What have you done post surgery FOR YOU that gets you to your WLS Goals? No Excuses

Vitamins (do you set timers, just remember etc) -- for the first 2 years after surgery, I did set reminders via my phone. I also log them as part of my food via MyFitnessPal -- including the calories/carbs in my daily count.

Support Groups (do you attend multiple or just one/not at all?) -- I have attended several groups. Pre-surgery groups, Binge Eating Support and a Post-Surgery group. Unfortunately, none of them were a great fit for me long-term. My BED group has too many who are at the denial phase, and it's not helpful for me. The post-surgery group has mostly significant re-gainers who have issues with compliance.

Meal Plan -- eating plan has these major components: Weighing and measuring every thing that goes in my mouth, logging everything that goes into my mouth, greater than 80 grams of protein with less than 40 grams of carbs per day in maintenance.

Mental Health/Therapy -- I saw an eating disorder counselor for the first 18 months after surgery to deal with my BED.

Attend National Conferences -- N/A

Online support system -- I truly believe remaining active in OH is integral to my success. I try to log in every day to maintain accountability, and to give back. I think so many people ditch OH once they are a year or two in -- and this is a mistake. Not only does it keep the focus on what brought us to surgery in the first place, but it's also right to give back to those who are just starting.

Individual Support outside of a support group -- I am my own best support.

Exercise on a regular basis - other than making sure I have 10,000 steps a day, I do nothing in addition. I once did the couch to 5K, but I have no desire to continue it, and do not feel that exercise did anything (less than 5% of my effort) towards losing 220 pounds.

Love.All.of.THIS!!!

I am going to take a different path in response to your question. All of the above posters excellent ideas and strategies and are so important as you make your way.

For me, lasting success lies in deciding each and every day to choose to follow whatever plan you come up with. No days off- no "rewarding" myself with treats because I've "been good", and so on. Am I talking about perfection? Not at all. I'm suggesting serious progress over time-- Recognizing that a conscious decision to go off plan is to say that you prefer to return to your old behaviors (did they work for you back then? Make you happy? Truly satisfy or comfort you?)

I'm also not talking "will power"- I do not believe in that- I believe in choices- all day every day. Making each and every choice IS something that I have complete control over. I can choose to walk forward, or I can choose to go back to the unhappy consequences of previous decisions.

I have come to this as a result of having to deal with a significant regain (125#s)--it was so easy to fall into. I would do well and then go back, and found myself starting over and over and going nowhere.

When I started stringing successful days together is when I saw progress- which gave me hope that over time I could again reach my goal. Over a year that happened and I am below goal today. For this I am truly grateful and hope to honor that hard work through my choices.

My daily goal is to live out the truth of this daily:

PRIDE = Progress Realized In Daily Effort.

I love all of this! This is also what I am referring to in the "what else"... I understand all of it an admire you!

Get to goal and stay there. It was never my problem losing weight even before WLS. The maintenance was close to impossible. Now - I have no excuses.

I attended local support group for 2-3 years post op. After that it was not applicable.

On line support - really keeps me well informed and allows me to reach to people when I don't know what to do. Paying it forward is important, - if someone comes to groups like OH only asking for help, never contributing, their posts get lost in a noise. I personally - don't bother.

I learned do do much from people on OH, and now - some FB groups I am in. I wouldn't be as successful or informed if I was not on OH. The people makes the group.

Before WLS - if I messed up, I would try to start "Tomorrow", or "Monday", or "After holidays". Now - I reset the next meal. Same day.

Surgery changed my diet. Even though I ***** and cry about my food's allergies and intolerances, that contributes to my success. I hate not feeling well, and some foods make me feel ill. I developed sort-of dislike to them. And most of those foods would make me gain weight.

Following up with my doctors and finding great doctors who are smart and are there to help me. Having a good team is critical. Asking, and almost demanding help if needed. But doing my part to show I care about my health. I.e I gained 20 lbs over my desired weight and my doc told me to lose at least 10, to see if that would help with my back pain. I lost 15, and my pain got better, but it didn't go away. So I got referral to a specialist.

Good sense of humor, and knowing I deserve to be healthy. My family and friends deserve for me to be the best I can be.