Secrets to Success: Caution Tough Love

Very timely for me.  I wouldn't say I've felt like a victim....er, maybe I did...so much as that I was gagging on artificial sweetener, protein powder, and chewable vitamins, and probably sliding into a mild depression.  I don't regret my surgery, just wanting to whiz through these first few weeks.  Something about your post did make me feel a little more in control and a little less at the mercy of my current cir****tances.  Thanks!

Perfect timing I start soft foods Wednesday. I am really wanting to have thick soup or something lately. I appreciate guiding me back to the simple fact that we MUST follow our doctors plan to lose properly. It should be easy.

Great points.  This is a lifelong journey with lots of ups & downs, but the ups definately outweight the downs by a long shot.  The biggest gift you can give yourself is good health.  Congrats on all your success & thanks for passing along valuable information.

*Like* !!!   Best post I've read all day.  Sometimes I feel like responding to some posters "This is an ELECTIVE surgery - you signed up for this, you knew (or should have known) what you were in for and what MIGHT happen.  Not just the major complications but the little things that seem so big at the time:  gas pains, nausea, nasty protein powders, other people eating, even food commercials for cryin out loud.  Put on your big kid pants and STFU."  But you said it so much more nicely, haha!

and i thank you!

Well said!   I would add that we VSG participants should remember, we have committed to a serious, medically managed, 18-24 month program of dietary restrictions and increased activity.  I often see OH folks searching for "magic" - well, the magic is that medicine has developed a nifty surgical procedure for your stomach - not your head - and that it will restrict the amount of intake - but sleevie dosen't know (or care much) whether your consuming fat-free, low-cal soup or a Wendy's Frosty.  Only you know that. 
I also sometimes wonder about the amount of traffic on the forums that deal with how to make things taste better - don't get me wrong, I still try to enjoy food, but it's just not the focus of my life right now, that was the morbidly obese me - LOSING WEIGHT is my reason for having undergone the surgery.  I now eat a well-balanced diet of regular food, 95% of the time.  I exercise a lot; sometimes aerobic, sometimes just hard activitiy - today it was shoveling a truckload of mulch into the flower beds and planting new items in the yard; yesterday it was walking 7 miles on the golf course.
I've lost 124 lbs. in less than 6 mos.  - no magic - just consistent attention to the task of LOSING WEIGHT. 
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This is a great post!  A must read for every newbie and pre-op.  When one looks at most successful veterans they all have the "take charge and make things happen" attitude.  This does not mean that we can't all whine and complain sometimes about the difficulties we face, but that should never preclude doing the right thing.  I complained about the horrible tasting shakes and the stalls and so much else, but I never took my eye off of the prize.  Just because it is hard doesn't mean it can't be done.  We elected this route now lets make it happen.

I so wish there was a LIKE button!  You all have great insight!

Puts fingers in ears......lalalalalalalalal.....I can't hear you...lalalalalalalal!  Ha ha..just kidding!  Great post!  BTW.....imma gettin' pretty small........maybe the cookies ARE bigger than me!   LOL!

Or maybe you ARE the cookie? Trippy man.... ;)