I was fortunate that I had no hunger at all after surgery. I had very low carb, high protein. I drank a lot of protein shakes. They were awful back then, but I said I would gladly drink mud shakes if that is what I was going to need to do to lose the weight.

One protein shake of about 12 ounces did me for most of the day. My calories were around 500 per day for the first few months. I had protein shakes, ricotta cheese with spaghetti sauce, hard cheeses, applesauce, tuna, and chicken thighs. No bread, rice, potatoes, cereal, crackers, rolls, pasta, noodles or sugars.

At two months out I was allowed to add protein bars and non-starchy vegetables. I would have a cup of vegetable soup for a meal. I was also allowed to have strawberries after two months, but no other fruit.

At three months I added salad. That first salad was delicious. At three months, I also had my first restaurant meal of a tiny filet mignon steak. After that I tried small servings of pork but could not keep it down. Chicken breast was also too dry for me and I could not eat eggs at all. I could eat softer fish and sometimes salmon would be OK for me.

I bought an ice cream machine with its own compressor and made my protein shakes into protein ice cream. I had that for many meals. I also made flaxseed microwave muffin in a mug for most meals. I was at 142 at six months out and stayed there for a year, then lost down to 128. My weight loss during months two through six was around two pounds a week.

I added back bread during year three. It is very easy for me to gain weight now, so I stick to Weigh****chers points system, weigh every day with a smart scale, and still eat very little flours, sugars, or fruit. I need to stay at 1400 calories a day to maintain.

I put an unbelievable amount of food into the garbage. I look at it like this. It is either going into the garbage or into my body where I will then put it into the sewer system. I just put it directly into the garbage. No starving child in Africa is going to be helped by my eating too much food.

My surgery weight was 195 and it took me 18 months to get to my lowest weight of 128. My goal is 136.

I have not heard that the suicide rate is higher, but it would not surprise me. I think many people believe that when they lose the weight, all their problems will disappear.

I think as a group, we (morbidly obese people) do have some serious issues we are dealing with. We need to seek help as needed so that we can live healthy lives- mentally and physically. Surgery doesn't "fix" anything.

If you are worried, talk to your counselor about it.

"Fat is stubborn, but eventually it has to let go."

I saw this quote just now in regards to weight loss stalls and plateaus. I will take this quote with me and hold VERY tight to it.

Trying my best to stick with the plan and trust the process.

I still use baby spoons after almost five years post-op! I LOVE my baby spoons!