I am looking for advice from people who are farther along than I am. People always say that we should try to maximize our window of opportunity during the first six months. Well..how do you do that? Besides eating right, what else can be done? How much did you guys exercise? Any tips will be appreciated.

I wish I could say I was still losing at the same rate! I'm now down 112 pounds, but have not lost anything in about 2 weeks. I've increased my calories as I was having several days in the 600 to 900 range and I usually do better in the 1000 to 1300 range. My Nut says to try to stay under 1200 until you reach goal and enter the maintenance phase, so I do try to do that. I've also tried to increase my liquid intake to 80 oz per day instead of just 64. And, for some reason, I find that I get constipated and don't lose as well when taking my vitamins regularly! So, I'll have to talk to someone about that! I'm taking 6 to 7 colace a day right now to get myself regular again. Then I'll go back to the 3 a day I had been taking... SO, at almost 5 months out, i am down 112 and I don't know how many inches... I need to measure again! BUT, I tried on a pair of size 24 pants today and I was able to get them buttoned and zipped even though they were too snug to be comfy! Woohoo!! I had been wearing Roaman's size 4X which they say is a 34/36! That is a bigger drop in sizes than I'd realized!! Hugs, Lea 410/298/175ish

Well don't feel so bad! While I was able to lose 100 pounds total by Christmas, I am now still only at about 112 lost and have been in a stall for almost 2 weeks now! And, some of the folks who say 100 pounds lost (myself included) are including some weight lost before their surgery date. My loss goes back to July 13th when I started the pre-op diet during which I lost 24 pounds. The other 88 is what I've lost SINCE surgery on 8/29! You folks WILL catch up!! And, my 112 is with a starting weight of 410. Those of you who started lower will sometimes lose a bit slower. BUT, I bet the inches have just MELTED away for you! I've only lost about 65 inches so far, but really haven't changed mu*****lothing sizes (my biggest stressor!) as the loss has been from all over and not from any one concentrated area. I still have such a big butt! I've gone from a 4x pant (Roaman's or Lane Bryant) to a 2X. I've got some 26 pants on the way and am soooo praying that the will fit as these 4Xs are like swimming pools for me now! The elastic waist is finally not holding them up properly anymore. So, there are good and bad moments no matter how much or how fast you lose! Just remember that you and I did not gain the weight in the same amount and at the same pace, so we won't lose it that way either! You are doing AWESOME!! Keep it up and don't be discouraged or disappointed!! Hugs, Lea 410/298/175

Wow Bekah I have wondered if I could swallow the liquid ones...I assume they will make me gag..but man it would be easier to get it all over with at once I did find a B Complex sublingual liquid at walmart its not bad at all... where did you get your stuff? guess I need to go shopping!

the hair will all come back in whether you do anything about it or not. So dont fret. ok. Mine is all ready starthing to come back in my hairdresser said. lots of little baby hair all thur out my head. as i say bald is beautiful and i would rather be bald than fat so even if it were a permanent thing i could go buy a wig if need be. Not going to worry about it. Jan