A few things to "think" about......

I'm lucky - i like my coffee without sweetening - (milk foam yes!... :)  

:)  I'm actually in recovery from liking a little coffee with my cream and sugar.  :)

Maybe I'm reading your post a little different from everybody else. I wasn't taking your post so much as being against reduced fat or sugar free products but more for being more careful in using full fat items more wisely.  I also would want to use a bit of oil when sautéing shrimp and not put full fat peanut butter in a chocolate protein shake or oil in my hot coffee.  If people can do this & still lose their weight steadily, then serious kudos to them!

Speaking for myself, but someone who made it to goal and then put on quite a bit of weight and struggling with regain, I just don't think it's a wise idea to be adding oil to protein shakes or anything like that. Maybe will be different once you reach your goal and stay there but not so much in the losing phase. I'm just surprised a lot of people don't see the slippery slope they are on.

And in regards to the whole "at goal" thing sometimes I question those people (myself included) about saying that they reached "goal" but then you still want to lose 5 to 10 to 15 more pounds. Maybe it's your first goal but not your ultimate goal and that's why I really didn't want to celebrate reaching my first goal since I wasn't at the lowest weight I wanted to be.

 When some of us who start experimenting with new trends in adding "this & that" to protein shakes or this and that whatever it's just not wise especially if you still have weight to lose. As you said get the weight off first and then start adding a little bit more protein or fat to your diet so that you can figure out maintenance the best possible way.  Then, if one decides that they rather add oil to a shake over adding a dab of butter to their lobster tail, then that's fine. Whatever you choose ... Especially if it is working for you. To me, this is one of the main reasons why people LIKE MYSELF never reach the lowest goal weight that they want to. A lot of us do get comfortable because we know we look pretty good but ultimately want to lose more weight. It's not likely to happen to some of us if we start adding things toward our diet that we shouldn't have. It's just that plain and simple.  

I am 3 months+ post op.  I have my mind made up to break bad habits during the honeymoon phase. I've finally stopped grazing! While I am following the food plan and eating less than the 800 calories, it was still a bad habit that once my sleeve stretches a bit, could get me into deep doo doo once I hit maintenance.  I've also kicked the fast food and processed food habit. Yuck!

During the initial low carb diet fad, sugar busters, I remember reading, eat NOTHING that tastes sweet. Whether real sugar or artificial, your body reacts to it. I believe that to be true. 

I have have never been into fake anything. (Well fake boobs in the future haha)  I want real butter, real sugar, real cake, real WINE! I will have it all, in VERY limited quantities after I lose half my ass. :)  (you can add real diamonds and real purses to this list but that's a whole different topic! Hehe)

I'm using my time wisely.  I, too, have cheated a few times, including wine. I just move on and look at the prize ahead. This next year is my year of change. Nothing is going to come between me and my goal, not even Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon blanc!

thanks for making me think.

kelli

ps. I don't know how to add the fancy sig/stats so.... I've lost 58# since surgery. 

I considered myself to be on the fast track to my goal weight. That meant being absolutely stingy with my daily calorie counts. Also with carbs. That meant I minimized fat intake, but not by substituting with a lot of 'pretend' treats/foods. I kept it clean and simple. Not terribly exciting, but it was only for a brief time period because I was racing to goal.

The day I hit goal, I started maintenance. I'm having a lot of fun with fats now :-). And amazing 'treats' on occasion too.  

Maintenance is great and I'm in control because of the fabulous habits I built during the weight loss phase.  I know many disagree, but it was actually my diet phase. That's my truth and I make no apologies for it.

In maintenance,  I get to eat a 'normal' amount of calories and fat. Most days I keep the carbs low, but I also have lots of days where I choose more and then hop back on a lower carb regime when I'm done. That's the beauty of maintenance.

I want to encourage all of you who aren't in maintenance yet to really buckle down and get there as fast as you can. Forget about the holidays this year.  They will be happening all over again next year - when you are at goal!!!

I think you are awesome.  :)

Right back at ya Jenn. I've learned a lot from you and am still learning through your experiences :-)

Ditto what she said...listen to Linda and Frisco...they know what they are talking about. Forget the substitute crap, keep to plan and lose that weight as fast as you can. You can play again in maintenance after your good habits are established, but like Jenn said, watch out for those slippery slopes and don't rationalize dammit - that will get you into trouble. MUAH Linda!

Deb

I agree with Jenn and Deb.  :)

Yes, yes, yes, clean and simple during WL phase.  I ate the same stuff almost every day once I hit my WL groove and even now don't vary that much because I am still trying to pry those last three pounds off to my final vanity goal.

Re the holidays, I don't feel that motivated to eat special holiday-type stuff (but that may change in the future).  That's just me, though. 

Yes, it all adds up - to these last 10-15 lbs. And fake fudge.. or fake cake.. well... not really worth it indeed.