OK Guys, What Do You Eat, How Much

Blazade... Way to minimize people's efforts! A question was asked about what we eat and how much, I simply answered a question. In no way did advise that others do the same, because the fact is I am probably 1% the minority when it comes to Bariatric patients, and I understand that...

For 2010 I am registered for a 100 mile trail run on Feb 6th, am registered for an Ultra Marathon on Feb 26th, am swimming from Spain to Africa through The Straight Of Gibraltar (Only 30 Americans have ever done this) as a fundraiser for Childhood Obesity, am doing Ironman Louisville again, and probably some half Ironmans in there as well.... You can try to pick apart people, or talk about Cross-addictions, but the fact is, I will be here for my family, my family supports me 100% in my new life, and that really is all that matters to me. As for controlling my eating, I laugh at that... I am in COMPLETE control of my life and my eating for the first time! I look at food as fuel, and no longer eat to feel happy or bury emotion, it is simply fuel! It's funny to me that some people set so many limitations on themselves and still have self doubt, and the only way they can be OK with their situation is to "Knock" or minimize other people's accomplishments or efforts. Do you know what I do when I need to vent anger or frustration instead of eating now??? I go ride 100 miles on my bike... What do you do??? And FYI... It's TRIATHLON... I did have an IT band injury after my 1st marathon this year, which meant no running for 6-8 weeks. Guess what I did? Aqua runs, swam, rode my bike, cross trained, etc... If I suffer a worse injury, I will walk, I will crawl, I will wiggle my toes, whatever I have to do to stay active, because that's who I am NOW and that's how I will be until I die. Thanks for your "Interest" in tactfully belittling me...

Dan,

I'm not in here to belittle anyone, brag about my accomplishments, or correct anyone's spelling.  I come here every day to help other men get through the first couple years post opp, and to give pre-opps a real good idea of what they are going to go through.  I did it on my own as I didn't know this website was here, and I did plenty wrong.

I offer help-full answers to questions, and I do my best to keep this forum honest.  Your story is great and they guys in here should hear it, I just don't think you put it in an appropriate place.  You could have started your own thread that would give us all a chance to tell what we are able to do since losing weight rather than hijacking this thread. 

Robert,

     The thread was titled "OK Guys, What Do You Eat, How Much".... It's all good bro... I post everyday on the Excercise and Fitness Board, and ANYWHERE on OH is appropriate for what I post. Most people don't believe that you can lose weight on a 4000-5000 cal diet, that is why I clarified. I do not do what I do to boast on an OH forum, I assure you of that, and I really don't need the validation of others to encourage me or persuade me to keep doing what I am doing. As for being the positive role model you are stating you are, comments like "Maybe you can eat that much with the current exercises that you are doing, but just wait for the couple of weeks after an injury when you cant control your eating and you start to regain your lost weight" would most likely persuade others including myself to be hesitant on posting here in the future. At risk of "Hijacking" this thread, I will post something just for you in a new thread, and for anyone else. Take care...

  
Congrats....those are some great accomplishments.  I eat very similarly...just closer to the 3000-3500 calorie range, since I'm pretty far from your level of activity.   I'm not interested in that sort of lifestyle but I do stay active...I applaud you for regaining your health, just dont wear out all those joints too quickly! 

Dang Dan, Dang. That's a lot of food. I guess burning as much as you do you need that much.
Just have a question with that many calories do you need t6o eat most of the time as I can not hold that much per meal?
Hang in there I'm getting tired just thinking about all you do. lol
David

It's all good bro.... It is pretty hard to eat that many cals because like you, I cannot eat a ton at one sitting, so I graze all day long, but have 5-6 regular meals, and always wait to drink 30 mins after I eat. I see many folks say stick to a 1500-2000 to maintain and I have to disagree with that and here is why. Not to get off topic or "Hijack" your thread... A lot of people DO NOT understand or know what a Basal Metabolic Rate is (BMR). This represents the MINIMUM amount of calories your body needs to maintain proper function of the major organs and systems. For me at 6'2" and 215, my BMR is 2676 Cals per day. Now, if you do an agressive one hour workout, you will probably burn 700-1000 cals. If I eat 3676 calories and burned 1000 cals, I am now maintaining. If I train for 2 hours per day and burn 1800 cals I will eat 4876 cals to maintain. If I want to lose, I lower my intake creating a deficit or increase training and maintain intake... Either way it's calories in and calories out. Keep in mind that in order to be true on these numbers your internal engine (Metabolism) will need to be in solid shape to make all this work...Best of luck buddy!

(Most of what I have seen for Post-ops to maintain DO NOT factor in solid workouts... They mostly say get 4-5 days of 45-60 minute walks. So, if you do not excercise or plan to, which in my book is not adviseable for healthy maintenance, scratch what I said above)

Sounds like you're eating about right for being less than a year out. I'm approaching 2 years out and can definitely eat more now than in the beginning.  That's the norm for many, though some do stay very restricted for life. Once I reached goal, about 14 mos ago, I began eating more calories along with healthy carbs, to maintain and stop losing. I now eat about 6 times a day, between 300-600 calories per "meal".  But I'm an active male that is 6'6" tall, so I have to eat around 3200 cal a day just to maintain. If you're shorter obviously your requirements will differ. I dont weigh my food but I do eyeball the volume and stay around a cup and a half which is my sweet spot...satisfied, but not too full.  It works out to about 6 oz lean meat (poultry / fish) and 3/4 - 1 cup of veggies during lunch and dinner....breakfast and PM snack are a cup of oatmeal mixed with PB, protein powder and 1/2 a banana...the other 2 snacks are usually a mixture of cheese, nuts, whole wheat toast, raw veggies, etc.  As you mentioned I do also treat myself once in a while....a slice of pizza here....some SF chocolate there....a 1/2 cup of NSA ice cream once or twice a week....etc....but everything is in moderation and i do NOT touch sugar nor fried foods.

Thanks Adam that was just the sort of answer I was looking for. I'm 6 7 inches shorter than you so will take less for me.
David

Hey,

I just hit the one month mark after surgery so my diet is still very restricted.

Yesterday I had  2 Chocolate optifast drinks, Cup of coffee w/1% milk, a peach Greek non fat yogurt, and home made split pea soup, (about 12oz, yum) I cheated and had a bout 10 small croutons with it.  Also had a sugar free yogurt.

Oops forgot, did my fill water regimen (64 oz) and another 8-10 of Diet Snapple.

Can't wait for next week and soft real proteins, chicken, turkey and seafood!

Cheers,

G