What plan are you following to get back on track?

Just curious as to what plan you are following to get back on track. Are you going back to the basic instructions given by your surgeon? Counting calories? Carbs? Not counting? 

My post op instructions were to only count protein for the first 2-4 months, then eat around 1000 calories a day with a minimum 65 grams of protein a day.

I tried the 1000 calories. I had a really hard time getting in my protein with that little amount of calories AND I was still struggling to get the weight off. Visited with the nut and she recommended upping my calories to 1200-1400. That didnt really seem to work either. I tried upping my exercise. Seems Im having a hard time in general. Keep in mind that Im a revision...if that means anything. I kinda gave up tracking, cause I felt like I was beating my head against the wall. Between the holidays and a small surgery, I managed to gain about 5 lbs.

The past 19 days Ive been really tracking and going to Zumba 3 days a week. Im keeping my calories between 1200-1400 a day, minus 4 slip up days according to my calendar. These days I have recorded my calories and were under 1900.

According to various calculators, to maintain my weight, I would be eating 2600-2800 calories a day!! Im 5'9, 236lbs. Im just under a year and a half post op.

How is it that I have managed not to lose a single pound? and Im actually feeling bloated? I sweat my butt off in Zumba. I literally have sweat dripping off me at the end of class. WTF?
This is so depressing and unmotivational. Im going to check out a new gym on Saturday to see if I can supplement my Zumba with strength training. I just dont know what else to do.

 Hi Mary,

I am a carb person and find my body craves them if I have over ate.  I used this plan to get back on track. Good luck to you and let us know how it works....

I am doing this cleanse plan to help me get off carbs.  You can decide how long you want to do this.  I have done it twice and it worked well, and I did it for 2 weeks. 

*No alcohol

*No artificial sweetener

*Only water, tea, and coffee.  You can have low fat creamer. You can flavor water with lemon.

*Veggies include: broccoli, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash.

Breakfast Picks:

-1/2  cup egg beaters with 1 cup veggies

- ½ cup skim milk/1 cup ice/ ½ cup berries mixed into a smoothie (berries can be strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or mixed)

-½ cup oatmeal, 1tbs slivered almonds/1 banana

Snacks (2 a day)

-1 cup lowfat yogurt

-14 almonds

-2 rice cakes with 1tbs of peanut butter

-1 piece of turkey rolled in lettuce with mustard

-string cheese (low fat)

Lunch

-2 cups lettuce/ 4 oz of lean meat/ 1 cup of veggies tossed with vinaigrette

-whole wheat wrap with lettuce, mustard, and 4 oz of lean meat

Dinner

-6 oz of any lean meat 

You can use salmon, beef, pork, or chicken as long as it is lean.
You have to have protein and the veggies

-2 cups of steamed veggies

Good Luck!  

 Hi Mary:

Kathy is right about detoxing off of carbs.  When I started this 9 months ago, I went back completely as a basic newbie eating around 700-800 calories a day, less than 50 carbs a day and about 80-90 grams of protein a day.  I did not have much variety in my food for about the first two months.  I started walking 20 minutes a week, then 30 minutes, then 40 minutes et****il I had reach a hour a day by the end of the second month.  My eats during that time was basically:

Coffee
Breakfast: Shake
Snack: 1/2 Protein Bar
Lunch: 1 protein bar
Snack: 1/2 protein bar
Dinner was always grilled chicken, turkey or fish with green beans or salad
Snack: shake
Every once in awhile I would have Wendy's Chili, refried beans and cheese or steak out of the taco shell.

This is what I had the first two months.  I lost 25 pounds during that time and I have continued to lose between 4-7 lbs. a month since.  I have increased my calories to around 1000-1100 and my calorie burn has increased from 300-500 a day.  I hope this can help you out.

Thank you both! I have been successful with extremely cutting the carbs in the past (Atkins style). It does work and I have tried it again recently, but Im having a hard time sticking to it. I have to get that switch in my head to stay in the on position to do that.

I think I'll try to start weening. Thanks again!

If I eat carbs - starchy or sugar - I gain weight... even on small number of calories.
Not sure why... but I typed this long answer... but OH ate it...lol.. and only post one sentance...

but check this:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1h&oq=&ie =UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS326&q=calories+are+not+equal

WHY NO artifical sweetners? i use splenda or equal in my coffee