My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2010. I am excited right now, preparing my postop meals (stocking up on clear fluids, jello, etc.) I am a hardcore Diet Coke addict, and I have been cutting down, but I am worried about what I will drink after the surgery (aside from water, of course). I purchased a new coffee maker and am stocking up on different kinds of coffee, decaf, flavored coffee.

I have been trying to get in a little better shape before my surgery, and have started jogging a little bit (couch to 5K plan). I know I will have to stop for a while after the surgery, I am guessing about a month before I could do anything too strenuous. I plan to keep walking, though, and then start my couch to 5K all over again when I am cleared to exercise. But, hopefully it will be a little easier then because I will be lighter!

I am not taking any time off of work. Because I am an RN, and I only work part time, my schedule is very flexible and I was able to rearrange my schedule around the surgery so that I have almost 2 weeks off before I have to go back. I am hoping that that will be enough time. I know I won't be able to do any lifting for a while, but I think I can do my job adequately with that restriction for a couple of weeks.

I know everyone says that you only lose about 55% of your excess weight with this surgery, but it seems to me that, reading blogs and even looking at scientific research that people are able to lose close to 100% of their excess weight. Which, of course, is what I really want to do. I know it will be a journey, however I have lost weight in the past (haven't we all). I know I can be successful at weight loss, and I love exercising, and I am just feeling very hopeful right now.

The thing that makes me most hopeful is reading blogs of people who had the surgery a year or 2 ago, and hearing them talk about how they don't "diet" anymore. When I think of dieting, I just think of a life of deprivation, always anxious and craving. Instead, this is supposed to be more gentle, isn't it? Still eating different things, but only small amounts, feeling full for a long time on a small amount of food, not making myself crazy. It sounds awesome and I can't wait.