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It's good you posted this--other people should note that if you have persistent pain, don't suffer in silence--get it checked out!

It's too soon to worry much about this now. Probably more important to concentrate on your water to make sure you don't get dehydrated. I didn't hit my water goals at all early on, but didn't get dehydrated--and I'll admit that my energy just sucked the first month. Had none. It picked up after I moved to real foods, although I still haven't had the burst of energy a lot of people describe having. Although, as one doctor pointed out to me today, think about the energy it takes for you to carry around 75 or 100 pounds all the time! I still have a lot of excess weight I'm lugging around . . . Protein will be easier when you have more choices--I still rely on cottage cheese, for example, almost every day. Yogurt is a good choice early on, though I couldn't eat more than half a container for a long time. Cheese (including cheese sticks as a snack) is helpful. Eventually, a handful of nuts. You'll get the protein and you'll always have those tasty, tasty shakes (she said sarcastically) to fall back on. As far as the protein water goes, I personally like it, but if you don't like one brand, try another before giving up on it. Sweetness levels and so forth vary. Hang in there, it will get easier.

I am, as usual, on both sides of this one. I admire and salute people who set a goal and go after it with gusto. I also understand those whose goal is "better if not perfect"; I'm definitely in that category. My goal weight is one I selected based on my weight in college--forty years ago. Before my back injury, before bad knees, before diabetes. I have no idea if it's realistic--I know it's not what my surgeon is expecting me to do. His expectation is for me to lose maybe another 40 pounds or so. For me, though, it doesn't matter that much. What matters to me is that I'm better off now by 78 pounds than I was before. I sure hope to be better by double that, or triple that, but I won't be beating myself up if that doesn't happen, and I'll still be happy about being better off than I was. That said, I'm also aware of the danger of making excuses for myself (or, one reason why I got so big in the first place). But after being so overweight for so long, I have a whole list of goals, only one of which is a number--I'll be thrilled if I can get off most or all my medications. If I can shop for regular-sized clothes. If I can fit into an airplane seat. If my knees stop hurting (either because of weight loss or because I can have replacement surgery--because of my weight loss). There are a lot of ways for me to measure success--it's hardly an all or nothing battle for me. That's FOR ME. I'm totally not judging anyone who feels differently. You go!

This is a very personal choice for people. I've read a lot of posts from people who feel it's nobody's business but their own and who choose to keep it secret. I respect that, but I'm the opposite--I tell anybody and everybody, possibly because at my age I don't give a flying crap for somebody else's opinion on what I do with my body, my health issues, etc. Walk a mile in my shoes, with my crappy knees, then tell me what you think! If I was any good at losing weight on my own without surgery, I would not have gotten to be 380, would I? Basically, for me it comes down to this: the statistics for keeping weight off without the surgery are truly dismal. The surgery isn't a magic bullet, it's a tool we can use to the best of our ability to help with our health. That's worth more to me than someone else's opinion.

Yep--see my stats and my goal weight! May never get there--still better than I would have been otherwise.

And, not to point out the obvious, but if you started at 218, you were at a lower weight than very many of the people on here, and it's expected that your loss would be slower than someone who, for example, started at twice what you did.

I second everything FluffyChix said! Especially the part about finding non-work things to do--I'm basically a sedentary sort, so had no problems in this regard. But read fiction or history or biography or something non-medical. Watch TV or movies. Endlessly search low-carb, high-protein recipes and save them to Pinterest. Play online games. Write your memoirs. Plan a fantasy vacation. And good luck!

I had to go back and check, but I'd lost about 60 by then. Some rocky times since--went up 10 and down 10, which is a relief overall but frustrating. It may be useful to get an idea, but just be aware that there are a ton of different factors at work, so your mileage will be yours alone--you may lose more quickly or slowly than others, but you will, if you follow the plan, lose. And, to be honest, I don't care that much about how much I lose and how quickly, as long as I keep it off long-term. That's the real prize here.

If you've had other surgeries you've almost certainly had ones that were more difficult--this was one of the easiest, least painful ones I ever had. Getting my carpal tunnel repaired was much more uncomfortable! Get your water, get your protein, take your vitamins, and get your exercise . . . don't worry about what the scale does for a month or so. You'll do great!

I really had to work my way up to drinking enough water/liquid, but keep at it . . . as long as you can keep from being dehydrated, that's the important thing at this point. Take it easy for a while--let your new stomach heal--and enjoy the future!

Absolutely would do it again. Have never lost 78 pounds in my life and I can't believe I would have done it any other way, much less have the excellent potential to KEEP it off--lots of people are good at losing weight, but keeping it off is, statistically, very very low without the surgery. It's not easy and it's not magic, but it is completely worthwhile and potentially life-saving.

Great story! and what a wonderful husband. I also feel terrible for those whose partners or family don't support them--I think maybe the worst is mothers, as we're so conditioned to want their approval and support. Hugs to all who need them!

As long as the fun there doesn't center around buffets, you'll probably be fine! Sitting at a slot machine, for example, isn't terribly physically strenuous . . . just don't jump up and down too much if you hit a jackpot!

I haven't had any since the surgery and I don't miss it, but I wasn't a huge soda drinker before. Coffee . . . I simply couldn't give up coffee. I didn't have any for a month or two, then had decaf, then went back to regular and have two cups a day. I was *supposed* to give it up for a year or so, but since different programs differ so much about this, I stretched the rules. About soda, though--they're all pretty much the same. Give it up. See if you miss it for a few months at least before you try it again.

It's probably only going to be one night and you aren't going to get a good night's sleep--they wake you up (if you are sleeping) every hour or two to do something like take blood or check your vitals. Just plan on resting when you get home!

Congrats! The weight loss does slow down after the first month or so, but it will continue . . . and you are already looking great!

I'm 62 and eight months post-op. Have had some ups and downs with the weight loss but still working at this and hoping for much more loss. Or some more. Whatever happens . . . I'm diabetic and currently on about half the meds I was pre-op. The real motivation for me was knee pain; I still have that, but the cortisone shots were much more effective last time, so I'm hopeful this will continue to improve. No matter where I finally get to with the loss, I'm so happy I did this and have made the progress I have so far. The first month after surgery sucked, but it's been getting better ever since. I was lucky: very little pain post-surgery and nausea only once or twice (from overeating--both times, I went out to breakfast and drank coffee with my meal--that'll teach me). Good luck to all!

If/when you get sick of the protein shakes, try protein water. If you can't find it locally, you can order it online: try Protein2O or Atkins LIFT. Lighter than the shakes, helps with your water requirements, and has 15 g of protein per bottle.

Wow, MiltonP, that is amazing! I've lost about the same amount of weight, but it's been since late August when I had my surgery . . . which illustrates your point exactly. We lose at different rates. Sometimes it really takes a while for your body to heal and the losing to start--but, Miss Sweden, it WILL happen if you follow your program and be patient a bit. My doctor told me not to weigh myself for the first couple of months (not that I listened to that advice . . .).

Yep. Almost everything you're taking in now is liquid, so you won't feel full from that. You'll notice a big change when you are eating "real" food again--a couple of ounces of meat or other solid protein will fill you up. Enjoy the feeling of not being hungry now--your hunger will most likely return eventually.

If this is your first stall, you are very lucky or very disciplined or both! Hang in there--you look fantastic already and I'm sure will make it the rest of the way!

One thing to keep in mind is that how much you can eat will change over time--after a few months, you'll be able to eat maybe a third or half of a meal you'd order at a restaurant, which will be enough so most people won't question it. Of course, I'm on the other side of the "telling people" approach--I tell anybody and everybody I had the surgery. Mostly because I don't give a crap what they have to say about it, so they can be negative if it suits them. Mostly people haven't been, though.

I agree: you can say you are dieting or watching what you eat without referencing the surgery. Or you can say you had a good breakfast and you are just not hungry. Or that your stomach doesn't feel like having a big meal today (true!). Or that you are trying to avoid carbs (like half the population). There are a lot of true answers that cover this situation without giving the total truth or details you'd rather keep private.

Look at it this way--you'll be spending less on food as you'll be eating less, so the grocery money can go to vitamins. Or so I try telling myself!

I'm leaning toward the view that you know it wasn't a good choice, you shouldn't do it again, and you'll probably be fine. There is a lot of variation in the pre-op diet programs, though I don't think any of them allow high-carb foods. Still, be good and good luck.