One month update--long

[Guest guest]

Hey y'all (that's Okie talk for 'hi'). I'm now one month out and

it's been a remarkably complication-free time so far.

I am down about 24 pounds, and about 3 inches each in the bust,

waist, stomach and butt!

I was a little freaked out in the last week because I lost 17

pounds in the first 15 days, and only 7 pounds since then, but I felt

better after going back and reading posts of some of the other people

who initially thought they were slow losers the first month (thanks

Amy Poe!) and are doing great now.

I am trying to get over the obsession with the scales. EVERYONE

recommends not weighing yourself every day. For a first step, I am

trying to work down to only weighing myself a couple of times a day,

instead of every time I go past the bathroom!

I was pretty good about staying on liquids for 2 weeks (although I

counted ANY kind of soup as a liquid) and have been gradually adding

other things. So far, no real problems with anything, although

occasionally I take a bite of something and get that feeling like

food is stuck in your chest for a moment. Bizarrely enough, I have

found that watermelon makes everything go down better. If I have a

problem, I can eat a small piece of watermelon and feel better

instantly. I've had chicken a couple of times, tuna and ground meat

in a recipe, all with no problem, cheese has been ok, all fruit has

been great, salads are great. Most vegetables have been fine, I've

had very little bread but it was OK. No milk so far and no desire for

it. I haven't had much in the way of sweets--ate half of a Pillsbury

Halloween cookie last night and it was OK but tasted too sweet. I

never had a terrible sweet tooth, which is good, since I don't seem

to have any problem with sugar.

I start every day with a smoothie made of fat free sugar free

yogurt, some juice, maybe some fruit, plus whey protein powder and

Citrucel--YUM YUM (not!). I drink half of it for breakfast and then

the rest in the evening.

I have been very good about taking my meds and vitamins and have

even gagged down a few fish oil pills!

I can't see much of a difference in my clothes yet, because I work

at home and everythng I wear is soft, stretchy, elastic waist, etc.

but I have a " goal pair of size 20 chic jeans that I haven't worn for

several years that I have been trying on periodically to check...so

far I can pull them up. Next milestone will be to zip them up, the

next one will be to breathe while they are zipped up!

I started working out at the Y last week, which gives me a real " I

am Womanish " feeling (I always feel like I need to sing that song

when I am being particularly strong and vital.) right now I am doing

treadmill and weight training 3 times a week; I'd like to add some

aerobics after I make it through their " Aerobics 101 " class.

I have noticed that I am pampering myself more. I got my nails

done and a new hairdo, and in an attempt to protect my skin from

sagging, and slathering moisturizer on my whole body every day. Even

though I haven't lost a lot of weight yet, it's as though the surgery

has made me feel better about all aspects of myself, physically.

Good luck to everyone else. I sure enjoy the insight, wit and

support that this board offers.

(yes it's my real name) America

[Guest guest]

I'm now one month out and it's been a remarkably complication-free

time so far. I am down about 24 pounds, and about 3 inches each in

the bust, waist, stomach and butt!

A great report, , especially the " complication-free " part! I'm

right behind you.

in land