Heading into maintenance with complications, suggestions?

sweetnlow30

I am getting close to my weight loss goal :happy: yay! I am happy with the high end of "normal" since I have a large frame and wide shoulders. This is the second time I will be heading into maintenance. I lost most of my weight two years ago then I stopped loging and tried to be mindful of my food. I slowly gained back 15 pounds during that time then I gained an additional 7 pounds while I was recovering from spine surgery. I have been obese all of my life and this is the first time I have ever lost weight so the regain could have been worse.

I want to do it right this time and maintain for good! The problem is, I have another surgery coming up on August 9th and I won't be active at all or have a lot of control over how my food is prepared for atleast 2-3 weeks. The surgery recovery is definitely going to complicate things! It is a hysterectomy with many repairs and I will have belly swelling for months. I am going to try my best to eat sensible and maybe take a couple pounds off after I heal. Anyway, when I do decide to maintain, should I slowly up my calories each week until I hit TDEE? I am doing IF right now where I have two low days and five higher days. I will have to play around with how to turn that into maintenance. Does anyone have any suggestions for my situation?

Francl27

I'd increase 200 calories a day or something to start, or just average what you eat every day and add 200 calories to that. And with the surgery coming up I would just stay at 200 extra a day for now, personally, especially if you're not sure how well you're going to eat the next couple months.

Good luck, hope you have a quick recovery.

anemoneprose

agree - small increases (would add a couple hundred every few weeks), + monitor results, energy levels, etc.

good luck with your surgery, hope you heal fast

sweetnlow30

ok thanks

QueenofScott

Hi ~
I was pretty much in your situation. I had a total hysterectomy with rectocele and repairs on May 23. At that point I was a pound below my dream goal. I was really upset about not being able to exercise, and worried I would start gaining weight back. I decided to just leave my calories alone and not officially start maintenance until after I had recovered from surgery. For the first few weeks, I basically ate whatever sounded good, because I didn't have much of an appetite. Within the first two weeks I lost another 5 lbs (without trying) and have kept it off since. I have been taking several short walks a day since about 2 days post-op. it's nothing like wha tI was doing before, but at least I have been moving some. I have gradually been able to increase my speed, although its still slow, and length of my walks.

I had done a lot of reading online about women who gained tons of weight after their hysterectomy, so I was especially anxious. I just want to encourage you that it doesn't have to be that way. Best of luck with your surgery.

sweetnlow30

Hi ~
I was pretty much in your situation. I had a total hysterectomy with rectocele and repairs on May 23. At that point I was a pound below my dream goal. I was really upset about not being able to exercise, and worried I would start gaining weight back. I decided to just leave my calories alone and not officially start maintenance until after I had recovered from surgery. For the first few weeks, I basically ate whatever sounded good, because I didn't have much of an appetite. Within the first two weeks I lost another 5 lbs (without trying) and have kept it off since. I have been taking several short walks a day since about 2 days post-op. it's nothing like wha tI was doing before, but at least I have been moving some. I have gradually been able to increase my speed, although its still slow, and length of my walks.

I had done a lot of reading online about women who gained tons of weight after their hysterectomy, so I was especially anxious. I just want to encourage you that it doesn't have to be that way. Best of luck with your surgery.

Thanks, that means a lot. I think I will do the same and just take it easy

allshebe

I want to do it right this time and maintain for good! The problem is, I have another surgery coming up on August 9th and I won't be active at all or have a lot of control over how my food is prepared for at least 2-3 weeks.

You WILL have control over what food you eat though. Eat whatever is presented, but modify portion sizes as needed. It is NOT a sin to not clean your plate (one of my biggest food issues - I call it "Clean Plate Syndrome")