You have done well Angie, congrats!  I agree that  low carbs are not worth damaging muscles and organs.  I do believe though that there is a bit of research supporting that it does not "hurt" you as long as you keep the fluids up.  I am not against low carb, but rather pro figuring out what the individual needs.  If you need more carbs then you can be successful and make it to goal.  If you feel better going low carb you can be successful and make it to goal.  The one thing that is consistent is that we have to keep the calories beneath the level of what we burn!

"I did incorporate a lot of exercise and that may be the difference in some of our needs and ability to hit goal weight. I like how I eat virtually the same as I did during weight loss phase, the transition to maintenance was not too different, and I never felt like I was on a diet or plan, but just a lifestyle of new eating habits."

Well stated!  I couldn't agree with this more.  Adjusting into maintenance was a bit unsettling for me at first only because I didn't know the target calories for the day.  Once I worked that out it has been a breeze- precisely since my eating habits did not have to do this major adjustment to suddenly allow for carbs, or (fill in the blank) other types of food.  I learned how to manage all that during the weight loss phase.  I can honestly say that there is nothing now I eat that I didn't eat in the weight loss phase.  The major difference is less exercise (but still regular) and the confidence that if I do have that rare pasta meal or more common ice cream, that I can keep everything in line overall.  That is just as important to me as the weight that I lost.   

Don't get me wrong.  I still can't keep junk food in the house.  I just can't stay out of it.  There are a few things like this that I have to accept will just have to be this way.  But it is only a few things like this and compared to sitting out of all the fun life offers because I weighed 150 pounds more it is totally worth it. :) 

So how do you decide what to do with carbs in your diet?  Most programs would not advocate keeping carbs under 40 grams per day, however, there is a strong pressure on these boards that this is the most reliable path to goal.  So which is it?  I think anyone starting this journey has to take an honest evaluation of what your personal needs are.  For many, keeping carbs under 40 simplifies the process and works.  For others, under 40 is a strong type of unsustainable deprivation that does not allow to develop the skills needed to eat a healthy balanced diet.  Not to mention that it goes against just about all wisdom out there on what a healthy diet is.  I know, I know... people will pipe in that due to our obesity the rules don't apply to us.  Really?  All of a sudden we don't need nutrients and fiber because we are (or were) super fat?  Ridiculous.  For most I suspect, you are somewhere in between low carb and my more generous carb approach (still not considered high carb by the way).  But here is what I have found.

1.  Carbs indeed can trigger cravings and hunger.  I do not dispute this.  My stance, however, is that carbs should be carefully consumed.  For me, 15 carbs at a snack and 30 at a meal.  Too much carb at one time can flood your system with insulin, which stores fat, and triggers hunger and cravings.  Your number may be very different.  My point is to pay attention when you log your food.  I bet you will notice when you have too much at one sitting if you log and look for trends.  Notice how you feel after carbs or lack of carbs and track that for a while.  It is enlightening.  

2.  Suffering from terrible constipation and going low carb?  Yea, you need carbs.  Sure, you could take a pill or some other medicinal intervention.  For me, it makes sense to meet your bodies need through diet and nutrition.  For most folks this means 25 grams or more of fiber per day.  I have found I need 35 grams per day to keep things moving correctly.  I do not eat all of these grams in one sitting, but rather spaced out through the day.  This is true both in maintenance and in my weight loss phase.  

3.  Blood sugar levels.  Pay attention to how you feel.  Are you shaky and perhaps a little mentally foggy?  This may be a blood sugar issue.  When you have say 4 ounces of milk do you feel better?  Yep, blood sugar could be the culprit.  Some folks are able to go under 40 and not have this be an issue.  I can't.  Anything under 60 for sure causes problems, and 60-80 is pretty darn iffy.  But, I am hypoglycemic.  I think everyone has a range that is best for themselves.  Track your food and see if you can find your range.  

4.  Veggies are your friend.  Nobody got fat eating asparagus.  There is no reason to suspect it will derail your weight loss.  You need the nutrients from veggies and fruit and the fiber.  Now perhaps don't sit down and eat 4 cups of pineapple- that will not help.  Look up the glycemic index and choose options that are low on the index.  Keep in mind ripeness of fruit changes the impact on your blood sugar level.  Educate yourself.  

5.  Pay attention to what your program suggests.  Listen to your  nutritionist.  Yea, some of them are not very good.  If you suspect this, find another one.  My nutritionist was exponentially helpful in identifying areas to tweak to make this process more effective and sustainable.  

6.  Not all carbs are good.  Stay away from refined and processed junk, "white" carbs, etc . I don't eat a lot of bread, rice, or pasta.  Once in a while sure, but it is not a regular part of my day.  Veggies and fruit are.  

In all, I made it to goal without any difficulty eating carbs.  I would average about a 100-125 net carbs a day, and spaced out appropriately the majority of time.  When I overdid the carbs, yes indeed it would take a few days to work out of that cycle.  In maintenance, I will occasionally have a few consecutive days of very high carbs (over 225 or so).  Every time my weight will spike by a few pounds, but for sure it seems to be water weight.  I eat clean for a couple a days with exercise (not low calorie) and that spike in weight comes right off.  The carbs will increase glycogyn, and the glycogyn needs water.  Plain and simple.  Lower the carbs a bit, burn off the glycogyn, and this is how people lose several pounds in just a few short days.  But that is not that same as burning fat.  Here is a brief article about glycogyn if interested http://www.livestrong.com/article/307905-glycogen-and-weight -loss/

Use your bariatric team that you (or your insurance) paid a chunk of change too.  Use the support services, go to your NUT appointments, exercise.  It works and will lead you to goal.  Learning to eat and manage a healthy diet is priceless.  Best of luck on your journey, Happyteacher.

I was very worried about this part of the process as well, but needlessly so in hindsight.  I guess looking back on it I was worried that I would be declined given my huge pattern of failed weight loss attempts.  Kinda silly when I think about it now given that is why folks have the surgery and all.  I was also a little concerned that depression could have been a factor for denial.  Not that I was clinically diagnosed, but the weight was surly affecting me negatively.  I just wasn't sure how it would plan out.  Anyway, 2 years later I ended up going back to the guy who did the screen when some issues with my daughter came up.  You may find that it is a good experience overall, so try not to worry.

Hmmm.... not sure I agree that it is not a true loss.  I understand completely not wanting to set yourself up for a letdown on the scale and all though.  Unfortunately, I have experience with this as well.  I was 10 pounds above my goal a year ago in July.  I ate some mango from Sams that later was recalled for I think salmonella, but whatever it was it made people sick.  Of course by then I had already eaten a decent portion of the container.  I was sick from it, and it took a solid week or perhaps a week and a half to recover.  I lost 10 pounds from that ordeal and officially made goal as a result.  Thing is, it stayed off.  I didn't have a 5 pound regain or anything after I recovered.  I did make sure to get fluids in while I was sick, so rebounding from dehydration was not an issue- but I didn't eat much.  So, so sorry that you were ill... but enjoy the benefit of the weight loss!  You earned it!

You may want to document it with a doctor- it could help you get plastic surgery covered later on.  

I would call.  It is probably fine, but if you do by chance have a bit of a leak that is nothing to play around with. 

Thanks Shag.  I feel fine today, other than my stomach being sore.  Liquid diet for a few days to let everything rest and heal!  

I have never tried it in a protein shake, but I think it is doable.  I juice.  If it were me I would make a juice, and then use that in the shake.  Unless you have a vitamix, then I would probably experiment with keeping the fiber in there.  My ninja doesn't break down the veggies enough to tolerate.  I don't think a little handful of spinach or other greens would make a tremendous difference to taste, but will kick up the nutrients. 

I think it will be critical for you to keep your trigger foods completely out of your house.  Whatever you tend to graze on needs to go.  You will find it will be unlikely that you constantly graze on chicken breasts for example.  I am a total grazer too, and an emotional eater, and especially a stress eater.  You will find that post-op it will be much easier to deal with this, but will still take some work.  In the beginning one strategy I used was setting a timer.  When I ate, I would have to wait at least 2.5 hours before I could eat again (barring my blood sugar going low).  That really helped me to get out of the habit of constantly grazing.  You will find you will not really be hungry in between meals, other than head hunger.  After a while, it became much easier for me not to graze.

But it is also easy to fall right back in the habit if you let it creep back in too.  Just be prepared to be mindful about this as a life habit and you will be able to tackle it!

My capacity did steadily increase, but for sure by goal I was at my final capacity- it very well could have happened prior to that, but it is a little fuzzy now.  I sometimes eat a lot of carbs for several days in a row and that is when I really seem to have a "huge" capacity, but of course those carbs slide.  As soon as I return to the eating pattern that I know I need, the restriction is just fine.  Last week, I ate quite a bit less than normal (much closer to my weight loss phase habits) and it was plainly evident that my restriction is in full force.  

You can see from my ticker my weight loss progress during weight loss and for a few months maintenance.  You will be able to lose weight after 6 months.  I really didn't notice a huge difference, other than a slightly slower rate.  Those numbers will still add up though and if you think about it if you managed for 6 months you are just continuing what is already habit for you.  Just don't let yourself get comfortable and slip into maintenance mode until you are truly ready for it.    

Check the protein source of the shots.  It should be whey isolate, not collagen.  We do not absorb collagen.  

Yes.  I do not remember exactly, but it was several months out.  I can tolerate it in that the day I eat it I feel fine, but the day after I have noticed that it is a bit of a problem.  It is true- empty calories.  Even worse, it is my number one slider food. I could eat a large popcorn from AMC during a movie if I wanted to.