I am about 3.5 months post op and feeling great now that I am close to 75 pounds down from my starting weight. Now that I am further out from surgery and weight loss has slowed down a bit, I have found that it is easy for me to want to "coast" and not eat according to plan every day. I'm wondering what others have done to help themselves stay on track with following their nutritionist's eating advice. One thing that has helped me is to create smaller goals. For example, I set a goal of getting to an 80 pound weight loss by my 4 month post op date. This helps me stay motivated to reach smaller milestones. Anyone else have experience with this that has worked for them?

I may be in the minority around here on this one, but I believe setting goals around a number on the scale is absolutely toxic and can lead to disordered eating behavior and all sorts of mental health issues. My goals are all based around non-scale achievements. How far can I walk without getting winded? Am I advancing in a yoga pose I have been working on? Is my blood pressure staying in the healthy range? How many days in a row have I reached my water-intake goal? All of these things are far healthier goals than worrying about getting to a certain # on the scale by a certain date. There are just too many variables that I can't control when it comes to what the scale says. Whereas I CAN control how far I am walking, or how much water I am drinking.

My now-and-future criteria.
Can I stand up without using chair arms?
Can I bend over without feeling I am going,to pass out.
Are small children still standing in my shadow to avoid sunburn?
When I jump into the metropolitan swimming pool does the water stay in or still spill over the edge?
Can other people see the parade without edging around to stand in front of me?
Can I even get into a yoga pose?
Can I do even 5 minutes,of exercise without taking a break to. sit down.?
Does anyone say" Catch how good Frustr8 is looking?" instead of " Can Frustr8,catch her breath?"
Is my diastolic at or below my age?
Can I see what the scale says without leaning slightly backwards so I can see between my feet?
Can I climb those steps without moaning ,groaning or stopping half-way?
Am as pleasant as a child or as complaining as an older relative?
Am I more fun to be with or more fun to be away from?
Am I taking in enough fluid to stay healthy or am I taking in too much that I spend my day in the bathroom?
Are the calories I'm taking in healthy ones or just something to fill up space?
So you see. my motivations are even more basic than my friend,Cara-Lea although hers are perfect for her.
I just want to live more triumphant, and bottom line, I_ Just_ Want_ To _Live!