I never really watched The Biggest Loser - I did catch a few snippets so I have an idea what that show is like. I did watch what I think was the first episode where she went to the home - one family had a daughter getting married and the daughter had had WLS but the rest of the family needed help to shed their weight - BUT all of them, included the daughter clearly needed psychological work too which is part of what Jillian did. It was great seeing the final results and how happy everyone was. I did think she pushed them a little hard physically but then we don't see what gets edited out of the show - because I thought the parents looked really ill the first time in the gym. She clearly cares about the people, but she definitely shows tough love.

I'm not much of a TV watcher - but if I'm flicking through the channels and it's on, I will watch it. I find it helpful to watch shows like this because some of these problems are/were my problems and it doesn't hurt to get reinforcement and education. Do you feel the same way?

Thanks Toni.

In many ways I'm finding this part the hardest part of the journey - the weight is shedding more slowly and I'm beginning to face the reality of maintenance. Weird isn't it, I thought the hardest was getting started. 

I'm so proud for you, Skylar!  What an inspiration you are!

(((HUGS))) I can't imagine what it's like to have had the RNY, go on the wild roller coaster ride and then gain a lot of it back but I know it's a painful experience.

Molly is so right in what she posted - start over today and don't knock yourself down for what has happened in the past. You can shed the weight without have revision surgery - yes surgery does help, no question, but it's riskier and as you know, more expensive and not close to home.

I recognized in myself that I was addicted to many unhealthy foods - ice cream, chocolate, cookies etc. and I was out of control when I was near them - I can't eat one and say it was good and leave the rest. I found it helped to read a book by Dr. Kessler called The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite to see how these foods are designed by food scientists to be addicting. I'm currently reading Dr. Barnard's book Breaking the Food Seduction which also addresses this issue. I just can't eat this food - there is nothing healthy about it and it takes the place of healthy low calorie food in my diet. It was hard to give up this stuff at first but now I don't miss it and seeing ads on TV or displays in the grocery store don't bother me anymore. I see it as food that maybe some others can eat, but it's not food for me. These are the typical slider foods which can get you into trouble no matter what WLS you have. I don't know if that is your problem - eating junk slider foods - but if it is, you'll find it extremely helpful to just not eat them - not even a taste or a single serving because it will bring back the addiction.

In the last week for some reason, maybe the summer heat?, DH and I have become very lazy when it comes to meals so the simpler the better. I'm using the microwave to quickly heat up our starchy veggies and making lots of salads where we just throw in pre-cut bagged veggies into the bowl. I'm just not in the mood to stand over the stove for any length of time stirring stuff, making sauces, sauteing etc. The plus is the simpler the meal, I find I eat less. Also the less variety you have in a meal, the less you eat.

Thanks Michelle. It's weird because I never thought I'd get this far and the idea of being at goal and having to maintain is scary now. I know that Ruth and Mary talked about maintenance is harder that shedding weight.