you all have been a great help. Thanks for your advice and support. It's great to hear success stories. This process is both daunting and so extremely exciting to me..and my husband. I'm new here, but I'm going to continue to filter through all of these boards and read everything I can...I'm an information sponge when it comes to stuff like this. I'm with gwhite...my husband and I shutter to think about the alternative....dying young or having serious issues later. While we are still relatively healthy at the moment, we look at this option as a preventative measure. He was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and has high blood pressure and cholesterol. And since we are near-newlyweds (almost 1.5years!), we want to start a family. But my weight is not going to allow that, much less make for a healthy situation for a baby OR myself in pregnancy. I'm still pretty scared, but more excited than anything. I think my struggle will be more mental than anything. I can tolerate pain. But I know I'm ADDICTED to food, like many are. I don't feel strong in that front whatsoever, and I worry that I'm going to get really depressed or bitchy! ha. But....still, I know that will only be temporary. And my husband will be doing it with me, so that will be the biggest support EVER! Tell me...does anybody just absolutely miss the way they used to eat? I shudder at the liquid diet for 5-6 weeks...............I can't even fathom! Even if my stomach holds only 4-6oz of "food", I know my MIND is going to want that satisfying crunch of real food.