Top 3 Things You Attribute Your Progress Thus Far To

1.  Vitamins.    My NUT had me start my vitamins during the 6 month process.  That got me into a routine of taking them.

2.  Measuring out my food.  I never realized how much I was over eating until I met her.

3.  Learning about nutrition. 

Basically not eating any (other than complex) carbs until maintenance.
Logging my food on myfitnesspal.com.
Getting and giving support on OH.

 Do you have problems with weight gain in maintenance doing to simple carbs?

 In a word, yes.  Luckily it has been easy enough to drop them again.  I gained about 4-6 lbs over Christmas and have been trying to eliminate them.  Today I think I'm back to where I was before Christmas.  I did a carb cleanse where I eliminated all  simple carbs (had a few complex carbs) for a few days and the cravings went away.  I think my body is pretty sensitive to them and weight seems to creep up again when I'm using them freely.

Great questions!

1)  Support of my wonderful husband, family, and friends

2) Logging my food on www.myfitnesspal.com - tracking and being accountable 

3) Prayer, Prayer, and More Prayer  -  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

4)  I am going to cheat and add one more - Support groups such as OH and VST.  TREMENDOUS HELP.  I noted on another post that it seems that people who participate regularly in support groups such as this lose (and maintain) most if not all their excess weightloss.  Do you agree?
 

 I think that different personality types get different things form support groups .... and that is doing what you is necessaryf to shoring up  need/lack and what helps with motivation is probably what  helps people be successful ... 

 My progress isn't that far, but I'll try to overthink for myself:

!. Following my surgeon's program and calling his office staff for help when I need it

2. "Listening" to my sleeve every time I eat. Learning to quit eating before I feel discomfort. I have had to really slow down to get this.

3. Getting support. I go to a live support meeting at least once a month and log on here every day. It keeps me with positive people

 Do you think you get more facts or comaraderie out your live support meeting?

I go to a support group that is open to anyone, no matter where you had surgery or which surgery. Some of the people who come are 8 years out from surgery. There are always pre-ops who are testing the waters. I went at least 4 times before surgery. It meets, once a month and alternates between a speaker and a check-in, where everybody shares, only if they want to. Our January meeting was a surgeon who showed actual videos of RNY, VSG, and band surgery, which he had performed. Then we can ask any questions. Usually there is a representative from Kaiser (our biggest HMO) and a surgeon from one of the practices nearby, who answer questions at the end of the meeting. We can talk to them one-on-one after the meeting, if we want.

I like seeing people face to face, seeing their progress. The group has a fair amount of men and all age groups. There is a clothing exchange with amazing amounts of donated stuff, all cleaned and sorted by size. We bring vitamins (or protein) whatever we don't like, so it doesn't go to waste. I intend to keep going no matter what. I even told my boss that I would not be available the second Sat. morning of each month.

Can you tell I love the meetings? After saying all that, I think the daily check-ins here are great. I would say if you see medical advice, it gives you information to ask your doctor about specifics. The LW board is a great group. Both fit into my life. 

1. Not eating ad drinking together.
2. Staying away from white carbs. Since I let some in I have hard more trouble losing and getting them back out.
3.100+ gms of protein a day.
4. Not being afraid of some good fats.
5. All the fluid I can drink...upwards of 80 oz a day.