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

Is it bad to eat a Quest bar everyday as one meal? I find they help me get my protein in and they are so much easier for me to digest then other protein?

Well I always say, of you're going to eat a protein bar, quest bars are hard to beat nutritionally. I like them, but I don't seem to want them more than once or twice a month. I remember eating zone bars 3 at a time back before surgery...those suckers are like candy bars. Quest bars are not quite as good so I don't get all excited about them. But they do serve a need occasionally. I'd still rather eat some lean turkey or chicken. No one ever went on a carb binge after eating poultry.

I love to warm the brownie Quest bars. They are yummy that way and not even good if they aren't warm.

I love the power crunch bars. I am addicted to those. The peanut butter and chocolate ones are way too good.

I just have to make sure to count my calories because those protein bars add up fast.

It's hard how much focus this takes. I mean, I really thought I'd reach goal and then just...I dunno...BE THIN and not have to work at it or worry about it.

My stepkids flew in last week and promptly spread the plague around our house. It happens every time! A few of us got hit with bacterial pharyngitis and while I didn't go off the rails at all, I didn't pay much attention to the scale or to my tracking over the last few days. My scale is still in hiding but I had my husband dig it out for me. And WTH? I'm up again...every pound I lost is back on again.

See Cheri. See Cheri curse and gnash her teeth. See Cheri beat her head on the wall in frustration. See Cheri throw the damn scale out the window.

Uncool. Unfair. Very disheartening.

I can only imagine the meds I'm on and our non-stop rainfall (and resultant humidity) are to blame here. I promise, there's no way I ate an additional thirty thousand calories over the last few days.

I'm going to search out that 5:2 thread (I swear I saw one here) and start posting for advice there. I'm back on a fast day today (super easy, since this infection is still plaguing me despite the antibiotics I'm on) and we'll see what comes of this.

If I had to guess, I'd say my calories have been too low. Or perhaps the way I've been eating with big dips up and down in my blood sugar is to blame. When I'm not structured about my food I tend to forget to eat and then overcompensate. "Oh, I missed breakfast and lunch? Well, let me just eat this rather large slice of freshly baked banana bread and have a big cup of creamy coffee to wash it down." It's the same number of calories, true. But the quality is lower and I'm doing what I did as a diabetic and letting my sugars spike after dropping. No good.

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate maintenance? I need to find a more peaceful way to balance this or I'll make myself crazy trying to do this forever. Just get be back to goal and I swear I'll be fine, I swear!

How's everyone else doing today? Has anyone heard from Globe lately? She was giving 5:2 a shot; hopefully she's had better luck with the scale than me!

~Cheri

I am so frustrated with myself right now. for the past couple of days, I have just let myself go and eat a few quest bars in a day, the chocolate brownie ones of course! I eat my peanuts that are chili flavored, and I have allowed myself to graze throughout the day. Yep, I have gained a few lbs from this..... If i go over 1300 calories I do gain weight even if it's protein....It is really hard getting myself back on track....I will be doing the 5:2 day tomorrow when my husband and family are at work...I will also be cleaning out my refrigerator today because the trash is picked up and I want it all out......I really don't have that much junk food though.

I just found out that my husband's position where he works might be eliminated, it's between him and another relief pharmacist where he works. That means our income is decrease drastically and I will have to go work for corporate America once again and give up my private practice. That just adds more stress on my plate too.....

so much stress is not good for any of us.....

Oh well, I am going to focus on today and drink a lot of water and eat 3 meals. No in between eating.

Cheri I love how you articulate things and helps me put things in perspective. We are all struggling together in this.....

It's hard how much focus this takes. I mean, I really thought I'd reach goal and then just...I dunno...BE THIN and not have to work at it or worry about it.

My stepkids flew in last week and promptly spread the plague around our house. It happens every time! A few of us got hit with bacterial pharyngitis and while I didn't go off the rails at all, I didn't pay much attention to the scale or to my tracking over the last few days. My scale is still in hiding but I had my husband dig it out for me. And WTH? I'm up again...every pound I lost is back on again.

See Cheri. See Cheri curse and gnash her teeth. See Cheri beat her head on the wall in frustration. See Cheri throw the damn scale out the window.

Uncool. Unfair. Very disheartening.

I can only imagine the meds I'm on and our non-stop rainfall (and resultant humidity) are to blame here. I promise, there's no way I ate an additional thirty thousand calories over the last few days.

I'm going to search out that 5:2 thread (I swear I saw one here) and start posting for advice there. I'm back on a fast day today (super easy, since this infection is still plaguing me despite the antibiotics I'm on) and we'll see what comes of this.

If I had to guess, I'd say my calories have been too low. Or perhaps the way I've been eating with big dips up and down in my blood sugar is to blame. When I'm not structured about my food I tend to forget to eat and then overcompensate. "Oh, I missed breakfast and lunch? Well, let me just eat this rather large slice of freshly baked banana bread and have a big cup of creamy coffee to wash it down." It's the same number of calories, true. But the quality is lower and I'm doing what I did as a diabetic and letting my sugars spike after dropping. No good.

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate maintenance? I need to find a more peaceful way to balance this or I'll make myself crazy trying to do this forever. Just get be back to goal and I swear I'll be fine, I swear!

How's everyone else doing today? Has anyone heard from Globe lately? She was giving 5:2 a shot; hopefully she's had better luck with the scale than me!

~Cheri

You are not alone! I have pretty wild fluctuations in my weight, and it was medication that made me gain the weight in the first place (almost 8 pounds in 3 weeks). Yesterday morning I was down 5 pounds since starting the 5:2, this morning I am 2.5 pounds back up. What I eat and where I am in my cycle really mess with the scale.

I feel like you. I was so happy where I was, not gaining and maintaining with what I was eating. Then, BAM! Now I hate struggling to get the last few pounds off...again! But I do like the 5:2 diet, I don't really feel like dieting because I know tomorrow I can eat normally again.

And Globe hasn't posted in a while on the 5:2 thread or the Get to Goal thread. I hope she does, even just for the support.

I hate to say this, but I am glad I am finally not alone in this fight . I have to go back and read the last few posts, but I was really getting discouraged reading how easy it was for everyone else to lose if they gained a couple lbs.

I had wls almost 7 years ago. I am NOT going back to being fat. But this is a very hard battle, when you're used to the sleeve taking care of hunger.

Hi Georgia

you are right, that it must be hard to lose weight that you/anyone gains

i only mentioned to OP that gaining 10-15 lbs like she did, wasn't "that" bad trying to make HER feel better

but no way, will i follow those footsteps!!!!

absolutely, positively, irrevocably, no doubt about it -----

NOOOOO intentions on regaining any weight (fluctuations of a couple lbs don't count)

repeating - no weight gain - going back to the devil

been there, done that - never again

from my lips to God's ears!!!!

maybe my over emphasis (per my DH) on not regaining et al is to reassure myself

but for whatever reason - stands true

best 4 letter word???

GOAL!!!

kathy

Kathy,

We all fear re-gaining, which is why I suspect I'm a wee bit obsessive! I love what you've posted, your words reflect how I think!

On the bright side, I just went to see my doctor for my 3 year check up. When I told him my "routine" - my "new normal". I asked him if I was a nut case. He said that (and I HATE these words) anal retentive patients seem to do good long term. I really prefer 'obsessive compulsive' but I thought I should quote him! LoL I chose to take this as a complement!!

Yep Oregondaisy, it's quite helpful for each of us knowing we're not alone in our struggles.....struggles that are not spoken about much on VST. There's not many people hanging around with your tenure.

Well, I go for 3 year next Tuesday! AFTER 4th of July weekend. Lol.

I hate to say this, but I am glad I am finally not alone in this fight . I have to go back and read the last few posts, but I was really getting discouraged reading how easy it was for everyone else to lose if they gained a couple lbs.

I had wls almost 7 years ago. I am NOT going back to being fat. But this is a very hard battle, when you're used to the sleeve taking care of hunger.

I am also glad that this forum is here and that those of us who are struggling have a place to talk about it. And I hope that people that are new take note, this truly is not the easy way out.

You have done amazing and to have kept everything off for 7 years is an amazing accomplishment!

I'm really interested in the 7 year part. Did you have the sleeve 7 years ago?

I'm really interested in the 7 year part. Did you have the sleeve 7 years ago?

Sleeve was 4 years ago.Lap Band 7 years ago. From her Sig: lap band 12-29-06 / revision to sleeve Dr. Alberto Aceves 4-29-09

Sleeve was 4 years ago.Lap Band 7 years ago. From her Sig: lap band 12-29-06 / revision to sleeve Dr. Alberto Aceves 4-29-09

Even that. I didn't realize sleeve was done that far back as wls. Congrats to her!!!

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

How do you transition your mind and eating from loss to maintenance or back to loss from maintenance?

I'm finding that I just don't make the time to come to VST much anymore.

I have been at goal (give or take) for a few months. I did not do anything different, and I am not doing anything different, to "transition" to maintenance. But for that matter, I didn't "do" anything to lose weight. The ONLY difference is that I can't eat as much. When I came up with my goal weight, I was only guessing where my body would "break even" metabolically and stop losing weight, and apparently, my guess was pretty accurate. Just like you, I don't come to the boards frequently either. I just can't relate. All the posts sound so alike to me, either complaints about problems I never had, or questions that should be discussed with care providers. So mostly my online chatting is about fashion, or with people in my profession. Nothing to do with WLS!