I had my surgery on February 4, 2014. I lost 12 lbs going into the surgery, gained 8 lbs days after surgery, and have lost a total of 43 lbs. My first two weeks home have been pretty uneventful and although I've been approved to eat mushy foods, I'm not having the best of times. I am having a hard time chewing (wear braces), food tastes horrible, and I feel extremely limited. I am able to keep focused and just eat to live but I have to know that this is going to get better. My ultimate goal is to lose at least 85 lbs and anything after that is going to be a blessing and a result of a total lifestyle change. All things I have faith will happen.

I am already feeling better. My joints don't ache, I feel lighter, and healthier.

I need some help hearing that variety and tolerance will be better and that although I never want to eat the portions/calories I use to, the variety and quality of food will improve. Also I'm not understanding how my portion will increase from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup, if I am getting sick while eating the 1/4 cup I'm allowed now? I don't understand if I'll ever enjoy food again.

Also, I also struggle with pushing past the initial feelings of success and realize that I have a long way to go to get to thinner days.

Congratulations, you've already come a long way! Please be gentle with yourself. You are still healing, and things will get better! You will be able to eat more and more variety soon! I'm five months out and can eat anything. This is definitely a mixed blessing! Hang in there, and please let me know what I can do to help. God bless!

I agree with patticake. Be gentle with yourself! You have a lot of the same fears I have. My surgery isn't for another month, but I worry about feeling ill after eating. I've had the lap band for 7 years and have spent so much of that time feeling horrible during/after eating, that I really hope and pray that that part is gone! Take it easy, and from what I have read on this wonderful board, if you are feeling bad with eating such a small amount of food, it could be that your body isn't ready for that consistency yet. You have the rest of your life to get back to enjoying regular food, so take it nice and slow for the first year or so. I pray you get some relief soon, and that you focus on your success so far!

Thank you both for your encouraging words! I feel much more hopeful. Patience is not one of my virtues but I'm working to change that too!