For those of you who have had surgery over a year ago and who have hit your goal weights, what things helped you in being successful and doing so? I'm down to 186, which is a weight I have not seen since I was 15 years old. But I'm wondering what else I could be doing if anything to be successful at this stage in the game? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

For those of you who have had surgery over a year ago and who have hit your goal weights, what things helped you in being successful and doing so? I'm down to 186, which is a weight I have not seen since I was 15 years old. But I'm wondering what else I could be doing if anything to be successful at this stage in the game? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I hate to answer a question with a question but what are you doing now? What could you do more of? What should you do less of?

For me, I have found exercise to be a really important factor in my success. I workout 3-5 days a week, I still take my Vitamins and I still supplement my Protein. Success = keep doing what works and quit doing what doesn't.

Definitely just sticking to the basics (Water, Protein, carbs, etc). I track them religiously in mfp & it keeps me on track.

And I've also been going to therapy since about 8 months post into deal with my underlying food issues so I can ensure I never go back!

So far so good, 2 years post op & 150 pounds down.

"I hate to answer a question with a question but what are you doing now? What could you do more of? What should you do less of?

For me, I have found exercise to be a really important factor in my success. I workout 3-5 days a week, I still take my Vitamins and I still supplement my Protein. Success = keep doing what works and quit doing what doesn't. "

Well I'm only six weeks out so..... This is why I've asked. I'm still in the learning stages. I work out in some form daily... With the exception of Sunday's. I'm following the book to a T... but I wanted to know what works for others.

Honestly, my success has come from simply following the rules.

I haven't tried to game or cheat my sleeve or the rules.

I've used My Fitness Pal to plan and track my food. I've used Fitbit (and lately a new phone app) to count my daily steps and walking distances. I've kept records and analyzed them to learn what behaviors produce different outcomes.

I've not been perfect, but I have tried very hard to do what I expected of myself.

I've kept a very positive, can-do attitude.

I've had good support from my dear husband.

I've not told anyone (except hubby, basically) about my WLS and avoided all those weird conversations about "the easy way out" with family members and friends and conserved my energies that way.

I've made friends online with other WLS patients and laughed with them.

And I've reveled in the non-scale victories I've had along the way.

What I haven't done is worry about how fast the scale has moved. I wasn't the fastest loser (or the slowest one) in the yard. And believe me, there are so many head changes happening along the way that the slower it goes the more time you have to get used to some strange things.

Just do it your way and don't compare yourself to others. Your way is just fine as long as you're honest with yourself.

Honestly, my success has come from simply following the rules.

I haven't tried to game or cheat my sleeve or the rules.

I've used My Fitness Pal to plan and track my food. I've used Fitbit (and lately a new phone app) to count my daily steps and walking distances. I've kept records and analyzed them to learn what behaviors produce different outcomes.

I've not been perfect, but I have tried very hard to do what I expected of myself.

I've kept a very positive, can-do attitude.

I've had good support from my dear husband.

I've not told anyone (except hubby, basically) about my WLS and avoided all those weird conversations about "the easy way out" with family members and friends and conserved my energies that way.

I've made friends online with other WLS patients and laughed with them.

And I've reveled in the non-scale victories I've had along the way.

What I haven't done is worry about how fast the scale has moved. I wasn't the fastest loser (or the slowest one) in the yard. And believe me, there are so many head changes happening along the way that the slower it goes the more time you have to get used to some strange things.

Just do it your way and don't compare yourself to others. Your way is just fine as long as you're honest with yourself.

One thing I will always be with myself is honest. I didn't expect this to be easy. I didn't expect it to happen very quickly I just wondered what other's did.

My surgeon was very honest with me that my loss would not happen as quickly as some other's because I didn't go into this weighing the most. I did it because I was diabetic and they could not regulate my blood sugars.

I have been fortunate enough to go through this with my best friend who had surgery as well and I have not kept it a secret. I've only had one person, my sister, tell me that I took the easy way out but that's because she's fat and she's jealous. Lol. So it's okay. I realize people will have opinions. I don't have to let them bother me.

I am actually good with the way the weight is coming off though... I haven't been 184 lbs in a very long time and so to be here at this stage in my life is amazing to me. One day at a time is how this journey will go for me.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me.