So, I went and did some digging here and I was starting to get frustrated seeing all the "diets" people have tried to do lose a few to several pounds, whether it came from a regain or just trying to get the last few pounds off to hit goal. Isn't that how yo-yo dieting starts? Isn't that where many gain weight? Why would you do a fad diet? What happened to a LIFESTYLE change? I've noticed that the successful long-term WLS patients are the ones who are committed to staying on a lifestyle diet. So, what is your lifestyle diet? What will you do to get those last few pounds off or any weight that might be regained? ....my hope is to just make small adjustments to your lifestyle diet.

can I say lifestyle diet, again? LOL

I think it is best to forget about the number, focus on how you feel. I know I have lost because:

- I had to buy new clothes, my old were too big!

- My back doesn't hurt as much as my belly isn't hanging out like before!

- I bought a new belt because I was tired of drilling in more holes to fit right!

- I am walking everyday 10k steps without knee pain any more!

- my kids can hug me and there arms can wrap all around me now!

- when I see others who haven't seen me in a while, they say "wow! You look great!"

I can go on and on, but think this is a good baseline.

We spent a lot of time, energy and made great sacrifices to take this step, so we could do things & experience things that were difficult or impossible before. That is / should be our motivation...a number is just a number, the benefits however are the reward.

I'd love to hear how others are realizing without the scale.

On 2/28/2017 at 7:46 AM, Newme17 said:

I'm convinced that the big wig brand companies put chemicals in the products to create addictions.

And yes they do. I had a friend who was a food chemist. She worked on making things taste good. Maybe not by adding chemicals but adding salt, sugar and fat to massage those receptors that make us want more.

As someone else said, I eat my protein first and that usually leaves me only a little room to eat anything else. I also eat 5 times a day - every 3 - 4 hours - with no snacking in between. And I follow the drinking rule and try to limit slider foods to occasional indulgences. I plan on continuing this way of eating for the rest of my life.