The Maintenance Thread

[Pumpkinpie1965 1]

Hello! I need help,Surgery was August 6,2019. I've lost 46lb..I eat 550 to 600 calories a day and I have gain 13lbs . someone help

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[cupcake817 4]

U need to eat in order to lose n increase ya Water intake

Although everyday brings new challenges I wouldn't change a thing. I embrace my new life style

[Healthy_life2 8,319]

18 minutes ago, Pumpkinpie1965 said:

Hello! I need help,Surgery was August 6,2019. I've lost 46lb..I eat 550 to 600 calories a day and I have gain 13lbs . someone help

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Welcome to the site. I see you are new and two months out. Use the search button at the top of the site to research regain.

regain search see Link below.

https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=regain

[ms.sss 14,654]

6 hours ago, KT1981 said:

Naturally, as soon as I questioned the instruction from my most recent appointment (and complained that the current calories were too low for me to avoid losing) I stopped losing. Nothing for almost 2 weeks now. So annoying! Now that I've set my mind on losing another 10-15 pounds, I'm hoping it's just another stall and not my new set point.

I’ve come to learn that our bodies are constantly changing, whether we want them to or not. I’ve lost about 8 lbs in the last 2-3 weeks. I wanted to lose 3-4 lbs of vacation weight, which i did by going back to weight loss calories for a few days...but my body hasnt got the message yet that i’ve since been eating maintenance calories. I think @sillykitty has it right that it takes a several days for changes to show up on the scale.

I think if you continue on weight loss cals it will show up eventually.

[Cheeseburgh 3,075]

Ugh, I had (dry) grilled chicken last night and I have had that nauseous stuck feeling since then. It seems so random, I have had very few days like this and did not expect it this far out.

Back to drinking Water and walking!

[Sheribear68 3,200]

Well so far maintenance is going okay.
I’m losing, but veeeeeeery slowly. Probably only losing 1-1.5 pounds weekly now.

My calories have increased, but honestly I still have to try to eat more carb-y foods to get the extra calories in.
If I eat “normally” I can’t really get in >800 calories daily.

[Recidivist 1,141]

7 hours ago, Sheribear68 said:

Well so far maintenance is going okay.
I’m losing, but veeeeeeery slowly. Probably only losing 1-1.5 pounds weekly now.

My calories have increased, but honestly I still have to try to eat more carb-y foods to get the extra calories in.
If I eat “normally” I can’t really get in >800 calories daily.

Sheri, that could have been written by me. The only difference is that I don't want to keep losing, but I continue to lose a pound or so a week. I have been trying very hard to consume more calories, but I'm not even getting close to the 1,700 to 1,800 my nutritionist recommended.

I have started to add carbs because I know I have to. (It was a tough mental shift after avoiding them like the plague for eight months.) I'm also adding fat, like soft cheese, whole milk, sugar-free chocolate, etc. Even so, I continue to lose.

Even worse, I feel mildly sick to my stomach much of the time. I feel like I'm going backwards, because I never felt sick for the last four months or so of weight loss. I also often feel like food is stuck in my esophagus when I eat too much--now I know what people mean when they say that.

I'm not necessarily asking for suggestions, but I'd be happy to hear them if anyone has them.

Edited October 31, 2019 by Recidivist

[GreenTealael 24,856]

5 hours ago, Recidivist said:

Sheri, that could have been written by me. The only difference is that I don't want to keep losing, but I continue to lose a pound or so a week. I have been trying very hard to consume more calories, but I'm not even getting close to the 1,700 to 1,800 my nutritionist recommended.

I have started to add carbs because I know I have to. (It was a tough mental shift after avoiding them like the plague for eight months.) I'm also adding fat, like soft cheese, whole milk, sugar-free chocolate, etc. Even so, I continue to lose.

Even worse, I feel mildly sick to my stomach much of the time. I feel like I'm going backwards, because I never felt sick for the last four months or so of weight loss. I also often feel like food is stuck in my esophagus when I eat too much--now I know what people mean when they say that.

I'm not necessarily asking for suggestions, but I'd be happy to hear them if anyone has them.

You *may* need to add a healthy-ish sliders in to add calories easily (sounds crazy i know) like Panera's Autumn squash Soup, fairly high calorie for just a soup but still sort of thin enough to slip through like a liquid.

Edited October 31, 2019 by GreenTealael

[Sheribear68 3,200]

Yeah nothing truly prepared me for life after GW.
today I had a tuna pack and 1/4 cup cottage cheese and had to force down the last couple of bites

[ms.sss 14,654]

(sigh) OK. Let's talk transfer addictions.

I have a confession and I'm putting it up here for some accountability. It took some time to decide if I would actually post this...

Soooooooo...I picked up a bad habit in Italy last month: Smoking.

I was an-almost-a-pack-a-day smoker until July 24th 2010 (yup I know the exact day) when I quit cold turkey (it was relatively easy because we had relocated to another country for a year and the cigarettes were EXPENSIVE there). I hadn't had a smoke since then...until a tall dark Italian fellow offered me a cigarette on one of our late night patio-crawls last month and I was all "What's the harm in one cigarette?" Mr. said it was a bad idea. I made the conscious decision not to heed his protest. Mr. was right. It was a bad idea.

I said I would stop as soon as we got back home. I didn't.

I said I would stop the following Monday. I didn't.

I said I would stop after (Canadian) Thanksgiving. I didn't.

Then yesterday I got busted by The Kid. She found the empty Tim Horton's coffee cup I've been using as an ashtray on the back porch. Getting a watery-eyed scolding from a 14-year old kid is very humbling. I felt about 2 inches tall. We broke the last 4 cigarettes I had on me (I shamefully admit that I tried to negotiate with her that I could just finish those last 4 and start fresh the next day, it was/is Nov 1st after all - she was having none of that). I also need to acknowledge that Mr. did not hound me to quit. He knows that doesn't work on me from him. But I guess he knew it would work from the Kid, as I could see him in the corner of the room standing with approval as I was getting told off.

So now I need to get through the next couple weeks while the nicotine gets out of my system. Mr. asked for the lighter I bought in Italy, under the pretense he wanted to light a candle...um, I know what you are doing, mister. The Kid sniffed me this morning. I see I am now officially on smoke-watch.

Oh, and I noticed that the bowl of leftover fun-size-Snickers is missing from the front hall.

If I wasn't mildly irritated, I would tell them I love them. Maybe tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

Edited November 1, 2019 by ms.sss

[MIZ60 1,291]

21 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

(sigh) OK. Let's talk transfer addictions.

I have a confession and I'm putting it up here for some accountability. It took some time to decide if I would actually post this...

Soooooooo...I picked up a bad habit in Italy last month: Smoking.

I was an-almost-a-pack-a-day smoker until July 24th 2010 (yup I know the exact day) when I quit cold turkey (it was relatively easy because we had relocated to another country for a year and the cigarettes were EXPENSIVE there). I hadn't had a smoke since then...until a tall dark Italian fellow offered me a cigarette on one of our late night patio-crawls last month and I was all "What's the harm in one cigarette?" Mr. said it was a bad idea. I made the conscious decision not to heed his protest. Mr. was right. It was a bad idea.

I said I would stop as soon as we got back home. I didn't.

I said I would stop the following Monday. I didn't.

I said I would stop after (Canadian) Thanksgiving. I didn't.

Then yesterday I got busted by The Kid. She found the empty Tim Horton's coffee cup I've been using as an ashtray on the back porch. Getting a watery-eyed scolding from a 14-year old kid is very humbling. I felt about 2 inches tall. We broke the last 4 cigarettes I had on me (I shamefully admit that I tried to negotiate with her that I could just finish those last 4 and start fresh the next day, it was/is Nov 1st after all - she was having none of that). I also need to acknowledge that Mr. did not hound me to quit. He knows that doesn't work on me from him. But I guess he knew it would work from the Kid, as I could see him in the corner of the room standing with approval as I was getting told off.

So now I need to get through the next couple weeks while the nicotine gets out of my system. Mr. asked for the lighter I bought in Italy, under the pretense he wanted to light a candle...um, I know what you are doing, mister. The Kid sniffed me this morning. I see I am now officially on smoke-watch.

Oh, and I noticed that the bowl of leftover fun-size-Snickers is missing from the front hall.

If I wasn't mildly irritated, I would tell them I love them. Maybe tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

I feel your pain. I quit cigs on 09/20/09 after 31 years of slightly less than a pack a day smoking. I took Chantix to help me and it really did. I have been tempted a few times to pick one up but knowing my addictive nature I have been too afraid that I would immediately get hooked. Same reason I have never tried any illegal drugs.

It sounds like you are on the right track and have plenty of motivation and support. Good luck and just say N.O.P.E.---not one puff ever!!

[Cheeseburgh 3,075]

I quit 20 years ago at age 39, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was the first time I ever really gained weight because I switched to sunflower seeds and ate more in general. I did lose the weight once I got used to it though. (Before major menopause & chemo gain years later) I used a combo of a prescription drug, nicotine gum and Patches.

I have a weird personality, once I really decide to quit something I stick with it. It took me years to want to quit smoking enough to stop. Prior to that I was just going through the motions.

Ask for help from any source that can help you, especially your Dr. I haven’t touched a cigarette since I quit and I don’t think I ever will. Looking back I think it took at least a year or 2 before I stopped craving them. I was not a part time smoker.

[Sheribear68 3,200]

6 hours ago, ms.sss said:

(sigh) OK. Let's talk transfer addictions.

I have a confession and I'm putting it up here for some accountability. It took some time to decide if I would actually post this...

Soooooooo...I picked up a bad habit in Italy last month: Smoking.

I was an-almost-a-pack-a-day smoker until July 24th 2010 (yup I know the exact day) when I quit cold turkey (it was relatively easy because we had relocated to another country for a year and the cigarettes were EXPENSIVE there). I hadn't had a smoke since then...until a tall dark Italian fellow offered me a cigarette on one of our late night patio-crawls last month and I was all "What's the harm in one cigarette?" Mr. said it was a bad idea. I made the conscious decision not to heed his protest. Mr. was right. It was a bad idea.

I said I would stop as soon as we got back home. I didn't.

I said I would stop the following Monday. I didn't.

I said I would stop after (Canadian) Thanksgiving. I didn't.

Then yesterday I got busted by The Kid. She found the empty Tim Horton's coffee cup I've been using as an ashtray on the back porch. Getting a watery-eyed scolding from a 14-year old kid is very humbling. I felt about 2 inches tall. We broke the last 4 cigarettes I had on me (I shamefully admit that I tried to negotiate with her that I could just finish those last 4 and start fresh the next day, it was/is Nov 1st after all - she was having none of that). I also need to acknowledge that Mr. did not hound me to quit. He knows that doesn't work on me from him. But I guess he knew it would work from the Kid, as I could see him in the corner of the room standing with approval as I was getting told off.

So now I need to get through the next couple weeks while the nicotine gets out of my system. Mr. asked for the lighter I bought in Italy, under the pretense he wanted to light a candle...um, I know what you are doing, mister. The Kid sniffed me this morning. I see I am now officially on smoke-watch.

Oh, and I noticed that the bowl of leftover fun-size-Snickers is missing from the front hall.

If I wasn't mildly irritated, I would tell them I love them. Maybe tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

So we all have addictive personalities and it’s no joke.
my quit date was 8-8-06 and it’s not weird to know the exact day.
Quitting cold turkey gave me a lovely 35 pounds in addition to everything else and it sucked.... out loud.

I too am like cheeseburgh in that I tend to make decisions in the same way.
I quit bc I got so PISSED OFF that some substance had control over me.

we will do our very best to have your back and be accountability partners, but stay honest with us.

As I’m typing this I just finished logging my food for the last 2 days bc i was afraid I was overeating (it’s barely after 4pm and I’m hungry).
Turns out I’ve only eaten 600 calories in the last 2 days.
that’s my confession for today and now I’m running late getting into the Pilates studio.

[sillykitty 10,705]

6 hours ago, ms.sss said:

(sigh) OK. Let's talk transfer addictions.

I have a confession and I'm putting it up here for some accountability. It took some time to decide if I would actually post this...

Soooooooo...I picked up a bad habit in Italy last month: Smoking.

I was an-almost-a-pack-a-day smoker until July 24th 2010 (yup I know the exact day) when I quit cold turkey (it was relatively easy because we had relocated to another country for a year and the cigarettes were EXPENSIVE there). I hadn't had a smoke since then...until a tall dark Italian fellow offered me a cigarette on one of our late night patio-crawls last month and I was all "What's the harm in one cigarette?" Mr. said it was a bad idea. I made the conscious decision not to heed his protest. Mr. was right. It was a bad idea.

I said I would stop as soon as we got back home. I didn't.

I said I would stop the following Monday. I didn't.

I said I would stop after (Canadian) Thanksgiving. I didn't.

Then yesterday I got busted by The Kid. She found the empty Tim Horton's coffee cup I've been using as an ashtray on the back porch. Getting a watery-eyed scolding from a 14-year old kid is very humbling. I felt about 2 inches tall. We broke the last 4 cigarettes I had on me (I shamefully admit that I tried to negotiate with her that I could just finish those last 4 and start fresh the next day, it was/is Nov 1st after all - she was having none of that). I also need to acknowledge that Mr. did not hound me to quit. He knows that doesn't work on me from him. But I guess he knew it would work from the Kid, as I could see him in the corner of the room standing with approval as I was getting told off.

So now I need to get through the next couple weeks while the nicotine gets out of my system. Mr. asked for the lighter I bought in Italy, under the pretense he wanted to light a candle...um, I know what you are doing, mister. The Kid sniffed me this morning. I see I am now officially on smoke-watch.

Oh, and I noticed that the bowl of leftover fun-size-Snickers is missing from the front hall.

If I wasn't mildly irritated, I would tell them I love them. Maybe tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

Do you think this is a transfer addiction, or a return of your past addiction? If you wouldn't have had WLS, do you think you would have taken the cigarette from that tall dark Italian gentleman? If you wouldn't have had WLS, if you did take that cigarette, wouldn't it have been easier for it to be one & done?

Doesn't really matter, you still have a battle to fight rather it's transfer addiction or regular old addiction. Just curious your thoughts ...

Either way, I wish you the best in overcoming it!

[ms.sss 14,654]

20 hours ago, Cheeseburgh said:

once I really decide to quit something I stick with it. It took me years to want to quit smoking enough to stop. Prior to that I was just going through the motions.

I think I'm the same way as well. Once the decision is made, then it's done. I'm pretty sure I made a decision. It's day 2 of being smoke-free and I haven't had any out of control cravings. So far so good....