You are so right, it is the effort behind the action is what counts. One small crumb will suffice. I cannot wait to take it. -Jonathan

Jonathan I'm glad you posted. I thought of you the whole day on the 12th and wondered how you were getting along. Don't avoid the sacrament. This is a sacred ordinance that our Heavenly Father want's us to partake of. Try taking a teeny, teeny piece of the bread without any crust and chew, chew, chew. You should do fine. The head hunger is the worst but it WILL get better. When I was on full liquids I didn't do the jello thing. I drank water and then water and when I got tired of water I drank water. I didn't want to do the broth thing. Postum was wonderful and very satisfying. Toward the end of my full liquids I hit upon something that I wished I had clued into earlier. My husband got me a can of Campbells chicken noodle soup. I made it like normal and then strained everything out of it but the liquid. After full liquids and mostly water it was like a feast. I enjoyed the soup because it seemed to have more flavor than just plain broth. Drinking with your new pouch is very difficult. A couple sips and you can't seem to take any more. The trick is to sip all day long. It will get better. Your pouch is healing from a major surgery. Keep us posted on your progress. We're interested. By the way - I'm 10 months out and I still do not fast the full fast. I obstain from food but I get my liquids in. I've heard that other post surgery LDS members do the same. Fasting is just really hard for us to do. We need to look at it like a diabetic. They can't fast for health reasons, neither can we. We can still keep the spirit of the fast. A little bragging about myself. My husband and I have been married for 23 years. I have hit a weight where for the first time in 20 years I weigh LESS than my husband (of course he's 6'2" and I'm 5'2") Good luck. Melody 260/now at 148/ hope to lose about 25 more pounds

Hi everyone, I had the surgery done a week ago on Jan 12th at Methodist hospital in Arcadia, CA. I am doing well. I have been able to walk a lot and to get around. I have some soreness, but it is nothing I cannot handle. I am on a clear liquid diet for two weeks until next week when I can add some full liquids. I cannot do soft & mushy foods till four weeks out. I was concerned about whether or not I should take the sacrament. What did you guys do? This stage I am on is very hard for me and I am avoiding TV because of food commercials and being around people eating solid food because of the head hunger I have. -Jonathan

When you finally make the decision to go ahead and have the surgery you begin to have your head in the right mode to have a life change. This surgery isn't easy and you will struggle with issues and various problems (not getting enough water, not enough protein, not getting the right vitamins or enough vitamins, etc..) We trade one problem (morbid obesity) for other problems but for me it was all worth it. There truely is a mind altering change that takes place. Instead of "living to eat" I now find myself "eating to live". Quite a mind change for someone who used to be addicted to food. I can honestly say that I've beaten that addiction. Good luck and hang in there. Don't give up and keep bugging the doctor until you get your pre-surgery testing and get your surgery date. It will be here before you know it. Melody 10 months post op -112 pounds