Trying to lose weight - failing

Personally, I'd wonder why your doctor wanted you to lose 10-15lbs more if you were happy at your weight (and health wasn't an issue). It doesn't seem feasible that you are going to maintain there anyway and you'll have a better outcome if he does the surgery at your 'normal' weight.

I agree!

he wanted my thigh skin to hang more.

Are you still smoking and drinking?

Removing both of those things from your lifestyle will help you recover better from surgery and help with weight maintenance.

i quit drinking over 1.5 years ago. i do still smoke but i am working on it. it is one of the last things i have to let go. i quit the recreational drug use and the drinking.

Regular for me- yes.

Regular for me still means low carbs, and only some of the carbs some of the times.

When my weight is low- I really give myself permission to eat as long as it does not make me sick. Or cause dumping or severe Reactive Hypoglycemia.

But - I very seldom eat bread, or beans, or dairy ... So no cake, cookies, donuts, late, etc.

I may have more fruits - and more verity of fruits, I may have some sweet potato fries, I don't measure my nuts - I just eat them. Or nut butter. I may eat dark chocolate - the 70-85% dark. I may have a few hard candies. On a rare occasion I may have 1/2 slice of thin crust pizza (even though I should not - allergies) . But I really don't eat a lot. I have days I know I don't eat enough. Food that I may want to eat can sleep me sick, and good that I can eat- I just don't feel like eating.

I eat "whatever" when my weight is way below my goal. My real goal is 150, but now I try to maintain around 145. When my weight drops below 140- that is too low for me. Then I have issues with maintaining my BS, my blood pressure, I get very tired every easily. I know that under 140 my body fat % is too low for me- my age & my body frame.

When my weight is below 140 - I try to eat anything that does not make me sick to bring it up back to at least 142-143.

As long as your body has fat to burn, you are getting enough calories.