Hi everyone! I just joined this app site and already I feel less anxious about the next few months. My surgery date is July 30th. I am curious to learn what postop adjustments and challenges did you face, and we're there any surprises? Also, how long was it before you were able to get back into your exercise regimen? Any other fellow vegetarians out there, too?

Welcome and congratulations on getting healthy!

There are a lot of post op adjustments that have to be made to be successful but hopefully you have been preparing yourself along the way.

- drinking lots and lots of water! Minimum of 64oz. This is the most important thing you will do the moment leave the operating room. Sip sip sip every minute you can to get as much as you can. Many patients end up getting sick because they are dehydrated. They assume it is their new stomach when in fact they are dehydrated. You won't be able to get up to that 64oz or better in the first couple weeks but you really have to focus and remain focused forever on getting tons of Water in.

By the way, no drinking water 30 minutes before or after you eat. This is also a critical life change.

- Protein is the most critical thing outside of water that you will need to lose weight and stay healthy for life. So many people underestimate this. You need it to heal, you need it to not be hungry. Dense protein is critical. I am not sure how or what you need to do as a vegetarian but I would work closely with a nutritionist on a plan.

- get moving. Begin walking immediately after surgery. I was up and walking within 1 hour of getting out of recovery and back to my room. Most of us walk about every two hours as it got rid of the gas in your belly which is what causes the worst of the pain. Once out of the hospital walking is the best thing you can do for your weight loss goals until you are released to do more. I was released at 8 weeks.

- paying attention when you eat to your body. That one extra forkful will do me in every time. Eat slowly, very slowly but take no more than 30 minutes or your pouch begins to empty and you will end up over eating. Track everything you eat. Use a program like my fitness pal and log everything. It holds you accountable.

- stay off the scale unless you can handle the crazy fluctuations that happen day to day and week to week. I do weigh daily but don't let that news effect me. Stay the course and the weight will come off. Use your clothing and your tape measure and your health or change in comorbitities to truly measure your progress.

I hope these suggestions help you and I wish you the best of luck!