Your doing great, I also lost about 70-72 by the six month mark and wasn't feeling like that was enough. A size 8 is wonderful. I wish I were there, finally broke a 6 week plateau just the other day and dropped 4 more lbs. I guess everyone is different. Keep up the good work.

The number for "ideal weight" should be the one that will give us a BMI of 25. Some people, even some physicains, will use a number that gives a BMI of 23 or even lower, this is not realistic because we, the formerly morbidly obese, have much denser bones as a result of our obesity. It is easy to see that this is the case--for example, I now weigh 217 pounds, and on my weigh UP the scale, I wore a size 22 at this weight. On my way back down, I am wearing a size 18. Four sizes smaller at the same weight is because my bones are much denser and heavier, and there is a bit of sagging skin as well...anyway, my surgeon, who is the most experienced and skilled in the Southeast, uses a BMI of 25. The formula to figure how much of your excess weight you have lost is: Pre-op weight - ideal weight = excess weight, then pounds lost divided by excess pounds, X 100 Here are your numbers, Colleen: 225-137=88, then 70 divided by 88 = 0.795 X 100 = 79.5 or 80% You have lost 80% of your excess weight, which is excellent. Of course, you were less than 100 pounds overweight to begin with. The usual weight loss after the RNY or similar surgery is 65-75% of excess weight, while with the DS it is 80-85%. It may not be realistic for you to expect to lose another 20 pounds--you would have to really work at it. Good luck!

Hi Carolyn, I'm wondering where you got the ideal weight of 137 for 5'2".I thought the goal weight was much lower like maybe 120,although my goal is 135 and I am also 5'2". I am about 6.5 months out now and have got rid of 70lbs so far.I started at 225,now at 155 and heading for 135.How do I figure the percentages? Colleen

It's just a name used to get in mostly protein. Whether it be protein shakes or meat. Protein is the bulk of your diet. Yes, I love the low carb Special K. It does not taste like alot of other low carb cereals that is on the market nowadays.

Can you please tell me what the protein train is ? I have been eating alot of carbs lately and I have been on a six week plateau. Please help. Is the Special K low carb cereal any good?