I am 11 days post-op. I have lost 25 pounds total. I cannot believe it. I am so thrilled. OK. So I am going to post the truth. I started eating soft solid and solid foods. 3 days ago. Seriously. I couldn't stomache another protein shake. They were so sweet. I started with 2 teaspoons of mashed potatoes, thinned out with gravy. Zero problems. 3 hours later, I ate another 2 teaspoons. Again zero problems. I loved them. I decided to not take anymore chances that day, so the rest of the day was isopure protein water, and water.

2 days ago, my mom made deviled eggs for Thanksgiving so I took 1/2 and mashed it up really well. I ate 1/2 of that (so 1/4 egg) and then waited and I felt great. Again, I waited about 3 hours and had the other half. I ate it over the course of 15 minutes and chewed really, really well. I slept like a baby yesterday. I was able to drink almost a whole protetin shake and another isopure water throughout the day, along with my water.

Yesterday I was feeling really brave. I made one chicken apple sausage link, cooked moist in a little broth. I cut that one sausage into three chunks and then cut one of the chunks into teeny tiny pieces. I ate slowly, one piece at a time. I had no problems. Throughout the day I ate the other 2 chunks of sausage the same way. I had no heartburn, no slime, no gas, nothing. I ate teeny bites, and stopped when I felt full. I waited several hours before eating again. I still supplemented with isopure and protein shakes along with water.

Today, I made some creamed spinach (yum - my fave) and ate about 1/2 cup throughout the day, 1 teaspoon at a time. I ate about 3 oz of dark turkey meat (no skin) over the course of 3 meals (so about 1 oz each meal).

I walked on the treadmill 3 times today (each time 12 minutes). I am getting ready to walk for a fourth time. I am off work for one more week, but I feel really great. I have a lot of energy. I have to say, I feel like I have had a relatively easy time with my recovery. The first few days were rough, I'll admit. The first couple days home from the hospital I hurt like hell. I couldn't get the gas out of my body. It was painful and my body kept rejecting the pain and nausea medication. I kept throwing up, which of course made it hurt worse. Sleeping was not happening. I couldn't get comfortable.

BUT - suddenly, on the morning of the 4th day, it didn't hurt so bad. And on the 5th day, I was able to finally get comfortable and fell into a deep sleep. I needed no pain medication at all. I started taking my chewy vitamins. I started walking on the treadmill (2-5 minutes at a time). As I got stronger, the pain practically disappeared over the next 24-48 hours. I have read from other posters, that unfortunately, their recoveries haven't been so easy. So I feel blessed.

25 pounds gone forever. I am looking forward to when I can post that I have lost 50 pounds...