Hello everyone. My name is Shaun and I am new to the site. I actually just joined today, 2/9/2013. I am on the 3rd day of my 7 day fast at the moment, and it hasn't been as challenging as I thought it would be. My surgery is approaching and I am nervous and excited at the same time. I debated having this surgery many times and attempted to lose weight on my own. I would lose and gain and gain and lose. Several of my co-workers had their surgeries performed by Dr. David Kim and I am now following suit. Once I figure out exactly how this site works, I am sure it will be a great tool for me. I am sending well wishes to everyone!!

Welcome! This group has been invaluable to me in my journey. My suggestions to you is read up and research as much as you can before the day of the surgery, that way you wont be thrown off guard when you go through a time where your weight loss stall etc. I think just about anything and everything has been covered and talked about on this site so it is really helpful.

Let us know how it goes! It was the best decision for me and I hope you have wonderful results as well.

Welcome! I'm fairly new to the site as well. My surgery is on Tuesday.

hello and welcome you wont feel it now till your on the losers bench x

Thank you all. I am so excited but I would be lying if I said that I am not just a little nervous. I was trying my best to do this on my own but I will be 39 years old in August and decided enough is enough. It's time to really do something about this. I am SO happy that I found this site.

I am only 6 weeks post op...so I really remember that feeling: excited AND nervous! This surgery is the best thing I've ever done. I have done EVERY diet and gained and lost the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years. My surgery went really well...and I healed very quickly. Some of the things I did (not necessarily on my surgeon's list...but I did them anyway!) I drank organic aloe vera juice 24 hrs post op and continued for 30 days. It's VERY healing. If you buy the EXPENSIVE brand, which is George's (available at health food stores) it tastes just like water. I also started taking arnica immediately after surgery. Great for healing and not bruising! It's difficult to get your water in, but it's very important. I couldn't handle the broth (yuk) but I ate sugar free jello and popsicles that were fruit...with no sugar added. It was good to get my first meal 10 days post op!!

Now, even if I try a bite of something I'm not supposed to have....I know how limited I am for space in my new small stomach, so I can't try much more than a bite of any forbidden food!! I'm eating breakfast: either an egg, or a protein shake, or a half skinned apple with peanut butter. I LOVE soup for lunch and I make a chicken tortilla soup with lots and lots of beans and some salsa and spices (great protein) and for dinner I usually have fish, or chicken or turkey with a little cooked veggies. In between, I'll have a small amount of protein shake or some peeled fruit. My clothes are getting baggy....which I love. My only worry is because I'm in my 60's I'm already noticing some extra facial wrinkles and sags I've lost 39 lbs in 6 weeks (no required loss pre-op).

Good luck to you....I know it will go well!

Thank you sleevegirl830 for that excellent information and encouraging words. I just want to heal quickly and feel good. I have dogs and they will come in handy with me getting up and moving around after surgery. I am learning and writing down tips from everyone on this site. I used an aloe vera plant (the liquid from the plant) to heal my breast reduction scars in 2011. The aloe vera really did a remarkable job. I did not know about the juice, so I will definitely have to try that. Thank you again.