BrenM

You're doing great, you're managing yourself properly, and the set backs, well... sometimes there is just a reason Tom. Hang in there, look for the silver linings as much as you already are, and keep motivated. I'm rooting for you!!!!

You make them. I use a peice of an old sheet or piece of cloth. Put something in it and tie it shut with a piece of string.

And then you have me... I have no butt no matter what pants I wear. My mother says I was blessed with an indin <<< Native American Indian.... CRACKER A**! Looks like two crackers next to one another. Hehehehehe!!!! But....... will my boobs shrink too much. GAWD I hope not, though I'd like to stop special ordering bra's. Muahhahhahhaaaa.....

Losing weight ROCKS!!!

LOVE your motivation. Setting goals is very important as well, but I don't think it's necessary to change them. Rather, give yourself the celebration when you reach that goal early, and set a new mid goal. It may change those long term goals, but don't erase them. Just ammend them because of JOB WELL DONE!!! I lost 23 pounds since surgery day... 8 days. I had not set any short term goals because I was prepared to just focus on healing and following the diet. I am super excited about this success and we will see where the next few weeks takes me. I am certainly not going to set goals that will lead to disappointment though. Beware of that!!! My inner goals are to follow the diet strictly... and only I know if I am doing that or not. I think that is the key.

Bren

I will never eat chicken again as I learned I am significantly allergic to it. Makes me sad when I sit with the family as their munching on hot wings, but... the consequences would far outweigh the satisfaction. It's just one more thing to let go of. I lost 23 pounds since surgery on March 10th. Wooot wooot!!!

My problem with gum is it doesn't taste like steak. hehehehe... Maybe I could start a new market, like Harry Potter... "Every flavor gum" The majority of this liquid diet stuff is all on the sweet side. I mean beef broth is good, but I was looking for a different kind of chew fix. I'm not real fond of sweets.

Unfortunately quitting eating isn't like quitting smoking. You CAN'T go cold turkey... at least not forever. It sort of sounded like bulemia without the vomiting to me at first, but if it works for people who NEVER get to eat, it can work for people who shouldn't eat.

After being on the liquid diet for 2 weeks I was feeling so successful, and so much hunger, that I went and had a meal at a chinese restaurant. Then a few days later pizza at my neices birthday party. Then a burger and artichoke dip. I actually made myself sick the night before surgery. WHY? Why did I need to reward myself by undermining myself and punishing my stomach? BECAUSE.... that's how it has always been done. I knew I couldn't look my doctor in the eye after having done all that, but kept telling myself... I only ate 3 times. That self talk didn't help much.

What I have focused on since those events is this... I have no willpower. And willpower isn't important. What is important is to make up your mind to do something, and no longer give yourself any excuses for not doing it. You can reason with yourself in that cirumstance, and you are fully aware of when you are lying to yourself. I don't DESERVE that meal. I didn't do anything to EARN it. I have to find another way to pat myself on the back; and to give myself something else I DESERVE that won't hurt me or my goals.

Here's a tried and true trick I've started using for those moments when your brain shuts off and your animalistic ravenousness kicks in. I picked up some marinated garlic cloves at the olive bar at Safeway. Then we had several dinner parties, WHILE I was on a liquid diet. And I was the cook. When I began that self talk about how a little wouldn't hurt, or I could just this once, just a taste isn't bad, I would break out the garlic, stick a whole clove in my mouth, and chew it for all it was worth until it was completely pulverized.

HOLY COW did it burn, tingle, taste, and SATISFY. It is like putting a big red stop sign in front of your face, changed the focus, gave me a crunch, a munch, and a feeling of flavor, burned out my nostrils and tongue, and I was good to sit down, watch everyone else enjoy the meal and drink my vitamin water.

I don't think a clove of garlic is something to feel guilty over, something that will hurt, nor something that will derail you. It really really works for me... give it a try.

Bren

P.S.

The best way to stop craving sugar is to completely irradicate it in every way from your life. I've done this and my diabetes is VERY under control now, dropped 7 pills and all the insulin in 2 weeks.