RNY'ers that are Maintaining! CHECK-IN

That is so exciting that your hubby is coming home in 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! Sign me up for a booty lift!

Hi.
Sign me on to your club!!!!
i am maintaining.  at least trying for the last 4 months.  more or less.

And i have not been exercise.. at least not much since Nov 2008.  why - because i had complications and GB surgery and pain and could not eat and in my opinion was losing too much to fast and had no energy since i was losing so fat and ..... lately I had my breast lift and then I badly sprained my ankle - still hurts like .... and i have a bit of a problem walking.  

Any way - now:

1. I stopped losing. YES!! and maintain 143-150 lbs  9last 2-3 months)
2. have my energy so i want - need to exercise (I have to wait a 2 weeks before i can really start)
3. Really need to start exercise or i will go bunkers. (I have too much energy)
4. Need to build my butt muscles - there where I lost and i need - need to get them back. 


I had a lot and they were big - muscles before RNY.  I lost some - but that is good.  I do not wish to be bulky.  i was surprised that I lost my butt muscles.  I need to work on that. 

I have relatively low body fat 18-19 %, so I can see my muscles under my skin.  I can get them bigger - but with a big frame i am - that will increase my "bulk": so i hope for more cardio + toning exercises - like yoga, Pilate's, etc.  

of my 110 lbs - I probably lost 10-20 lbs of muscles max. Most like 10 lbs - no more than that.  that is based on my body composition when i was 90 lbs heavier than now.  It showed my lean body mass -fat mass-water-etc.  This post op lean body mass is 10 lbs lower that 1 year before RNY.  so - 10 lbs? 

As for calories - I found that adding more fat - and proteins works better for me.   I am suppose to be on 6 meals + 2 shakes a day with a total 1400-1600 cal. 120-140 proteins.  My protein level 1 year post op was low normal.  And i was getting 80-100 a day - every day.

I do much better on fat+protein+ veggies than on more carbs. More carbs make me crave more carbs=carb coma.  - I do not like carb coma / dumping. 

So I added some nuts, some fruits, and more shakes. I do not track carbs.  I just make sure I get the right "for me carbs": veggies, some fruits, etc. 

My "luxury" item is wine - a few times a week.  A pleasure that probably stopped my weight loss (Plastic S suggested to me to drink wine - red wine to stop losing - hm...)  I do not do much - but a 3 or 6 oz a 2-3 times a week - feels great. 
   

>>So, I've been bouncing between 142-144<<

I've been bouncing between 138 - 141 pretty much.

>>How much muscle do you think you lost?<<
I have no idea - I started exercizing later in the game as well.  I DO know that, since I'm continuing to exercise, I am continuing to lose fat/build muscle, so that even if the scle isn't moving.....

>>Have you significantly upped your carbs to make the weight loss stop?<<
My weight loss stopped on it's own - no other action was necessary!

>> If you track, what are your net carbs on a day to day basis?<<
Usually around 140g a day

I'm still finding maintenance very hard in that I have to THINK about it all the time.  But my unconsciouness, I believe, is what got me into this situation initially, so I guess, right now, I still don't mind being a bit obsessed at 2 yrs out.  However, I do look at people with wonder when they just seem to eat just anything....

I am 14 months out. I was maintaining  since Dec/Jan with really no effort until last week. Last week I cut back on my protein drinks to one a day instead of three. Did it for a week.  Needed to stretch what protein  powder I had left until finances would allow me to order more and wanted to see how "necessary" three protein drinks a day was for me.  Cravings were crazy and it wasnt that time of the month.  I gained 5 pounds last week and felt like crap. I was weak and tired. No illness to blame. 5 pounds is huge!  Scared the crap out of me.  Spent way too much time thinking about the "bounce back" we all hear about. When I was fat 5 pounds was nothing.  Now, 5 pounds is a flipping clothes size. I ordered more Lemon Tea Nectar protein immediately!!!  Went back to the three protein drinks plus three meals and dropped four of the five pounds this week. Right back down to 133. Carb cravings gone, gone, gone!  Energy is back too. Got to love my RNY!  Don't want to test those waters again! 

As for the muscle loss, funny you asked as I just blogged on this!  One of my current adult students mentioned one of my former adult students who I haven't seen since before I had surgery.  Anyway, the new student was describing me to her friend to make sure they were talking about the same teacher (me). The former student described me in the conversation as "chunky" and the new student said "no, she is really boney and must be a different person."  Today when the new student told me the story and asked if I was ever chunky I had to laugh then showed her my pics on my OH page. She couldn't believe that was me a year ago.  The former student is going to come see me at work tomorrow. Can't wait to see her!  Bet she walks right past me!

As for the butt, havent seen it in months. And the boobs, gone too!  Think my 11 year old will have larger boobs than me by the end of summer.

Exercise? Whats that?  Fingers are getting more of a work out than anything else.  I can even see the veins? Thats toning right? LOL!

1 year and 2 months.  I, bounce, as you say, from 153 to 155 depending on the day.  I had 140 pound weight removal.  According to my surgeon I am at a 9:1 ratio on fat loss vs. muscle loss.  9 pounds of fat removed to 1 pound muscle which makes me a happy camper.  The moment they told me I could do anything in the gym I was there with a trainer working my muscles to keep it - literally!

I think you are right - every stage of this journey needs support - IMHO.  Good on you for posing the question.

So back to the gym - I worked in the gym for a year.  When my contract was up in April I started running.  I ran my first race May 9th and came in 4th.  First time I had run anywhere is 16 years.  I run 3 times a week and on the off days I try to do something, but don't beat myself up too bad if I end up just puttering around the house doing "stuff" because I do work hard the other days.  I have not done significant weight training since leaving the gym, but I have good weights at home.

I have not significantly upped anything really.  I eat 6 little meals a day (this does include two protein shakes).  I do very well with fruits and veggies, beans and such.  I still do not eat bread or pasta or rice or sweets.  I know what made me fat and that would be those items and, truthfully, out of fear, I just don't have them in my house or my life and I really am okay with that!  I take my vitamins like a religious zealot and hope it is enough to keep me healthy and strong.

Just like you, it has not been all peaches and cream. I have lots of good days and I have some bad days where my pouch tells me to go to hell and head hunger in the beginning was a *****  I have had surgery for an internal hernia (March 09) and I am fine from that - so my attitude is to just keep on - keepin' on...if you know what I mean?! =]

My best to you on your journey too!  Peace.

I weigh between 133 and 137 now and do not want to lose any more. I am 5'6. I started out at 258 and wore a size 22/24. Now I wear 4/6/8 depending on the brand. Anyway - I really do not want to measure and count the rest of my life. I discussed this with my doctor and nut and they suggest trying it my way and see how it works for me. It's like I can mentally figure out my protein gms and I eat on a saucer for portion control.  I have no problem with any "trigger" foods. I have not tried sugar and have never experienced dumping. I don't eat many white carbs at all,I weigh daily as suggested by our pyschologist, I always eat my protein first and do make sure I drink my water every day. I really hate exercise and know I need to do it, .......... I have also noticed how much of a weakling I am and need to build muscle.
I have been religious about my supplements but was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. But like my doctor said; this is easier to treat than so many of the other co-morbities that you had before.

I'll be two years out at the beginning of October.  I'm around 130 pretty consistently.  I don't count carbs or calories but I do tend to review in my head what I'm eating and when I last ate so I can balance head hunger vs. true hunger.  I also keep track to make sure I'm getting enough protein.  I don't eat beef, pork, or lamb, just poultry and fish.  I also don't eat fried foods.  I do eat a nibble of sweets here or there, like a mini 3 Musketeers from the candy dish in the office.  I don't eat 10 of them like I used to before my RNY.

I did start eating more when I reached my surgeon's goal of 135.  I never thought I would reach that.  I thought that was very unrealistic and had the idea in the back of my mind that I would probably be around 155-170.  However, I easily reached his goal, and more.

I don't know if I've lost any muscle.  I feel much stronger and more energetic than I did before.

In the past, maintaining my weight has always been much much harder for me than dieting.  I've always been an excellent dieter with a will of iron.  It's maintaining and eating like a normal person that I could never do.  I've been amazed that I haven't gained all the weight back.

I'm 156 on the scale down here-- 154 up norf. Been in the 150-158 range for about 4 months. I'm 5'5" and the charts say I should be able to swing 138 but having been SMO for decades, I can't say it's looking very likely-- my edema will prevent that.

I eat about 500-700 calories more than I did a month ago and lost a couple pounds...I try to stay about 500 cals below what I spend, although the past 5 days I've been running just a tad over intetionally-- trying to be in optimal health for surgery which means being well fed and well exercised and getting lots of fluids.

I'm betting on losing 8 more with surgery-- but gaining a bunch initially-- I tend to hold water like a bizznacho. Ideally I would like to stay under 150 for life-- a nice round number.

I eat about 160 carbs total...much less net-- usually about 30-35g fiber.

I'm not going to try to "make it stop." It's self-stopping for me, my malabsorptive window's probably long gone.

Well Crystal, it looks to me like you have a winner of a daily post here! I too am trying to maintain. I am upping calories every week and am now at about 1300 - 1400 a day. Unfortunately I haven't stopped losing yet and really need to. I am working with my NUT to add the 'right' calories. I know part of it is the fear of regain and part is the fact that I am just not hungry, EVER!

I am wearing a kind of loose size 4. I feel like I am as strong as I was before, and exercise is definitely not taken over my life. I love the size that I am and feel very energetic and healthy, now if the sun would ever come out life would be so much better!!

Martha

Martha - I am so glad to hear you have upped your calories some more.  Probably going to have to be a few hundred more at least.  Im glad you are being proactive about it with your nut!