Hi Donna,

Just checking in to see how are you doing? Looks like your weight loss is right on track with mine! I am down almost 45lbs total and LOVING LIFE!! I am wearing normal clothes that I can buy right off the shelf without paying a premium in the Big Mens department which is also a great plus and even though the weight loss has slowed down to about 1 to 2 lbs a week I am still loosing massive inches in my waist and stomach which is in turn gaining muscle in its place.. So anything new with you??

Stephen Wallace

Hi Donna, PAGE 2**

I started to experience acid reflux pretty bad there for a day or two untill I got myself on a daily regimen of over the counter store brand Zantac which has pretty much eliminated it all together. Other than that all has been good and I am looking forward to more weight dropping off.

So how have you been lately? How is your family taking it with your weight loss and change in eating habbits? My kids can't get used to the fact that when we sit down for dinner my plate is now a saucer dish and I can only eat about 5 bites of food. Eating out has also been a challange too, I dont know if i mentioned in any prior emails but I have been eating a great deal of solid foods since week 3 post op. I could only handle liquids for so long and then I started adding in mash potatoes, grits, and some very moist beef jerky for the protein. Most of the protein shakes make me incredibly sick so i have almost eliminated them with the exception of one brand "Muscle Milk" which I can tolorate. Drinking cold liquids fast also makes me nauseas and that ones has been a challange to get used too as well for me. So keep in touch and try and update your profile with some pictures if you get the chance, i would love to see the change in you as you go through this journey. I posted a good before and current photo under my profile last week too.

Take care and I will talk to you soon! Stephen

Hi Donna, **PAGE 1**

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to respond back to you, my work has gotten a little crazy over the last few weeks. I sell coffee for a living and it's always so amazing to me how business just starts booming right after the new year. I have been doing okay for the last week or so, no weight loss or gains for that matter though. I think my body finnaly got cought up to me with the rappid weight loss I experienced the first couple weeks and it's in a state of shock. I swear I hardly eat anything so it just amazes me as to why I have stalled. None the less I am not letting it bother me YET. I just have made the resolution to stop getting on the scale daily and I will start just getting on it weekly moving forward. I will admit that the 30 plus pounds that I have lost have so far has tremendously changed the way all of my clothes are fiting though. The weight dropped right off from my stomach mainly and on a lighter note lets just say from a mans perspective its nice to get to see parts of your body that you have not been able to see in a while when you look down at your feet..LOL.. My wife always told me that I had "DICKY DOO DISEASE" Thats where your belly sticks out farther than your "XXXX" Doo! She thinks she's a comedian! My energy levels have increased, I am finding it harder to go to sleep some nights so that has taken some time to get used to.

Hi Donna,
It has also been a long process for me. Most days are still a struggle to eat. I find that I can eat most anything except creamed soups and oatmeal. Yesterday I finally was 2grams away from my daily intake!! I was so excited!! lol.I got tired of protein shakes so now I make my own smoothies. I am still trying to learn to make those.lol

Hi, I just finished week 2 post op, so I'm about a week behind you , and this is day 2 back at work. I feel really great, lost about 19 lbs. Had a few days stall, than all of a sudden 2 lbs. down. I keep jumping on that scale every a.m. to see if a little big more is lost. I'm wearing 3/4 of a size smaller, too, and it already feels a little lighter climbing up and down my stairs at home, I am eating pretty boring foods, tho, how about you?? Soup, soup, greek yogurt, and plain protein & water shakes is about it. I too am very happy with Almanza and my decision. I do have one small incision, the one near my bra line, that I had a culture sent out for, it has a yellow ring in it, and not healing up like the others, will know Monday what it is. I also got contact dermatitis all over my belly , strong rashes from adhesives I'd used (not almanzas) because the Cipro makes your skin sensitive. I got a prescription and it's going away now.

I'm doin really really well, Dr. Almanzas staff was really great, just healing up and getting rest and sipping sipping alot. Thanks, and God Bless you and your this Christmas. Beth

Hey girl, give me an update on yourself.. How are you doing so far this week?

Hey girl,

Glad to see you made it home safe and sound. I finally got home and in my own bed about 10 pm last night and WOW what a difference that a good nights sleep can do for your body. I feel like a million bucks today with VERY LITTLE discomfort and hardly 0 pain at all. I even drove into the office for a couple hours and ran around to do a little grocery shopping. I still will be taking the rest of the week off but now it will be for VACATION and not recovery.

Well keep in touch and I promise to do the same! Stephen Wallace

God Bless you, praying all is well. Beth.

Congratulations! Hope all is well and you're resting comfortably.

Here we go!!! I'm praying for us all can't wait to meet you!

Praying that all went well for you today with your surgery. I am heading that way and will be arriving in two more days for surgery on the 13th. I hope to see you there before you head back home.

Stephen Wallace

Thanks for all the positive comments. I will update all as soon as I can
Leaving in the morning!!! yahoo!

Sending prayers and positive vibes to you as you prepare for the first day of the rest of your life. You're gonna rock it! :-)

I have packed and re-packed. I feel as though Im going to forget something. I am excited, im ready to get some of this weight off before the summer.