The past couple weeks have been hard physically and emotionally - I fell and broke my shoulder and had surgery last Friday to repair it. Luckily, I'm over the worst of it and on my way to a long but what looks very optimistic recovery. I just keep thinking about all of the stuff I can't do likely for the whole summer - golf, biking, etc.

At the same time, I hit my stretch goal weight that I really never thought I would! I was expecting to end up around 220 and thought that 190 was really a pipe dream. I'm excited, but also worried because my weight loss shows no real signs of slowing down! I lost 13 pounds in the last month, and that's after adjusting my calories so I'm eating around 1750-2000 calories most days (always 1500+). Honestly, I don't think I can physically stuff much more in!

In the back of my mind, I know that I will reach an equilibrium at some point and it'll stop... but I'm 6'2+ and wear a size 32 jeans (I can easily fit into a 30) and I really don't want to get any smaller.

Everyone makes it sound easy - just eat more. I feel like I'm stuffing myself to the gills already (3 meals + 3 snacks), and don't want to get into bad habits of grazing all day because I know in the long term that's a strategy for working around the surgery and gaining it all back.

Anyone else gone through this? Any tips??

The concept of trying to NOT loose weight or worrying about loosing too much weight just don't register in my brain

Hey @@axlr8n, By my calculation, you are only 5 lbs into the "normal" BMI range. Don't know how you feel about using BMI as a guide, but if you gain about 6 pounds, you'll be back into the "overweight" BMI range. [i'm probably going to get killed on this because people HATE the BMI calculations, but it's the de facto calculation used by medical and insurance professionals to assess weight-related risks.] My way of thinking is that I went through too much to get here and never want to see "overweight" again. So I try to stay 5-10 pounds into the "normal" range. That way if my weight creeps up a bit, I have time to catch it before going over that magic line. Also, I've done several "ideal weight" calculations, one from a medical website and one using my doctor's rule-of-thumb, and both of those come in below the BMI "normal" line. One is 8 pounds lower and the other is 12 pounds into the "normal" BMI range.

So, IMHO, you're fine where you are. But, by all means consult with your nutritionist and doctor for confirmation and advice. I'll bet they say you're fine too! Let us know....

The concept of trying to NOT loose weight or worrying about loosing too much weight just don't register in my brain

It's definitely messed with my head. Every time I've tracked food in the past, it's because I've been trying to lose weight. It was a real mental challenge for me to be okay with NOT having a calorie deficit once I started tracking for maintenance. I was in like full-on panic a few times.

The concept of trying to NOT loose weight or worrying about loosing too much weight just don't register in my brain

It's definitely messed with my head. Every time I've tracked food in the past, it's because I've been trying to lose weight. It was a real mental challenge for me to be okay with NOT having a calorie deficit once I started tracking for maintenance. I was in like full-on panic a few times.

Me too, messing with my head. its a total different way of thinking. One thing I realized, kind of an ahhha moment i had. I've always viewed food as the problem, almost evil in a sense, not true. Food isn't the problem, food is the solution.

I do think completely differently about food than I used to. Before if you offered me something that tasted good or something that was huge I would go for the huge item. But now I go for quality over quantity and I appreciate what I eat so much more now.

(not saying I still don't love some really crappy junk food LOL)

Thanks - I think I'm pretty comfortable at this weight... I just don't want to lose 10 more pounds in the next month which I think is pretty likely unless I do something different. I'm just not sure what that "different" is. I'll let you all know what my Nut says after I talk to her on Monday.

Hey @@axlr8n, By my calculation, you are only 5 lbs into the "normal" BMI range. Don't know how you feel about using BMI as a guide, but if you gain about 6 pounds, you'll be back into the "overweight" BMI range. [i'm probably going to get killed on this because people HATE the BMI calculations, but it's the de facto calculation used by medical and insurance professionals to assess weight-related risks.] My way of thinking is that I went through too much to get here and never want to see "overweight" again. So I try to stay 5-10 pounds into the "normal" range. That way if my weight creeps up a bit, I have time to catch it before going over that magic line. Also, I've done several "ideal weight" calculations, one from a medical website and one using my doctor's rule-of-thumb, and both of those come in below the BMI "normal" line. One is 8 pounds lower and the other is 12 pounds into the "normal" BMI range.

So, IMHO, you're fine where you are. But, by all means consult with your nutritionist and doctor for confirmation and advice. I'll bet they say you're fine too! Let us know....

yes, please post what she says.

I had a real challenge in this department as well. Especially once I started half marathon training. I burn a LOT of extra calories through cardio almost every day now. I had to start tracking my food again, but this time to make sure I'm eating ENOUGH. I added more calorie-dense foods. Every day for lunch I have cheese and peanuts, for example. I also added in more Protein bars as "snacks". In order to not lose weight, I need to eat 2300-2400 calories a day which is a challenge. Here's what my day is looking like lately:

Breakfast: coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

Morning Snack: something carby, like a piece of whole grain toast with some Peanut Butter

Lunch: 2 oz. of cheese (I like to experiment with fancy cheeses now) and 1 oz. peanuts

Afternoon Snack: Coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

Pre-workout Snack: Clif Bar

Dinner: Meat! (usually 3-5 oz. of whatever meat my husband is having for dinner)

Evening Snack: Halo Top ice cream sundae (half a pint, plus some kind syrup and crushed cookie on top)

Bedtime Snack: Coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

See, lots of Protein Bars in there and I've had to add back a lot more carbs. But so far so good. I haven't lost anymore weight since about 2-3 weeks into my half marathon training (I'm on week 14 now with the actual race this Sunday!).

Best of luck to you today in your half marathon! I am doing a 5k next weekend, then starting my training for a triathlon in August.

@@Ryan TN I made it and lived to tell the tale. Kind of sore all over, but no serious damage it seems. Even finished over a minute faster than I trained for!

@@Ryan TN I made it and lived to tell the tale. Kind of sore all over, but no serious damage it seems. Even finished over a minute faster than I trained for!

Congrats! What a major accomplishment!

@@Ryan TN Posted pics and a video: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/366121-proof-i-did-it/

I had a real challenge in this department as well. Especially once I started half marathon training. I burn a LOT of extra calories through cardio almost every day now. I had to start tracking my food again, but this time to make sure I'm eating ENOUGH. I added more calorie-dense foods. Every day for lunch I have cheese and peanuts, for example. I also added in more Protein bars as "snacks". In order to not lose weight, I need to eat 2300-2400 calories a day which is a challenge. Here's what my day is looking like lately:

Breakfast: coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

Morning Snack: something carby, like a piece of whole grain toast with some Peanut Butter

Lunch: 2 oz. of cheese (I like to experiment with fancy cheeses now) and 1 oz. peanuts

Afternoon Snack: Coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

Pre-workout Snack: Clif Bar

Dinner: Meat! (usually 3-5 oz. of whatever meat my husband is having for dinner)

Evening Snack: Halo Top ice cream sundae (half a pint, plus some kind syrup and crushed cookie on top)

Bedtime Snack: Coffee with cream followed by a Combat Crunch bar

See, lots of protein bars in there and I've had to add back a lot more carbs. But so far so good. I haven't lost anymore weight since about 2-3 weeks into my half marathon training (I'm on week 14 now with the actual race this Sunday!).

How'd your race go?

@heather5565 http://www.bariatric...proof-i-did-it/

I do think completely differently about food than I used to. Before if you offered me something that tasted good or something that was huge I would go for the huge item. But now I go for quality over quantity and I appreciate what I eat so much more now.

Yeah, who knew that 4 large scallops were a delicious meal and not just an appetizer? This life is waaaaay better!

That's awesome about your race, what an inspiration!!

I saw the nut this afternoon. She told me that I shouldn't do anything too drastic because it's common for people to lose and then gain 10 pounds or so before they are settled in without making and significant changes in diet.

She did recommend that I increase my calories to 2000-2400 mostly by adding fats to my diet (higher fat yogurt, oils, nut butters, olives, avocado,etc) and monitor for a couple months.

If I'm still losing then we'll probably do some blood work to check for thyroid issues and go from there.