Thank you for asking. I am home from the hospital (thank goodness) and am on clear fluids for the foreseeable future. My stomach is rejecting protein powders of any sort so I am mostly haveing homemade turkey and chicken broth. I am taking it one day at a time and hoping I will be back to my new "normal" soon.

I'm still here, hanging out in the 170s. At least my four lb jump from last week is gone. But yeah, move along 170s! I so want to see that 169 number.

HW: 375

LW: 174

TW: 170

Hello weekly Weighers I prefer. With cooler weather daily walks are the weigh to go! Why do some need exercise to lose and eat right and others don't. I guess all our bodies are different.

HW: 289

TW: 267

GW: 164

How are you doing?

I started with a BMI of over 90. I was going for gall bladder removal surgery and the night before I was scheduled, I discovered that my health plan (for some unknown mystical, magical reason) began covering WLS. I didn't question it. I called the surgeon (who happens to specialize in bariatric surgery) and we did the happy dance together. This was July 13, 2017. I immediately started the prep work and managed to get through all the tests by Aug 13, 2017. I was approved for surgery on 9/12 by my insurance company.

My final appt is with the surgeon on 9/19 and surgery is tentatively scheduled for 9/22.

Now, I have always been the person who hated and refused to do artificial sweeteners and "diet" food. (No mystery as to how I got to over 500+ pounds, eh?) But, when the surgery became a possibility, I found something deep down inside that allowed me to begin the phase II diet immediately. I have lost over 62 pounds in 2 months. I average 600-800 calories a day with less than 45 carbs. Chicken, lean fish, and turkey and vegetables ONLY (with protein shakes). No grains, no fruit, no dairy, no shellfish, no beef/pork/lamb, no starchy vegs (including peas) and no added fats. Of course, it helped when my surgeon told me that if I went into surgery with a fatty liver that it could crack in half when she lifted it. Scared the bejesus out of me!

But, please do not think that this has been a cakewalk. Some days I could have killed for a pork chop. The protein shakes were unbearable (sicky sweet and literally made me nauseous!****il I discovered UNFLAVORED Isopure and combined it with no calorie drink enhancers (like the ones you get at Walmart - only 10 calories) or tomato juice or chicken broth. It made the drinks tolerable.

The worst part was/is the "head hunger". But I want this... I want this surgery soooo bad. IMHO you have to want this just like wanting to quit smoking. (I did that 15 years ago****il I really wanted to quit, there was no way I was going to be successful. At least that is the way it works for me.

Thank goodness for cloud bread, turkey sausage and eggbeaters. Cod and nutritional yeast. Carbquik. Perky jerky. And Skinny Pasta/Rice, etc. And spices. Spice it up, roasted vegetables with olive oil spray and garlic.

I'm already getting saggy. But I'm ok with it. I will take every wrinkle, every sag and be joyful that I will someday walk under my own power again (I'm currently in a motorized chair). I want to ride a horse again and only take up one seat on an airplane. Fitting through standard doorways would also be a blessing. Not having to use an "extension" tool in the bathroom is another goal I look forward to. This is what I think about when the urge to eat that pork chop hits.

In summary, think about the things you can't do and imagine yourself being able to do them again. What do you want more? The pork chop or the things on your list...?