Lessons learned

I think of myself as a work in progress.

I would like to lose about 5-10 more pounds. yes im stronger and healthier than I have ever been. Yes, I do have food issues to deal with, and I will probably always have to deal with them

Thank you for this post. I am just 5 months out and I will need to remember things like this.

I am only 18 months out and have been lowering my goal as I go along. My surgeon predicted 175, I just hoped for 190 or less. Got under 190, got under 170, lowered my goal to 150. I am two pounds away and now I would really love to be below 149, which would be a "normal" weight on doctors charts.

I think I might always be on the lookout for a new goal, weight related or otherwise. Work in progress, for sure!

Hi Linda, I also had my RNY January 2004 and within the last three months I have gained 30lbs. I had originally lost 154lbs and successfully kept it off until now. Having to take steroids factors into some of the weight gain but depression has put most of it on just no****ching the overload. I had to have a revision last fall due to an ulcer and hernia. I lost no weight afterwards which was confusing. I am impressed with your weight loss after your regain and wonder if you would be interested in helping me with mine. I would love to know what your eating to help you lose. I have worked so long to get to where I want to be and now to see it creeping back is frightening but I have no plan to which I can kick-start the next journey. Thanks for listening. I hope to hear from you soon.

I eat meat, basically. 3 to 4 ounces 3 times per day, with no more than 1/2 cup of vegetables. 2 to 3 snacks, again mostly meat - jerky, a slice of ham, or a couple of scrambled eggs or eggbeaters - or a protein shake. I keep the volume at 1 to 1 1/4 cup. I weigh and track EVERYTHING. I used to pop a peppermint hard candy in my mouth when feeling hungry cause it's small so I figured no big deal. There is 20 empty calories in each candy. 10 of those, and you've eaten an extra 100 calories with no nutrition. I measure protein, fat, carbs, and calories. I get in 90 + grams of protein every day, and keep my calories to around 900. You have to log and measure and be always mindful of the hidden calories. I plan my day's eating so I don't ever have to go "hunting" for something to eat. I buy frozen packages of beef and chicken fajita meat, and measure it out to 3 oz. packages - the snack size baggies are perfect. I have 1/2 cup ziplock plastic storage containers that I package my vegetables in. I make meatloaf, measure 1/2 cup into muffin tins, and they come out at almost exactly 3 oz. And so on. It takes planning.

typical day: