I love these 101 reason posts! they make me smile every time i read em! Thanks! # 22. i was fnially able to use a hotel towel! Normaly i pack my "bath sheet" from home but i dont have to anymore!!!

1. What types of food did you eat this week? My normal daily stuff. Hard-boiled egg & carb freedom yogurt for breakfast, cottage cheese & baked chicken tender/not breaded for lunch, a little more variety for dinner such as refried beans, eggs, chicken breast, cheese chunks, SF popsicles. 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? Just walking. 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? Don't know my weekly weight loss as the scales we have that go up to 330 just started registering for me now that I'm under that level. Total weight loss is 98 pounds since May 5 prior to surgery and 80 pounds since surgery on July 11. 4. What was your biggest challenge? I'm getting tired of the same old foods. I'm looking for a little more variety. 5. Have you made/eaten a dessert with Splenda? Can you share the receipe? The only things I've had with Splenda is SF popsicles.

Scott- You're going great! I'm sure you'll get lots of advice from your post, but I would caution you to do what your surgeon/nutr. are advising you to do. If you haven't already, you should ask them for suggestions. I would hate for you to try some of the things suggested (although not bad suggestions) and have your results slow or you develop a problem. I was told I could eat "anything" (within healthy choices) at week 8....but every surgeon has a different take. Best to you, Christina S

Aloha Scott...Wow, you have lost a lot!! That is amazing. They tell us that men lose so much fast than women do, and you are certainly proof of that. I'm 8 weeks out and have only lost 34 lbs....and seem stuck there. As for food I ate at your stage, I think I ate a lot of cream soups. As especially good one is Campbell's chicken/mushroom. Yum! I would freeze leftover and put cubes in a plastic bag and just take out 3 or 4 for dinner or lunch. Also, I ate a lot of cottage cheese with papaya, and at 4 weeks I had some scallops and shrimp with catsup. Went down good, but everyone is different. At 8 weeks I just had salad for the first time......it was so excellent! Also, I'm not eating things like Wendy's chili, South Beach Diet sandwich rollups, and homemade chicken. I've been very happy with each thing I've tried, and always chew good and wait to see if it's going to agree with my "Gracie." She's been a good pouch...very agreeable and gentle with me, but I'm gentle with her, too. Good Luck...and experiment away! Aloha, KarenS

Aloha Kathi.....Thank you so much for responding to my post. It's so nice to have someone who had surgery very close to mine to compare notes with. You have done exceptionally well, and I'm so happy for you. I know that my weight will continue to go down..it has to...but I hate getting on that scale and seeing the number be the same day after day. I, too, have some ortho problems with a leg I broke several years ago. It didn't heal correctly and has given me problems since. I'm hoping losing 100 plus pounds will ease the problem. I'm also doing the pool...walking and exercising...3 times a week. I love the feel in the water of being so lightweight! I've been very lucky with my "Gracie" (my pouch). She is very agreeable and lets me eat almost anything I want to. I do not abuse her and give her anything I wouldn't give a baby, including sugar, white four, pasta, rice, etc. But, she does fine with salad, whole wheat tortillas, bean soups, chicken, etc. I'm struggling with what is a good diet. Some say go protein as with Atkins...others say just good carbs and lots of proteins. It gets very confusing sometimes. Thanks again for telling me your experience. I appreciate it. Aloha nui loa, Karen