One year ago today...!

sounds like you've had a fantastic year!!! congrats!!!

Thank you! It's been amazing!

Sounds like you're doing really well I'm hoping I get there too, but I couldn't imagine surviving on 625 calories a day, but I think everyone is different, I figure as long as I'm losing, the calories are what they should be.

I'm getting up there in age too 57 and think I'd love to get back to the weight I was when I got married (140) mind you that was 37 years ago but realistically I'm starting by aiming for the not overweight anymore at 170, then we'll see how it goes.

My program doesn't give a goal just tells you that your tool will help you to lose 70% of your excess weight and they rest is up to you, that's scary as I'm at 65% at not even 4 months out, sometimes I think they don't want you to set yourself up for failure, I've got my next appointment in a couple of weeks it will be interesting to hear what they say.

Hi there! My pre-op diet consisted of 4 shakes per day, 100+ grams of protein, and each shake was 150 calories. That required a few days of adjustment, but nothing so difficult that it couldn't be done. Plus, I really wanted the operation, so figured I should do everything I was told! After that, it was a while before I could handle the whole process smoothly - drinking enough and eating enough was challenging, as I'm sure you experienced yourself! But it all got me in the groove of a low caloric intake. Until a few weeks ago I kept my calories at or below 600. Then I had a period wherein I felt hungry-ish, so I decided to go my calories to 650. The scale seemed to slow, so I pulled calories back to 625. Very occasionally I will feel that I'd like more to eat at the end of the day, and then I will go ahead have some thing low in calories but high in protein. But that is rare. Almost always I feel satisfied and happy within 625 calories per day, or less: yesterday I took in less. I sincerely do not feel deprived, and am just kind of in the groove. I know I'll have more calories when I transition into maintenance, but I don't miss them. For now I am satisfied and not feeling stressed, hungry, or deprived. If I was consistently feeling any of those things, I would up my calories more, but thankfully I feel genuinely comfortable at this level.

The standard response about how much you can lose post-RnY seems to be 70% or so of your excess weight. I always felt that was a stingy response. After all the effort, expense, physical pain, etc. of an RnY, I really would like to get rid of more than 70% of my excess weight! But my doc also said that he could get me (via my RnY) to 200 pounds (from 353), but to get lower I would "have to do everything right". So that's my goal!

I will be happy to reach a weight which will put me in a good healthy body fat range, slim but not emaciated, with enough reserves to counter any random little illness, etc. I really don't want to be so thin and drawn that I look like Cruella deVille, but it may be impossible to avoid some degree of that look, at least facially, for the first while until my body gets used to it's new paradigm and my body redistributes fat a bit. I don't know. I figure my maintenance number will be somewhere between 137 and 150, but I'll see when I get there! If it turns out that a higher number is required for me to have a good body fat % then I will accept that and be happy with whatever it is, but I would be surprised if more than 150 is advised. But who knows? If my Dexa scan says my body fat% is too low for optimum health (hard to imagine such a thing!), I'll be fine with adjusting a few pounds upwards, if need be. I anticipate my ongoing issues in the years to come will be more related to ensuring that I do what is required to stay slim, rather than making sure I'm heavy enough! As for calories, I will just have to gradually increase them while keeping protein high and carbs low, until I arrive at the range I'll need to stay stable.

IMO, there really is no reason to accept that you can or should lose only 70% of your excess weight if you wish to lose more. We just have to keep at it, step by step and day by day! Best of luck at your next appointment!

I'm certainly planning on losing more than the 70% I'm just working on intermediate goals along the way, my next is to get below 200 hundred, then it's down to 170 but I'd really like around 150 but will have to see what comes. My next big thing is trying to find a way fit more exercise in my life, and reevaluating my Diabetes treatment, as I'm starting to experience lows and that was never a problem before, wasn't really thrilled earlier today when I had to consume 80 calories and 16 grams of carbs to get my blood sugar back up to normal.

But its a journey I keep telling myself and being honest I know I'm losing weight a lot faster than I would have by doing diet on its own. I only had to do 3 week liquid diet before surgery and it was 4 shakes only for a total of 900 calories.

Thanks for sharing your story it's always good to hear about others successes along the way.

You will get there, and quickly, too! It sounds to me as if you're doing beautifully!

You should be bragging. What a success you are!! Your doctor gave you great advice. I too use sweeteners but not to excess.....IMO.

Thank you! I'm very happy, but at the same time cautious in my enthusiasm. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted with my progress! I'm just simultaneously aware that to maintain will require tremendous - ongoing - resolve. I am truly willing! The thought of being at goal not just in a few months, but in 5 or 10 years, is so worth the fight!

I just wanted to stop in and congratulate you on all your success! Stay the course and remember how amazing you are!

Thank you so much, Janet! And right back atcha!