OK, for me I am doing pretty good. I am almost 6 weeks out and my weight loss slowed down a bit this week. I was on my "cycle" last week so I lost very little. Then this week I tried my hardest to get my protein in without protein drinks or bars but I still can't do it. I am simply not able to get in enough portion sizes. So back to the bars and drinks for me for a bit longer. I am so glad that I was finally cleared for real food, it makes my options so much more appealing! And the BEST part... I am in a 16!!!! Before surgery I was a 24! The one thing I feared the most before surgery was not the procedure itself because I trusted my doctor, heck if he can patch up soldiers who have had combat injuries under pressure cooker situations, he can definitly do a WLS in a top hospital with all the time in the world. Right?! What I feared the most was ing and hurting myself because preoperativly I was one of those full body, exorcist type of vomiters. My whole body would wretch, I would burst blood vessels in my face and eyes, and be totally exhausted before I was finished. Then I would fall asleep or pass out for several hours afterwards. After surgery I was really careful not to push eating or drinking too fast. When I did hit that point where I needed to I made sure I got myself in a comfortable position and pushed a a pillow over my incision site so that I would have support there. And fears were totally alliviated afterwards. No sweat, if something needs to come up, there is not much drama around it and now I know my new "trigger" so I can descretely excuse myself. Getting sick is definitly not something you want to do but now I am no longer sweating bullets over it. I still make sure to use one of those little squishy pillows over the incision site, it seems to help to have pressure over my pouch area. Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/220/146 BMI- 44.1/37.8/25 Height- 5' 4" lbs lost: -37 Surgery Date: 1/19/05 My WLS Journey Site: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney No matter what size, we are all Goddesses inside!

Congrats Jamie!!!! I am off to look at your profile! And Congrats on your weight loss!!! that reminds me... MY BAD!! I have not updated mine since surgery... I am feelin' stronger every day!!! HUGS ~Deb

Love the profile, its beautiful. You've came a long way in in a month. I can see the changes in your pictures. You go girl, your doing a fantastic job. Another Goddess, Barbara Blessings

Thanks so much. I was worried about the personal gain thing, but I think I was worried too much. To me helping others helps me just as much because it makes me feel good, so I worried that would count. Silly me, the personal gain issue probably encourages people to do it just for that reason. Its just scary when you first start out trying to figure out what is right, wrong, etc. I guess its like life itself.. you need to learn these things as you go.

Is it personal gain to try to heal a family member? What about healing yourself? I am concerned myself about the personal gain. Can you recomend a good book?