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The only thing I can think of to add is greek yogurt with a little granola.

I got 54 percent also. I've sometimes thought I've had trouble remembering faces. And it's always baffled me how police could see a photo of someone and then recognize their suspect in a crowd. I'd never be able to do that.

Five months out from surgery, I'm down more than 70 pounds and less than 15 from onederland. I've gone from nearly bulging out of my size 20 pants to easily fitting into size 16.

But I must say the most amazing thing of all so far is discovering what my body can actually do. It's performing like a champ and lifting heavier and heavier weight while maintaining proper form in BodyPump. It has no problem getting through an hour of cardio, whether an exercise class or machine like the elliptical.

Today I challenged myself to walk four miles, even though I'm still a bit sore from BodyPump yesterday. I did it and it's been a long time since I've been able to walk a distance like that without stopping.

I'm finding myself getting excited about new ways to be active. If it's not cost-prohibitive, I want to sign up for a learn to row class this summer. I hear it's an amazing workout and I love nearly any activity involving Water. Before surgery my best friend asked me if I wanted to get a bike and go cycling with her. I was too intimidated. As I walked today, I remembered her offer and I'm excited to take her up on it. What a perfect activity as the weather warms and days get longer. So I'm researching bikes and racks for my car. I just wouldn't have done these things before. I truly feel like I have a new lease on life!

The couple of times I've had some wine since surgery, I seem to feel it faster but for a shorter amount of time. Go figure.

I'm just getting into regular sizes, like a size 16 in pants. I'm wondering where you ladies shop for flattering bathing suits? Definitely looking for a one-piece or tankini.

Ditto that proper form is really important. Several gyms I've joined in the past have offered a few free personal training sessions with new memberships to help show you the ropes.

My current gym offers a resistance training class called BodyPump. It's high rep, low weight and you can start with very low weight and work your way up. I really like it because the instructors give a lot of feedback on proper form so you can be sure you're doing the exercises correctly. I also challenge myself a lot more in a group exercise setting.

Good luck!

Update: I heard back from my surgeon, who said he suspects it's related to the weight loss. He asked me to remind him to recheck it at my next appointment, so I'll see how things look then. Thanks everyone for your replies and insight!

Since downloading the latest upgrade to the app on my iPhone, I can't figure out how to "clear" notifications (the number in the red bubble next to the app's pic). They just keep accumulating. How can I clear them? Thanks!

If you only want to remove the notification badge depicting the amount of notifications. You can do that via the Settings (Settings - Notifications - BariatricPal and then disable the toggle next to "Badge App Icon".)

I did that as a temporary measure, but I'd still like to actually get notifications. I just want them to actually clear after I go in the app and see whatever it is the notification is for. All other apps clear and this one used to before the update, so the accumulating, never-clearing notifications seem like a flaw.

Since downloading the latest upgrade to the app on my iPhone, I can't figure out how to "clear" notifications (the number in the red bubble next to the app's pic). They just keep accumulating. How can I clear them? Thanks!

My nut advised me to space my Vitamins at least two hours apart. If you've been told to space yours out too, here's something that helped me: setting the timer on my phone. I would take one Vitamin, set the timer for two hours and when it went off, it was time for the next one.

@@needtorecover Good to know! Maybe my doctor can order a repeat with a regular blood draw.

Since downloading the latest upgrade to the app on my iPhone, I can't figure out how to "clear" notifications (the number in the red bubble next to the app's pic). They just keep accumulating. How can I clear them? Thanks!

@@needtorecover Thanks for the info! When you guys did your screening, did they take your blood from a finger stick and run it in a little machine? That's the first time I've ever had a biometric screening done that way, so I wonder if it could have anything to do with the method.

I just completed a biometric screening for work and while almost all of my numbers are trending down, my triglycerides are up to 172, which is borderline high according to the mayo Clinic website. When they were last tested in June 2014, they were at 115, which is in normal range. I'm really surprised to see this increase because at five months post-op I've lost close to 70 pounds. I've been following the diet and exercising more. I haven't stalled, so things seem to be "working."

I'm posting to see if anyone has any insight into this? Is there a reason a person's triglycerides might increase after surgery?

I have, of course, contacted my surgeon's office as well as my PCP. I'm waiting for answers and want to see, in the mean time, if you all have any helpful info.

Be sure that once you find an exercise routine fairly easy, you change it up so that you keep getting the returns. Once your body gets used to a routine, it will expend fewer and fewer calories doing it each time. Stale routines cause stalls just as easily as consuming too many calories. Before you ever cut a single calorie, make sure you are doing everything right activity wise so that your metabolism stays revved!

Good point! I am hoping that doing different activities throughout the week will help with that, in addition to boredom. I figure, also, I can try to up the ante when needed. Like increase weight during strength training, for example.

@@Babbs Every Breath You Take by The Police

Kind of disappointed cause I always thought the lyrics to that song were creepy.

An hour-long group fitness class goes by so much faster for me than 30 minutes on a machine. I use the machines in a pinch, like when it's in the 20s and I'd rather not walk outside and no classes fit my schedule that day. If I'm only doing a machine once a week or so it's bearable.

I use a lot of olive oil, vinegars (basalmic, red wine, white wine, and rice), dill, parsley, rosemary and thyme. My spice collection has definitely grown since surgery!

If you don't have a recliner, I'd suggest a bedrest pillow. I found it hard to lay flat on my back immediately after surgery. Also, if you plan to sleep in bed and it's high, a small stool to get up there.

Oh yeah I've been having those moments! Most recently I've been loving my workout clothes. I never could have worn this stuff 70 pounds ago! I also just bought some leggings and am thinking of shopping for knee-high boots. I measured my calf circumference and I'm either ready or very close to ready for regular, not wide calf, boots. Exciting stuff!

I haven't been too worried about fiber, honestly. After Protein, I eat veggies, often spinach, kale, onion, carrots, sweet potato or purple potatoes. Some berries or nuts on occasion. No idea how much fiber I'm getting cause it's not a primary goal.

My pain was gone for the most part but I was really run down and tired. A trip to the clinic was enough to wear me out. I had the same energy level I have with the flu. I felt better at week 6 and went back to work. At week 8 I had my pre-surgery energy level back. Now, I'm happy to report, it's higher than before surgery at five months.

Thank you everyone for your posts! Good point about not feeling enslaved to the plan. So far I don't, but I'll watch out for that. And right now there's no way in hell I'd get upwards of 140g Protein a day, but good to know for future reference.

I'm excited to do a little tweaking with the Protein. I have the kitchen scale back out to weigh meat and I swung by the grocery store after my workout this afternoon for turkey slices, cheese slices, string cheese and cottage cheese. I'm ready to do this!

@@Dub I would kill to have you cooking for me!

Thank you guys for the advice! I can answer yes to @@Babbs questions so I think I'm on the right track, but doubling down on Protein sounds like a good idea. I appreciate you guys pointing that out. I think I've been adding too much other stuff in, even veggies, to keep my diet "balanced." I bet more protein will keep me more satisfied and away from wanting Snacks. Those of you rocking the protein, are you pretty much eating meat all day? Like 4 oz at each of three meals?