Mindfulness

I have found that being 'mindful' has proven to be a powerful tool too help me take care of myself. It requires me to be focused and present. It also helps me be aware and accountable. I am not always as 'mindful' as I'd like to be, but more so now than I was before I had my WLS. 

To me, being 'mindful' means that I am aware of what I'm doing and accountable to myself for my actions. Everyone needs to find their own ways of doing this, but I think that we all need to do this in order to be successful in the long term.

*  Being mindful mean I get on the scale daily so that I am aware of my weight and am able to make corrections when they are still minor.
*  Being mindful means logging my intake and activity if I notice that my scales are 'swinging' more than the 7 lb range that seems normal for my body -- basically, up or down 3 lbs from my 'sweet spot'.
*  Being mindful means thinking about what I'm eating and if it is something that 'fuels' my body.
*  Being mindful means leveraging my tool and 'taking care of business first', so that I start my meal with protein, move on to colorful carbs and then indulge in whatever else I want with whatever room I have left over.
*  Being mindful means being aware of how I'm 'feeling' when I'm eating

What does being mindful mean to you?

I think you have a good list going here.
I think being mindful is paying attention to every aspect, not just food, and trying to not get bogged down in trival matters.  Trival matters are anything that takes away from the quality of the things that really matter, your health, family and friends.
Sometimes it is very easy to get caught up in heat of the moment, by things that distract you away from the most important things.

I also think you have a good list going, and I like your definition of being focused, present, aware, and accountable for my actions.

Not easy, but then my old way of doing things wasn't easy, either. It just felt easier in the short term, but ouch the long term price!

I'm grateful for my WLS because it forces me into mindfulness if I am going to be successful long term.

 For me  its also  trying to take baby steps  in the HARDER  but HEALTHIER  direction  every day  rather than  allow myself to make excuses  and stick my head in the sand ....

I did a  lot of excuse - making and  self indulgence   and developed   a lot of  well frankly  bad habits  in the years leading up to WLS .  I dont necessarily mean just EATING -the-wrong thing  and eating  too much and  eating- for-the-wrong- reasons   habits and  non- exercise   habits .  

I also  mean I  created  this complex of behaviors  around food to distract myself  from  what i was   AFRAID   of -  standing up for myself   in business, financially  ,  the fact that I was failing to  try daily for my dreams ...  

a  little at  a time now I  try to stick my toes into those scary waters   ...  and  realize maybe theyre not so deep  andmurky  and frightening after all...