I don't have any experience of this. Thebear, you and i have a somewhat similar approach to life i think, though i simply cannot afford to go as wholefoods as you are (financially, i'm on welfare) i do try to focus on eating simple unprocessed foods and exercise is the ABSOLUTE key for me. At this point in time i have accepted that my body has not read the government guidelines on how much exercise "should" help me stay in shape. I begin to gain if i do less than at LEAST 4 gruelling-sweating-really-pushing-it exercise a week. That is on top of my average walking mileage of about 25miles, 20 of which with DD (15kg) in the meitai on my back + shopping etc. and all the normal park/running about/housework involved in being a SAHM. When i do the daily plate or king calorie trials it looks like i have to run a 200/kcal DEFICIT to MAINTAIN weight. I love food, so i do it with exercise. I also have a thyroid problem which is medicated. Getting on meds for the condition was the biggest factor in losing my excess 20kg. My BMI is about 24-25 just now, which is pretty normal for me, though i'd like to be about 7kg lighter, they are "vanity" kg - the only "health" aspect is that i have heavily muscled thighs and any excess fat on them makes them rub together at the top which is uncomfortable when i run in short shorts. I'm living with that though! LOL. I'm also aware that probably 3kg of the 7kg i feel is excess is muscle so perhaps i should think more of 4kg of fat needing to go?

But since i am already, at a normal weight, in a place where i accept that intense cardio work and resistance training is going to have to be a DAILY part of my life, i can well imagine that if i was overweight enough that doing that exercise was impossible or difficult, i would certainly consider ALL my options, including surgical ones.

Anyway, this has been a big ramble, but what i mainly wanted to do was post a cordial invitation for ANYONE on a weightloss or weight maintenance journey to pop over to the exercise routines, tips and chatter thread for some great advice and stonking support. Some days it's all that gets me moving

Sush - you have to wait a few weeks until your doc gives you the ok, sorry!

Bx