Let's share some of our best tips to help keep us all on track.

Thanks for sharing!!!

I'll go first...my biggest obstacle was cravings. It was mental. So i started planning my meals to accommodate them so i never felt deprived.

For example: there are days when i really really want sweets, so i'll make sure i include either fruit or a chocolate protein shake or fruit smoothie or something to fill that craving.

If i'm craving salty i'll do deli meat and cheese as one of my snacks or smokehouse almonds.

I also googled what cravings really mean and made adjustments as needed. Whether that meant finding a way to relieve stress, or making sure i'm hydrated etc.

Sum of small efforts repeated day in day out. Be consistent with your food plan and exercise. Conquer behavior change and overcome the mental battles.

Remember that you are not alone. No matter what happens, you're not the only person to ever experience what you're experiencing. We're all in this together.

Always keep track of your meals, even if it means you have to write it down.

Make certain times for meals, drinks and vitamins and meds (if applicable).

Hw-273
Sw-226
CW-134
GW-130
Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made.
Bra Size- 36C

Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017
RNY
"Only those who try will become" FFX

Stop obsessing. Stop extremist thinking. Too much "nutrition nazi" is just as harmful as going crazy and eating everything in sight. Moderation. Moderation. Moderation. Stop looking for the diet that gets you there the quickest and start looking for a Forever Diet that you can live a happy life with. Don't eat food you don't like. Don't do exercise you don't enjoy. DO make the effort to find healthy foods that work in a balanced diet that are delicious. DO make the effort to try and find exercise that you look forward to and enjoy. Do find healthier substitutes for old favorites. Exercise with your bestie, your kiddo, your hubby, your dog, your horse. Stop reaching for perfection. All or Nothing is a recipe for failure. Be happy with every victory. Wake up every day and make the choice to try hard even after a stumble. Love yourself.

For cravings, I don’t believe it’s all “mental.” There is head hunger, yes, but food cravings come from bacteria who live in our guts and they can control our brains with their waste products. The right biome of gut bugs, will have us craving natural starchy carbs (potatoes or seeds or beans) instead of donuts etc. So one thing I always do is keep up good bacteria by eating probiotics and fermented veggies every day, and feeding the good gut bugs I have with a homemade seed granola and roasted root veggies. Since they are happy with these choices, they don’t cry out for sugary treats.

I think avoiding all sweet tasting foods (all sugars and substitutes and fruits too for 6 months, and then only 1/2 serving fruit a day) is very important to having the correct populations of gut bacteria that don’t make me crave sweets.

Love this thread!!!