Cin's Awesome Sauce

Some of you know me well as I have been around a long time... but for back story I was pretty hopeless about losing weight and especially maintaining it when I began this sleeve journey. I had "failed" with the lapband in an epic way and by the time I revised to the sleeve I was well over 300# (although down from my lifetime recorded high of 332# while banded). I was super morbidly obese and spent a lot of years there. I felt aged beyond my years and besides feeling physically miserable, I was certainly NOT an object of attention from the opposite gender. Hell, i never even had a chubby chaser interested in me.
(I did have a serious relationship, I have never been a loner, but my point is I have always been one to focus on intelligence and personality, not looks or body)
Because of my active lifestyle, I have mostly had slender friends even when I was obese. I never went out for girls night with them, never went dancing, I felt like I didn't belong in those settings. So, after losing a bunch of weight, I had plastics and am now maintaining. I social with lots of people now and feel like i fit in many places, but am still sometimes surprised at my own preconceived notions.
Currently, I am about 5# over my goal and about 25# over my lowest weight - I am 3.5 years post sleeve so this is frankly pretty typical. It can get a little discouraging as I am having a heck of a time re-losing this weight. I am fine at my current size, but i was finer thinner haha... so it is still something I want. You know how your state of mind is when your favorite jeans are too tight.... that is where i am!
Okay, now my NSV Story!
I went out to the racetrack on the 3rd for a big girls day of races and fireworks. I went with 3 very attractive ladies who are all naturally very trim. They range from tiny cute as a pixie (Which also makes her look really young) to that tall blond skinny model look (two of those, one fairly boyish looking the other more curvy - both very very attractive). Anyway, all 4 of us are unloading the cooler, doing stuff getting ready to go in. I was applying sunscreen. this really really really attractive man - probably about 40 (we are all about 50) walks by and looks right at me and smiles and says "need any help with that?". All of us freeze as it processes... he is talking to ME! What? I smiled at him as he walked away (it was only later I thought I should have said "YES") and one of the ladies said "this is going to be a good day".
I don't spend alot of time comparing myself to others, I really don't. But after a lifetime of obesity, super morbid obesity - you never expect to be the one in your group of attractive friends to get the notice.
Looks don't actually matter that much - one of the ironies i have learned in this journey, but it still felt good and my friends were all very happy for me too... That also makes me feel good that they are so pleased with my successes.

Oh. I've totally screwed up. I've over eaten, I've had "bad" foods, I've skipped meals, I've done all kinds of "terrible" things, but I've never CHEATED.
It's always been my CHOICE. I am very aware of that. That's the point of my original post.

Every day I see new posts from people who feel guilty about "cheating". Some are coming clean about it or are embarrassed about it and amazingly enough, some seem to be bragging or feel empowered by it.
But is it really cheating?
I assume that most all of us are adults here. I also assume that most of us have had, are about to have or are researching WLS. We should know the dietary plan at this point (or there would be no "cheat"), and we should also know the risks associated with eating off plan pre or post op, yet every day people ask if what they are doing is OK and/or look for justification for their actions.

What in the world? It truly makes me scratch my head.
To me (and this is just MY opinion), there is no CHEAT. It's a CHOICE. I chose to have this surgery. I chose my surgeon because I trusted his skills and his knowledge. I chose to have sleeve over bypass or band. I chose to limit the amount that I can eat and drink by drastically altering my body. I chose to eat right 100% of the time on my pre-op (yup! not lying!) and I chose to eat right 90% of the time post op until my doctor said I was free to do otherwise.
I think it's FINE to ask your surgeon/NP/NUT questions if you think you are ready to do anything other than prescribed. I think it's OK to question their answers. I do NOT think it's OK to ask a bunch of strangers on an internet forum to justify choices that aren't good ones-- especially internet strangers who are or were in the same boat as you.
If you want to eat and drink at the same time, more power to you. If you want chocolate and bread and shakes and fries, have at it! If you lick a dorito or chew it up and spit it out, good for you (not really, but...)
I love the "coming clean", I love asking for support, I love asking for coping ideas. I just ask that you take a moment to ask yourself if you are truly cheating or if you are making a CHOICE to do something you should not.

With your next meal, then go for a walk or put on some loud crazy music and groove to the music.
Get the crap edibles (can't call them foods) out of the house. Don't watch cooking shows for a while.
If I could give only one piece of diet advice, it would be "Don't eat anything made in a factory."
When you get up, stay out of the bedroom. Resist all day TV and becoming part of the sofa. Open up the window shades and let the sunshine in. When the outside temp becomes comfortable for you, take advantage of it and find reasons to be outside. We have a large back yard, and last year I set up a fitness trail for myself. Get a dog. Play with it and take it for long walks. The Vitamin D sunshine that you absorb will help perk up your mood.
As with any formidable task that is inconvenient but necessary, eliminate excuses one by one.
Want to eat crap? Don'y have crap in the house or stand by a vending machine.
Too tired to exercise? Your body is a living machine designed for movement. It will resist you like a toddler who just learned the word NO. But once you start exercising, your body will thank you by giving you more energy to get through your day. Then, you will be tired enough to sleep better.
Don't have time to exercise? Quit hitting the alarm clock. Get up and follow along with one of the gajillion 5 minute work-outs on Youtube. This morning I did a stretch and toning video - 4 minutes - helped to wake me up.
Make a list of what is holding you back, and find creative ways to get around it.
Chirp up, dear. You have friends here who understand what you are going through. Hugs.

I eat real fat! Real cheese, real sour cream, real dressing. I can't eat much, so it doesn't hurt me.
Full fat tastes better, keeps me full linger, satisfies that need for real flavor and doesn't have as much added sugar as @@Babbs pointed out.
I don't worry about fat as long as it's not something fried ...

My surgery was almost two years ago and I've been "at goal" for over a year. I am still amazed when I see pictures of myself not fat.
The kid in this picture is a size 2. I am not. Ha!

Why does there have to be a "right" or "wrong"? Your body, your choice.

Wait, whuuuuut!?!?!?! Drinking through a straw will "stretch" your sleeve?
First, when your stomach is sleeved, the majority of the stretchy part of your stomach is cut out, leaving behind the denser, less stretchy muscle. Your stomach will relax over time as it heals, but it would take a LOT of over eating to stretch out the little fundus that is left behind after surgery. It certainly will not be stretched out by a little air in the tummy.
Second, it's entirely possible to drink through a straw without sucking in any air. I do it with no problem. My doctor, too, gave out a manual that said no straw but it also recommended Water bottles like a camelbac which uses a.....STRAW!!
When I questioned him on that, he said that the manual had a lot of contradictions, and to do what I thought was best.
The reason you don't want air in your stomach is not due to stretching, it's due to discomfort. It hurts to have gas, and we have precious little space in there. If it's air and gas, there is no room for Protein and nutrition.
I would never tell you to go against your doctor's orders, but I certainly advise questioning the absurd. The only way I can get in my liquid is through a straw, so I use one. I am almost two years out and I've used a straw since day 1. Surely I would have done some damage by now if damage were to be done.
I can barely eat 1/2 cup to a full cup in a sitting. No stretching going on here.

I agree with one thing you said -- you are pre-op and you DON'T know what you will do yet.
I, too, had the sleeve. On Tuesday, I went to Chick Filet and ordered the (fried) chicken Strip meal with waffle fries and a Coke Zero. I ate the chicken in a mayo/hot sauce mix which is far fattier than gravy (gravy actually being a really great choice). I am sure if I had told the world about my surgery, I, too, would have been judged for my choices as you are doing with these ladies. (Huge reason I decided to keep my surgery to myself.)
What you would not have seen:
I had a super busy morning that included a 45 minute workout and I had no time for Breakfast. After my workout, I put my fitbit on and started my day. I knew I was only get to see my youngest for about 45 minutes between school and a conference I was speaking at that evening, so I let her pick the lunch spot. I ate one chicken strip, put the rest of the food back in the bag to take to my oldest who was at work at our martial arts school (our usual routine) and took the Coke Zero with me. I had a conference that I was speaking at that afternoon/evening, so I was a bit on edge, and I didn't eat any dinner. (I did have a few Hershey Kisses, though.) Over the course of the day, I logged in 15k steps AFTER my workout. (Nervous pacing?) I consumed less than 800 calories. My choices were the best they could be given my circumstances... Eh -- no they weren't, but that's life.
Last night, I got home for dinner at 8pm and realized I hadn't eaten anything but a string cheese and a handful of almonds. My husband made taco salad, but I am not much for lettuce so I made nachos. With jalapenos. Nom nom nom. Again. less than 800 calories in the day -- far less -- and while my portion size looked big, I barely ate any. Not that I need to justify it, just pointing that out.
The thing I hated about telling the world I was doing WWs or Atkins or South Beach? The food Police. What I put in my face is between me, my doctor and my pants size. It's no one else's business. If I ask someone their opinion, that's a different story but I am guessing these ladies didn't ask you.
Anywho... I am sure you will do GREAT with your surgery and I am sure you will make the best choices for you. If these ladies fail miserably, that's on them, not you, but I do hope that you never feel judged, cuz that sucks.
Edit!
OH! And I was "lucky" enough to have insurance pay for me because I struggled to get a job that would provide that for me. I had the will power to hit goal within a year of surgery and maintain it for the last 10 or so months.

It amazes me that so many get their panties in a wad when they post their opinion on a public discussion board and someone else disagrees or posts a counter opinion.

Seriously! It's OK. In most cases, that counter opinion is just that -- opinion. While I do take issue with those who take themselves very seriously and post their opinion as fact, I am happy to say they are few and far between.

We, for the most part, have different surgeons, different NUTs, different metabolisms, different builds, different backgrounds, different thought processes, different psychosis... (JOKING! Kind of.)
There are very few doctors or therapists here. There are NO experts on YOU here, with the exception of yourself. No one is qualified to give you *absolute do or die* advice. No one is in a position to tell you that you are !!!WRONG!!! or that everyone else is.

Relax. Breathe. Discuss. Share. Vent. Listen. Learn.

We all have our hot buttons, we are human. We all have topics we are passionate about. Debate is fun! It's healthy. It's how we learn and grow. It's a positive form of interaction until someone takes it personally. (I'm guilty at times -- I know it!) As long as it's respectful, there is no name calling involved, and there are no personal attacks, there is nothing wrong with it.

I'll tell you a few things about me that are "wrong" and I don't give a rat's patoot if you want to tell me so:
I drink soda. GASP! Even worse, I drink it through a straw! I would never tell anyone else to do the same. That's between you and your doctor.
I graze all day. My sleeve is small, my restriction is fierce. I graze to keep myself from getting too hungry, eating too fast and then vomiting it all back up.
I eat while I work, when I drive, when I watch TV. I find that when I do this, I get distracted and I eat slower. Weird, I know.
I weigh myself 2-4 times a day. First thing in the morning (usually fully dressed in my PJs as I get up at a ridiculously early time of day to get my kids out of the door.) I weigh myself buck naked after kissing them goodbye when it's time to get myself dressed. I weigh myself before and after a poo (giggle) because I have a middle school boy sense of humor. I weigh myself at night, again buck nekky, just before I get in the shower. I call it my step aerobics. It works for me. I don't get frustrated or upset. I never have, even at my fattest.
I eat real chocolate every day. Just a few Hershey Kisses or a Dove Promise (dark!). It quiets the sweet tooth I didn't have pre-op and keeps me from thinking about sweets all day. It's better to feed the beast a nibble and shut it up. FOR ME.
I eat full fat everything except the things I don't.

I am choosing not to be a WLS advocate. I don't care HOW people think I am losing weight, I don't care who supports me. I don't tell my business to everyone and it's not up to me to save the world from obesity one fatty at a time. I'm not embarrassed, ashamed or a liar.



Your personal experience, your advice from your NUT/surgeon/NP may differ completely. You may be of the opinion that I will be the size of a small whale in 5 year's time. You may think that I am failing myself and my surgery. You may think I am a hypocrite. It's OK.

You do you, I'll do me. We can talk and share and be opinionated together, even when our opinions don't match.

This is a public DISCUSSION board. It's ok to discuss, it's ok to be opinionated. Just expect the same in return.

I also have Hypothyroidism, I am 3 months out and lost 56 pounds, I just recently had blood drown 2 wks ago, my meds had to be adjusted to a lower dosage again.. I was shocked.. So I went from 275mg to 250mg and now 200mg... This surgery has really helped me with my thyroid. Hope this info helps..

You're right, you don't understand. I don't have any friends who would want/would like to be called fat in past or present tense nor do I. Was I fat? Yup. Am I fat now? Nope. Are you an ass to tell me the obvious about my former fat status ? Absolutely.
It's not about being honest or dishonest, it's about being kind and considerate to others.
Edit to add: I am NOT calling anyone HERE an ass, not even the person I quoted. My point was that it's highly likely that I *would* call someone an ass if they dared point out that I was fat but I'm not now. No sh!t, Sherlock. Back handed compliments are worse than flat out insults, IMO, because they are so passive aggressive.

A hot topic for debate is to tell about our WLS or not to tell. In my opinion, the only "right" answer to this question is to do what is best for YOU. The choices you make about your body are deeply personal and you don't owe ANYONE an explanation or frankly, any answers at all about your weight loss. That said, the nosy nellies (and well meaning, but slightly clueless folk) are often relentless in their questioning.

I will not lie and I will do everything in my power to be polite (for a little while anyways) but firm. It's really not hard. I am just over 18 months out and I've not told ANYONE that I didn't want to about my surgery. Perhaps because I am not a pushover and when I speak, I leave little room for further discussion, but I have only had two people even hint around about surgery, and no one has had the balls to ask out right.

So my answers to the questions I've been asked or I've read that others have been asked (some copied from my reply on another thread):

How are you losing weight? "I'm working with my doctor, eating smaller, healthier portions and exercising."
Are you on a special diet? "I am working with my doctor to eat smaller, healthier portions."

What are you eating? "Well, my doctor and nutritionist have come up with a plan that works specifically for me."

Are you allowed to eat...? "Just like you, I can eat whatever I want, I simply choose not to."

How much have you lost? "A lot."

Well, how much? "A lot."

So how many pounds? "A lot."

What size do you wear now? "That's a weird question."

How much do you weigh? :blank stare: "Why in the world would you ask that?" or "I'm sure you didn't mean to sound as rude as you did."

Did you have surgery? "Why in the world would you ask such a personal question?" or "I didn't realize you were interested in WLS. I suggest you contact a doctor." or "That's a weird question."

How much more do you want to lose? "I'll know when I get there."

Are you still trying to lose weight? "I am working on being the healthiest I can be."

So HOW MUCH have you lost? "A LOT."

Wow! You've lost a TON of weight. "Thank you."

WOW! You are shrinking to nothing. "Thank you."

WOW! You've lost a whole person. "Thank you."

You are going to blow away soon. "Thank you."

Wow. You can't lose much more, can you? "Thank you."

You are really getting too thin. "Thank you."

You eat like a bird. "You eat like a horse." No, not really. HA! "Thank you."


What other questions have you been asked or are you worried about people asking you? Give me something hard!

I've tried Atkins in the past and for me there are many differences. I'm on Atkins and go to a restaurant with plans to have a lean piece of fish and vegetables and they bring a bowl of bread to the table. I want that bread. I would love to have some Pasta instead of fish since I already ate some bread and ruined my diet. It is about choice and I would usually give in and cheat on my diet.
Fast forward to now and we go to Red Lobster and I plan to have some crab meat and a little bit of salad. They bring those delicious biscuits to the table and I look at them with horror because the last time I tried to eat a half slice of toast, I was in agony for 2 hours. I don't want Pasta because I threw up the last time I had a 1/4 cup of it. It really stinks to get sick but it's one hell of a reinforcer.
If I eat bread, pasta or anything fried, I get sick. I am forced into making healthier choices. I'm sure someday I'll probably be able to tolerate these foods but I sort of hope it doesn't change or maybe I'll just get so used to not having them that I won't miss them.
And as for other foods that I can tolerate that don't fall into my eating plan such as the 1/3 piece of pumpkin pie I had on Thanksgiving. That's where my restriction helps me a lot. Even if I eat something fattening, I can only handle a few bites. That helps me physically stay on plan and psychologically not feel defeated because I didn't have 3 pieces of pie and blow my diet. I just had a few bites.
I'm on a few months post op and right now I feel like I would have to try pretty hard to fail at this. I know that as the restriction lessens, this will not be the case. that's why now is the perfect time to build new habits and get in a healthy routine.

Try Quest Protein chips, the macros are great and I loved the taste of pretty much all of them..then you don't have to feel guilty .. Just google it

Weight loss on the mind or not, everyone thinks of Thanksgiving dinner as a time of overeating. Sure, the holiday is supposed to be about appreciating what you have and spending time with friends and family, but what do you really think of first when you think of Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving dinner, of course.


The Bad News First
How bad can a single meal really be? Pretty bad. Think about the following meal, which isn’t really all that unrealistic.
6 ounces of turkey with skin: 351 calories
¼ cup cranberry sauce: 110 calories
1 cup stuffing: 260 calories
1 cup mashed potatoes plus gravy: 240 calories
1 cup candied yams: 280 calories
1 dinner roll with butter: 200 calories
1 cup green bean casserole: 200 calories
1 slice pumpkin pie: 530 calories
1 slice pecan pie: 920 calories
2 cups apple cider: 300 calories

That’s a total of 3,391 calories! That’s about the amount you need to gain a pound of body fat. It’s nearly three times as much as you might be eating most days on your weight loss surgery diet. And it’s probably enough to make you feel sick. But you’re not doomed to eat that much on Thanksgiving.
Enjoy the Turkey
There’s at least one lucky thing about Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re a traditionalist, your main course will be one of the best possible choices for weight loss surgery patients. That’s right: turkey. How often has your surgeon suggested that you eat turkey breast? Well, now’s your chance.
A 3-ounce portion of boneless, skinless turkey breast has 114 calories and 26 grams of Protein. How’s that for a good start? Even if you have seconds, you’ll still be at 228 calories, and get in a whopping 52 grams of protein. If you can’t face white meat on Thanksgiving, go for the dark. A 3-ounce serving of dark meat only has 138 calories. Just make sure you don’t eat the skin. For a condiment, stick with deli mustard or cranberry sauce made with a calorie-free sugar substitute – just make the sauce like you would with sugar, but add sweetener instead of sugar.
Look Out for Yourself
Make sure there’s at least one dish besides turkey that’s on your weight loss surgery diet. If you’re hosting dinner, serve steamed or roasted vegetables, such as green Beans or Brussels sprouts, and a large green salad with light dressing on the side. You can make and serve all of the guests’ other favorites, too – nobody says you have to eat them.
If you’re going to be a visitor at someone else’s Thanksgiving celebration, be a good guest. Don’t arrive empty-handed! Bring a festive-looking salad that everyone – especially you – can enjoy. For example, you could have a salad with:
Mixed greens
Sliced artichoke hearts
Low-fat feta or goat cheese
Sliced pears
Balsamic vinaigrette on the side.

Portion Control to Save Yourself
You may not realize it, but there are some easy things you can do to cut back on your calories on Thanksgiving. One is to watch your portions, just like you do every day. It’s a little harder to do on this day, but you can do it. Have you ever truly tried? Focus on portions, instead of piling as much as possible on your plate. A little bit of concentration can literally save a thousand or more calories that you won’t even miss.
Stick to the Good Stuff
Whatever ends up on your plate is probably going to get eaten, so try not to put it there if you know you shouldn’t eat it. Before serving yourself or letting anyone serve you, take a good look at the table. What can you eat? Probably the following.
Turkey without skin.
Green salad.
Steamed or roasted vegetables.
Roasted sweet potatoes.

I totally have/had (it's waning) body dysmorphia.
When I was at my heaviest, I didn't see it. I knew I was heavy but I thought that no one else could see just how heavy I was. I thought I hid it well. I thought I had some pretty good "thin" days where I looked kind of "normal". AHAHAHAHAHAAAA!! It wasn't until I saw pictures (something I avoided like the plague) that I could see just how big I really was. I was in complete and total denial.

Now I am a size 8. When I intentionally look at myself in the mirror, I still see someone who looks really chunky. I'm know in my heart, I'm not fat but I still see myself that way. When I see pictures of myself or catch a glimpse of myself in a window or mirror by accident, I don't recognize myself.

I can finally pick up tops or pants and know if they will fit or come close, but I often still pick up things that are too big. It's weird. It's getting better, though.

Lol, bobbyswife you weren't talking to me either since you didn't address me, But i will address you. Believe me, i trust the advice of my dr. Over internet NUTS any day of the week. Lol, chewing up pizza and spittng it out because you can't swallow it due to your sleeve being new MAY point to a mental health issue in bariatric patients? Please show me a bit of info on this phenomenon, unbiased please. Lol, i hardly call myself being nasty because i questioned someone's judgment of the OP, and these so called "rules" that every bari patient MUST follow. Who did i call an EX FATTY? why put on a shoe that doesn't fit? That comment was a general statement not aimed at anyone in particular but i wonder why you felt it was an attack on someone. Actually, no i don't. Hmm.

I am one of those people who isn't telling. There are only 2 people who know about my decision. One is my daughter (because she lives with me), and a very dear friend who had the surgery a little over a year ago and is my sounding board.
I'm not ashamed by any means of the decision that I have made to have WLS, I'm just a very private about my personal life. If someone asks me I won't lie about it, I'll just say that I am eating less, exercising, and eating healthy which is all 100% true. Anything past that I really feel is no one's business but mine.
My friend Grant who had the surgery a year ago was completely transparent to everyone he came in contact with that he was having the surgery, and kept everyone informed step-by-step during his process from day one until today. He posts pictures all the time, how much he's lost, and everything he does. He is so opposite from me in that regard, and I asked him why did handled it that way. His response to me kinda shocked me, but I totally understood where he was coming from. He said that he tells everyone everything because he needs the validation from others that he's doing a good job, and looks great in order to stay motivated.
I don't know, maybe because I've always been a self-starter I've never really needed the approval or validation from others about what I do. I've never needed the "pat on the back" for a job well done, or other types of accolades. I just do what I do, and I love doing it, and I'm proud of me for doing a great job.
Maybe I'm just weird!

Yes it does.
Embrace the suckage!
When i finally got to real food, i was almost scared to eat. Then, I realized my tastes had changed. It was a sad feeling, to not enjoy food anymore. But, what i always tell people is take advantage of the bad early weeks and months to work on changing your relationship with food. It is temporary.
I am 3 years out, love everything again. I love being trim even more than food so I work pretty hard to maintain my 160# weight loss! It is so worth it.

People can be nasty and straight rude or condescending about weight loss ...I even had a fellow wls patient make hurtful comments directed at me obviously due to her post wls lack of weight loss progression
Ie: I don't want to lose too fast and have a bobble head OR I don't want to have too much loose skin that's why I make sure I don't lose too fast. ???? I'm sorry but most wls patient can't really fully control the speed of loss especially within the first 6-8 months and thankfully I have very little to no loose skin at all. i didn't expect to lose as fast as I did simply because I didn't start off awfully high (~ 240 at 5'7" on dec 12, 2013) I lost 20 a few months prior to vsg and a total of about 50 net loss from my all time high prior to vsg. HW 293, surgery 240. Current 163-168, original goal was 175 which I got to at only 4.5 months out but now I wish for 155-160????
Other colleague comments:
- how much weight did u lose exactly?
- when did you start losing exactly?
- you will soon disappear.
- you lost half of yourself.
- DONT lose anymore! Black people aren't meant to be skinny. ????????????????????
- are you ok?
-are you "going overboard" with not eating?
-you look like a size XXS!
- so you lost all that weight from taking spin classes ???? only? Wow, spin classes must be magical!
- what the hell did you do? The GASTRIC BYPASS! ????????????????????
Some Family&friend comments:
- don't u think you are "skinny enough" now?
- so what are you now? A size 2 or a size 0?
- well don't give away all of your big clothes cause you might gain the weight back like before.
Lol, smh, ugh ???????? there are more comments but I'm getting aggravated just thinking about them
Some people are very pleasant and continuously remind me how good I look which I do appreciate. Share what u like with folks when u are ready, only a handful of people know I did it or have heard from me personally that I had it done. It's none if anyone else's business. Good luck!

Close to my highest back in 2009 compared to my current weight is pictured above

I go to http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ for all my recipes, everything she cooks is high in protein.. She stays away from Rice, Potatoes, and breads and sugar.. You must check out her recipes she's has been around since 2006.. Eggface is amazing.. And till this day she has maintained her weight.. She is such an inspiration..

I go to http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ for all my recipes, everything she cooks is high in protein.. She stays away from Rice, Potatoes, and breads and sugar.. You must check out her recipes she's has been around since 2006.. Eggface is amazing.. And till this day she has maintained her weight.. She is such an inspiration..

Here are a couple of possible responses:
Thank you for noticing. I feel great.
Thanks for the encouragement. I feel great.

Thank you. It's been a long time since I've felt so well.
My body and my doctor will let me know when I'm "done."

I go to http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ for all my recipes, everything she cooks is high in protein.. She stays away from Rice, Potatoes, and breads and sugar.. You must check out her recipes she's has been around since 2006.. Eggface is amazing.. And till this day she has maintained her weight.. She is such an inspiration..