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I can only share my experience. This is what works for me. I am just over 8 months out. I CANNOT EAT OVER 1000 calories on the reg and lose weight. I can maintain at 1050-1100. Anything more and I gain. I'm at 126 lbs. My original goal was 150. Crushed it. My surgeon said I was perfect at 135lbs. Good for him. I WANT to continue to weigh 125-127lbs. But, to maintain this weight, it takes constant vigilance and work. It's a drag sometimes. Isn't everything?! For me that means I have to eat high protein and super low carb. I have to be very strict almost all the darn time. Like, under 55 carbs a day. And, those carbs have to come from good foods. I enjoy Friday Funday every week with my husband now that I'm at my happy spot. Here's what that looks like; the toppings from two small slices of supreme pizza. One small bite of thick crust, (my only bread, ever), a 2oz cup of trail mix (the kind with dried fruit AND M&M's) and 1 tiny handful of popcorn. This is over 2-3 hours. I also have a double Tito's screwdriver--light on the OJ/heavy on the ice--long before I eat anything. Add to this a protein shake and a Keto Coffee with Chocolate Greens throughout the rest of the day and you have summed up my wild and crazy eating adventure day! I usually gain 1/2-1 full pound. Then I have to lose it! You can imagine the rest of the week. That's how I maintain my ideal weight. If I feel like losing a pound, I cut a few carbs. If I feel too slim, I add some. I never worry about fat...never buy/eat low fat products because they have added sodium and sugar. Good fats are good fats. I don't cook with salt, eat fast food (except a few bites of Wendy's chili every now and then). I keep my bag primed with protein bars. And I don't put junk in me because I didn't come this far to fail my body after the amazing response it's given me with this fab tool. But, it's not for everyone. I have a butt ton of support from my husband. I am retired and control my environment. I have a "piss off you psychos" attitude that makes me hard to corrupt when I'm out with girlfriends who are trying to get me to drink or eat crap. To most people it sounds like my food situation sucks. To me, I finally feel like food isn't controlling my life. I don't live for it anymore. It's just a survival mechanism. It's not a pleasure or a comfort. It just keeps me alive and healthy. Then on Fridays? I add a little sparkle! (It's always enough.).

So I am just over 5 months post op revision to Bypass and I am coming to a block/stall/halt..... whatever it may be in my weight loss. I only lost 2.6 lbs last month. I do great during the day but in the evening and night my cravings and hunger/head hunger are out of control, which makes me snack and crave sweets. But, I really think that the sugar free tea that I am drinking in the evenings is causing my cravings to be worse. I only have water during the day, but after work and at night I drink this tea (which I have a bit of an addiction to) It is sugar free, calorie free, carb free, but when I drink it I seen to have really bad cravings for sweets and sometimes salty snacks. I believe it has splenda in it. I don't know if it is the time of day that is my issues or the tea triggering an issue. So lord help me I am going to go cold turkey. No tea for one week and see what happens. I dearly love my sugar free tea so I am a bit panicked but I have to get the scale moving again!!!!!

Speaking as a mental health counselor and a fellow sleever, you are all on the right track. Use distraction, get moving, music, journal, art...whatever helps your mood. The thing is we can't go to our comfort foods anymore. That's going to make this journey challenging as we figure out new (hopefully healthier) habits for when we are feeling emotionally challenged (depression, anxiety, stress, anger, etc.) Of course, I'm biased, but having someone to talk to like a therapist will be really helpful.

I will have my surgery 2/6 but I am so lucky that my breast lift is already approved by my insurance all I have to wait is to meet my weight goal Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I just saw my PS and he won't do anything until: 1. I've lost ALL my weight. 2. Have been at my final goal weight for 3 months without changes. *and he's being kind about the 3 months, cuz he usually requires 6 months without changes.

I think it is very normal. At some point, you have to relinquish control (or lack thereof) and let the Good Lord (Or surgeon, if you will) take the wheel for you. Yeah, it's scary - and there are tons of opinions out there. I was asking lots of questions before I pulled the trigger. Motivation? Watch "My 600# life". That worked for me. Can I eat the yummy foods I used to? Maybe. Have I tried? Nope. Why? Well, I won't be the first to say this, but my body literally doesn't crave them (* most of the time). I've lost 100# in 7 months, lost 10 inches off my waist, I can walk up steps to my office, and I can work on my car without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack. Also, I can fit in amusement park rides now, something I couldn't do before.

Your Weight loss is Dr Supervised. You can call him with any concerns. He can diagnose if anything is wrong. . Your sleeve restriction will become less over time. you will be able to consume more calories and the weight loss is slower.

I snack because... I like snacks. Light string cheese is one of my faves. I'm still only eating about 800 calories a day. If I stop losing weight, I'll reevaluate.

We have the best intentions to stock up and prepare before surgery, but learn from my mistake and don't buy too much. I found Premier Protein the most palatable, I bought a metric shiz-ton of it, and now I have to hope that I can return it because your tastes change and I can't stomach it. Many people like Premier Protein, especially when mixed in coffee. I've been making my own with Greek yogurt and Fairlife milk. Fairlife milk is really helpful to have on hand, it has more protein and less sugar than regular milk, it is lactose-free and it tastes like regular milk. I've been using it to thin out other products that are too sweet and to use instead of water to give things a protein boost.

Biggest tip. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FOR POST OP!!! Odds are, your tastes for things will change, might be temporary (I had that happen) might be forever (lots of folks state their taste for things drastically changed). Best not to stock up and then not like them anymore. Also, pay attention to protein types... Concentrate is going to be pretty high in lactose, since it's pretty much JUST concentrated Milk. Isolate strips out most, if not all, lactose. LOTS of folks have issues with lactose post op. Again, some are temp, some are perm. My wife wanted to buy things before hand, and I told her not to and explained why. She did it anyway. So much stuff got wasted.