I Sandra, I do not understand why protein supplements would not be needed after the first month either. I think they are great. i waited so long to start just to make sure that I could eat the required amounts, but I think the supplements are vital. Because when I have those bouts of not being able to or wanting to eat the supplements come in handy. i will never stop those. Adrienne

Thanks for the response David. It is a given men loose faster, my husband had his surgery 6 weeks agao and he has loos 60 pounds already, so you men loose much faster. As far as protein shakes go,. I never took them in my first 6 to 8 weeks because I wanted to teach myself how to eat my protein, but now I can not seem to eat, So i take the protein shakes when i am out and about because I was not eating at all when i was out, so I need to get something in because i have no appetite. adrienne

WOW!! Sounds like everyone is doing great,were all just about in the same place give or take a few.Congratulations to all and keep up the good work. Cathy

Cathy, You are doing well. 77 lbs in only 5 months is faster than many of "us" at this stage. My friend and I had surgery with the same doctor on the same day. We were the same age, height and within 20 lbs of being the same weight. (I was heavier) Post-op we have followed a similar eating/protein plan yet my weight has always come off faster than hers from the beginning. She's not doing anything wrong...it's just the way it is going to be for her. Some people lose slower than others. She has just celebrated 71 lbs lost...I'm at 102. What's different? I joined Curves and have always been stricter with my diet, but does that account for the entire difference? I don't think so. It's just the way it is. Does it really matter? No. We'll get to the same place in our own time. Sandra 317/215/175 5'7" 55 yrs old. Open Proximal RNY 10/17/03 Wilford Hall Medical Center (U.S.A.F.) San Antonio

David, I am glad you are losing so fast. (Men have it much easier than women, darn it.) Since you are a man, you needed a minimum of 80 grams of protein a day to maintain your body BEFORE this surgery. Since a major part of this surgery is the malabsorption, you don't absorb all of the nutrients from your food anyway so your protein minimum must be raised to compensate. After this surgery it is physically impossible to eat enough food to get that much protein. A high quality blended whey protein will give you the needed nutrition your body craves. Doesn't mean you don't eat food too...of course you do. But there's no need to worry about meeting your minimum requirements anymore because you know you are getting it via protein suppliments. Why do you think protein isn't needed after the first month? Sandra