Adding Calories Without Going Wild?

[IcanMakeit 1,319]

I had my one year post-surgical follow up appointment today. My surgeon was very pleased with my lab results and confirmed that I am now healthy. His only caution was that he wants my weight to stabilize, since I lost a few more pounds since my 9-month checkup. It would not be healthy to lose anymore. This is not news to me. I don't want to fade away -- I want to stay healthy and vital. But I am worried about adding calories to stop the weight loss. In the past, when I loosened the reins on my self control, I lost it and slipped back into my old eating patterns. Have I really learned anything this past year or am I still the same person? I will keep checking in here and updating my food/exercise log on MFP. These are new behaviors that I hope will reinforce my determination not to backslide.

[Kindle 8,667]

You can do simple things that won't really change your habits. If you have dairy, make sure it's full fat (2%milk not skim, full fat yogurt and cottage cheese not 0%). If you do Protein bars, switch them out for some whole grain bars with more carbs. Add in just one more healthy but high calorie snack to your daily menu... 1/2 cup of nuts, a banana, tuna or crab salad made with real mayo and served with crackers, whole grain Cereal with whole milk, a cup of raw veggies with dip or ranch dressing, etc. this is what I did when I hit goal and wanted to stop losing.

Are you seeing a therapist or have access to a counseling group? Being afraid to eat more in order to stop losing weight is just as much of an eating disorder as eating too much.

[IcanMakeit 1,319]

I've lost another pound over the past few weeks. I increased my calories by about 150 and loosened the reins on my carbs, but I also started walking daily at around the same time. I guess that canceled out my extra calories. I don't want to lose anymore, but I don't want to start gaining, either. I know that for me, gaining weight would be automatic, if I go back to my old ways. But on the other hand, it's not good to be underweight when you're over 60. I need to get to the right balance. It's a learning process.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I'm newly (6 weeks) at maintenance.

It's a strange head game. But I've been reading that a lot of people go through mental gymnastics as they transition from trying to make the scale go down to trying to make it stick at one place.

I recently asked a "room" full of very smart bariatric patients who are mostly in maintenance, "How many calories a day do you eat to maintain your weight?"

Their answers were all over the board:

* 900 - 1100 for a 120 pound woman

* 1800 for a 145 pound woman

* 1100-1200 calories for a 150 pound woman

* 1800-2000 for a 160 pound woman

* 1600-1800 for a 170 pound woman

* 1200-1400 for a 180 pound man

* 2500 for a 230 pound guy

Some patients who weighed the same could maintain only by eating 500-600 or even 800 calories less than others near the same weights.

I don't know how you figure this out without tracking, although I'm sure some have. I plan to keep tracking for some time.

And tonight I found an old thread on maintenance that's very interesting and describes the struggle that maintenance can be for many people. If you haven't seen it yet, check this out: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/183655-official-maintenance-thread/