Thanks for posting this Janie- I have been eating WAY over a cup at one time- not 3x's a day- but maybe every other- so that was a reality check. It was also good to be reminded of the 6 meals- I eat 6 meals easy- and if I don't - that's when I cheat. It's hard sometimes cuz I'm not sure if I'm grazing or having 6 meals. My nut told me about the caffeine- so that's why I drink the imitation crystal lite lemonade- but I shudder to think how much artificial sweetener I consume daily. I've started keeping propel fitness water in the car- it stays cold cuz I live in Colorado and I really enjoy it- my fav is black cherry. There's only 30 cal in 28 oz... Atleast it's something to drink from 7-11 that's not straigh****er or carbonated. Thanks- Holly

Janie- I just had my one year on Thursday and it sounds like we had similar experiences... iron low, focus on keeping portions to 8 oz or less, cut back on the protein if you want. Too funny that it was SO similar. I also was worried about my portions sizes because it has been so long since I measured, and sure enough, 3/4 to 1 cup seems to be right where I am. She said that you can stretch your pouch out to TWICE that size byt the end of the second year. THAT IS A HORRIFYING THOUGHT! Gave me a major reality check that perhaps I have gotten a little too comfortable since I don't want to lose any more weight. Yikes! One happy thing is that she said exercise 3 X's a week for 20 minutes cardio was fine at this point for a maintenance routine. Good thing, because that is the best I have ever been able to do and I have always felt like an exercise failure! Oh yeah, about the labs... she drew 13 vials of blood and the cost to my insurance was $2400 just in lab fees! Talk about a thorough bloodwork-up. One more thing about the iron... make sure you are not taking your multivitamin with dairy or your calcium supplement. My RD thinks that may be part of my problem that I take them all together. She said that the same receptors in your body absorb calcium and iron, so if they are taken together, the calcium can get in, but the iron is washed out of your system. She also suggested washing my supplements down with OJ because tablet pills are created, generally, to absorb and digest in an acidic environment, which we no longer really make at an optimal level. Don't know if any of that is helpful, but it was news to me. Congrats on a good check up! It is a good thing to get all that done before your surgery so you know you are in tip top shape to heal.

I still watch the carbs a bit just because generally speaking they don't feel so good in there. I can eat a half of an english muffin or a grilled panini...but I try to skip the regular flour tortillas. They taste SSSSOOOOOO goood...but they don't feel good in the pouch. As for trying to gain...it's sort of a mind f*ck (excuse the language, but it says it exactly as feels!). I know that I need to put on a couple of pounds...I am too bony. I could technically still lose down to 131 and be in the normal range, but for my frame...not a good look. So, having to eat more seems like something great, but from a psychological standpoint, it's torture. It feels fine at the moment that I am eating, but seeing those numbers climb on the scale makes me feel guilty or like a bit of a failure. Here I am not even officially a year out and I am already gaining? I know that I am the one forcing it to happen, but it does make me fear what could happen down the road, how easy it is to gain. That said...I'm not giving up the daily chocolate for anything!! Crazy how we can become attached to food so completely and easily. I can not live without my chocolate and my chai tea w/soy. It feels so good to be in love . About the tests...it listed out to over two full pages. I was amazed at the amount of information on there. When they did the draw, the chick used a IV type of thing that allowed her to change the vial at the end of a tube attached to a needle in my arm. She even had to leave the rubber band around my arm the entire time to keep the blood pressure up for all of the vials to fill. Anyway,I think at 18 months I am going to ask for a copy of my records just so that I have them should I have a need for them. *sigh* this whole thing just seems like a never ending string of tests and appointments and counting and weighing. When does this go back to normal?

I don't really measure anymore...just sort of eyeball the amounts. I do measure if I am worried about the calorie count, though. For things that I have eaten since day one....I already know the amounts or numbers needed for a serving. 7 medium shrimp in 3 oz, 100 calories....or 17 soy crisps in a serving, 110 calories...see, stuff like that. Other things...I eat until I am satisfied. I do eat at least 6 times a day...but smaller calorie counts mostly, so it takes all day for them to add up. I don't seem to have the capacity to hold a 400 calorie meal like some can at this point. But, that's fine with me...I like to craze ! I go back two weeks before my 18 month visit, so mid July I get blood drawn again. At least it is a much smaller panel ordered next time. This panel for my 1 year was 20 or 21 vials. Friggen vampires! I did have a three day liquid diet...not fun. Two weeks? I would have sooo cheated! Did you have to do the liquid stuff the night before to "clean out"?

wow Lindy, what drama. And you've met this guy before? You would think there wouldn't be any drama on a weight loss forum, ya know? You come here for support and then this. Although it's flattering for someone to say you're a hottie (you are!) he took it too far. UGH! Drama Drama!!! Oh, how did the interview go? When do you find out if you get the job? What's a mock cycle? If all goes well are you going to start trying next month? I'll be praying for ya!