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Cheri, you have done so well, but I know how hard it is to really accept that and not obsess about the few pounds left. I was also a slow loser, it took me 18 months to reach my goal weight and then I actually dropped a couple pounds below my goal weight. Then, for close to a year, I was maintaining easily. I always watched what I ate (but did not track) and weighed myself daily. Then I made a switch in medications and that little switched caused me to gain 7 lbs in 3 weeks. I quite taking the medication and stopped gaining, but have been struggling to get those pounds off now. I have been diligent watching my food choices and it is helping, but frustrating none the less. I was like you, happy where I was. I wasn't obsessing about my food. Don't get me wrong, I have always watched what I ate since getting the sleeve and made many changes to my lifestyle in order to lose and maintain. But I was ok with having a treat here and there, I was OK eating garlic bread at the restaurant and not feeling guilty. Now I am back to the guilt, feeling bad about eating anything. And with my cycles I have huge weight fluctuations, so now I am hitting numbers that I haven't seen in a long time. Even though I know the numbers will go back down, just like they did 6 months ago, they stress me out just that little bit more. So I am trying to relax a little. When I lost the first time, I was relaxed about. I think because I never thought I would really reach goal, I didn't stress about as much. When I stopped losing a few pounds above goal, I just thought I was done losing and I was ok with that. Then, after a few months, I started losing again. Now that I have been there, I want to be back there. Plus, I have the same fear that I will regain all the weight that I lost. I know that stress is terrible for weight loss, so I am trying my best to just take a deep breath. I am watching everything I eat. And now that the weather is warmer, I am more active than through the winter. I am trying to just roll with the punches. You are not alone in your feelings, I am right there with you! It is hard to get back in the mode of "dieting" when you felt that you were done with that. The thing that differs now though is that you are aware of it. You have not gained 20, 40 or 100 lbs back. You are up 8 pounds. Back in the day, we would have scoffed at that! You will get there again!

From Kalyn's Kitchen Blog http://www.kalynskit...ited-again.html I only use about 10 eggs which makes a dozen muffins for me. I use a cup of shredded cheddar, green and red peppers, green onions, and Smokey River meat Company turkey Breakfast sausages. With the way I make them, stats are approximately 126Cal 3g Carbs 12g fat 9g Protein 1g Fiber 0g sugar These are super delicious, like scrambled eggs to go! Egg Muffins Revisited (Makes 12 muffins, recipe created by Kalyn with inspiration from The South Beach Diet book. Ingredients: 15 eggs (for silicone muffin pans, use 12 eggs for metal muffin tins or individual silicone cups. You can use less egg yolks and more egg white if you prefer.) 1-2 tsp. Spike Seasoning (optional, if you have food allergies or don't have Spike, use any type of seasoning blend that's good with eggs.) 1-2 cups grated low fat cheese (I like sharp cheddar or a blend of cheddar/Jack cheese, use less cheese if using meat) Optional, but highly recommended, 3 green onions diced small. Optional: chopped veggies such as blanched broccoli, red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. (Using veggies will reduce the fat content) Optional: diced Canadian bacon, lean ham, or crumbled cooked turkey sausage Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 F. Use regular or silicone muffin pan, 12 muffin size. If using silicone pan, spray with nonstick spray. If using regular muffin pan, put two paper liners into each slot, then spray liner with nonstick spray. In the bottom of the muffin cups layer diced meat, if using, vegetables, if using, cheese and green onions. You want the muffin cups to be about 2/3 full, with just enough room to pour a little egg around the other ingredients. Break eggs into large measuring bowl with pour spout, add Spike, and beat well. (I used to add a bit of half and half or milk, but lately I like the way they turn out without it.) Pour egg into each muffin cup until it is 3/4 full. I like to stir slightly with a fork. Bake 25-35 minutes until muffins have risen and are slightly browned and set.- See more at: http://www.kalynskit...h.NejoLn4U.dpuf

From smoothie Girl Eats Too Blog http://www.smoothiegirleatstoo.com/2010/11/moist-low-calorie-microwave-protein-fudge-muffins/ This is seriously AMAZING! I use the applesauce instead of the pumpkin and use 1 TBSP of coconut flour and 1 TBSP of Protein powder. I also have added a TBSP of sugar free pudding. I have made the chocolate below, vanilla using vanilla Protein Powder and SF vanilla pudding (adds 25 calories), and cheesecake using vanilla protein powder and cheesecake SF pudding. With the coconut flour, they are so light and delicious! I also just use a whole egg instead of egg whites (70 cal vs 30 cal), but that is just me. With my changes the stats are a little higher: Per Serving: 194Cal 23g Carbs 9g fat 15g protein 5g Fiber 6g sugar Note that I am 2.5 years post op. I can eat one of these, but it is VERY filling. Newer post ops might be able to do half if lucky! Ingredients: 2 Egg whites (**If using liquid egg whites use 1/2 cup and add 20 calories) 1/4 cup pumpkin (3 T applesauce or other starchy carb works well too!) 2 T coconut flour* (1 T also works, and results in 40 fewer calories) 1/2 tsp baking powder stevia or other granular sweetener to taste 1 T. cocoa powder (Hershey’s Special dark cocoa is best!) *(Edited to add: Hallie asked if whole wheat or peanut flours could sub for the coconut flour. I decided to do a test for those two and they both work. The whole wheat is not quite as moist; it’s a bit more chewy, but the peanut flour is very moist. All taste great. My fave is still coconut flour, but obviously you can use whatever you have on hand!). Also, some other subs for pumpkin or applesauce are bananas or yogurt which are quite good too. I love all the reader feedback! Method: Spray a Soup bowl with a very light layer of oil to prevent sticking (not even necessary but makes cleaning up a bit easier). Mix ingredients well with fork, whisk or spatula Microwave for 2:30-4+ min on High (depends on your microwave, altitude and the whim of the cupcake gods.)

As hard as it might be, I would wait until you are done having kids. You are young and not really that heavy, your skin will probably bounce back well, especially if you exercise. Pregnancy, as amazing and beautiful as it is, does horrid things to your body, especially your belly. Chances are you would have to have the work redone after having children. I would also be concerned with complications with the stretching of the skin, since they remove a lot of skin. Not sure, could be just in my head, but maybe worth researching.

Without all the extra cushioning, you can get a hell of a lot closer, in a hell of a lot of ways!!!

I am 2.5 years post op and still haven't told a lot of people. I think it is a very personal decision to make. I choose not to in the beginning not because of embarrassment, but more because I didn't want anyone talking me out of it. My husband knew, and my parents, period. And even that, my father was trying to talk me out of it, saying I didn't need it, I was fine the way I was (when I clearly was not!), etc. I didn't want the stress of trying to defend my decision to everyone. Then, afterward, I thought I would tell everyone, but I just haven't. Some of my closer friends know that knew me before surgery, and my family knows. But others do not. I have not had many people ask what I have done either, they just tell me how good I look. I have only had one person really ask what I did, and I was vague because I know this person is a gossip type of person and would have told everyone! And I don't feel like every teacher and parent at my son's school needs to know, and everyone that I would just consider an acquaintance either. If I knew someone was really struggling and they asked, perhaps then. But really, I am not my WLS and I do not want to be defined that way..oh there is the woman that had that surgery....The people that know I have had surgery do not treat me any differently, and others just know me as me!

If you are feeling fine, I wouldn't worry about it! And I agree, it only gets better! And better! And BETTER!!!

OH, that sounds really good, I might have to try that! KCCO

I reached goal, it took me 18 months, but I got there!

I find the Fast Diet very interesting, I might just have to look into it a little bit more. And I heard him say that he is in maintenance and only fasts once a week. I have seen similar things (the 8 hour diet) and it seems people have a lot of success with them.

I am just over 2.5 years post op, and sometimes we forget how far we have come. Lately I have been struggling a little with body image and my head and NSV's elude me. While the other day, I did something that I never thought I would be able to do. I was at the playground with my children and decided to give the monkey bars a whirl. I am 34 years old and have NEVER been able to go across monkey bars, not even as a child (my weight struggles began in Kindergarten). With some determination, I crossed the monkey bars!! I thought my arms were going to fall off afterwards and I may have pulled a muscle, but I still did it!

It usually has 2 or 3 times the protein as regular yogurt. Plain it is gross, tastes like sour cream. I flavor mine with vanilla flavored stevia. It is also a lot thicker than regular yogurt. I always tell people do not eat it plain. But don't buy the flavored ones either, most of the time they are flavored using sugar and high in carbs. You could mix protein powder with regular yogurt, but not sure how well it would dissolve.

This is a great thread, because this is the reality of surgery for many of us. Whenever I talk to someone about, I always stress that it is not magical cure. Losing is the easy part, maintaining is the harder part. I am 2.5 years post op, and I always have to watch what I eat and think about what I am eating. I don't get really hungry, but I do still get hungry sometimes. That is not what I struggle with though. I struggle with the head hunger. Just wanting to snack on something and have something in my mouth. The only way that I have been able to combat this is just not having the food in my house. If it is there, I will eat it and I have no will power. The only thing I do notice is, the more crappy foods I eat, the more I crave them. I wish I had better advice for you, but know that you are not alone. For me, I know that food will always have to be in my mind and I will always have to be conscious of it. I think you will have to find what works best for you. I always try new recipes to see what I will like so I don't get bored with my food. I don't track anything, but I do weigh myself everyday to keep me accountable. Some people use the 5-day pouch test to kill the carb cravings and get back on track. It is also important to give yourself credit for what you have accomplished. We forget how far we have come sometimes. I kept an old pair of pants and if I am feeling really down, I throw them on to remind myself where I have come from. The sleeve is great and, as you even said, still gives you great restriction. Work with it and you will find a solution that you can live with and that will help you succeed!

I have never tried them, but for me, I could probably eat the whole bag in a sitting which would be 300 calories. I have made my own kale chips. A bit of work but super delicious!

Not sure if you found one, but Dr. Carl LeRoux is great, but not sure if he is taking new patients.

I am 2.5 years post op. Some people say they no longer enjoy anything sweet, but everything tastes the same to me as it did before, and it still tastes good! I have to be careful not to keep certain foods in the house because I will eat them. I still have the occasional treat, but it is in moderation. My advice, if you know it is a trigger food, do not keep it around then it is not there to tempt you. The sleeve isn't magic, and you can quickly fall into old habits and eat "around" the restriction. Take the fist 6 months to year to really establish healthy new habits that you can live with for a lifetime.

I know how hard it can be. I was on post op diet at Christmas and couldn't eat anything. I think mourning food happens to everyone. We celebrate with food, and when that is taken away, you feel like you are missing out. I am 2.5 years post op and there are still some days where I wish I could just eat more! I then remember that if I could eat more, I would be heavy again. But having the sleeve doesn't mean you will not be able to have anything ever again. I still will have a small slice of cake at a party. However, I am not eating cake everyday. You have to find the right balance for you. Some people are able to eat things in moderation, others cannot. I can't keep chips around because I enjoy them too much. I can count on one hand how many times I have bought chips in the last 2.5 years. I know my limits and I know my triggers. The first month or 2 post op is the hardest and then it slowly gets easier. The way you eat will become so ingrained that you will start to think how you ever ate the way you did before.

I hear you! There are days that I just want to stuff my face, and then I look at the calendar and go "Ah, that's why!". I also have huge weight fluctuations during both Ovulation and right before my period. It drives me nuts, but I know it is just bloating. I will have a treat here and there, but I do not keep it in the house. I know if it is in the house, especially around TOM, I will not be able to resist. Damn those darn hormones!

I am almost 5'3". My surgery weight was 220.5 lbs (my highest weight was actually 263lbs, but I had lost weight before having children and managed to keep some of it off for a few years). I sit around 138lbs most of the time, although I do have fluctuations, especially around TOM. My goal weight was 140lbs because it put me just within normal BMI and I really didn't even know if I would get there. I had quit losing for about 3 months so I thought I was done losing, but then started losing a little more. It has now been a year since I reached goal and I am still maintaining the same weight!

I am glad you posted the link, I finally got my butt in gear and posted photos and even added an album!

This is similar to what I do. I didn't want to feel like I was on a diet when I had the surgery done, I wanted it to be a new way of life, and it is! I do weigh myself daily and it keeps me accountable. If I notice a change in the numbers, I start re-adjusting my eating. I have been sleeved for 2.5 years now and maintaining for a year, and so far it has worked for me. I am glad to see someone else who has had success without tracking because sometimes I feel in the minority and that some people think I am crazy for not tracking at all.

I hate going to buffets because it feels like a waste of money, but my family loves to go, especially my kids, they think it is great! And it is funny to read the article and see that I now go into like a thin person. I only have so much room, so I really choose what I want to eat and only pick the things I know I will really enjoy. Before, it was an attitude to get my money's worth. And it always bugged me that my naturally thin husband never ate very much when we went to one....I always thought "yeesh buddy, we are at a buffet, EAT!". Now I know why he is naturally thin, his attitude around food is so much different than mine used to be. I still struggle with adjusting my perception, but it is getting there!

I'll be honest, I do not track, and never have tracked. I have been sleeved for 2.5 years and have been maintaining for a year. I changed everything I eat, followed the rules, cut out the junk, but never wrote anything I ate down. For me personally, it would drive me crazy. I obsess enough already about what I am eating. I think everyone has to find what works best for them!