Day 3 - Calling all Vets - more questions for you all

Thank you all so much for answering all these questions!! It is so helpful for us.

Q1: Be a machine. You will experience stalls from time to time but you have a powerful tool and a year or so that is primed for maximum weight loss. FOLLOW YOUR PLAN TO THE LETTER.

Q2: Don't ignore the "small" regains, thinking it will somehow be ok. The day will come when you have to face the music. My personal tool for maintenance for almost 10 years has been my clothes. Post op, we have to replace EVERYTHING in our wardrobe including our socks. I promised myself that I wouldn't ever replace these new clothes with a larger size....but it's a painful reality when the things in the closet are snug because I ignored those first few extra pounds.

I'm 5 years out. (almost 6-which blows my mind!)

Q1: Be a machine!! The others all have awesome reasons why and I can't add anything.

Q2: Most important thing in maintenance: Don't stop logging and weighing/measuring your food. What not to do: Let simple carbs back in! They're such a ***** to quit!

Q1: Be a machine. It will never be easier than in the first 18 months.

Q2: Don't stop measuring and weighing your food. If you had been good at portion size, you'd not have needed surgery at the go. You will never be "normal" --

9.5 years post op.

Question #1 (Q1):

Do you agree with the "be a machine" and lose your excess weight quickly and get to goal as fast as you can? Or do you believe in "slow & steady" is better?

BE. A. MACHINE. You don't get another chance to have malabsorption. I know a few people who have stories about taking many years to get to goal, but I have read waaaaaaay more stories about people who didn't get to goal by year one and then started gaining again. It's not impossible, but it sure is harder.

Question #2 (Q2):

What (in your opinion) is the most important rule to follow to be successful in maintenance? If you have one thing you would tell people NOT to do what is it?

My program always stressed that the three things that make people successful long term are:

1.) Regular support groups. (OH is mine!)

2.) Regular exercise. They say even if you are not exercising vigorously enough to lose weight--being the type of person *****gularly exercises means you are on a daily path of decimation and health.

3.) Eating a boring routine of the same foods and not looking for variety. ...I have not mastered this one at all...