This might be a strange thing to ask, but what if you don't want to be skinny and want to stop losing before your body is done losing? Does maintenance look any different than what you're doing for weight loss?

Edited December 18, 201411 yr by islandsneezer

I have found that the goal I chose is going to be very much based on the level of my effort. For me, losing the weight started out fairly easy and slowed considerably as time passes. I have had to step up my efforts (mostly adding in more exercise) if I want to actually reach the goal I chose........

and this time I am going to reach it and stay there.

Your bmi at your desired weight would be 28.3 - 30. According to bmi categories:

Normal weight= 18.5-24.9

Overweight= 25 - 29.9

Personally, WLS is such a serious surgery I would choose the healthy BMI over the aesthetically pleasing curves.

Your bmi at your desired weight would be 28.3 - 30. According to bmi categories:

Normal weight= 18.5-24.9

Overweight= 25 - 29.9

Personally, WLS is such a serious surgery I would choose the healthy BMI over the aesthetically pleasing curves.

That doesn't really answer my question... I want to know if you just keep losing and losing until there's nothing left to lose, or can you adjust your diet to maintain when you're done losing?

That doesn't really answer my question... I want to know if you just keep losing and losing until there's nothing left to lose, or can you adjust your diet to maintain when you're done losing?

I think that's exactly what people in maintenance do, adjust their calories/diet to find a happy median of not losing and definitely not gaining along with exercise =).

I think that's exactly what people in maintenance do, adjust their calories/diet to find a happy median of not losing and definitely not gaining along with exercise =).

Thanks... I'm having a hard time figuring out how that works cause it seems like with having a smaller stomach you can't adjust the amount of food you eat... so I guess you adjust what you're eating? Does that mean people start adding carbs/sugar during maintenance? What does maintenance look like?

Thanks... I'm having a hard time figuring out how that works cause it seems like with having a smaller stomach you can't adjust the amount of food you eat... so I guess you adjust what you're eating? Does that mean people start adding carbs/sugar during maintenance? What does maintenance look like?

I've seen vets mention adding higher calorie snack choices. I can think of things such as various nuts if you can handle them, butter when cooking or a little butter/cheese or sour cream on veggies/ eggs.

For most people it's a struggle to get to goal. There are a few people who do struggle with stopping the weight loss, but that seems far less common. Over time you can eat more and more in one sitting, so it's not actually too hard to eat a lot of calories after 6 months even. Certainly eating higher fat or carb foods will generally take care of that.

For me I can say that I could easily maintain where I am now if that was what I wanted to do. It's a bit of work to keep the loss going. But I was band to sleeve, and have a slightly larger sleeve, so my experience may be different from yours.

Actually - I can't tell what surgery you've had (or are planning). That makes a big difference. With the band you can adjust it. Not sure if bypass patients are more likely than sleevers to lose more than they wish...

...

Edited December 18, 201411 yr by islandsneezer

Cool. I'm certainly happy with the sleeve, as are many of us.

BTW - I love your screen name!

Thanks...

Edited December 18, 201411 yr by islandsneezer

I had RNY and my weight loss just seemed to level off in time. I never set a goal but I am happy with the amount of weight I lost.

I remember my nutritionist telling me that if I lose any more weight to call her immediately. I figured I was at bottom then but next thing I knew I lost 10 more pounds. When I went in for my next checkup, they seemed to be pleased with my weight loss.

my Dr. suggested mine, if you notice the BMI for my goal weight is slightly overweight but my Dr. said I had to fatcor in extra skin.

For me...My goal weight chose me...

This is NOT a Diet, it is a Lifestyle...a new way of eating, inability to overeat, no hunger/cravings etc.

I had many goals, met them and kept on going until everything reached a "Equilibrium"

I kept loosing untill there is simply nothing left to loose (in terms of fat)

You can ignore BMI's, they mean nothing when you start getting down to the nitty gritty....then it all becomes about "Body Fat %"

I kept loosing with this new lifestyle untill my body fat % reached the "Athletic" category.. Which means I have burned ALL excess body fat.

It was not my goal, it is where my body feels it should be...

I keep up my Protein so as not to loose anything but fat.

This was all years ago...I have not gained, nor lost any weight in about 3 years now...everything has reached the "New Normal"

BTW, there is nothing I could have done to stop it...except maybe get Fluid taken out of my band, which I was not about to do.

There is no such thing as "Maintenance" with the Lap-Band, except in my case, I go all liquids for a few days every 4-6 weeks for good Band Health....

I don't thing those with the Gastric Sleeve can relate to what I am saying....

Edited December 1, 201411 yr by B-52

I'm having trouble with goal weight.

I told my PA what my goal weight was & he said omg! There'd be nothing left of you... BUT, I'm 160 still @ near obese at 5'2" according to BMI. I carry it well but still... 135 is considered 'overweight' at my height and age.

I want to be at and maintain a healthy BMI. My goal is ~135; mid-prime BMI so I have e bit of wiggle room this way or that.

It's tough when you get such a reaction from your med team. I expected more support for my reasonable goal.

I wonder what maintenance might be like too & will follow this thread to learn more

In my case, my goal weight chose me. I am 5'5" and started at 238 pounds. My doctor's goal weight was 160. My personal goal weight was 150. This is what I Weighed in my 20's when I was active and fit. Despite increasing calories and carbs and fat as I reached my doctors goal, I kept losing even past my personal goal. I've bounced around between 137 and 141 for the last 3 months so I assume I'm done. I did try and stop at 150, but apparently this is where my body wants to be.

As for maintenance, I'm not doing anything special. I drink a protein/fiber smoothie with 30-40g Protein everyday. I drink at least 64oz of Water and take my Vitamins. Other than that I don't count calories, track or measure. I pretty much just eat healthy balanced meals and Snacks including protein, fruit, veggies and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry which is every 3 hours or so. I graze like crazy on the weekends, and have alcohol, deserts and white carbs (bread, Pasta, rice, sugar) several times/month. I'm definitely thinner than I had hoped for and have truly lost my curves, but I am perfectly happy to be where I am at this point. I figure I'm in a good place in case I do gain some back as I get farther out.