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I was below goal weight at 7 months so I increased from 600 calories to 1000 over several weeks then over a few months up towards 1500/1600 where I am now to maintain. Initially I added nut butters, I switched from low fat yogurt to 4%. I drank 2% Fairlife milk to up calories since it added nutrition and calcium. It took a long time to get more food in volume wise. I did start adding some slider foods but purposely chose things that were not very appealing like boring graham crackers or adding granola to yogurt. I didn't want to add tempting sliders like bread, pasta, pizza or donuts etc that could cause bad habits. Now at 1 year out I do have a piece (100 calories) of dark chocolate a few times a week and 1-2 cookies or 1/4 cup of regular ice cream 1-2 times a week. I have even had a few chips but I put them on a plate, never eat out of a bag. I was so scared of going into maintenance that I would over eat and make poor choices but I feel like I have a good handle on it now. Just remember to try a little of new food slowly to see what you tolerance is. I don't dump but get stomach discomfort from some foods.

I'm sure others will chime in with more suggestions. But nuts are a good start, as are nut butters. Adding healthy oils to your food, like cook some eggs in olive or avocado oil, and add some cheese. Whole grains are a good option too, especially since you're working out. You can ease into it and learn to trust yourself.

Some exercises will work to strengthen muscles and fill in the loose area but if its truly just a lot of skin surgery is the best bet.

You can lift weights to tone your arm muscles, and after you hit goal you may see some slight forming up over time. However, surgery is the only way to get rid of the extra skin post massive weight loss.

I had zero health issues from my weight, so my motivation was 90% vanity. I certainly don't think I am a horrible person.

That's GREAT. Good job.

Talk to your dietitian. You may need to start eating a bit more calorie-wise to maintain rather than lose.

I found that study. And I noticed that every other article that mentions the 85% divorce rate quotes that one study. There was another study done in Sweden (which has a 47% overall divorce rate - about the same as in the U.S.) said that 9% of couples get divorced after bariatric surgery. That sounds a lot more believable to me, just based on anecdotal evidence I pick up from the various WLS boards I've been on the last five years. I wonder if the person who did that first study meant an 85% LIFETIME divorce rate? (divorce rate for everyone - WLS or not - is about 48% in the US). Even an 85% lifetime divorce rate for WLS patients seems a bit high - but 85% in the two years after WLS seems really farfetched. I wouldn't be surprised if that study is flawed. Unless people who join internet forums are overwhelmingly in strong, happy marriages - but that seems implausible as well. I don't doubt the divorce rate increases after WLS. People gain confidence after losing weight, and many aren't as likely to put up with crap anymore - and they probably aren't as afraid of leaving someone for fear of never finding another mate because of their weight. But I think we'd hear about divorce A LOT more on these forums if it was happening to 85% of us.

85% divorce rate sounds really high. Yes - it happens to some couples - but I don't believe that statistic. Plenty of us have stayed married. I agree that a lot of it depends on how your marriage was BEFORE surgery. I think if anything, my marriage has gotten stronger. My husband never had a weight problem and is really active. At almost 400 lbs, I couldn't keep up with him. Now I can - and we do a lot more things together than we ever did before I had surgery.

I think its because generally, the weight loss sort of triggers a confidence thing in you and you begin to realize your worth, which in turn makes you more likely to reject those who don't.