I woke up this morning and realized: This will be the last holiday season I will allow myself to be single and invisible. By this time next year I will have blossomed into my true beautiful and healthy self instead of hiding behind all of this weight and shame. I am so excited for the adventure ahead. I pray it goes well. I know it will be a tough path, but that the rewards will be so worth it.

Do you remember the day you knew your life was going to change for the better?

Really good to hear from you, Mariah! I agree...get some pain meds for the short term. They were a huge help for me.

Avhick, maybe take a step back and reintroduce those foods a little later? I haven't experienced that, and I don't want you to either!

How is everyone doing?

I'm at week four as of today!!!! Things are getting better. I have more energy and do not get out of breath anymore. I'm on the puréed foods again this week. The only God on the puréed diet that I can't seem to handle is eggs. When I eat them I get excessive frothy saliva and my stomach hurts. So eggs have been taken off the menu. So far things seem to be progressing. When I got on the scale today I was down to 271 start weight was 320 and the weight on surgery was 292. I'm starting to notice the physical changes and I'm liking how I look. Hope everyone else is doing well!!!!!!!'

Today I am down 40 lbs! This is a wonderful journey and so glad to be sharing it with all of you!

I'm at week four as of today!!!! Things are getting better. I have more energy and do not get out of breath anymore. I'm on the puréed foods again this week. The only God on the puréed diet that I can't seem to handle is eggs. When I eat them I get excessive frothy saliva and my stomach hurts. So eggs have been taken off the menu. So far things seem to be progressing. When I got on the scale today I was down to 271 start weight was 320 and the weight on surgery was 292. I'm starting to notice the physical changes and I'm liking how I look. Hope everyone else is doing well!!!!!!!'

The frothy saliva comes from eating too fast. It's got to be super slow, especially early on. On teeny bite, wait 2 full minutes. Repeat. My first egg as in single egg took an entire hour to eat!

Onward that's excellent. Glad you are doing well. At week five im doing good too. As of this morning im down to 263. I'm amazed with how I'm starting to look.

Blerdgirl thanks for the advice. I've slowed down the eating a lot with the two minute intervals and no more frothy saliva.

Avhick, you are doing so great! We are so close to the same surgery time. I'll be at 6 weeks on Friday. It's so wonderful to compare and see where we are.

I haven't had the frothies...they just sound delightful. Ugh. I do have horrible acid, though. And while eggs have been fine for me (poached), quinoa is like eating shards of glass. Back on the shelf it goes for now.

How awesome are compliments, though? People noticing the changing me...so encouraging. Yesterday, a woman who hadn't seen me since November came over to me and said, "wow, what a transformation!" I nearly cried. Friends tell me I look happier. I know I feel so much better!

Keep sharing your journeys, everyone. Your experiences inspire me.

@@Avhick - So glad that worked for you. It's hard to comprehend that when they told us to eat slower they meant suuuuper sloooooow.

@@Onward - I didn't add grans like quinoa and farro back until I was 3 months out. They are good proteins, but I wanted to make sure my tummy was ready.

I think I got ahead of myself

It is so wonderful to hear how great you all are doing! Your stories are very inspiring! My surgery is in just under two weeks! I can't believe it's finally going to happen! ????

Hi Miriah13,

Hope you are doing well after the surgery. Thanks for the positive support in your comments. How did the surgery go for you and how is your recovery coming along.

It's amaZing the changes. I am going back to work next week so I'm sure I'll get some comments. It's funny because I'm seeing and feeling bones and stuff that I've never seen and felt before. So glad that we are all doing well. Looking forward to continuing to hear about everyone's progress. Luckily for me acid hasn't been to big of a problem. My dr has me on a medication that reduces or stops the acid. I stopped taking it for two days and on the second day I had continuous heart burn. Hope to hear from everyone soon.

Ok I've been massively craving water since last night. It's like I can't get enough. My mouth Is also very dry anyone have the same experience????

My surgery is coming up soooo fast, 3 weeks. I cant wait to start my new days but until I do I am pretty scared. Just came from a visit with a friend who was sleeved in June, hes down from 313 to 197!!! He talks about everything from the day of surgery on like it was just no big deal and says all he regrets is not doing it sooner. Assures me I will feel the same & to stop worrying. Not gonna happen til I am on the other side of surgery.