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I reached goal at 6 months, I was getting between 650 and 800 calories. In the beginning, the first 4 or 5 weeks, I was getting 350 - 450. I was healthy, felt good and had to make myself eat. I did get all the protein that I needed to, most days anyway.

I'm almost 3 years out, so things may have changed, but my doctor and dietitian wanted their patients to be off the shakes or protein shots and getting ALL protein via real food, as soon as possible. I was off all supplemental protein at 2.5 months.

People really do not pay attention to what or how much others are eating. Push the food around and visit. I've eaten out since I could only sip broth. Not a big deal. If you're not telling, you need to have a story ready when you start losing weight. I'd say "I'm on a doctor supervised diet" - which is the truth. For the most part.

I've always been allowed to drink "up to" and then wait 30 minutes after....which I'm doing right now. I just had 4 oz of lean pork chop and 1/8 cup of cottage cheese and 1/8 cup of pork 'n beans. I cannot imagine drinking now. When we are eating out, I try to get 2 glasses of ice water in before the meal comes. I always need the water! After 3 years, this is just habit now!

Sleeve 4 Me - There is NO doubt that you'll be back here telling us you're back at goal.....at least that is what I predict!!!!!

As a 'veteran' sleever.....I have to post SOMETHING!!! I consider myself a success story....at least I am so far, I did not consider myself a slow loser, but I think most might think so. I've lost 83 pounds, but 23 of that was prior to surgery. The additional 60 took six months, so. On average, ten pounds per month. It did vary though, 7 one month, 13 another, but, on average, ten pounds. We have to look at the whole picture, celebrate every pound, celebrate when you see your collar bone for the first time and when you realize there ARE hipbones, believe it or not. It is drastic surgery, it even sounds a little barbaric when you tell others that you've had about 85% of your stomach removed, cut out.....pulled through a little opening by your navel. Yikes!!! That said.....the weight WILL come off, melt away, disappear, but it is not going to be overnight and if you are cheating, it will be slower and everyone knows what I mean by 'cheating'. If you are taking a bite here and there of slider foods, a small glass of wine, an itty, bitty beer....well, that IS cheating. This is NOT a diet, it is a new way of life, but with that, comes sacrifices, at least until you reach your goal. Anybody who does not get that....well, I don't think there is a thing I can say to convince you. Tiff use to say, if you want something sugarcoated, then get a donut. I am not going to sugarcoat this. Are these sacrifices forever, you ask. No, but until you reach goal, during this honeymoon period, it is essential that you follow the plan, don't eat anything you shouldn't. Make lifestyle changes that become habit, a new way of life....weigh and measure your food, log what you eat, keep track. On the news this morning, diet was being discussed, just NORMAL dieters. The doctor being interviewed said that people who do NOT keep track of what they eat, who don't actually 'log it', they eat about 500 calories more than they THINK they are eating. A quarter of that is enough to totally undermine the "drastic" steps we've taken. This may sound harsh, but I'm telling you what I've done.... for three years I've weighed every morning, I'll do this forever; I continue to weigh or measure my food when I am at home. I still eat off a smaller plate most of the time. I still do NOT drink when I eat. I still try and 'eat under' my sleeve, it feels much better. My protein is where it should be, ususally more than the minimum. Some will say, it works for me but.......but what??? Maybe that is so, but I am not doing anything extra ordinary. I am NOT an exercise guru, I am not doing WW like some are doing, or South Beach or any of the other 'fad' diets most of us tried. This is NOT a diet......this is my new way of life, habit, natural, just like breathing. I may be crazy, but I think most could be preaching the same thing three years out, just like I am.....following what I've said. To me, it's a no brainer, just common sense. I am never deprived, I feel like a normal person, way more disciplined that I use to be. Logging food four years ago, smaller plate, measuring food. Seriously???!!! I'd have just rolled my eyes. Forgive this long post, but I'm not real good at sugarcoating things OR donuts, both leave a nasty taste in my mouth.

It's been almost 3 years and I only TRIED to drink those shakes for a week before switching to the protein shots, some call them protein bullets. IDS is the brand, 3.4 oz - from GNC. 180 calories and 42 grams of protein. They are just as nasty as the shakes, but less calories, which was a plus, but mostly, sooooo much less to have to drink. I was ONLY eating 3 meals a day, period and early on, I could only eat 1/8 of a cup, YES, isn't that unreal???!!! 1/8 of a cup per meal. I did not count the 'bullet' as a meal. I'd also eat about an eighth of a cup of sugar free jello-o and I drank 2 cups of skim milk, I started and ended each day with a cup of milk, I still do this. Anyway, I was eating very, very little. I was not hungry at all, NEVER.....I ate because I knew I must. My calories slowly went up as I added food into my diet from broth and LF cream soups, an egg is 70 calories, but when I started eating a scrambled egg, I could only eat half. What are you eating and how much are you eating to get in 700 calories so early on?

Here you go!!! There is one more, it's an informal group that a Forest Park Medical Center patient got started....for anybody, and it's on Saturday. I'm actually attending ALL of these groups, they're fun, informative and I really am a big believer in attending!! The Saturday one was meeting on the fourth Sat or the month, but I think we are switching to the third Saturday....we've been meeting at 12:30 at Season's 52, a great restaurant that has fresh food, and all meals are 475 calories or less. If you are interested, send me a message with your emal address and I'll get Kevin to add you to the email list! Medical Center Plano meetings are..... 2nd & 4th Thursday - Monthly - 6:00 p.m. The Medical Center of Plano, 4001 West 15th Street, Building 3, Suite 170 Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano 4700 Alliance Blvd. Plano, TX 75093 469.814.2000 Baylor Plano support group: We meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month in the conference rooms on the Garden Level of Baylor Plano’s main hospital. Prospective, current and former patients are welcome. Call 469.814.5677 for more information Presbyterian Hospital The WLS program provides patient support groups on the first Thursday of every month. Meetings are held from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Magnolia Room, Tower C, Lower Level. For more information please call 972-981-3861. 6200 West Parker Road | Plano, TX 75093-7914

It is alarming. I eat anything I want.....I choose to not eat some things, but nothing aside from carbonated drinks, are off limits. I did not lose weight due to exercise, for this very reason. I DO log my food, weight and/or measure my food and I do weigh every single morning. I know how many calories I need to maintain. There is a fine line between losing and gaining, we have to find where we fall once we reach goal. This week for instance, my caloric intake has been below 1300, MY magic number.....I am a lb less than I was a week ago. It is still a balancing act for me and I'll be three years out in 2.5 weeks.

I agree. I am a skeptic that she can keep the weight off simply because I had 30 years of yo yo dieting behind me, but if she can do it, that is wonderful. Losing weight was not a problem for me......keeping it off once I was off the diet was impossible. I do NOT think first rattle out of the bag, someone should have any WLS......we should at least have "tried". That is just in my humble opinion.

You're doing GREAT!!! I'm impressed!! You are close to us, we're off of Hedgecoxe, between Custer and Alma. There are several support groups in our area that several of us that attend several. LoL If you're interested, let me know and I'll send you days, addresses and times!

You have a good attitude, you're going to love this surgery. I was just like you prior and I've been excited since I woke up in recovery!!!!! Go buy a disposable camera, one of those at Wal Mart or Wal Greens......have someone take a picture of you the night before surgery and then have someone take your picture EVERY month on the date you had surgery. When you have your 1 year picture taken, take the camera and have it developed. You will not believe the transformation you see laying in front of you!!!! It is awesome to see it laid out like that!!!!

It will, I promise you!! I hated the protein shakes, I tried them for a few days after I got home, but was spending all day just trying to get a couple down. YUCK!!! I had 'samples' in a goodie bag from the hospital and on about day four, I decided to try the 'bullet' or 'protein shot' (people call them different things) that was in my to go bag when I was discharged from Forest Park.....Blue Raspberry from GNC....saved me!!! They're only 3.5 oz, they don't taste any or much better than those stinkin' shakes, but they are thee and one half ounces!!!!! I'd hold my nose like a little kid, and take a couple of sips in the morning, and rinse my mouth out, then a couple more mid day, and rinse my mouth out....then finish it off that evening.....and rinse my mouth out!!! I'm telling you, it was great, packing 43 grams of protein per bullet. From the very start and to this day, I start and end each day with a cup of skim milk, that's another 16 grams, so I was getting all I needed plus some!! You might find a local GNC or look on line, that is what I did, I bought a case of it. By 2.5 months, I was getting all I needed with real food. Log your food so you can keep track of your calories and protein. I still do this and I still weigh every morning and I am weighing and/or measuring my food!!!! It will get easier, these things might help!

Teddy - during my losing stage, I NEVER went over 800 calories. The first few months I did good to get in 500 calories, and you're right, it was easy with no hunger!! Still, even now, I've been maintaining for 2.5 yrs and need about 1300 to maintain, with no real hunger. I have what I refer to as my "NEW" hunger, which is an empty feeling. I can still ignore it if I need or want to. My doctor didn't want me having over 800 calories either, so when I was getting 400 - 500, I was worried. They were not, labs were good and I felt wonderful....and I was getting in all my protein, so slowly but surely the calories crept up. I WISH it was like that forever but I'd be rail thin!! LOL Still I can eat so little, I was told at the seminar, Dr. D never wants his patients eating more than a cup of food at one time. I cannot eat a cup of food, three years out. Almost, about 3/4 and that depends on what it is. I hope that I can NEVER hold more than this.

Ask me anything. Congratulations on this new 'journey'- hold on, it's a wild ride, but oh-so-fun!!!

You'll get the hang of it and it will become second nature! The new 'habits' we start, good habits, will keep us 'honest' and on track, at least I'm counting on that!!

NE Plano here.....will be three years out on June 11th. How's everybody doing?

I thought you were being funny!

You're right, fat as well as thin people get cheated on.....it has nothing to do with what size we are, it has to do with their character. If Sandra Bullock can be cheated on, nobody is immune!

You're welcome!!! I'll be your cheerleader!!! I just wanted to make sure you realize how amazing you're really doing!!! I think you're right, some people have unrealistic expectations. We all must realize we did not wake up fat and we will not wake up thin. Although, I can tell you, when you DO reach goal, you'll look back and be simply amazed at where you were just a year before!! It takes quite a while for your head to catch up with your tummy!! I still ask my husband to point out someone at the mall that is about my size.....why do I do that, you ask. Because I DO NOT SEE MYSELF like others see me, but I can look at a stranger and see what size they are. It is weird, but it is getting better. I no longer automatically go to the women's dept., I do know my size is in the missy dept. these days. Also, when I was losing, I never did hit a plateau like many do.....BUT, I did go up and down, up and down. What I mean is this, just about the entire six months I was losing, I'd lose a pound or two the next day, it was back, or some of it anyway. Next day, gone again. I'd do that with anywhere from one - three lbs for several days, then I'd wake up one day, it would be a 'down' day and it wouldn't come back....on to the next pound or two. The LONGEST I ever did the up and down thing was ten days. I didn't consider it a plateau. This was just normal for me. I never let it get me down for two reasons. First, I KNEW I was not doing anything I shouldn't and everything would even out....and second, several people at a support group meeting, who were 'veterans' described the same pattern. Have a great day!!

4 chicken nuggets @ Chick Fil A is 150 calories.....delish and at 8 weeks out, probably double what you can eat!!! Not something you want to do often, but there is protein too.

Are you kidding???!!!! You've lost just shy of 80 freakin' pounds in FIVE months!!!! Kudos to you, congratulations......you're a LOSER, and even if part of that was pre-op, that is fantastic!!! I lost 83 lbs total, 23 of that was prior to surgery....I reached my doctor's goal in five months and my goal, five lbs less, a month later. 60 lbs in six months, I thought I was doing great!!! I never thought I was losing too slowly, I celebrated every damn pound!!!! Your glass is MORE than half full, you need to see that!!! You are doing so good, be proud of yourself and don't give up and don't give in. You may have more to lose than I did, but you are losing it and on average, losing more than I did per month. C'mon, lighten up, give yourself a break. Keep up the good work, I don't know what your goal is, but you can make it happen with determination. Kick fat in the a$$ - you can do it!!!!

You can get back on track!!! Start with throwing away ANYTHING in your kitchen that should NOT be there!!!! Up your protein and liquids. Do you weigh daily? If not, consider doing that so you will know EXACTLY where you are at.....ignorance is NOT bliss when it comes to this!! Do you log your food? If not, consider starting, and make it a habit, just like brushing your teeth!!! Do you weigh and/or measure your food? Again, if not, consider starting. If you are home measure or weigh your food. Know how much you can put into your new tummy and try and UNDER eat your sleeve. Do you experience hunger or are you like me? I have what I call my "NEW" hunger....more of an empty feeling. It's easy to ignore if need be!!!! YOU CAN do this, just make it a game, make it fun......above all, make it habit to do all, or at least some of what I've mentioned. I had surgery three years ago on June 11th, these are the things I've been doing since day one. Also, I eat off a salad plate. Psychological....the plate doesn't look empty. Good luck!!

Thank you......I KNOW you'll be successful!!!! Attitude counts a lot, at least I think it does!!!

BTW - I have NEVER cooked something separate for myself than what I cooked for my husband......at least not since the clear liquid and full liquid diet....the first 3 weeks. I was only eating because I must!!!