That's a pretty ****** up and judgmental thing to say, Heidi.  And also inaccurate.

You kiss your husband with that bitter mouth?  Completely uncalled for.    Julie is a wonderful person and now mother to the most gorgeous bright little baby.  We should all have that sort of result from WLS.

I try with you Heidi, I really do, but you can't expect people to care what you say or think when you get so nasty so quickly.  Rise above it and the so called "cliques" will do the same, I'm sure.

Before you give such a nasty response, you really should know what you're talking about.

I don't judge her methods Julie because I wear a similar pair of shoes and have faced similar "condemation" from medical practioners or average blokes that just dont "get it" and refuse to "get it".

I have PCOS, I cant eat a lot of carbs or fast ones. My nurse practionier AND Endocrinologist have repetitively had to tell the NUT and Psychologist to get off my back [they think I have "food aversions". I don't; I assure them I would LOVE to eat cheetos and crackers and bread all day long, but I my excess hair, dark patches, screwed up cycles and weight gain WILL come back. I have spent thousands on hair removal, vitamins, labwork, clothes, and etc. I am not gaining weight or deliberately working on cultivating excess hair ever again].  I have weight lifting friend that INSISTS that I should have a peach protein shake made with peaches from high fructose corn syrup because it is cost effective, healthy and TASTE SO GOOD. [I think the lack of calories has made this buddy a little stupid or forgetful but you dont have to be smart to work at the bureucratic place I work at...gotta love DC].

Some of us have unique medical situations. Heidi appears to be one of them. She found a mechanism that works for her but it may be too stringent for the average WLS patient.

Each situation/patient is unique and needs to be evaluated case by case.

At any rate, what Heidi eats or doesn't eat, drinks or doesn't drink doesn't affect my daily life or freedoms. Live and let live.  Her journey is her own.  I wish her well and continued success.

Thanks SkinnyScientist.  I have always made this wls journey about what works for me through trial and error and lots of research into how my body reacts to certain food and its relationship to my weight.  I can tell you if I wake up and eat the tiniest bowl of breakfast cereal or my beloved oatmeal my day is ruined by blood sugar highs and lows, forcing me to keep eating until I reach balance.  I cannot eat any food that smells in the morning, nothing greasy, fried, or any scents, if I enter a Starbucks the smell of coffee can turn my stomach completely.  My husband drinks coffee but it must be purchased through a drive thru and never made in my house.   So I can either not eat and sip tea and have a good stomach day or I can eat and throw myself on a roller coaster of having to eat.  I choose not to eat and when I am forced too I pick oatmeal and expect a crash and prepare for it.  When I was working I would have a protein bar as a backup during the day, now that I am home I generally might have a snack of yogurt or some homemade jerky and have dinner with my husband.  I might add my husband does not eat as I do and he had rny in 2014, I need him to learn what works for him, he's regained 15lbs from his lowest and is quite upset.  But this lifestyle is a learning curve, you need to know your triggers, know how to avoid eating traps, and always stay diligent.  Now when I have a bad day I go out and do something, I don't turn to food.  I keep very limited amounts of food in my house so that there is nothing to snack on that would cause issues.  My husbands eating plan included all sorts of traditional components I do not agree with and I found never worked for me, and honestly he is facing 15lbs of regain that I never allowed to happen.  He did initially lose too much because his doctor said he would regain but he is 5lbs more than his goal of 235lbs at 6'4.  But I remain the same, through my plan which works for me.  Everyone should develop their own eating plan they can live with.  I never tell anyone how to eat, including my husband, we are all adults and make our own choices, I could never live with anyone questioning my eating nor would I ever be that person.  You live and learn.

Continued success on your journey.

WOW!!!! Congrats on your hard work and success.  It's stories, such as yours, that inspire me and keep me motivated.  Thanks for sharing.

Thanks.  My roots are grounded in OH, so I come back when I can and try to lend support.

Hi Heidi: Your story and pictures are so inspirational. I'm a newbie (5 weeks out yesterday) and am struggling with head hunger and the voice of addiction, and it's so cool to see someone who's overcoming the obstacles.

You just have to make everything you are craving in a healthy version so you can enjoy the flavor if not the actual article of food.  For me so many things make me sick or my blood sugar reacts too it limits my choices, but I don't care, too much food got me to the point of needing wls so now it's easy to just walk away and eat nothing.  I love the power I have over food.  It's really addicting to walk down the aisles of a grocery store and look around and buy nothing because you can.  When I eat I make it count.  I will never be a size 2 but I am happy and healthy where I am.

Good Luck and continued success.

Thanks for posting, Heidi.  I've always enjoyed your comments.

I also have RH and it sucks.  I am trying to get off 6 pounds and it is so hard.  I'm really limiting calories and carbs at the moment.

Maintaince is hard work.  I've been able to stay within 5 pounds of goal weight but I need to journal my eating for months at a time just to stay accountable.  Mindless eating - without considering calories or carb grams is a downfall for me.  I may not even be hungry.

I keep reading, researching, etc. to keep my mind "on track".

Your pictures are great.

Keep up the good work

Penny