So I was three months out on 1st June - and I feel really really good.

I have a thread somewhere here going through my experience, and the first few posts were pretty hard going because I found the first two weeks really hard. The whole experience with the liquid and puree and mushy diet was awful to be honest.

But right now I feel great. I've lost 65lbs in those three months (down from 292lbs to 227lbs) - I look good in a suit, all my old shirts fit again, I can tie my airplane seatbelt without a problem, I can walk home from the train station after work without being exhausted when I get in the door. I go to the gym a few times a week. I've lost ten inches around my tummy, three inches around my neck.

And most importantly, I eat what I want to. Nothing has been difficult for me to keep down. I know some on here stick rigidly to a specific programme. My surgeon didn't tell me to do that and so I'm not doing that - I mostly watch my calorie intake, and try to keep it below about 1200. I do probably have more carbs than most on here say I should, but it's working for me and I'm not going to stop. I also said at the outset, I wanted this surgery so I could have a normal life, not so that I would end up on a specific diet for the rest of my life.

What I found bizarre is that my restriction doesn't seem to work with chocolate, popcorn or crisps (dangerous territory, I know) - but I find myself being more disciplined about those foods even though my tummy is fine with them. Before surgery, when I left work, I would pop into a shop and buy sweets and crisps for the commute home. Now, even if I am hungry when I leave work, something tells me not to do that, and I wait for dinner instead. I don't know if it's the surgery, or if it's just because I can see results, I am more aware of not putting those results in danger. But either way - I like knowing that even when the restriction doesn't work, I am still more disciplined than I was (but because I eat all the foods I like, I never feel deprived).

My message to anyone struggling in the early stages is that this will all be fine - when I was a week after surgery, I looked at those people saying 'its the best thing I ever did' and thought they were all lunatics, or else that something was going wrong with me. But no - it is tough at the start (really, really tough) but it will get better and you will be glad you did this.

I have been lucky too with not having major issues with food and recovery. Sounds like you have it going pretty good. I plan to do the same eat smarter and live.

Living stone that was a great story. Today I am one month postop and it does get better everyday. Two weeks ago I cried everyday thinking why did i do this to myself. I no longer feel that way. Although I would love to have a cheeseburger lol. Maybe on 3 month out

Fab to hear such a positive update livingstone! It really sounds like u have achieved that 'normal' approach to eating. I'm two weeks post surgery on thurs. So far so good, I'm looking forward to starting purees this week!

nice update livingstone....i will also be 3 months post op in a couple of days....while i don't have a problem eating what i want, i do realise that is takes me a really long time to finish my meal....are you experiencing something similar????

Wow! Living stone, how inspiring. 6 weeks out and I'm almost where you are. I, too, had those regrets many weeks ago and thought the oft-repeated " best thing I could've done" line was cultish. Still young in this but I am having better, more optimistic days and am so happy that food has lost its lordship over my life.

The changing image in the mirror certainly helps.

Thanks everyone.

I'm down 70lbs as of today, so still really happy with how it's going - I'm going on holiday in six weeks, with lots of walking involved, and I am really excited about it - and hoping I can get down below 210lbs before I go (currently 222 lbs).