What is one thing you are exceptional at when it comes to your WLS lifestyle?

Despite all the things I have done "wrong"...and there have been a ka-jillion, no doubt...I still do not ever drink, with my meals...not even with snacks...No big deal...I just don't do it

Another habit I broke, years ago, was eating in the car - anyone's car. I watch people wolf down sacks and sacks of food, while driving, and remember when I was guilty of that...then I would throw the trash away, before I got home, so my family wouldn't know (like my car didn't reek of FRENCH FRIES?!?-I thought I was slick)

Great question !!

Thank you Gina! OH.......I still have a hard time NOT drinking with meals sometimes it is a breeze and other times I am reaching for water to wash something down. I need to learn to keep it off the table during meals. Eating in the car I really wish I could get away from this but my commute is tedious at times so it is sometimes a must. *hanging my head** I've had the french fry smell in my car and been asked if I ate any and said no. This was prior to surgery but I felt so bad for that. I laugh now but that was really a turning point for me. Lying about food.......to my kids.

Oh, I have to attack this one! Usually when planning a long car trip, part of the planning is my "road snacks." Heading TO a destination, I am pretty good about making up a ziplock bag of celery and green pepper. But....heading home from that destination I often don't have that control or access to a good kitchen to prepare things like this!

I am very good at pre-planning my meals for the week (entering my meals ahead of time into a tracking app over the weekend, then making small daily adjustments on the morning of...), doing meal prep over the weekend (packing lunches) and tracking every morsel that goes into my mouth into a tracking app. Relatedly, I am also good about weighing and measuring my food so that I am sure that what I am tracking is accurate.

Juniper this is so great. For me this is a must. Have you had any regain at any time was that a reason why you are tracking and measuring everything? Maybe I should incorporate that in as well.

I tracked from the start, but I stopped last year when I was in a really unsustainable job situation. Between not exercising, not tracking meals appropriately, giving up support groups, and the terrible stress I was under, I did have about 10lbs of regain. Plus it was my 3rd year post-op, which was tough because malabsorption was alllll gone and I was on my own to stay on track.

The day I quit that terrible job in July I got back to healthy tracking and even though I haven' lost all of my weight yet, I feel much more in control. I should hit my 5 year surgiversary this summer very close to my goal weight again I think.

I am sorry for your struggle during the stressful time but at least you are now on the right path. I agree that it is so much harder once that malabsorption is gone I literally did not think about that and paid dearly for it. Many people need to realize that this is an ongoing process for life we will always be battling regain either trying to get it off or keeping it at bay. I realized that a little late but not too late.

I'm really good at eating my own food vs going out and buying some. I pack my breakfast and lunch for work daily. Before surgery I would take literally any excuse to have a lunch out. I now pretty rarely dine out, about 1-2 times per month for a work lunch or because I've planned something with a friend and then 1-2 times per month out for dinner (it's not cheap to take the family out anymore, so it's to be avoided).

I also am also really good at not drinking with meals. This one is easy because it hurts like hell for me. If I've taken even one bite of good, solid, dense food I can't drink anything for a good long while without pain.

I wish I could not eat out while I eat more healthy items if I do it is definitely detrimental to my wallet at times. I tend to eat out if I get bored with my food (I do meal prep and use the same protein throughout the week) it has become a distraction at times so now I look for a more cost-effective way to get variety for meal planning/prepping. Any suggestions on what you do?

I meal plan our dinners, but I haven't had a lot of luck meal prepping lunches. I find the quality of the food goes down over the course of the week and I'm less appealed to eat it. So, lunch is normally left overs from dinner the night before or very simple. I mostly do deli meat and cheese and a veggie right now. I will occasionally do taco salads, or other types of salad instead. I am greatly deterred by the cost of dining out on work days - if I'm going to spend the money I'd rather it be a social occasion. Also, I'd truthfully spare the money for a coffee on work days.