Meryline

Glad you're back to feeling well! That sure sounds like late dumping to me -- almost textbook description from my nut notes. Glad you could force yourself to eat!

At this point in my life, I must have read at least a million weight loss success stories and they follow a general pattern:
1. A person made goal by religiously tracking their calorie intake.
2. A person got to their goal weight by tracking, life happened and they stopped tracking, and now they've regained weight (sometimes possibly gained more weight than the last time they started).
3. A person got to goal weight by tracking calorie intake, and they continue to maintain their weight by tracking their calorie intake.
Tracking seems to be an important theme here. Do what works for you.

I think the new set point will help keep things stable long-term, without having to worry about weighing things down to the gram.
But, at only 6 months post op, we aren't AT our new set point yet, and even if we are, we don't know it. It's too early to relax.
And, when I say "relax", I mean:
Pre-op: Pajamas
Weight loss phase: Tuxedo
Maintenance: Business casual

When you move out into the woods and hunt/fish/forage, then I give you permission to stop "tracking".. oh, but weight ( )... how do you catch wild game, without tracking??
Humans have tracked all throughout history, why stop now?
I worked in the dietary department of my local hospital 14 years ago. We counted everything on the patients' trays. Scoops measured serving sizes. Number of carbohydrate servings were limited for diabetic patients, etc. etc. If a hospital measures out food for everyone, why shouldn't we do that at home? (Most people lose some weight in the hospital.. there's a reason for that, beyond illness!).
I got reprimanded at my support meeting for only eating 1100-ish calories a day at 6 months out. Not sure how many they think I SHOULD be eating, but that's how I'm able to continue losing weight! Once I hit maintenance it'll go up.

Tracking and limiting carbs have been the keys to my success. And I've lost 217 pounds and am at goal one year post-op after starting at nearly 400 pounds. I'd tell them to bite me and do what you know works for you.

Oh my! I wonder if that'll happen to me? Mine are currently 36DDD.

I also started out as a 40D. I think I'm down to a 38 C and steadily shrinking. But I'm ok with it.

Another tip is to not eat longer than 20min. I'm still not allowed to use more than 20min to eat, and I'm almost 5 months out. By prolonging the time you eat, it leads to eating more. maybe not now, but it will later.
I portion everything out. My meals are not larger than 5 oz in volume. Salads I can eat more, but I measure my protein out first.

I had one on 12/14/15, and it worked for a while, but weight gain made it not last, which is why I had the surgery. I'm hoping the weight loss will prevent a new one. I'm over 50 lbs less now than at the last back surgery. @Geri Marie

Just one last comment before we agree to disagree.
You just had wls, you are not getting enough food to build at this point. At best, you are preserving muscles, which is great. https://www.muscleforlife.com/build-muscle-lose-fat/
This was just the first link, I can site a ton more. This one is interesting though.
Back in 2011-2012 I lost 67 lbs in a year, I also gained about 15 lbs of muscles. I worked out 6 days a week, but up to 12 times. I eat low carb. I lifted weights 4-5 times, and we are talking like 225 deadlifts, 160 lbs squats etc, with a trainer. I also ran (training for a half marathon), biked and swam, (training for a triathlon).
From what I understand (I could be mistaken), these changes you have made are fairly recent, meaning, there is not enough time to see if you have gained muscles (and as mentioned above, highly doubtful). You are loosing fat, meaning your muscles are becoming more prominent, it doesn't mean that you have built.
Last, a great link in general, nothing to do with this is better than that.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/
He has 14 articles just discussing protein, all based on research. And he talks about all different kinds. I haven't read them all, and I can't say which he favors, but it is so interesting. He is siting a lot of research under each article. I though you might enjoy it.

Awesome!

Girl, you look amazing. I believe we are in the same group. You are on your journey, and it is yours only. Take pride in it. Don't compare it to anyone else. You are doing such a good job.

FWIW, this has happened to me too, both times I went on vacation (well, business trips to be honest) since my surgery - one was a 10-day trip to Germany, the other a 2-day weekend in another city. Both times I dropped weight even though my food intake was not as stellar as it should have been. Which makes me think that maybe the body likes change - change of food, change of exercise, etc. and responds more eagerly as a result. Just a thought.

Since surgery I have gotten in the habit of bringing a bottle with me, I just feel like I need more water than I used to. I either carry it in hand, or have a water bottle belt to stick it in. I can really recommend it.
And good for you getting up and walking in the AM

I have looked into the Hidrate bottles, but ended up with a thinksport insulated instead. It keeps my drink cold forever, which is what I need. We all need to find what works for us though, right?

Since surgery I have gotten in the habit of bringing a bottle with me, I just feel like I need more water than I used to. I either carry it in hand, or have a water bottle belt to stick it in. I can really recommend it.
And good for you getting up and walking in the AM

Sounds like you have an awesome plan and determination. You can do this! Good luck.

I have looked into the Hidrate bottles, but ended up with a thinksport insulated instead. It keeps my drink cold forever, which is what I need. We all need to find what works for us though, right?

Awesome!

I really hope you are able to find someone to work out with. I used to hate gyms, but I love them now. I did like them before surgery as well, but only after I had a couple of weeks with a personal trainer. It was awesome. And it made me fall in love with the gym. Either way, good luck.

Thank you @Meryline.
I just ordered some resistance bands so I can work my upper body a little more at home in addition to the push ups, sit ups ect.
I love running and never thought I would, so there is always hope for the gym. I think for right now I am just going to focus on my running and workout at home. Once I get to the point where I can run a 5k and start really being able to get a good amount of miles in on a weekly basis, I will re-evaluate the gym.

Take a look at youtube, there are so many great videos there to help you get motivated. Look for exercises that includes the items that you have. You can do this!

I really hope you are able to find someone to work out with. I used to hate gyms, but I love them now. I did like them before surgery as well, but only after I had a couple of weeks with a personal trainer. It was awesome. And it made me fall in love with the gym. Either way, good luck.

Take a look at youtube, there are so many great videos there to help you get motivated. Look for exercises that includes the items that you have. You can do this!

That's awesome!! I love surprises we get for ourselves.