I don't know how much help my experience will be to you. I have lost very slow throughout this whole journey. I have not gained any weight but I have not even lost 100 pounds yet. I have about 40 more pounds to lose. I have had to struggle with losing pounds since the first week of my surgery. I have had to seriously diet the whole time but I am not discouraged because when I dieted before WLS I was still gaining and not losing at all. I am losing extremely slow and go some months without losing and some months I will lose 3-6 pounds. The best thing I have learned is to be patient and keep following the plan that I know works for me (eventually) which is low glycemic. I am following the same plan but have added some elements of Karen B's Timer Plan. My intervals are probably more like 1.5 to 2 hours rather than 1 hour. I found that for me it is extremely important to have all my foods pre-measured into the correct amounts. I use my food saver and freeze 1 oz portions of chicken and meat and 1/2 servings of vegetables. Then I just toss them in the microwave at the appropriate time. I put my shakes in a drink container and drink 1/4 to 1/2 portions at a time between the meat and vegetable selections. It seemed like I was eating a lot but it really is the same amount spread out more and the constant eating keeps your metabolism going. I buy a box of planter's peanuts that are packaged in the individual small bags but I only eat 1/3 of the bag at a time so this one snack lasts me all day. My nightly foods consist mostly of vegetables and protein shake. My total protein shakes for the day is 2-2/12 cans of Atkins. The plan has helped me tremendously in getting my water in. I have to say this plan works for me because I am a person that need to follow a structured and disciplined program. Here is the plan: From Yahoo Groups OSSG_Off_Track KAREN B'S "TIMER" PLAN FOR GETTING BACK ON TRACK The idea of this is to stimulate your metabolism to start burning fat and stop the grazing!!! Of course, adjust the times to your schedule, however, do NOT go past 1 ½ hours between some kind of "feedings". 6 am coffee, tea, or some other kind of warm beverage to "get things going" 7 am 8 or more oz of PURE water 8 am protein shake 9 am 1-3 oz of protein type food* 10 am 8 or more oz of pure water 11 am protein shake noon 1-3 oz of protein type food 1 pm 8 or more oz of pure water 2 pm protein shake 3 pm 1-3 oz of protein type food 4 pm 8 or more oz of pure water 5 pm protein shake (like while cooking dinner - prevents 'tasting" and "grazing") 6 pm dinner 1-3 oz of food total, i.e., 2 oz of protein food, a bite or two of veggie and perhaps a 'taste" of a complex carb 7 pm 8 or more oz of pure water 8 pm protein shake 9 pm light snack like string cheese, deli meat or cheese, about 1 or 2 oz total 10 pm 8 or more oz pure water · Pure water is very important to optimum health and to flush the fat cells through your body. You may drink crystal light, diet Snapple, flavored waters, etc., however, you still MUST get in the 64 oz of PURE water every day and do not count the water in shakes or the flavored waters UNLESS you are flavoring them yourself with lemon, etc. Propel is good, but still do not count towards your water. · You may make your protein shakes with just 1 scoop for 20 g of protein or less, but your total protein shake consumption must be at least 90 g. I use the full 30 g portion for each of my shakes, but my body requires more protein supplement. Please adjust accordingly, however the importance is actually drinking them. You can make up a half a portion in 2-3 oz of water to equal 15-20 g of protein then your daily total of drinking 5 shakes would be around 100 g which is perfect for a proximal RNY. · You will find that by setting the timer, you will never be hungry, and in fact, by the latter part of the day, you will be surprised when the timer goes off to have water, protein, or food again! · All meals must have a beginning and an end. No more than 15-20 minutes per "mini-meal". If you are full in five minutes, STOP and discard food or put away for the next meal. It doesn't mean that you can still eat during that hour. This constitutes grazing. · Track your food in Fitday. This helps. You will find that even tho you are eating every three hours your pouchie can't handle as much as it could have before. · If you aren't "carbophobic" add some whole grains to your meals, but eat them LAST. Mix all protein shakes with water and ice only. No milk or fruit. This adds calories and causes cravings for more carbs. You may add SF syrups, or mix your shakes with SF beverages, i.e., Propel, crystal light, Fruit 2-0, etc.

Well I thought I would share I am 20 months out and Pregnant. It was planned. Its the first one. Amy

Thanks for posting this thread!! I am struggling with this fear now too--I need to step it all up a notch to make sure that I keep the great progress that I've made. It's really scary. Take good care, and thanks for the support! Chandra

Hello Stephanie-- Hope you're doing great and losing still. What is the 10-day plateau buster? Just curious--I'm hovering about 15-20 pounds above goal, and would love a kickstart! Thanks! Chandra

Oh I so understand about the being bored with food and eating snacks instead. I don't know why it is so much worse in summer. I could just live off watermelon and ice cream in summer--but not now. I come home and just don't want to fix anything. Nothing at the fast food places even sounds good. I keep a nutrition guide in my car and that will take the appeal out of any fast food option! I'm trying some new recipes that I hope will bring some interest back. I do stick with a lot of seafood in the summer as it is lighter. And then it is so hot outside that it is hard to be motivated to exercise! Double wammy. I still have about 4 pounds to reach my goal, but I'm having a tummy tuck in a couple of weeks and the dr. said that would take off about 7 to 10 pounds of skin. Good luck, Sally