I have until Sept. 20th to finish my Options class. I have weighed in up and down, and technically have only lost 2 pounds since June 21st.

I am thinking of going straight liquids with 3 Optifast with 24g of Protein and have 2-22 grams of protein for the day until the end of class.

I want so desperately to lose something and with this program I have in mind, I know I can. I have been on the Optifast program with Kaiser before and know what it entails. Soooo, on September 1, I will be going "Cold-Turkey".

You know what works best for you in losing the weight, so you should follow your instincts.

"Options" is not just about loosing weight in anticipation of the surgery, it's designed to put you in the proper mind-set for your future life. Learning and accepting a new lifestyle as far as eating habits and exercise is far more important than taking off the pounds for the surgery.

Successfully completing the Options program, completing and understanding the classwork and assignments is the key to the process of modifying your approach to the process.

I am in my 8th week of Options at the Panorama City Kaiser. It hasn't all been easy and my scale sometimes does not reflect my hard work and efforts, but it's all a process.

Just stick with it, do your best ... the results will come.

Hi Mr. Mason

Thanx for the response. I think the "anticipation" and eagerness to lose SOME weight is stressing me; especially this week. Besides reading and working my Options book, I also research the internet to find all info I can in preparation for this surgery; also post-paration (if this is a word, lol) .... Emotionally I am ready, but the mental part of me is the pre-surgery weight. I exercise (walk) daily. It is part of my day. Three 30 minute walks with three other co-workers is a ritual daily. Zumba class 2 nights a week. I moving but the scale is not.

Now I will continue to work hard and go harder with all my might. Feet can't fail me and God will not either. Faith is all I have.

You know what works best for you in losing the weight, so you should follow your instincts.

"Options" is not just about loosing weight in anticipation of the surgery, it's designed to put you in the proper mind-set for your future life. Learning and accepting a new lifestyle as far as eating habits and exercise is far more important than taking off the pounds for the surgery.

Successfully completing the Options program, completing and understanding the classwork and assignments is the key to the process of modifying your approach to the process.

I am in my 8th week of Options at the Panorama City Kaiser. It hasn't all been easy and my scale sometimes does not reflect my hard work and efforts, but it's all a process.

Just stick with it, do your best ... the results will come.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things ... stick with it.

Here is a nasty little secret that you may not know about the process...

Your body has a mind of its own. Regardless to what you do or what you try, your body might decide to try and hang on to the weight, It fears "starvation" and slows down functions to conserve energy..at fat.

By staying focused on your efforts and continuing your routine,you will win out in the end.

I know that in my case, I can do everything right and my body weight seems to plateau for a couple of weeks...then all of a sudden, I loose sever pounds in one week. Actually, I know that is is just my body catching up with my efforts.

The challenge is to keep going and NOT become too dependant on the numbers on the scale.

Even when it doesn't seem that you are losing any weight, go to your closet and try on something that once fit, but no longer does. You might be surprised to find that you're able to more comfortably fit into those clothes.

My closet has several sizes of clothes that I have kept over the years (I am one of those Pack-Rats who rarely throws anything away)

It feels so good when I can fit into a pair if trousers that were too tight for me to wear a few months ago. Granted, some of those clothes are old and out-of-style, and I would never wear them outside the confines of my house...but it feels good to know the "I could".

Remember, it's a livelong process. Hang in there.