good luck on your journey just an fyi to all of you. you might not want to go out and buy a lot of protein drinks/powders, etc. your taste buds change! mj

I'm a March 3rd-er too! Fortunately my surgeon doesn't do the 7-day liquid fast thing... just a bowel prep Saturday morning. After that it's only liquids but 2-3 days versus 7 is cool. I will be able to have my "last luncheon" with the work crowd on Friday. I'm beyond excited... beyond scared... waiting to wake up from the surgery and have it verified for me that it actually happened. It will be the beginning of a new life for me, as I'm sure it will be for the rest of you as well. Good luck! Donna

that was was really nice of you to remember us. thanks for the encouragement !

Hi everyone, Has anyone found a protein drink that they like? The only one I can do is the Bolthouse Farms Mocha Cappuccino. All the others make me gag. Since this has coffee in it..I'm not sure it's excepted as a fluid I can drink? Let me know if you have any info on this.

Hello to all of you taking this courageous step in your new life. Almost two years ago I had all of the nervousness that you are having now. You have come a long way to get where you are now. Most of you had to have many doctors appointments and a pyschological evaluation, meet with a nutritionist and go through some type of pre surgery weight loss routine. Don't let anyone ever tell you this is "the easy way out". I assure you it isn't, but it is worth it more then you can now imagine. I can't tell you all of the ways my life has changed in the last two years. I weigh less then I did in 7th grade (35 years ago). I wear clothing in sizes that I never wore before. The greatest thing though is better health and a feeling that I have a chance at life again. I told myself that if I didn't have the surgery I knew I would have been dead in 5 years and I still believe that today. This journey will be a struggle for awhile, but before long it will become your new way of life. I have a few suggestions that worked for me. Be very strict about following your plan for at least the first year. Don't eat white foods (bread, rice, potatos, pasta), drink at least 60 ounces of water each day - the more you drink the more you lose, I promise. Find an exercise choice that you like and that you will do everday. When I started I was walking a mile a day, soon that was not enough to keep losing weight. I currently average 4 miles a day. Walking was something I enjoyed and still do. I log my miles walked on a calendar. I started keeping track about 18 months ago and I have walked over 2200 miles since then. I am excited for each of you and the prospects that lie ahead. The "March" group of 2006 tries to keep our board active. If any of you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us, we will help you in any way we can. We will be honest with you and encourage you all along your path. Good luck and good health to each of you. Life is great, Rick