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I had my surgery about five years ago and maintained a loss of about 50 pounds after that, far short of my goal. I'm also diabetic, so was put on Ozempic for that about six or seven months ago and have experienced the appetite suppressant effects of that, very useful. So I started losing quite slowly with that, and then, on the advice of the psychologist my diabetes doctor recommended, I signed up for Noom about a month ago. I was very skeptical but I am kind of a convert now, as I've lost another ten pounds or so with it. It's on my phone and while there are psychologically-based lessons and support groups to post to, what I find most useful are the daily weigh-ins and food tracking (on some phones it will also track your steps, but my knees are shot and walking is not my thing--I swim for exercise, just not enough). You enter what you eat and the program keeps track of the (estimated) calories; I have a 1200-calorie daily limit. The program is very supportive and recognizes that this isn't a straight-line process. We do better some days than others. But I'll admit that I think twice about eating something caloric when I'm at or near (or over!) my daily limit. I'll add that a side effect of the Ozempic I'm on is that on the day I take it and the day after (it's a once-a-week shot), I've learned to be very, very careful about what I eat. The side effects if I have something carby are not pleasant, let me just say without further details!

I can totally relate to those who can't figure out why they aren't in a different size--I've mostly been wearing the same clothes all along. I've thrown some pairs of pants away for loose waists but figured they'd gotten stretched out. I ordered new pants in 3x and realized when I put them on that, hallelujah, I could have ordered 2x. But after losing 78 pounds, I should bloody well hope so! Shesh. Have lived the last month without a scale so I have no idea what's happened, really. Am just hoping I haven't gained. I need the scale for accountability, I know I do. So will buy one soon, I think. Like so many things, I have a perfectly good one in storage I can't get to. Please, all the angels and saints, I need an apartment!! (With an actual kitchen.) Just sayin'

Frustr8, I hear you loud and clear. I've recently been "chatting" with quite a few guys on a dating website. It has taken me a long, long time to get to the point where I can just say what I want and wait for someone who is worthy of me (!!) to answer or to step up to the plate. A guy I had a lunch date with today emailed me this morning that he couldn't make it, "too much going on." Really? He's the one who picked the time. Next!! Another guy wanted to come to my motel room (where I'm currently living, waiting for an apartment to become available) with some wine or beer, even after I told him I don't drink. I've made it clear that I'll meet someone for lunch, but I'm not inviting someone I've never met into my room! And so it goes--I won't give out my phone number (too many scammers out there) and I won't join Hangouts or whatever the latest online chat thing is. I'll protect myself as much as necessary, and the right guy will understand that. This isn't rocket science: say you want to meet and show up. We can go from there . . . if you seem compatible. Good luck to all on this journey. I bought new clothes for the first time since my surgery and I think I could have bought a size smaller. Woo hoo!

Here I am, still over 300 (I think: I don't have a scale at the moment). But I was 302 when last I weighed myself, and I've been doing some adjustments on what to eat where I am now (living in a motel without a proper kitchen--I started with a microwave, but have added a toaster-oven, an electric kettle, and a crock pot!). I don't know if I'm losing more slowly than some other people because of my starting weight, my age/being post-menopausal, my diabetes, or the incorrect choices I've made. I don't spend a lot of time comparing myself with others--this is my journey and it's all about me, me, me! I'm happy about what I've lost so far, but I'd certainly like to lose at least as much again. I'd like to really see a difference--I sometimes see myself in mirrors and think yeah, maybe there's some difference . . . but it hardly seems remarkable to me. I've thrown away four or five pairs of pants that seemed very loose and stretched out at the waistline, but I don't really think I've gone down more than one size, maybe. I've ordered three new pairs of pants, the first new clothes since my surgery nearly eight months ago. Will they be the right size? I should find out tomorrow. One thing that is a bit discouraging is to see people who have lost about the same amount of weight as I have who are now only 20 or 30 pounds from their goals. I wonder what that is like? On the other hand, I'm not married to my goal--not the one in terms of numbers. My goals are more in terms of cutting medications and having my knees stop hurting (or be able to get them replaced, if that's the only option) and maybe, someday, being able to sit in an airplane seat and be relatively comfortable. All that aside--am I glad I had this surgery? Hell, yes!

Eggs, yogurt, cheese. One of the happiest discoveries for me was high-protein pasta made from lentils. Peanut butter. Refried beans. And I second the cottage cheese--I have a bowl of that with some fruit (pineapple or mandarin oranges, usually) almost every day. Quaker makes a high-protein oatmeal--it's only 10 grams a serving, but it's a nice change once or twice a week. (Disclaimer: I also eat meat, but I don't think it would be possible for me to get all my protein from that.)

This member joined the site an hour ago and his profile has no information . . . makes one wonder.

I've done various Google searches for "former Biggest Loser contestants" or some such and the results are, depressingly, what you might suspect: very many of them regain their weight. When they're at the ranch, food choices are made for them and, as noted, they're exercising a LOT. Maintaining that lifestyle isn't possible, so when they're back on their own . . .