Congratulations Sara!! The next year of WLSM (Weight Loss Surgery Moments) will be a fun and exciting ride. The best part of weight loss is the internal changes that take place. Pride, self-esteem, confidence, love... etc. Enjoy the journey (and don't forget to journal as you morph into a healthy being.) The farther post-op you get the more calories/protein you will be able to get in. Don't worry too much about early out. The sooner you start an exercise program the better and further ahead you will get yourself. It has been my experience that the first 6 months brought the most significant weightloss so take advantage of this time. How, what, when (did I mention How, what when?) to eat is a lengthy learning process. It is mostly a "learn by error" process; so expect some blips along the way. Welcome and enjoy... the losing side of life is a life-giving; gratifying experience... have FUN! Sharon 340/221/190 (or less) start/today/goal -119#

Hi, Sara: Congratulations! You are doing wonderfully! I was the same way, and actually still am, every time I get on the scale and its numbers keep going down! What a thrill! I'm 6 months out and have lost 67 pounds. That's more weight than I have ever lost in my life, but I've worked very hard to get where I am. I considered VBG my last chance to lose 130 pounds and keep it off the rest of my life. I was definitely ready! When you get tired of soup (I ate a lot of soup myself at first), try something with more protein, like yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, maybe sloppy scrambled eggs; find a powdered protein shake that you like (I still drink Naturade Meal Replacement Protein Shakes every morning, because I can crush up vitamin supplements and mix them all up in my blender). It takes a few months, but you will soon settle in to things you want to and can eat, and things that are good for you. Luckily, I like most all foods that are good for me, I just didn't eat a lot of those things when I was fat because I preferred to eat high fat high caloried foods. NOT ANY MORE!! Remember, drink lots and lots of water; chew, chew, chew, and walk, walk, walk!! Welcome to the losing side of life!! Mary

I lost 22 pounds...I can't believe it. I almost fainted when I realized what the scale was saying I also got the drain removed which is so great I can't even tell you. Oh and they told me that the reason they couldn't do the RNY was because my intestines were too short and it will never be safe to have the RNY no matter how much weight I lose. The only thing is that the nurse said the weightloss in the first year is similar for RNY and VBG, so I am happy. Even if it is slower I already lost more than I ever could with only dieting and if 22 pounds is losing slower...shoot I'll take that any day So I am on pureed foods now which is nice, but yesterday I tried an egg and I could only eat 1/3 of it. Can you beleive I was full after that and full for a few hours too? It truly is amazing. I am so happy with my decision to do this. It's been better than I ever expected. Getting in enough calories and protein is really hard, but I am trying. I do really well with soup...it goes down easily and I can have quite a bit before I get full. It's a good thing to have because it tastes so good and there is so much variety. Thank you all for your guidance and support. I don't know what I would do without this group of wonderful individuals Hugs, Sara

I was on solid food 1 week out and I have had no complications. Some things just go through easier. Every surgeon is different thought so if you're real worried call your surgeon. Hang in there! Natalie -35