hi elizabeth: for the first year, everytime you meet with the surgeon he has you meet with the nutritionist. Except, my surgeon is kind of part time now so i never had a 3 month checkup! So, this is only my second visit with her since surgery and i have a ton of questions. i'll let you know what she says. I saw the surgeon last week, and was down 78 lbs at the time. (started at 277, am 5'4"). He said he was very pleased with my weight loss and that being older and not a man (lol-my husband had rny 1 year before me and lost super fast, same surgeon) I will lose slower than some. Also, I've been lifting weights and doing cardio, he says that may slow the scale down but is better for long term health. So, hang in there! I had been doing so well avoiding sugar and bread. I think I need to go back to avoiding bread till I am at maintenance (wherever that will be). thanks for the help! judi

Hi Judi- I find I do not lose when I eat carbs unless they are in fruits or veggies. I stay away from bread, cereals, rice etc. And like you, I feel being older slows the weight loss. I haven't been to a nutritionist since my surgery. Do you go often? Wondering if maybe I should be seeing one as well. Let me know how you make out. Good luck. Elizabeth

i have not been doing the right thing! actually, i have been doing all the wrong things! i was so on track with everything! and so thoroughly proud of myself until amost three months ago when i met my boyfriend and got one hundred percent side tracked. i've been totally upfront and honest with him that i've had surgery. he's seen me in the past around town at 255 pounds. but of course, he cant understand what it's like. and for some reason i cant get it through his head that i Cant eat carbs, that i Cant drink with meals. and i guess i've just given up out of politeness? i know that isnt right because i know he wants whats best for me too. he did quit his second job so he can watch Dita, my daughter, while i go back to my support group. but one day we're getting a sitter so he can come too. i do not know how i havent gained weight. is it just because it isnt possible to gain weight at seven months out?? i'm at 155 now give or take two pounds. but i've been there since dec. 1st. i'm drinking my second protien drink today. i stopped buying so many of them because i was getting a lot of guff from my nut. for not eating actual food and getting weird looks from my bf for not eating. but now i eat way more than a cup of food at one sitting. i'm scaring myself to death. i am literally terrified that i am going to gain weight. and it will be all my fault and no one else to blame but myself. i feel completely alone and totally clueless. my nut. is not helpfull at all and i really dont know what to do. i ran out of my vista vitamins and now i need to get more. what should i get? i had to take five of those a day and that was rediculous. what do u recommend? i'm starting to look dead. my face is sallow and pale and my eyes are sunken in and my hair is brittle. i do have a gym membership that i'm Not using. again, all my fault, being sidetracked with the love of my life. i start a new job monday and that will be 12 hour shifts, just for three weeks for extra money. that will be good for me because it will get me away from cooking and give me some time to get back to what's important to me. the bariatric ball is in april. my goal is 130 lbs. my dr's goal is 158. i've made that. so i need to lose just 25 more pounds to feel personally successfull. i've lost 100 already! this should be easy! i'm supposed to only eat 1/4 cup of food three times a day, isnt that it? i know, i'm shockingly uneducated. i feel like giving out my phone number i need so much help! i'm sorry this is such a long post. i just really need you gals right now. i'm sorry i havent been around. you know how life goes. thankyou so much for reading. xo

the best gift I got was my new 7.1 megapixil Olympus Camera from my hubby! Yay I love taking pictures now! Or my other good gift was from my dad, he knows how cold I am all the time so he got me a heated mattress pad for my bed! I love it! the best gift i gave was either the gift of direction to my husband (a tomtom navagation system for his truck) or the Bronco gear & perfume I gave my mom (she's a colorado native!). nothing spiritual here! LOL love you gals!

if this includes me... my internet at home isn't working so that sucks and i've been way busy at work plus i've been totally involved with myspace! we've also been busy looking for a house! keeping extremely busy... plus i'm heading into tax season and this year I have a lot of clients to work on! So you'll probably hear less & less from me for a while! I'm down to 151lbs! Yay!(I'm wearing about a size 6). Just 21 more to go! oh & guess what??? i took my wedding ring in to get resized... from a 10 to a 7! I was going to wait a little while longer, but i couldn't wait anymore... i missed my beautiful ring! I hope you're all doing well! catch me on myspace! myspace.com/michelleymartindiaz or email me if you wanna! [email protected] ((((((muah)))))))) right back atcha Crystal! Take care everyone!!! i love you guys! ~Michelle~