Hi Rita, Just wanted you to know that like the others said, usually the more you have to lose, the faster you lose it especially in the beginning. And there are also other factors that can add to someone losing more in the beginning. My surgery was 4/3/03 and I have lost a total of 88 pounds (8 pounds right before surgery) but I was sick a lot in the beginning and couldn't eat much, I had a lot of nausea and I still can't eat meat. I also had surgery on my neck (had 2 disks replaced and a metal plate put in my neck) on June 20th and they went through the front of my neck to do it. The surgery made it almost impossible to swallow for several days. It hurt so bad I didn't want to eat or even sip water. I have lost more than some others, but believe me, it hasn't been fun or easy. So please don't get discouraged, you are doing great and it sounds as if you have had no problems. Your weight will continue to drop and that is the important thing - not how long it takes us to get there, but that we DO GET THERE! God Bless! Pamela

I had my surgery on 22 April and it's been three platueau for me! I'm down 36 lbs and it just is sooooo frustrating. Really strange. I'm doing all I'm supposed to do and the scale stays there. I was on a 2 week platueau and went away on a business trip and came back 5 pounds lighter in four days. Then another two week platueau and I'm stuck again. I know the feeling of being left behind. My good friend had it done 4 days before me and has lost almost 60 lbs! We even go to the gym together and believe me I'm NOT building muscle. But the great part of this surgery is that I can't just blow it off and go back to old habits and don't even want too. It's going to come off, but right now I'm discouraged. You are right too. It's so hard not to get on the scale every day! Good luck and God Bless. Keep with the plan. It's going to work for us too, but maybe we'll just add a couple of weeks or a month in getting to our goal. Just think, by Christmas we'll be so full of energy. Much more then last year and we'll be able to get some nice holiday clothes!

Do you have a gnc ? They have some really good protein shakes there i have a whey protein shake i mix with fruit and ice cubes with milk i love it i drink 2 to 3 shakes a day each scoop is over 20 grams of protein its a quick fix if you feel you are not getting all of your protein in all you can do is try. I had my surgery on 4/10/03 and i am down 82 lbs i walk walk walk m-f and i feel like a new person keep up the great work everyone remember where we all started off its a long haul smile no matter how much weight you have lost we all went through a very difficult challenge

Deanna, My lap R-en-Y was done on the 22 Apr..only down 47# and have also been on a plateau for a little over a week. VERY discouraging, I agree, I think the exercise and staying off the scale is a good plan. I find if I dont get my protein in, I dont lose weight. Try on old clothes if you get too discouraged, and it seems to really pick me up. Really love that baggy feeling, especially in the thigh area !! Also remember that if youre building muscle, it weighs more than fat, so, you may be losing fat, but gaining muscle, whick would mess up the scale.....try a measuring tape instead of the scale. ? . works for me....whatever works to keep you on target. goood luck

I think you are doing great. I don't know how you could survive on only 3 meals a day with no snacks. I didn't get hunger for the first month but I certainly do now - and, yes, it is "real" hunger not "mental" hunger. I have to eat a little protein every 3 hours or I get light-headed. I am down 67 pounds right now but I had a high BMI to start. I think fish and protein supplements are probably the lowest calorie protein sources if you want to count calories. I completely understand the calorie counting. It's a hard habit to break.