start weight: 223 lbs pre-op: 212 lbs current: 190.6 Loss since surgery: 22 lbs Total loss: 33 lbs

Hi Jen, Right now I eat: Eggs (scrambled, poached, egg salad and omelets) Chicken Fajitas (minus the tortillas) Chicken Curry Wendy's Chili Refried Beans and Cheese Grilled or Broiled Salmon Mashed potatoes High fiber cereal softened in milk High protein oatmeal with milk (Quaker weight control is low sugar and high protein) Meatless or Turkey meatballs from Trader Joes with Tomato Sauce and a dash of mozzarella (these are awesome and so much protein!) Low fat Cheese Sticks Lentils Hummus Sugar free popsicles I have taken a bite or two of things I should not but the above are my staples. I hear you though on hunger, this week, I feel like I am starving. Its also the monthly thing but still, it was tough to deal with mentally. Maya

How funny!! LOL! Sounds like something my hubby would say! It sounds to me like we have a great bunch of hubbies! I wouldn't trade mine for the world! He tells me every morning that he's so proud of me and that he admires my courage. He's been my rock through the whole process. I believe he's as much a part of this process as the changes in habit. He keeps me focused and encouraged. When I get discouraged, he reminds me just where I started at and where I'm at now. And in the process with the complication I'm dealing with he keeps reminding me that this is only temporary, that this too shall pass, and when it does--JUST THINK WHERE YOU'LL BE! He's the greatest! God handpicked him for me, and I thank Him everyday! I really gotta finish bragging him up. LOL! -- On April 9th I quit smoking. I told him that I thought since I was taking steps to make myself healthier and totally changing my lifestyle for the purpose of being healthier, I thought he should quit smoking too, especially since he's 12 years older than I am. He said, "Ok, I will." I about fainted on the spot!! He's been a smoker since he was 17 or 18 and he's now 54. So he's smoked for 36 or 37 years. It was a tough decision for him but he agreed with me that if I was willing to go through surgery and a total lifestyle change, that he could meet me this far. We went to his doctor and talked to him about Chantix. The fairly new drug that's being used to stop smoking. It blocks the receptors in your brain that tell you you want a cigarette. Anyway, he got on Chantix and on June 7, 2007 my awesome hubby became a non-smoker!! He's still on the Chantix but it sure has made quitting much easier than any other method he's tried before. His committment to not smoking is as strong as mine to follow the lifestyle set forth by my surgery. I LOVE HIM SOOOOOO MUCH!! God bless you all!! Brenda

Begining Weight: 232 Pre-op Weight:198 Present Weight:176 Loss since Surgery: 22 Total Loss:56 lbs

Hi Guys, I am paranoid that I am eating too much as this early stage. I eat between 900-1100 calories a day and I had my surgery on Aug 14. I dont dump and can tolerate most foods slowly. I am still on the soft foods stage though its driving me nuts and hard to resist a few real bites of regular food. I am trying to be patient. Maya