Not sure how many veterans are still on the site. Anyone open to checking in?

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect?

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

(4) What keeps you motivated

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

1. ANY small change like decrease in activity or small increase in calories will cause gain. After 9 months of basically maintaining within 1 to 2 pounds of normal fluctuation, I'm now up 5 pounds from my lowest.

2. See number 1. Keep up activity and track to make sure additional calories aren't finding their way down my mouth hole.

3. Sugar and stress.

4. Being able to fit into all my cute clothes I bought once I hit my stretch goal.

5. A new found confidence and new lease on life!

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect? The hormone dump didn't go on forever (sigh) neither does that honymoon period (bigger sigh)

(2) What has worked well to maintain. Eating meals, and not allowing myself to graze.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs. Alchol

(4) What keeps you motivated. My relationship with my girlfreind

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ? Renewed sense of purpose in life

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect?

* Weight-wise, not so far. But I have no doubt they're out there lurking.

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

* Tracking, tracking and tracking! (I use MFP.) If I guessed or assumed how much I'm actually eating, I'd be so wrong! (That's based on decades of personal experience.)

* Still eat 100 grams of Protein most days

* Taking all my Rxs and supplements daily (much better at this than I was for years pre-op)

(3) What triggers have given you setbacks.

* Dark chocolate (it's my kryptonite, even though I record every morsel of it that I eat)

* Hot and rainy weather (my walking has declined)

* My damned Fitbits keep breaking!

(4) What keeps you motivated

* Stepping on the scale (I weigh every single morning) and recording it in MFP

* My size 4 jeans and all the other small-sized clothes in my closet (I gave away ALL my larger-sized clothes, meaning everything over an 8)

* My knees no longer hurt (that went away after I lost the last 15 pounds)

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

* First, let me say that although I'm almost 2 years post-op and have been at or below goal for 14 months, I don't feel the least bit "normal." I think I'll always be on alert, even paranoid, about my weight. I feel like a recovering obese person -- not a "recovered" obese person.

* Nonetheless, I can again work physically hard, an ability I'd lost the previous 5-10 years.

* Miraculously, I've gained the ability to tell people "No" when I don't want to do something they think is a brilliant idea or would be great for me or great for them. If I don't want to do it, I don't. I care a lot less about being voted "Miss Congeniality" than I once did.

Any new situations that you did not expect?

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

Still trying to figure that out but doing fairly well. I fluctuate within 3lbs up and down from my goal. Sticking to tracking seems to be the hardest thing for me. If I track, I am able to stay within goal. If I don't track I gain 1 or 2 until I get back to tracking.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

For me, sweets. I have always loved them especially anything chocolate or cherry. If in over indulge I begin craving and then....on comes 1 or 2 lbs and I go back to Protein, veggies and fruit only.

(4) What keeps you motivated

Fitting into my smallest size clothing. Looking forward to plastics. These things keep me on track.

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

Really, life is normal? Not for me. Life is all brand new and still a bit overwhelmed by all of the things I can do that I couldn't before. I love the way I look when I see myself in pictures but I don't always see that thin person when I look in the mirror.

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect?

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

(4) What keeps you motivated

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

Not sure how many veterans are still on the site. Anyone open to checking in?

1. I certainly did never expect to have to walk my WLS alone. Is that a "new" situation? No, but it is my main stumbling block

2. I really have to track every morsel and weigh every day. I know many folks do not weigh every day, but it's working for me, so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", right?

3. CRUNCHY CHEETOS!! They are without a doubt , the devil's delight! I can't have them in the house. Since they seem to be my only trigger food, I believe I'm "OK" in the trigger food department.

4. My memories of John keep me motivated. I believed in WLS sooo strongly that I left him alone the morning of my surgery. He was adamantly against my having it. He committed suicide while I was on the OR table. I have learned That I MUST complete my WLS journey. If I don't what did it all mean?? Was it all worth it??? I will stay motivated. John keeps me so.

5. Normal? Who is to say what "normal" is??? I don't believe I was ever normal--according to society's equation. I will never eat as a "normal" person eats. I will never get hungry as a "normal" person does. I will never be able to relax my social eating as a "normal" person does.

A "normal" person does not have the "obesity disease".

I am well satisfied with my thinner, healthier body. --But, I would have to add:

"Hello, my name is Valentina, and I have the Obesity Disease".

Good to hear from everyone. Thanks for the updates.

@Babbs. We started around the same time. I'm right with you on balancing calories and activity. I'm in my high bounce range now. I work just as hard to maintain as I did in weight loss mode.

@@OKCPirate I do miss the high of the honeymoon. My hormones still have me at a teenager level. You just burst my bubble. I hoped it would go on forever. I'm so happy to hear your relationship is still going strong.

@@VSGAnn2014 I am 100% with you on tracking. Trying to guess my macro nutrient intake has never worked well for me.

@@Djmohr

Normal may be the wrong word for some. (Normal = life with out the high of the honeymoon phase)

Its overwhelming but rewarding to be an active participant in life again. Many adventures to discover now that you are healthy. I have a bucket list of 5 things I want to experience each year. I hope with time your mind will catch up to your new appearance.

@@Valentina

Who is to say what is "normal" You are absolutely right. I am going to say this....Your strength in what you have experienced in life defines you as above the norm.

Managing my disease is an everyday thing:

I am a type one diabetic: I manage the disease with exercise, eating healthy and insulin.

I have an eating disorder: I manage the disease with exercise, eating healthy, tracking, counseling and support.

I will forever be vigilant to take care of my health. I want my life to be more than my disease.

Not sure how many veterans are still on the site. Anyone open to checking in?

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect? (TMI)

That at this far out, going to the bathroom is still sometimes an "event".

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

Vigilance. I have to constantly set new goals, track my food, and exercise. The real work started at maintenance.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

Getting out of my routine. I also cannot handle situations with unlimited access to food. I struggle with an eating disorder, having certain foods around and/or not having the right mindset can set me back.

(4) What keeps you motivated

Setting new goals. Currently I've been working on slimming down to fit into a party dress for an event at the end of July. Before that I was working on my body composition, before that I trained for a race, etc. The fear of gaining it all back and/or gaining back a significant amount and not being able to lose it again keeps me motivated.

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

Being thin. Sorry but with over 30 years of being fat, skinny is still new and not normal to me.

@@erp

Thanks for the TMI moment. Made my night.

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect?

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

(4) What keeps you motivated

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ? - Please change my question to......Now that the honeymoon is over .....what is new? Hope that helps.

(1) Any new situations that you did not expect?

(2) What has worked well to maintain.

(3) What triggers have given you set backs.

(4) What keeps you motivated

(5) Now that life is normal after goal..What is new ?

Not sure how many veterans are still on the site. Anyone open to checking in?

1. I certainly did never expect to have to walk my WLS alone. Is that a "new" situation? No, but it is my main stumbling block

2. I really have to track every morsel and weigh every day. I know many folks do not weigh every day, but it's working for me, so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", right?

3. CRUNCHY CHEETOS!! They are without a doubt , the devil's delight! I can't have them in the house. Since they seem to be my only trigger food, I believe I'm "OK" in the trigger food department.

4. My memories of John keep me motivated. I believed in WLS sooo strongly that I left him alone the morning of my surgery. He was adamantly against my having it. He committed suicide while I was on the OR table. I have learned That I MUST complete my WLS journey. If I don't what did it all mean?? Was it all worth it??? I will stay motivated. John keeps me so.

5. Normal? Who is to say what "normal" is??? I don't believe I was ever normal--according to society's equation. I will never eat as a "normal" person eats. I will never get hungry as a "normal" person does. I will never be able to relax my social eating as a "normal" person does.

A "normal" person does not have the "obesity disease".

I am well satisfied with my thinner, healthier body. --But, I would have to add:

"Hello, my name is Valentina, and I have the Obesity Disease".

Wow. That is so tragic about John. I'm very sorry. Your attitude is inspiring.

Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

@@jenn1 Just because I behave like a teenager doesn't mean I can blame it on the hormones Of course my energy is higher than it was pre-surgery, I exercise, eat right and I am carrying 80 pounds less 24/7/365 than I have in a decade. I may be getting older, but they can't make me grow up.