Hello All: For newbies and not so newbies, I just wanted to let you know that there is a forum on Obesity Help called the Black American Forum (BAF). If you are not familiar with it, please feel free to stop by to post comments, questions or concerns. Want to know how to get there: Click on "Forums" at the top of the page and you will see a drop-down menu Click on "Show All Forums" and you will see several boxes with forum names in them On the left side in the bottom box, click on "Black American" And then you will be at BAF Come by and post a comment. We would love to see you there. Grace & Peace Treena

Thank you for the reply...I go for my 1 month check up this Wednesday the 15th..I have lost 26 lbs already. I seem to be having a hard time with food though, I can eat shrimp but haven't tried any other seafood. I only stick to the mashed potatoes because I know its something I can eat. When ever I eat something my stomach starts to gurgle like its not going to agree with me....What were you able to eat at your 1 month mark?? They say to eat hamburger but that made me sick...My husband feels like I'm living off of SF jello, applesauce and puddings. I really need some guidance when it comes to the food part. I also can only do like 4 sips of water or anything like that to drink then I get the pains in my stomach is this normal?? I have slowly started walking and can't go to the gym until I get the okay from my doctor, I have to be careful anyway because I have a bad knee with no cartlidge in it. I'm trying not to be disappointed but feel like I'm loosing this battle......HELP!! Thank you for your input Marie

Dear Marie: Congratualtions on your surgery and your weight loss! Each person is totally different and the amount of weight that comes off depends on age, amount of weight lost before surgery, and a million other factors! I had my surgery on Dec 6, 06 here in Frankfurt, and for the first month I was not to have any solid food. I did liquid, then puree, then soft food. When I went for my 1st month check up, I had lost 23 lbs. There, Dr. Weiner put me in solid food, but no red meat or white chicken meat. I am going to my 3rd month check up next week and have lost 47 lbs. So you are loosing as much as I am. I also got discourage since my hospital roommate is way off loosing left and right and I am just quietly loosing 2 to 4 pounds a week. I stay away from carbs as much as possible...I mean carbs like potatoes, rice, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. I have for breakfast a protein shake, for lunch and for dinner a half cup of some sort of protein (shrimps, fish, tuna, eggs, crab, scallops, soy beans, etc. ) I do add a snack at night, always a sugar-free snack, like apple sauce, SF pudding, etc. I walk a mile everyday and 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer. Take care and don't get disappointed!

Okay I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op and would like to know how much weight I should expect to loose in a month or two. I'm down 20 lbs right now but hear of others that lost 35 in their first month, is there something I'm doing wrong? I like to walk but would also like to start going to the gym and doing some light weight training...any ideas on when I can get back to the gym? Food wise I'm doing okay, I can keep chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes and mashed carrots down. I also like crackers with sharp cheese & sugar free jellos. I drink the protien shakes for the protien right now. Any help on what else I could try for foods would be great....I'm new to this and would like to hear from others who are further along then I. Thank you

Wow...300 gallstones and you were not having major attacks??? It was all worth it, just to get rid of THAT!!! Glad to know that you are now doing so well!!! Yes, I am still planning on the surgery. Since I started all of this, I got some answers about my back pain. I need major surgery on my back. (The weight loss will not solve or even help the current situation, sigh...but I want to be 100 pounds thinner before they go in there!!!) So, the most sure-fire way to get the weight off in a year is to have WLS. Unless my back pain prohibits it, I will be in Gutersloh for Christmas! I LOVE Germany at Christmas time!!!! I will let you know when I have a date..probably in June. Smiles, Linda