Part of me still thinks about food constantly, drooling over what I will be allowed to eat at the next phase, and the other part of me finds eating a chore and a bore. The taste thing is weird, it isn't just the extreme aversion to artificial sweeteners, it is other things too. I was looking forward to trying salmon, and I took the tiniest little bite and spit it out, it tasted awful! Last night I practically choked down a piece of string cheese (which I still like) because I just wasn't hungry but I needed more protein for the day. The whole thing is weird, but even at this early and difficult stage, I am so very grateful for this surgery making food less appealing. I know the reduction in hunger is temporary, tastes will continue to change and that my stomach capacity will increase but I am hopeful because I can see that I building better habits. No eating plan, therapy or diet pills have ever any sort of impact on my food addiction, and I am so happy to have something to help me while I try to work on that addiction. I was skeptical before the surgery and thought for sure I would be crying non-stop these first few weeks out of desperation for food, but for the first time in my life, I feel optimistic about becoming a healthier person.

#winning! Congrats!