Hello, I had surgery in April 2008...I lost 130, but gained back +- 30. I got under 200 for five minutes... Last year, I did go to a bariatric doc and had some tests, including an Endoscopy to see if any problems....umm, no pouch probs! I did go to a weight loss doc and took meds and lost 25 lbs over several months. I really hoped that losing slowly would help keep it off and I would head towards goal, which I never got to or near. I have gained back 15. I was going to support group and that helped and did go to Nutrition class, which was very helpful. I learned a lot and there has been a lot of research done even since I had my surgery. I am considering therapy. For the first time, my iron is low and even lower with my last labs. I know I am stuffing and eating over my feelings. This is where I am today. Louise

Hi Louise and welcome to the forum. Quick question for you, do you now and have you ever logged your food?

@@DLCoggin, Hi Dave and thanks for the welcome. I have logged my food in the past and last year when I was able to get back on track, I also logged my food...something to consider for sure! Have a great day. Louise

By the way, is there always these advertising posts? I was not sure what the '@mention' by your name meant, so thought I would give it a try. Take care...

Good morning Ms. Louise. I have been logging in My Fitness Pal for two and a half years and I would be lost without it. Next to the surgery, I consider logging to the be the most powerful tool you can have in your arsenal. Countless studies have shown that folks who log lose more weight, lose faster and maintain their weight with more success than those who don't.

After you enter in your information into MFP (age, gender, height, current weight, weight loss goal, etc.), it uses what I call a "one size fits all" formula to calculate your daily calorie goal. That goal is a starting point but you can and probably will want to adjust it based on how your weight responds. For example, let's say MFP suggests a calorie goal of 1600 calories a day. Try it for a week and see how your weight responds. If you meet your goal, for example lose 1/2 or 1 lb or whatever per week, stick with the 1600 calories for the next week and again see how your weight responds.

If you don't meet your weekly weight loss goal, adjust your calorie goal down a little. Nice and easy, maybe reduce your goal by 100 - 200 calories. Try your new goal for a week and see how your weight responds. Keep experimenting until you find your number. The one that works for you. The reality is that there is no "one size fits all". But with a little experimenting, you can quickly determine exactly where you need to be to get the results you're looking for.

Another key to logging is that it's very important to treat your daily calorie goal as an "average". Making a commitment to eat 1600 calories a day, every day, for the rest of your life is a formula for failure. It's unrealistic and unsustainable. And who would want to? Life is full of special occasions - holidays, parties, date nights, celebrations - the list goes on and on. So when, not if, you exceed your calorie goal for a day, you simply make a mental note to adjust your calorie goal down by 100 -200 calories for a day or two and you're right back on track with your "average". And don't forget that it works the other way around as well. If you fall below your calorie goal for a day or two (it does happen), your mental note becomes to increase you goal for the next day or so to get you back on track with your average. I've done it many, many times and it works like a charm!

Logging makes you accountable to the most important person in the equation - you. Logging allows you to manage your weight instead of your weight managing you. It allows you to respond quickly and effectively to changes in your weight. It is astounding how your confidence soars when your see your weight respond to moderate changes. It's quick, easy and it doesn't cost you a dime. I hit my goal weight of 155 about fourteen months post-op. In the year and a half since that time, my weight has not been below 151 or above 156. This morning I was 153.2.

Lol - as you can probably tell, I'm passionate about logging! If you decide to try it and have any questions, I'd be glad to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

P.S. This forum is heavily monitored and there is zero tolerance for advertising spam. Note that the two previous posts have been hidden. Bariatric Pal is an amazing place with tons of caring folks who are anxious to share their experiences with others.

You're in the right place and you're gonna love the new you!!

Edited June 6, 201412 yr by DLCoggin

@@weezieweeks I almost forgot - any time you click "@mention" or simply type @ followed by a member screen name (as I have done in this post), that person will receive an email notification that you have "mentioned" them in a post. That is a relatively new (and very cool) feature that Alex added a while back.

Have a great day!

Thanks so much for your post! I would rather hear about positive passion than "you coulda, woulda, shoulda". The logging helped me to let go of the snacking as well as track my protein and such...I have used MFP and think it is one of the best. I love the app, too and the scanning of the barcode - I do not think I ever needed to manually enter even one food. Louise