Definitely all the things I can do now that I couldn't/wouldn't do before. Hiking last week I had to climb a crack between two rocks not much bigger than my hips today.....pre WLS, if I had even gotten to that point, I would have had to turn back!

Thanks. I, too, hope the next DEXA comes out ok. I am doing well otherwise (and hope you are, too!)

I can maintain my current weight (high 150s) if I stay in the 1500-1700 calorie a day range. If I go over that too often or by too many calories in any given week, my weight will start to creep up. If I consistently eat at the low end of the range or below it, I'll lose. But people's maintenance ranges can vary quite a bit. There are a lot of women on here who have to eat less than I do - and some who can eat more. It's pretty much trial and error to find your sweet spot.

How many calories do you stick to? I'm up 40 lbs from my lowest.

****rogirl, The minerals i have the most problems with are Iodine, copper, Magnesium and zinc. all are needed n balance. the things i have found effective for those are: A MVI that is truly a one a day formula- it has 200+% of copper.It s shaped like a football and smooth so can swallow t easily..., I take sea kelp(small tablet for iodine- can use a topical nascent),Zinc cold eze losenge 2x a week to taste.. if t begins "tasting off"- not like fruit- i remove and save for next dose in 3 days.Magnesium - i use a epsom salts foot bath 1 x a week unless i sweat heavily....following directions on package.. then rinsing feet well and apply moisturizer.

I also take D3, 10K most days...+ Vitamin K2, the research came out on it between 2 and 3 years ago.. there are 8 K vitamins,Not to be confused with K+,(potassium).

K1 is the one that aids clotting, K2 has been proven to be a mineral mover in the body.,In the research they stated that it IS "impossible to get an adequate supply of this vitamin by diet alone" The amount was 30 lbs of broccoli daily...... it moves mineral deposits back into the bones. I began it 2.5 years ago and put hubs on it- who also has dx. osteoporosis from 15+ years ago...His last bone scan, showed improvement./ had been on K2 for about 9 months...I had osteopenia dx more than 15 years ago... I have not had a repeat scan.cost was prohibitive..(1500-2k$)

The rest of K vitamins numbers 3-8) were still under investigation- at last i heard. I have found by taking K2 daily i require less of my supplements to avoids symptoms such as muscle cramps that i can get from both low potassium and magnesium...

Do your research, check out each mineral/Vitamin and the effect of not having sufficient and go from there... I found I was copper deficient when my hair suddenly went almost solid grey, and i had many bursting blood vessels in my hands, severe varicose veins. Note some vitamins, not just these will say they are complete... and they are not.I take a magnifying glass with me when purchasing vitamins now.

Hope this helps....take care stay alert to all changes..