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

That is my struggle right now the food just becomes less appealing when eating it day in and day out. I have tried to switch up the ways I am doing it but it is the same. I probably need to reevaluate it for financial reasons and do as you stated dinner leftovers are lunch the next day. I just find we don't have leftovers at times since we are a bigger family. I will figure it out though. I am with you on the coffee I need my coffee.

Since we eat so little volume, I always put my next day's lunch away BEFORE I serve the group. No one notices it's gone, and I've secured my healthy lunch for the next day.

I wish I could say I've always been super compliant with everything, but life happens.

That being said, the ONE rule I have followed religiously is the not drinking with/directly after meals. I think this is the ONE thing that has been my saving grace, and is the reason that even at 11 years out I still have quite a bit of restriction. It was so strongly discussed by my surgeon (even pre surgery) that it stuck with me.

This is a big issue for me so I am going to work on this. I know it is a must so I have to get back to doing this as a rule of thumb to ensure I keep the regain I lose, off.

Making myself accountable no matter what-yet without beating myself up!

It's a journey, and for the most part I have stayed on it within the parameters, but at times I have strayed-even knowing better-I have strayed. Yet, I just dust myself off and get back on the path. Regrets and guilt used to hold me back making me feel powerless, inept and frustrated-and I would just give up. It's not that I cannot stay on program but sometimes I just want a certain food, at a certain time, or just do not feel like working out. But in life, I now know that is ok at times.

Yet, I am aware it can and has in the past kept me off the main road, so while I don't beat myself up, I also don't wait for the next Monday, or next cycle, or next....., I just get back on program, and each time I find that I stay on the path longer. I've come to be a realist, yet I also know I can do better and I will do better. For me, it's slow, but it's steady-with always a goal in view.

I've learn to be kind to myself, yet still hold myself accountable.

I have several limitations with food because of nausea, gluten intolerance and reactive hypoclycemia.

I'm content eating pretty much the same foods every day. It varies with cold weather and summer weather here in Indiana.

I eat for fuel. I don't eat white carbs, sweets over 9 gm per serving, nothing fried and nothing that is "dry". Food has lost its excitement for me. I'd rather eat at home where my food won't make me nauseated or dry heaves - restaurants often make me run to bathroom with excess saliva and "vomiting".

I'm close to my goal weight and am content and enjoy life.

I take all my supplements, get 80-100 grams of protein a day, keep my appointments and lab draws. Don't eat any fast food, alcohol or soda.

I find it pretty easy to abstain from above foods - I'm almost 11 years post RNY.

Blessings,

Penny

Attending Support Groups to encourage Pre-Ops (and myself) that everything is all worth it. I have become more assertive in my food choices when declining an offer from someone and not saying "yes" all the time

A very interesting question. I've been thinking about it since you first posted, and I finally came up with my answer:

I think my "post-op superpower" is my analytical brain. It has helped me find a food plan that leaves me satisfied and gives me the nutrition I need. It has helped me discover patterns and natural variations in my eating, and make small tweaks to improve it without making me feel deprived.

Before apps like Cronometer and My Fitness Pal, it wasn't so easy to keep track of calories (much less macro- and micronutrients). The information they provide has really helped me tailor my diet to my lifestyle and tastes.

When I am doing well with my weight (previously when maintaining and now while losing regain), I found the following to be most critical:

• Honestly tracking what I eat (calories previously, WW points currently)
• Weighing regularly (in my case daily with weekly WW weigh-ins right now)
• Planning meals - especially when I go out to eat which is very frequent. I peruse the menu ahead of time so I can make smart choices. Also if the meal is large, I only eat my usual amount and take the rest for leftovers.

I'm 5.5 years post-op (sleeve).

Here's what I do nearly religiously that works well for me.

1. Weigh every morning
2. Plan/track my daily meals (My Fitness Pal)
3. Post nearly every day on OHM's VSG Maintenance community board (I love those peeps!)
4. Take my supplements daily
5. Exercise nearly every day (yoga, walking, and recently weight-lifting)
6. My super power: Starting over, starting anew, whatever you want to call it. I understand very clearly that life requires us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again! Constantly!
7. I am really good at positive self-talk and do not beat myself up when I'm not perfect, which ain't ever gonna happen. ;
8. Lately, I've really enjoyed cooking very nutritious foods for myself (my sweet husband died two years ago, and it took over a year for me to realize it was worth the effort to cook only for myself).
9. Finally, I have seen a therapist for nearly six years (since before WLS). I told him recently that he's one of the most important guardrails in all of my WLS maintenance plan.

Here's what I suck at:

1. Hydration
2. Getting enough sleep--although even that is getting better the last six months
3. I'm sure I suck at lots of other stuff, but I can't remember those right now. ;)