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Today's win ? Returned to weight lifting after what seems like a 200 year hiatus. 🤣 Nothing extreme or crazy....very light weights with lots of reps. Injury avoidance is key concern. Other win is the overall feeling like I have things dialed in and the cruise control is activated. The positive feels from this are so welcome. The last 6 years or more have been chaotic and hellish at times. Things are slowing down and falling into place. Sure the scale is giving lower numbers every week, but the real improvement has been with the pure simplicity of returning to the initial advisements of the professionals at my bariatric center.

HOLY ISH! A year already?! Time has flown! I still remember the beginning of your journey and those first posts—wow, you've come so far and done so incredibly well! I'm seriously so proud of you!! I totally agree with @SpartanMaker—maintenance is no joke, and exercise really does make all the difference. Weight lifting has been key for me too. It helps so much with maintaining, even more than cardio sometimes. Build that muscle and you're burning calories just by existing. Cardio is still super important,! I’m still figuring out maintenance myself, but my workouts have been consistent and even through my 2month spat of not being able to get my nutrition in control, making sure I kept up with exercise has been key I have been consistently doing this and its been great: 35–45 minutes of strength training, 5 days a week, At least 30 minutes of cardio daily (treadmill, dog walks, biking—whatever tickles my fancy), 2 lower body days, 2 upper body, 1 full body and one day a week my doggy and I do a 5-mile walk (she gets a walk every day, but that’s our long one). You’ve been so fabulous through this whole process, and I can’t wait to hear about your continued journey!

Bigtime thank you. had been feeling like I was treading water in the surf....waves crashing and pushing under....fighting to get back to surface....now, however, it feels like being in stable boat that is smoothly cursing along out in calm seas. dumb analogy, I suppose....but grateful as heck nonetheless

@AmberFL this is awesome Amber! So happy that you were able to reset! The most greatest thing is our TOOL, we will always have it and it's will work for us as long as we work WITH IT. I will be looking forward to your updates.

Just another update to my measurements! Starting weight: 281lbs Bust = 53", Waist = 45", Hips = 56", Stomach = 56" 26/08/24 216 lbs Bust = 45", Waist = 36.5", Hips = 49", Stomach = 47.5" 13/11/24 196.2 lbs Bust = 43", Waist = 35", Hips = 46", Stomach = 46" 19/05/25 150lbs Bust = 35", Waist = 28", Hips = 39.5", Stomach = 35"

Today is my 7 year surgiversary 🎉 I can’t believe it’s been that long but my lifestyle does have a lived in feel to it. My weight is stable-ish with a current BMI of ~25. I have no problem finding safe things to eat while out but this year I cooked the major of my meals. That means I accidentally began meal prepping because of cooking foods only I seem to want to eat twice in a row. I’m ok with this as I actually like eating the same things, ad nauseum 🤣. I drink hot tea every morning and most nights. I have fully returned to carbonated water, kombucha and pre/probiotic drinks. Some highlights of this year includes sending my last child off to college, my first colonoscopy, started reading spicy books (thanks ACOTAR) and a few bucket list trips (The Space Coast to visit Kennedy Space center, Grand Canyon and the New Mexico hot air balloon festival). I’m still very satisfied with the outcome of WLS and all of the new advancements in obesity medicine.

Almost 5 years & yes, I do. There are certain foods that simply are too heavy in my tummy. Breads, pasta, rice I’m looking at you. I try a bite of bread every now & again just to see but nope not for me. (Don’t really miss them at all & I used to eat them often). I also have times when something I’m eating unexpectedly sits too heavily. Unexpected because I’ve eaten it before without an issue & I’ll eat it again easily. Though it is nice to know my restriction is still active. And yes I still have bouts of the foamies. I think I’ve a more sensitive tummy & esophagus but I had a sensitive tummy before surgery so nothing really new just a little different. I’ve accepted them & think of these as things that are just quirky to me: makes me more special than I already am - LOL! Doesn’t really restrict or limit me in any way. Can be a little annoying at times of course but easily manageable. And much like @The Greater Fool, some days I eat all of my meal & another I may not. Doesn’t matter. I love left overs. They mean I may only be reheating my dinner tonight not cooking from scratch. I’ll be snacking on my left over rolled oats breakfast later this afternoon. I also focus on protein & vegetables too & honestly after that I couldn’t eat anything else. Oh yes, also female, though late 50s, 5’3” & not active,& have maintained (apart from a 2kg medication glitch 2.5yrs ago but I lost that when we sorted it). Congratulations on maintaining too. Who hoo!

There's a reason when I describe my eating plan it is "3 meals of 3-4oz protein, 1oz veggies, or when I am full, whichever comes first." Typically, I probably complete 1 meal of 5 or 6, and a couple bites in 1 meal of 5 or 6, then the others are somewhere between. This is very normal for me, even all these years later. Good luck, Tek