I'm one year out and am having a hysterectomy with a lower body lift in three weeks. I also had my GB out and an internal hernia repair in January. I'm fine, I don't really understand why no surgery for you unless you have other issues which make it riskier for you... Cindy 234/139/134

Thanks so much for all the info! I am reading up on all the latest ways to handle this. I really appreciate all the imput! Thanks again!

I don't keep track of my carbs but i do watch them and pay attention to the carbs that go in. I get between 60-100g protein a day.... I eat on average 1200-1600 calories a day. I don't do protein shakes very often as i get it in my food. I'm done losing. I've been at a loss of 125 for months now and maintain my weight at 125. The odd thing is, i was getting in around 900 calories a day for a while there and thought i was done losing when i weighed 140 - so I upped my calories at that point thinking that i should shift my focus on maintaining. THAT's when the last few pounds just blasted off. Here's my today: Sugar Free Latte (20g protein) Banana Small grilled chicken breast (20g protein) Soy Crisps (7g protein) Another Sugar Free Latte (20g protein) Peach 2 BBQ Chicken tenderloins (20g protein?) corn on the cob cucumber slices SF fudgcicle LOTS of water - it was sooooooo hot today! And 20 oz hot tea. 2 multivitamins - missed my B12 & Calcium (bad girl ) I guess if you really look at what i ate, i did eat quite a few carbs! But i think the difference is the TYPE of carbs. I tend to think of it like this: Most BAD CARBS break all apart or swell if you were to soak them in a sink full of water. (these I try to avoid - but not always - those soy crisps would be ugly in water!) BUT this helps me to understand how come we can fit more carbs in than healthy food - and why they seem to make us hungrier. They really do digest a lot faster. Most GOOD CARBS would not break all apart or swell in a sink full of water. For example: fruits and veggies - One caveat - whole wheat bread... but I reason with myself that although it is technically a good carb, it still gets ugly in a sink of water, therefore, it must be done in moderation and with the realization that it will not 'stay' with me and I will be hungry sooner. Are you counting calories?? I just wonder how many are in your shakes. The ones I WAS drinking were a minimum of 200 calories each - so 5 a day would put me at 1000 calories without any food. I think our bodies metabolize food calories better than when we consume primarily liquid calories - like when you are getting primarily liquid calories, it digests so fast that your body still feels the need to retain (or hold on to) it's body stores. But when we eat food with the same number of calories, it takes longer to digest, giving our metabolism more work to do and doesn't feel the need to retain (or hold on to) the body stores because the body knows more substance is forthcoming. Does that make sense? JEEZ.... I don't know if I answered your questions...but i sure enough wrote a book! I just luv ya! Hugs, Pam

What about breakfast and lunch? If you are only having protein drinks in place of these meals then you are probably not eating enough. I average between 1200 and 1600 calories a day and I am still losing altough really slowly. I was stuck for about 6 weeks then this month I have lost 5 lbs. Do you meet with a nutriionist? I would ask how many calories they want for you at this stage. I get between 60 and 100 grams of protein a day and most of the time mine comes from food. I have an occasioinal protein drink but for the most part it is from food. Tonight for dinner I had 4 ounces of a Pork chop and a few brusssel sprouts. ( and a godiva chocolate for dessert ) Some days I am hungrier then others but I eat a pretty normal diet now. Protein first and vegis and fruit last. Still fighting eating those pesky carbs. (chocolate isnt a carb is it?)LOL. Any way I dont know if this is helpful but it will be interesting to see what others have to say. I think you should check with your nut, you may not be eating enough? Lynn

Lisa, I think I am somewhere in the middle. I set the A/C at home to 81 and am comfortable. If it's at 78, I am chilling and looking for a long sleeve shirt. As for the pool, my DH turned the solar down to 85 Friday and Sat I told him it was to cold and to turn it back up to 87. He said he couldn't believe I was "cold". But I get in after work and do laps, so alot of time the sun is down. On the other side, in this heat, I still sweat and get hot when doing anything outside. Maybe I am cold like you, but since I am 55, menopause may be getting me warmer at times, Ha ha. Sara