Go easy on yourselves...and try try again.

Thank you for these articles.....it's interesting how fatty foods sooth are sad emotions and it was a coping skill that helped me get fat. now it's time to incorporate more healthier coping skills to self soothe and to stay away from the fatty foods. Also mindful eating is also interesting. It hit a spot. I realized that I have basically slipped back into habitual eating habits that need to changed. I am mindful of eating Protein first but not really enjoying the food. Just became automatic......So back on the boat to better mindful eating habits.....Starting this moment.....

Thank you for these articles.....it's interesting how fatty foods sooth are sad emotions and it was a coping skill that helped me get fat. now it's time to incorporate more healthier coping skills to self soothe and to stay away from the fatty foods. Also mindful eating is also interesting. It hit a spot. I realized that I have basically slipped back into habitual eating habits that need to changed. I am mindful of eating Protein first but not really enjoying the food. Just became automatic......So back on the boat to better mindful eating habits.....Starting this moment.....

I think this is one of the reasons I adapted to the 'paleo' (my own version of it LOL) so well, because it's not fighting my nature. It's a high-fat diet, no doubt -- but the fat is very satiating and satisfying, where low-fat foods don't do it for me at all. So going with the flow, as it were, has helped me stick with it. When I eat plenty of eggs, meat, cheese, butter, etc..., I feel better -- and I wonder if it is cos I'm ticking the 'fatty foods' box albeit in a healthier way than some crisps or ice cream. Just thinking out loud...I'm an extrovert so I do that a lot.

Swizzly do you ever read Mark's Daily Apple? it is a primal site with lots of great recipes, stories, and info (primal is similar to Paleo but allows dairy) I must have my extra sharp cheese on occasion as well as my latte's and Greek yogurt

Here is a link - this is where the recipe for those fat guacamole devils came from btw (devils eggs with yolks mixed with avocado - yay for healthy fats). I also really like his take on fitness - it makes sense.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz2Z3ZQVymy

Thanks for posting Chimera!

Swizzly do you ever read Mark's Daily Apple? it is a primal site with lots of great recipes, stories, and info (primal is similar to Paleo but allows dairy) I must have my extra sharp cheese on occasion as well as my latte's and Greek yogurt

Here is a link - this is where the recipe for those fat guacamole devils came from btw (devils eggs with yolks mixed with avocado - yay for healthy fats). I also really like his take on fitness - it makes sense.

http://www.marksdail.../#axzz2Z3ZQVymy

Oh yes, I'm a loyal MDA fan! I read it all the time and feel like I'm constantly posting links to it. So much good info there! Also this one is good for getting more details on the science and new studies, if you're not already reading it: http://chriskresser.com/

In a way' date=' it's like I'm married to my sleeve. Even if I didn't realize it at the time, I was making a lifelong commitment that doesn't end. Not if I want to continue to look and feel the way I do, anyway!

~Cheri[/quote']

Funny cause my wife says my sleeve is my mistress, and she's jealous. But yeah, there's no breaking up with this mistress. It's forever.

I must have my extra sharp cheese on occasion as well as my latte's and Greek yogurt

Speaking of extra sharp cheese... If you're a fan you should check out Schultz's Cheese Haus. They have a 15 year cheddar. It's ungodly amazing.

Funny cause my wife says my sleeve is my mistress' date=' and she's jealous. But yeah, there's no breaking up with this mistress. It's forever.[/quote']

Hah, that made me chuckle. How true.

My appetite is suddenly coming back with a VENGANCE! Not being Hungry all the time was so awesome, now I'm getting scared.

My appetite is suddenly coming back with a VENGANCE! Not being Hungry all the time was so awesome' date=' now I'm getting scared.[/quote']

Maybe you are not drinking enough? Sometimes your body is actually needing more fluid instead and we interpret it as hunger. I actually experienced that too but finally figured out I had allowed myself to start grazing to much and my brain wanted to "eat" all the time.

So, just popping in here to keep up with all my fellow vets (struggling or not!) and wanted to say how much you all inspire me and keep me going! We returned from vacation a week ago and there is NOTHING like a vacation to shake up your eating habits (for the worse!) even though we had planned ahead (brought bars with us and my sleeved hubby and I split every single meal...no microwave in our hotel to heat up leftovers!) So I know we saved money and more important calories. We went to Florida and had 4 day passes to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but had a 9 day vacation, so there was at least 2 non-travel days away from the busy hot crowds at the theme parks. The food choices are truly terrible but we made the best of it.

To get back on track we attended a Back to Basics class offered by our surgeon (free...yay!) It was great because we needed a review of the Rules of the Tool. I chatted at length with the instructor (my fav. NUT from my surgeon's office) about the 5:2 plan. She had not heard of it, but upon my insistence that several sleevers who are 2+ years out are swearing by it, she said she would be fine with me trying it. I'm to check in with her in a month and we'll revisit where things are at. My husband thinks I'm a little cray cray to try it, LOL, but he probably doesn't need to do it at this point in time.

So I am going to jump in and give it a whirl. I have nothing to lose but excess weight and honestly from what I can tell about the plan and the reports of you vets who are doing it, it seems quite do-able with the sleeve. With a reg. stomach I think it would be infinitely harder to do 500 cals a day 2x a week!!

If you want more details about the class itself and the Rules of the Tool, you can visit my blog where I wrote about it, in more detail.

http://thisonebody.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure which day to start my fast, but it won't be today...date night! I will keep you all posted!

M2G, To get back on track we attended a Back to Basics class offered by our surgeon (free...yay!) It was great because we needed a review of the Rules of the Tool. I chatted at length with the instructor (my fav. NUT from my surgeon's office) about the 5:2 plan. She had not heard of it, but upon my insistence that several sleevers who are 2+ years out are swearing by it, she said she would be fine with me trying it. I'm to check in with her in a month and we'll revisit where things are at. My husband thinks I'm a little cray cray to try it, LOL, but he probably doesn't need to do it at this point in time.

WOW! Wish my surgeon offered that!

My appetite is suddenly coming back with a VENGANCE! Not being Hungry all the time was so awesome, now I'm getting scared.

Its hard to know what some of the Vets are saying until you experience it for yourself! Early out I thought I would never be hungry again! Do try more water or drinks, protein first if you have slipped on that, protein snack.... watch the carbs....cut the sugar if you are using it. See if that helps... you are almost a year out, so if this doesn't help, join us at the 5:2 and give that a try! It does separate the real hunger from the head hunger for many. Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice Georgia and Feedyoureye, I appreciate it! I'm upping my water from 8 glasses to 12 and making sure I get all my protein in. Not really doing any sugar/carbs yet...just a half an apple once a day with 5 cherries. I hope I don't have to cut that out cause I'm really enjoying that snack!