First of all, I know everyone's diets are different. I'm not asking what you can eat at certain stages. But, I'm confused. The first week or two is liquids then on to soft foods and so on. So if we are gradually increasing our food intake, how do we keep losing weight?

If starting off with liquids, then puree, then soft, then regular food, it's not for the amount but because our tummy has to heal. Even when you move to the regular food stage you will not be consuming very much. Does that help?

Well, I guess a little. But I will be three weeks out on Friday and feel like I'm 'eating' more because I have added soft foods like Greek yogurt, peaches, and cheese cubes. And I still drink shakes to get my protein in.

The first week or two is liquids then on to soft foods and so on. So if we are gradually increasing our food intake, how do we keep losing weight?

You wouldn't. When you're on liquids, you're gonna lose more than when to get to solid food. And when you get to goal and start maintenance you're not gonna lose anymore. That's pretty much it.

Sophie's Choice explained it. The phases have to do with what your new tummy can tolerate after major surgery, it has little to do with weight loss, which is a very welcome side effect of eating this way.

You will lose weight because you are eating less. The first 6 months are the best time to lose weight because your tummy is healing and you will be eating a minimal amount of food for months. Your appetite is generally less during this period, your metabolism is completely confused and is resetting itself (a good thing), and of course you can only eat a very small amount of food. This is why the first 6 months are the "honeymoon" period.

Afterwards you can still lose weight, it just takes more effort. You need to learn good eating habits early on so they are ingrained later on when it is easy to eat more calories than you should in order to continue losing weight. That's why you want to get in the habit of keeping your carbs low, eating your Protein first, not drinking during meals, etc.

And as MFP reminds me everyday, we are not eating a minimum suggested diet. (1200 calories.) Many of us eat half of that.

Calories in calories out. On liquid or pureed we're presumably still healing therefore, moving less/burning fewer calories. But it equals out because we're "eating" fewer calories. Then, we move on to soft /solids. Presumably, more calories in but we're probably getting around better at this stage, back to work, & our regular activities therefore, burning the extra calories. See how it balances out?

calories in - calories burned. Even when you're eating and making healthy food choices you're not eating as many calories as need to maintain so you will loose weight.

For me its two fold. Not only do I eat WAYYY less then I used to (sometimes just a few bits and Im full) but I also eat better. I now have to focus so much on nutritian that I skip all the junk. I eat for Protein and then for Vitamins so I forget eating any junk or even many carbs. I cant tell you when I had a slice of bread! Well actually I can tell you - it was before my surgery. I dont know if everyone is the same but I can tell you that its shocking to see the amount I eat and such a difference in how I think about food. its funny sometimes to realize that I think about it all day but in a different way but its great to feel that I control IT rather than the other way around!!