What lifestyle changes have you made since surgey?

I know we all have different plans and different surgeons but part of my plan was making lifestyle changes...

 I no longer go to fast food restaurants like Mc Ds or Kfc or Jack in the box or Burger king, i no longer eat pizza unless i make a low carb one, i dont order fries with my meals, i no longer eat rice or pasta, and i dont eat bread..  I eat protein first,  i dont eat and drink together.  I try to do some form of exercise most days.

Since Surgery and reaching goal what Lifestyle changes have you made and kept?

I had to wait 1 year for surgery approval but during that time made lots of changes.

- not drinking with my meals: before surgery it was just training for post-op. Now post-op I really can't drink with a meal as I'll get too full and possibly get slimies if I try it.

- gave up soda: I was a super serious sodaholic. I couldn't eat a meal without a carbonated beverage, but I gave it up last year. Nowadays I don't crave the soda and it was probably some months back that I took a sip of someone's soda and it just did not taste good.

- vitamins/supplements: I was never one for taking vitamins, etc. My journey began with Flintstone chewables, then I went onto gummies. I changed to Centrum and now I take an assortment of Vitalady's stuff. It's just part of my day and one of the first things I think about in the morning.

- tracking my food: I have over a year's worth of food data. It's not a chore for me to do, I do it on my iphone and if I need food ideas I glance thru what I ate a week, 2 or 5 ago and change it up a bit.

- scale time: I'm not  scalephobic. Every morning, after I use the bathroom, I get on my scale. It's a habit and something I do every single day. When I'm away from home it's not a big deal to me not to weigh since I'm not going away for weeks. For years I had a scale and never used it and never noticed (specifically with a number) how my weight had crept past the 200 lb mark, so it's about my accountability to me.

I'm sure there's tons more stuff. As time goes by, my lifestyle feels more relaxed because these things have been in place for a while and it just feels more and more natural.

Great topic!  Here are some of my major changes:

* Tracking my food.  I use myfitnesspal.com and update daily.  I try to plan one day in advance to overcome any temptations that come my way.  And, if plans change, I can update quickly using my Windows Phone

* Daily Weigh-In.  I've been tracking my daily weight for over a year now.  It helps to see the ebbs and flows over time.  I have learned what to expect the few days before, during, and after my period. 

* Sharing my meals.  Restuarant portions are HUGE!  My husband does not have a weight problem, but he also knows that he doesn't need to eat all that he gets at a restuarant.  So, we share.  1/2 the cost means we can go out more! 

* Making better food choices.  Yes, I sometimes go to McD or other similiar estalishments.  I may have 1 or 2 french fries, but not the Super Size.  I order a chicken breast or just a hamburger pattie and pair it with apple dippers (minus the caramel sauce).  Maybe it's not the "best meal", but it works in a pinch and I don't have to feel like places are "off limits".

* Accepting compliments - I used to always brush them off & not accept them.  I'm slowly, but surely learning to accept a compliment and simply say "thank you".  This is still a work in progress, but it's becoming easier.

* Shopping - This may seem silly, but I hated to shop for clothes for me before.  If it "fit", I bought it.  I dreaded special occaisions and having to find a specific outfit.  Now, I simply love shopping.  I actually enjoy going out & trying things on.  My husband even likes to go with me because, in his words, "I glow".   And,, maybe this is TMI, but I'm finally going into the lingerie section & making purchases.  Major lifestyle change in the bedroom - LOL! 

I am sure there are many more, but that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

Its interesting to see what everyone says here.  So far my changes are

Drasticly reducing sweets and carbs. During losing phase they were almost nil. Now in maintenance i still eat very little in the way of such and think this will have to be lifelong if i hope to maintain this loss. But I am mentally more comfortable with it than i have ever been in the past and feeling all the better for it. only low carb flat bread and no rice or pasta or potatoes and only occasional oatmeal or quinoa.

Still food journal in maintenance phase. may seem silly but i fear i will get off track if i stop. also, often find my protein is low near end of day and have that evening glass of skim milk or protein coco. weigh most days when i first get up.

Don't keep unhealthy stuff in the house. no one who lives here needs it and if i have guests, well maybe they get a little slack but not much. One can eat well without sweets and white carbs.

Check into OH daily. It really helps keep me focused on what i have accomplished and how i want to keep it.

Try to do more stuff. Chores, events, adventures. just try to enjoy the gift of new health.

Diane

 ** No ordering takeout pizza and Chinese.

** No more 3-5 course meals ( when we go out , I make sure it is a really good resturant and order a really good appatiser as my meal) 

** No eating and drinking ( I have to say no water please and get a surprised look every meal)

** Exercise as part of a weekly routine, no excuses no breaks.

** Go into a store and get what ever I want , everything looks great. ( big difference then going into Old Navy trying any thing 22 and leaving crying with nothing - i haven't wore or been to Old Navy or Walmart in over a year)

** I find I don't think about food any more, a meal is just a meal not a big production of what should I eat, when and how much. I even forget to eat ( which never ever happened in the past)

Since surgery I:
-  walk 4 miles a day
-  I eat healthy (for the most part) and without guilt
-  I take all of my vitamins and supplements daily
-  I drink water like a fish, at the right times
-  I participate in a forum for the first time
-  I pluck my eyebrows again
-  I wear dresses or skirts every day and try to look my best in a natural way...
-  I cut my hair
-  I am re-growing my hair, but in a different style
-  I got off all pharmacudical drugs including my Fluoxetine for PMDD
-  I have replaced the above drug with more natural options
-  I learned to love myself and my body
-  I gained confidence
-  I lost patience, and hate being used and taken for granted (not by hubby, but by friends and associates)
-  I don't care what people think of me now and I don't need to please everyone or have everyone like me
-  I know what I want, and I know how to acheive it
-  I realized losing weight would not fix everything in my life and I have some work to do
-  I realized for the first time in my life I am going to be able to keep this weight off, I have had the pleasure, for the first time, of actully learning how to maintain!

I love my Sleeve and what I have done for myself, more than ever at 1.5 years out!

Hugs,

Well I have made a lot...
Breakfast in the morning is a must.
Taking all of my medications as prescribed
Eating more healthy snacks
Walking more often
Drinking more water
Well thats some of them.  My surgery was on 12/13 so there are definitely more to come...

I have trouble coming up with a list because I've made a lot of changes but a lot of them are about degree. So I can't say "I don't eat X any more" because I probably do. But I don't it every week or even every day like I did before. Now it's more like 1x a month or less.

I have always tried to be good about only eating foods that I considered "worth it" (i.e., they had to taste as good as their nutritional profile demanded -- high calorie items with little nutritional value had to be super amazing to be eaten while healthy foods had a much lower barrier to entry.) I still do that but my standards are much higher now.

I do eat breakfast every morning.
I get up earlier and go to bed earlier
I am an athlete now (I exercised before but would go through periods when I didn't have any active hobbies and I never did anything at a level I considered athletic.)
I try to avoid processed foods more (but I still eat them)
I am nicer to myself or try to be

I count my protein every day. I have a protein shake every day.

I wear make up and dresses all the time now.

I hardly ever eat fast food and most of the time, I eat healthy food every day.