1. Eating has consequences: I now can feel what I eat in terms of I feel sick (milk) I feel good (fruit) I feel stuffed (cereal) I feel like throwing up (meat) I make conscious choices about not feeling bad from things I put in my mouth. Sometimes I repeat mistakes (why I still try real mil****asionally is just stupidity). Most of the time I have learned from bad reactions what not to eat. 2. About myself? I'm just as lazy about exercising now as I was before I lost the weight. Not a good thing! But I keep at it if not whole hog. I don't quite understand it either, because when I'm exercising I feel good and I can see results right away. It's almost like I'm keeping something bad about my body (flabbyness) instead of just going for how gorgeous I'm looking compared to what I was. 3. About others: mixed reactions. Some obvious jealousy that I'm not having to "do it the hard way" like they are. Some people worry outloud that "you'll get too small." Some people do not recognize me. Some are not comfortable with the flashy figure I now have. I think I almost consciously gained the last 50 lbs. to fit in with the rural, ultra religious fatties in this neck of the woods. They are not very comfortable with me any more. That's sooooo O>K> 4. Like others, I wish I'd done this 10 yrs. ago. What a waste of time and life worrying about every calorie that went in my mouth and the size of my body. I always felt too big and guilty about being hungry or enjoying food. Now I eat what I want and feel so comfortable in my size 4s. I just don't want much or often. 5. Bad habits? again. procrastination. putting off exercising. not planning enough protein. 6. Struggle with: lack of exercise. Well, completing this little survey tells me quite clearly that I need to focus on getting over the mental and physical exercise hurdle. Tells me I need to plan my meals better. It's been so easy in a way. I've gone from 222 to 144 with very little conscious effort on my part. My biggest challenge has been to eat enough and drink enough water. It doesn't have to be hard to work. It is a huge gift and 2nd chance. I want to do my part to deserve it. I can say that I always appreciate, every single day, that I no longer have my body size and weight as my #1 pre-occupation. The self loathing is gone and I feel beautiful again. My heart aches when I see some gal lumbering through the plus size section, It's hard to believe that was me only a year ago. I am so grateful.

I had my RNY surgery last August and Have lost close to 100 lbs, guess I have been lucky in that I have not really been counting my food in take, but rather going on what my stomach would allow me to eat. I do not get sugar dumping , but I seem to throw up alot when i try and eat any foods of real substance so after 3-4 months of being sick alot and dropping lbs like crazy I have concluded to eating soft foods. But real down fall is that I still crave junk food (chips, crackers, etc). I take a 60 gm protein shake every morning and have platoed now for the last 3-4 months. I bounce around 180-186 lbs. Has any one else had these problems

You are very welcome! I think that we (WLS postops) are more alike than even we realize... We are all different shapes, sizes, races, etc. BUT--We have the same fears. We are excited by the same things. We have common goals and look forward to the same things.... And, we kick ourselves just like everyone else when we do something that we know we should not have done. BUT, we have to know enough to move on and keep going! LOL Even after those conversations with the MIL and PMSing... We suffer, but we move on! LOL And, when we need to, we come here to vent, look for advice, and find support. I saw your response to my thread... Thanks for taking time to post! Hugs, Lea

Hey girls... I don't think I'm panicking, however I too have only lost like 8 pounds in 6 weeks and then 4 pounds in the last week and I actually ate more and differently.. I see Dr. Sherman on the 25.... I have had some blood work done this past week and my liver enzymes are elevated a little, I went thru this and they actually thought I had "Nash" Non Alcoholic blah blah blah syndrome, serious but not nec fatal, before surgery however prior to surgery my levels were perfect. I hope that it's medication I'm taking cholesterol stuff and have had a tremendous amt of dental work done this last month and took some pain stuff with tylenol.. that can affect the liver levels pray for me

What have you learned about eating? Like you I had no idea how much I was eating at one time, an entire bag of chips, 12 inch sub, two or more diet cokes and then cookies, brownies, or whatever... I was out of control.... I love the fact that while I still have times when I am tempted to graze, my little friend mrs. pouchy does have an achey breaky heart and she'll let me know when I am stuffed... Thank you Jesus! I have tried to find other things to do to distract myself when i feel the urge to graze come on... I truly enjoy good health more than any potato chip ever tasted What have you learned about yourself? It actually took me being obese to get to know the Judy inside, for years I looked like a barbie but was so insecure, and then the weight came and my personality came out, I accepted Christ and He saved my soul and now has saved my life. I pray that as I continue to morph into my new physical body that the inside continues to surpass any physical changes, I truly am learning how not to be obese, and still am not comfortable with who's looking at me in the mirror. What have you learned about others? Many different things, mostly that during this journal while you may grow with more self confidence it's important not to become arrogant or conceited, that there are those who loved me at almost 400 pounds and still do, and those who never loved me at all. There are those who support and encourage and those who like to sabbotage your efforts or at least try to. What do you wish you'd known 10 years ago? That my thyroid was so toxic, and that I had polycystic ovary disease so that I would have understood that while I was able to lose weight traditionally, there was not a good chance to keep it off. My back is so bad, and the weight loss is helping and I'm really active, however , had I have know this then, I would have considered this surgery then. But you know, it really boils down to HIS timing... What bad habits do you still need to dump?Sugar free gum, I pick my fingers, (nerves) ,grazing/snacking. I still have to make myself exercise most days.. I want to get to where I love it and crave it. What do you struggle with the most: Self Image, who is this that I see looking back at me?