HealthyIShallBe

Depends on if you're a smurf or not, doesn't it?

Bluedick, Anxiety, Fleas, enlarged eyeball, tummy ache, Rickets, Gout, Chlamydia, Wobbly feet syndrome, donkey breath, Units, Polshanks, East River Gorgonzola Drip (I don't know what it is either but it sounds nasty), Pink Pubic hair, scarring of the inner nostril, webbed fingers and webbed toes.

I do a modified Keto. Meaning I do not do the high fat, yet I do very low carb and the high protien that is required by my nutritionist.
this also helped. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2017/03/bee-keto-bariatric-plan/

I set up a dartboard with #s ranging from 150 to 215, and my dart hit 173

Get a fitbit or other kind of pedometer. Even if your activity is low, just challenging yourself to take a couple hundred more steps will keep your activity moving in the right direction and boost your metabolism. Best wishes!

Use an app like Baritastic to track intake and exercise, journal, etc. It's free. Look for these people on youtube - chemistry queen, jerseyjules, clusie and check out Dr. Matthew Weiner, too.

I had to go through a six-month supervised diet. My dietitian had me limit myself to 2300 calories a day and start adopting some of the eating patterns & requirements that I'd need post-surgery (for example, I had to gradually increase my Protein and decrease my carbs (esp "bad" carbs), focus on protein & vegetables and limit myself to 1-2 servings of fruit, drink at least eight cups of Water a day, start weaning myself off caffeine, etc). Plus I had to start exercising. I think she started me at three times a week, 30 minutes each time. Even walking was OK (I mostly swam and did water aerobics, though). I lost 57 lbs, but I really stuck to it.

I'm in the program. I've decided on which surgery. I've found a support group in town that meets once a month. And, most importantly, have the insurance ok. I've met with the internist and pulmonologist and had the psych evaluation.....I'm moving forward but I've only lost 20lbs so far and have 45lbs still to go before they'll do surgery....I'm hoping it'll be sometime in March...I think I can lose that in a few months...I'm 409lbs(approx). But getting around my 'inner excuse soap box' is HARD! I need to buckle down and start the Protein Shakes and just haven't yet....anyone have any motivational you tube videos they've watched? Or TedTalk Or even a magazine article that really spoke to them?

First thing I'd do is switch from splenda. It's cut with maltodextrin (aka sugar) and has those 2g of carbs. I'd switch to a different coffee that doesn't have carbs. Cuz that's cray cray. Mine has zero just for the brewed coffee. I use liquid stevia (Vitacost brand in the eyedropper bottle), liquid sweet n' low (store brand), Swerve or Truvia (both have zero net carbs). Also, Half n' Half and Cream do have carbs in them, but MFP doesn't observe them. They do add up. My feeling is, if you're drinking your coffee any way but black, then you might as well throw some Protein in there too and use Premier Protein drinks as the Creamer, cuz then you at least get protein along with the little bits of carbs in the PP drink...it's about the same carbs as from cream or HnH.
I'd also switch your preferences in MFP so the carbs and Fiber "live" next to each other. It's easier to calculate. Next, I'd do the protein so the first 3 things you track are carbs, fiber, protein. It makes taking net carbs easier. I net which means I subtract my fiber from the total carbs.
When I'm not following my crazy rules from the RD/surgeon, I kinda look at splitting my day this way to get about 30g net carbs. Mine naturally will fluctuate between 20-30g net carbs when I'm doing hardcore low carb:
Breakfast 5-6g net carbs
MS (optional) 1-2g net Carbs
lunch 10-12g net carbs
AS (optional) 1-2g net Carbs
dinner 10-12g net carbs
BS (optional) 1g net Carbs
If I do Snacks, then I subtract out 1-2g of carbs from a meal and use them for snacks. That's cuz boiled eggs, cheese, lunch meats, 1/2oz nuts all have slight amounts of carbs: 1-2g per snack size portion.
Looks good so far!

I don't know about youtube, but if you use instagram, search for the tag #vsg. The pictures are so motivational. Seeing what is possible our new 'tool' is amazing. It keeps me focused.
I am in the pre-surgery diet phase now as well. One tip, which is helping me is using a Protein Shake as a Meal Replacement where I would usually consume too many.. specifically lunch time.
Best
Rob

I've read(and that's all since I'm still pre-op) that calories can vary....from like 600-1000(per day)