Updated goal

 Thanks, Roz. You always are encouraging about getting as low as the body wants to go. I hope I can blast off the last few pounds, so I can maintain "normal".

Congratulations, Wendy!!!!! Way to go!!!! It is exciting to hit a normal BMI and to be able to go below it. You have work hard for this.

Gail

 Thanks, Gail. You are one of my best role models. You never give up. I may contact you for some tips to get down these last few pounds. My body really seems to like to hold on to every pound at this point.

Having to adjust your goal is a GREAT thing, Wendy!!!   You're doing a spectacular job and I'm proud of ya! 

 Thanks, Ruthie. How tall are you? Our stats are so close, except you are losing so much faster than I am. That's a WOW!!! in itself. You go, girl.

I'm 5'2" Wendy...  Bear in mind that I lost 20 lbs. before surgery, so that means 60 post-op.  I'm averaging 10 lbs. per month.  When you look at an average, do you still think I'm losing fast?  I've felt like a slow loser.  I'm not a real exercise buff, but I have the energy to do at least 30 minutes of sustained movement of some sort almost every day, even if I have to break it up into 10 minute segments when it's a busy day.

What I'm eating is close to this:

A.  100+ grams of protein (2 shakes & a greek yogurt - each with a heaping scoop of powder plus whatever protein foods I eat during the day.)
B.  84+ ounces of water (20 ounces are in one of my shakes and at least 20 ounces are for taking my vitamins)
C.  Between the shakes, water, and "end of the day yogurt",  I eat 3 to 6 small servings of items along the lines of: a cheesestick, 2 oz. of cottage cheese w/1 oz. peaches, 4 boiled shrimp, a 2 oz. serving of some kind of meat, Wendy's chile, a hardboiled egg, 10 raw almonds, 3 oz. non-sweetened berry applesauce, a saute of veggies from the garden, or peanut butter on a saltine.  I try to keep servings of jello made up for those midnite munchies that still seem to plague me. 

How does your daily intake compare Wendy?

 I'm not super consistent, but here goes. Same breakfast every day, 1/3 c. cottage cheese and some kind of fresh fruit, 1/2 banana, pineapple chunks, berries, mango, et****asional yoghurt based protein smoothie.

Protein iced coffee mid morning.

Lunch: HB egg, tuna salad, 1 oz. cheese. Have either Wasa flatbread or 1 slice high protein bread. Sometimes 3-4 Triscuits. Small salad, really small, tomato, cucumber, minced red onion, red pepper with olive oil and vinegar. Some times I add 1 oz. low fat feta and some olives for a Greek salad. No lettuce yet. Sometimes have 1 oz. cheddar cheese and half an apple. In winter I had lots of soups, maybe 1/2 c.

Dinner 2 oz. hamburger, 2 oz. chicken. Rarely fish or other protein. Some veggie: artichoke, broccoli, tiny peas, spinach, summer squash. I get organic, grass fed ground beef and make up 2 oz. patties and freeze. I buy the bag of frozen chicken tenderloins at Costco and one is a meal.

My fill ins are plain NF yogurt and fresh fruit, OhYeah! protein wafers and now Quest bars. I use these when I am away or hungry. My favorite snack is 2 T. popcorn, airpopped, then topped with olive oil and salt. Occasional nuts, but have to be VERY careful. Salty crunch is still a craving for me. I keep SF popsicles and Fudgsicles around for treats.

If I feel I haven't had enough protein, I'll add a shake in early evening. I take my vitamins daily and know some days I don't get the extra 64 oz. water. I drink lots of plain iced tea in the summer.

I guess it's working. Some days, I know I am getting serving size creep, since eating more doesn't hurt so much. I still have trouble with things like steak and salmon, denser meats.

I think you are doing great!

I think you are doing great too Wendy!   Your menu plan looks very well rounded, but I wouldn't be able to eat that much now that I know I'm not going to starve if I eat a little less.  It seems like a lot to me anyway but it sure looks healthy!

I like bison for my burgers, it seems to digest better.  The chicken tenderloins are an excellent idea, thanks! 

As far as your steak and salmon go?   I purchased from vitacost.com a wonderful item by NSI (namebrand) that is called Mega Digestive Enzymes.  If I'm eating something new, I take two before my meal.  If something starts to sit heavy or feel funky I take two, whether it's protein, fat, or carbs these enzymes tackle it and let it pass through.  No more foamies or ground turkey hairballs for this chick!  LOL

um... I buy a big bag of raw almonds at Costco and freeze them in manageable sized containers.  Took me a bit to get used to raw rather than salted, smoked, or otherwise, but they are better for ya and it's easier to just count out and eat 10 or 12.  ;-)

The Oh Yeah bars were too rich for me and Quest PB&J bars did not taste right.  I still have some that I'll use if I have to as a grab n' go food.  What kind of SF popsicles do you buy?  The ones I picked out are nasty.  

You aren't using Greek yogurt?  Like Fage or Chobani?  Their 0 fat and 0 sugar versions have 18 gms of protein to a 6 oz serving.  Mixed with a scoop of protein powder it's a very yummy protein powerhouse.  I buy the quart size container and it lasts a week or more.  I make that the last thing I eat before bed and it helps keep me from getting hungry during the night.

I still haven't tried hot air popcorn... need to find a way to talk myself into liking it.  LOL  Flavored olive oil may be the ticket.

You are so close to goal Wendy.  You can do it! 

 I just can't get into the texture of Greek style yoghurt. I use Brown Cow or Strauss organic. It is usually marked as European style, thinner and tarter than Greek. I sometimes add a scoop of my beloved Beneprotein. 

The bison is an idea to try. Also the enzymes. I have stood over the sink with foamies, wanting to throw up, wishing to throw up. Maybe TMI.

The popsicles I prefer are Dreyers fruit bars, no sugar added. they're 25 calories each, as opposed to the popsicle brand's 15, but so much tastier, real fruit and no nasty aftertaste.

I have raw almonds and need to use them more. I don't overdo them, like I do the salted ones. Thanks for reminding me. I don't use the bars very often, just when I miss a meal, or have no good choices. I keep something in my purse when I leave the house for more than a few hours.

Tonight I went to a friend's house for dinner. I never touched the tortilla chips and salsa before dinner. I had a quarter of a bun with about 2 oz. shredded beef, about 2 T. baked beans, and a few bites of salad. For dessert I brought two baskets of incredible strawberries. Everyone else had homemade candy. I pigged out on the plain strawberries. That is such a change for me.

Exchanging info is fun.

Wow.  I'm glad I had flagged the email notification of this message or I'd have never found it to finally reply!  And I *wanted* to reply!!  LOL

Seems to me, when I mix anything with Greek yogurt, it thins it down and it turns a thick creamy instead of just thick.  I like the Brown Cow but I think the big container of 0 Fat and 0 Sugar goes further and saves me money when I buy the Fage.  Do you shop exclusively at a health food store?  My closest one is 30 miles away so, needless to say, I typically shop the Safeway that is half the distance and try to shop wisely.   The bison I buy at Costco and I sure do love it.  I bet I could get certified organic bison at New Frontiers though.  :-(

Oh my yes, the enzymes are a miracle.  If I don't take them beforehand, it's okay.  As soon as I notice something's not sitting right, I down two with a small sip of water and the feeling goes away in minutes.  Why was this not in the literature?  Why did I ask my NUT and Bariatrician about enzymes and they said papaya and bromelain were good.  You should have seen the surprised look when I showed them the bottle and all the different enzymes it has in it!  They reeeeally didn't know something like that existed?  I'm thinking they didn't or are really good actors.  I guess it's just another good example of why we have to think for ourselves and do our own research on top of what they give us.  They do the best they can with what they have to work with, but they do not have all the answers.  :-)  So, that's my rant and I'm stickin' to it.  LOL   Did you pick you up some yet?

The Dreyer's strawberry/raspberry/tangerine is the box I got... same 25 calories.  The flavor sort of put me off at first but they've grown on me.

I agree that the smoked/flavored almonds are had to put down.  I can count out 12 raw almonds and be happy with that.  I've ordered a couple of boxes (& singles to test) of protein bars from Quest.  My husband likes the texture of them and we'll see how the flavors are. 

Good job on eating right at your dinner with friends!  It's not so hard to do once you get the hang of moving the attention away from you and what you are (or are not) eating.  I do kinda like eating this new way...  a lot!  LOL

Any new experiments these past couple off weeks?