I was reading some of the posts that Are titled MOre to lose. I was wondering why The calories are so low. After reading some of the post one was only planning on 444 cals for the day? Another was 1100cals. Your body requires a certain amount of calories to function properly during the day. This number is based on your current weight. Yes anything less than this will contribute to a weight loss, however, if you get to drastic your body will go into starvation mode and start to function on only what you're giving it and not burning anythig else caausing the stagnate weight loss. Also if you are exercising like we all should be your body will need more calories. As we are approachng or 2 year aniverseries have we reached our goals for what we wanted this surgery for? Or have we not achieved the resultswe were expecting? This is an important question. In the beginning weightloss was inevitable. Our jobs and most of the doctors should have told you was to lose as much as possible in the first 12 months. After this time your body would catch up then it would get harder. Then we would have to lose it like everyone else. With proper nutrition and exercise. There are some that you will find on this board that say the surgery didn't work. They didn't lose everything thaey thought they would. But how much effort did they put into it? I understand it is hard I started this journey at 534lbs 7/6/04 in december of 2005 I hit my bottom weight of 231 and have maintained it. What I'm saying is let's not focus on calories I don't and I eat about 2000 cals aday. Now, I know that number seems really high. I don't do that in 3-4 meals aday I do it in about 10 meals or snacks. It all depends on how much I exercise that day. I've learned to listen to my body. I know that I need to eat about every 2-3 hours. I don't count calories everyday everyonce in awhile I while just to see. I only weigh myself once a month. I don't put any faith in weight charts or BMI tables. Acording to the BMI at 6' 231 with ribs sticking out and seeing some ab muscles I still would qualify for this surgery. I guess what I'm trying to say is we've spent our whole lives counting calories and worrying about what that number on the scale is Now it's time to listen to our bodies and not be afraid, eating when it tells us it needs fuel. As long as your make the right choice with your snacks and meals you have nothing to worry about. If you're not then be honest with yourself. That is the most important thing we can do. I hope I haven't upset anyone, but I might have. Mike Start weight 534lbs 7/6/04 Current weight 231lbs Total loss 303lbs

I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkk. LOL I'm with you Nancy! This is it, time to crack down!!! I haven't done too bad today yet. B: Southbeach Protein Bar S: couple of slices of cheese and 2 crackers L: turkey and cheese slices S: no sugar applesauce D: Not sure yet.

HI Denise! I used to live in Missouri, they have those pork skin things at Walmart. Sometimes up by the register with the snacks. Michelle

Ok I could not resist, I had to get a snack, I didn't eat the strawberries because they are soft and I was craving crunchy. My intent was to get honey roasted nuts in the single serving bag. They didn't have any. I purpously took only enough money for what I was going to buy. Instead I got pork skins. Only 80 calories, 5g fat and 7 g of protein. This is much less than the peanuts I would have had. I once read on one of the boards that the protein in skins was not the right protein and didn't count. Has anyone else read this? Teah

Good morning all. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, so I better get back on track and be good to myself! I'm going to be strict today and hopefully get back into the high protein diet - gotta get those carbs out of my system. Here's the plan: B: Isopure Zero carb protein drink L: Unjury protein drink D: Grilled chicken breast, grilled veggies (green pepper, asparagus, onion) Totals: Calories: 444 Carbs: 10 Protein: 88 Hopefully that will be it. If I really need to have a snack, I have SF Jell-o, another protein drink or unsweetened applesauce available. I plan to walk for 30 minutes this afternoon, then do another 30 minute walk or 30 minute WATP video later on this evening. I also want to start drinking way more water than I have been - the only problem with that is figuring out just when I'm going to take my walk so I'm not running back for the bathroom!! Hugs, Nancy