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I wish I had done more Premier Protein in the early days. They are my favorite now. A lot of protein for very little volume when it's hard to get much down. They would have helped with my low energy in the early days. Everything changes over time. Trust in the process!!

Yes it's because you are in the early stages. Everything changes especially your taste buds. Trust and believe in the process. You are starting over. A fresh beginning. This too shall pass! I'm a year out and 100 lbs down. Stay in contact with others.

I can relate to boobs that are flat pancakes. In fact when I lie down, I only feel ribs. But I love having ribs and hip bones too. My goal was to be the highest healthy BMI which is 25. For me that was 140 which is where I hope to stay. My 800 cal/day has been raised to 1200 now that I'm on maintenance. It does seem like a lot and I'm trying to stay calm and not go nuts. I learned how to log my food from my support group. I would strongly recommend using MyFitnessPal otherwise you won't know why you're losing or gaining. I don't have a prayer of maintaining without it.

Lessons learned: Gastric sleeve, MyFitnessPal and walking are my best friends. Carbs are not!!!!

I've hit my goal of 100 lbs and being under 25 BMI. Woohoo! Thank goodness for gastric sleeve, MyFitnessPal and low carb eating. It was fun changing the settings to maintenance mode. Before: calories 800, carbs 40, fat 30, protein 80. Now: calories 1200, carbs 80, fat 60, protein 90. So much easier. The extra carbs are supposed to come from veggies. I'll never feel like "I've got this". I'm addicted to simple carbs and will have to avoid or my hunger will return. Also I have to continue logging my food so that I don't mindlessly eat. How are or will you all handle your maintenance???

Hi October group. Great to read where you're all at. I've learned so much and have loved this journey. Stats. Highest weight 236 5'3" BMI 40+ Surgery weight: 200 10/27/15 Current wt: 146 Goal: 136? Who knows about goal. Nut says 115 which sounds insane. Maybe I can't judge so I've been hoping to be a healthy BMI 25. This would put me bw 136-140. It's all such new territory, right. So I'm down 90 and would like to reach a total of 100 lbs down. The key lessons: I'm a carb addict and not necessarily a food addict. Carbs are not worth it and i don't want my hunger back. Must get my water and protein. Must walk 10,000 steps. Must get my vitamins. How would this be possible without MyFitnessPal? In my support group, people that are trying to get back on track have to go back to these basics. I never want to reintroduce carbs. To me it would disrespect my sleeve. NOT worth it. I also get crazy reactions from people. Positive and negative. And I have weird emotions surfacing. That's the best part of support groups and forums. Few outsiders get our journey. My mantra: CARBS ARE NOT MY FRIEND!!!! Protein is. MyFitnessPal is. Congrats to you all.

Skip the first bite. It's not worth it. I'm having an identity crisis too. But I don't miss my fat blanket. I like being more normal (whatever that is) and shopping in regular stores. I focus on the lack of pain in my hips, knees and feet. Emotionally I'm surprised that I'm the same person fat or thin. You might be self-sabotaging but more likely you're reacting to the carb addiction. No first bites. Veterans in my support group seems to fight difficult moments with protein, protein and more protein!!!!

More protein and less carbs! Go for walks including your stairs. I've been walking around the mall where I work during my lunch breaks. So much easier to include exercise into my normal routine. Also it's free.

You are similar to me. Starting weight. 240 Surgery weight. 210. Oct 27, 16 Current weight. 168. Height 5'3" Goal. 140-145. BMI 25 We are getting close very quickly. It's SURREAL!!! I'm almost to my high school weight and people often don't recognize me. Lessons. CARBS ARE NOT MY FRIEND!!!!!!!! I keep my carbs to 40 daily Calories to 750-800 Walking to 1.5-2 miles I really believe that I will stall, lose my honeymoon phase, and/or regain my hunger if I reintroduce bad carbs. I look forward to maintenance when I can increase to 1200 cal so that I can have veggies. I don't feel like an alcoholic who has to have a little alcohol to live. I feel like a CARB addict who can thoroughly enjoy food as long as it is Protein and veggies. This is not a huge sacrifice bc it is such a BLESSING not to be hungry and to feel normal size for the first time ever. I deal with body dysmorphia which is super common. I felt huge in high school at 150. And at 51, didn't see all the fat in the mirror at 240. Only saw it in pix. We are so blessed. I genuinely don't fear regaining weight as long as I avoid carbs. Any other carb addicts out there????? PS. With all this protein, I definitely have to take Benefiber and a little Miralax daily.

Good luck!! I found the surgery ten times easier than my two cesareans. Plus I got to rest afterward and not take care of a newborn. Remember the rewards are huge!!!!!!!

Logging food doesn't take much time. I can't do gyms. I've been incorporating walking and steps into my regular life. Today during lunch I walked around the mall I work at for 20 min/1 mile. My pedometer logs my steps and I try to get 10,000 which sync to MyFitnessPal. Surgery was one of the biggest events of our life. We have to treasure this second chance.

MyFitnessPal is also essential to keep track of exercise. My long term plan includes the food diary, walking/exercise and my support group. I have to stay committed to all three.

MyFitnessPal is ESSENTIAL and also local support groups. I fear the hunger but at my support groups they say to combat it with Protein. For me it's even better than Water. I also find that my new reflux makes me feel hunger pains so I have to keep up with my Prilosec. All this is totally worth it. My surgery is one of the greatest gifts I've ever given myself. I feel so free without the extra 64 lbs.

Do you use MyFitnessPal? That helps me avoid grazing but I have to be honest. Is anyone getting their hunger back?

My fitness pal and my Apple Watch are invaluable.

If bypass seems daunting, it's not for you. Everyone picks the surgery that seems right for them. I had sleeve 3 months ago and bypass always felt weird to me. Reflux is a small price to pay. I take Prilosec morning and night. Worth it.

Did you have gastric sleeve or bypass? Sounds like you're doing great. We are all finding our way. Truly resetting our eating and life!

Excellent. Nice to hear from you. How is everybody else doing?

Please tell your mother-in-law NO. She doesn't have a clue that you just had major surgery. I was told not to exercise for 4-6 weeks. She's didn't sign you up thinking of your needs. Outside people don't really get it!!!!

Thought of us when I saw this sign today:

Try the Vega brand of plant protein. It's my favorite. Very tasty, high quality and well rounded. Protein and Greens in Tropical or Berry. Yummy. Has complete protein, 2 servings of veggies, fiber and vitamins. Vega One has even more good stuff like probiotics. Easy to find at Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon.

I don't even know who I'm going to find under all this weight. Just have to have faith.

Found this picture inspirational and good at representing our journey. Although I don't enough hope to be this buff????

Several observations. Since losing 40 lbs, I'm freezing cold all the time. Too funny!! I weigh less than my drivers license says (200) and I lied about that at the time. Weird. My joint pain is gone. Woohoo. I have reflux for the first time. Now I know what my husband's been describing all these years. Still low energy after 2.5 weeks. Very grateful. Body starting to feel less foreign.

250 and 500 refers to mg of Calcium. I take these and they are super yummy. I also like the Bariatric Advantage advanced multi EA. They are chewable. So glad that you're better!