I too, feel the same way at times!

I had my surgery on December 5 and I am so ready to be able to eat!! I am really liking being 20 lbs lighter though. It's a toss up between the two evils. Being over weight and eating what you want and being thin and eating less food. You can't have both, unfortunately. I just try to stay focused on the future picture when I'll be thinner and will be able to eat what I want, just less of it.

I'm just tired of liquids and blended up foods. I know it's my mind telling me that real food would be better.

I to feel the same but I keep thinking if I don't change then I will be fat forever and I don't want to be that way.

I know how you feel. I tried every diet under the sun and nothing was working for me. I would lose some then gain it back plus some. I had decided I could not do it by my self. There are times when I really miss eating when everyone else does but like I said you just have to stay focused on your health and know its the right thing.

I was very worried about the fluids as well. It's funny, becasue I NEVER thought I could eat with out drinking. I also didn't "practice" before surgery. However, it is much easier than I ever thought. The first week or two I HAD to rinse my mouth out with water (and spit) after each meal. Now I make sure I wait 15 before and 15 after. Every once in awhile I will take a SMALL sip during but it's rare. My biggest issue is "sludge food" meaning food with no real nutrients. I have days where all I want to do is pick at it...then I have days where I go all day and realize all i have had to "eat" was a protein shake. It's like anything else....practice makes perfect. It's not easy...but it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. As for the vitamins, it becomes second nature. Again, I had the same worry. As for soda. I had one sip and two things happened. One, I HATED the taste and Two, the bubbles made me feel horrible. You will be very surprised to see how much your taste buds change after surgery. I was a smoker and I am still surprised at things I thought I would still like and can't stand. The BIGGEST issue for me was protein. Before surgery I could handle Whey....after surgery I gagged every time I tasted it...no matter how small amount. I was lucky and found Lean Shake (chocolate) from GNC. They are a little pricy but so worth it (at least for me). I have not heard good things about the other flavors but everyone is different.

Just remember that no matter how much you learn in class...you will learn so MUCH more once you come home from surgery. FYI, don't try to get all your protein in the first week or two after surgery...if you can that's great...however, most people can't. Focus more on getting your liquids in so you don't end up back in the ER for dehydration. I found sipping from a 1 ounce cup was good for me as it helped me see exactly how much I was getting in. Also, I got so sugar free Popsicles and they really helped.

Sorry for the book. If you have any questions, please in box me or ask on here. I will try to answer them. I am not perfect but I have been working on doing it right. Since April 12th, I've lost 120lbs...so I'm not complaining. One last thing...all those fears are normal but keep this in mind. I have NEVER regretted my decision....even the first few weeks after when you're full of gas and in pain....once you see the numbers going down, you don't care how much pain you went through....just don't forget that pain and the work you will have to do or you can end up sabotaging yourself. Good luck

I was very worried about the fluids as well. It's funny, becasue I NEVER thought I could eat with out drinking. I also didn't "practice" before surgery. However, it is much easier than I ever thought. The first week or two I HAD to rinse my mouth out with water (and spit) after each meal. Now I make sure I wait 15 before and 15 after. Every once in awhile I will take a SMALL sip during but it's rare. My biggest issue is "sludge food" meaning food with no real nutrients. I have days where all I want to do is pick at it...then I have days where I go all day and realize all i have had to "eat" was a protein shake. It's like anything else....practice makes perfect. It's not easy...but it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. As for the vitamins, it becomes second nature. Again, I had the same worry. As for soda. I had one sip and two things happened. One, I HATED the taste and Two, the bubbles made me feel horrible. You will be very surprised to see how much your taste buds change after surgery. I was a smoker and I am still surprised at things I thought I would still like and can't stand. The BIGGEST issue for me was protein. Before surgery I could handle Whey....after surgery I gagged every time I tasted it...no matter how small amount. I was lucky and found Lean Shake (chocolate) from GNC. They are a little pricy but so worth it (at least for me). I have not heard good things about the other flavors but everyone is different.

Just remember that no matter how much you learn in class...you will learn so MUCH more once you come home from surgery. FYI, don't try to get all your protein in the first week or two after surgery...if you can that's great...however, most people can't. Focus more on getting your liquids in so you don't end up back in the ER for dehydration. I found sipping from a 1 ounce cup was good for me as it helped me see exactly how much I was getting in. Also, I got so sugar free Popsicles and they really helped.

Sorry for the book. If you have any questions, please in box me or ask on here. I will try to answer them. I am not perfect but I have been working on doing it right. Since April 12th, I've lost 120lbs...so I'm not complaining. One last thing...all those fears are normal but keep this in mind. I have NEVER regretted my decision....even the first few weeks after when you're full of gas and in pain....once you see the numbers going down, you don't care how much pain you went through....just don't forget that pain and the work you will have to do or you can end up sabotaging yourself. Good luck

Very well said. I found if you do exactly as your doctor says, and don't try to rush things, then you will be ok.

I worry about that too, I'm scared to NEVER be able to eat normal!!

I was also sleeved Dec 5th, and had many of the same worries that you do. I have found that I don't miss soda and such, now, I am able to take a decent swallow of clear fluids with no problems. I am on pureed/soft foods, and have tried many many things. If you are following what the doctor/NUT recommends and chew, chew, chew, I have found in my experience that I don't 'need' a drink with my food because my mouth has moistened it plenty to swallow...it wasn't easy the first two weeks to remember to stop drinking so I could actually try full liquids, but now I think I'm close to having the hang of that.

It gets easier once you get further out and start listening to your body...which is definitely a part that I had turned off when binging...

My doctor is a 'balanced' diet type, and only advises to get protein first, then veggies then carbs, and I find when I do that, I almost never have room for the carbs, and not always veggies even at this far out (2 oz at a time doesn't leave for much).

It DOES get easier!!!! Keep your head up, your fears are totally normal at this stage, but it does eventually turn out just fine.

Hugs and you will rock your sleeve!

I worry about that too, I'm scared to NEVER be able to eat normal!!

I can deal with having to go through all the little things, as long as down the road I can eat normally (just smaller portions). But I do understand that you get used to things like that and eventually you dont even crave the soda and other things... I guess its just hard to fathom it at this point, having not started the process yet.

just stumbled upon your blog post and I thought I would share that I drink carbonated water everyday (2-3 bottles) of medota springs or la croix, etc. and eat 100% normal.... I drink about 1 soda-- not diet (coke or dr. pepper) per week. I feel no different than before besides the fact that I eat about half as much as I did preop. Don't worry too much about the first 5-6 months. the hard time in the beginning is so worth the final result.

just stumbled upon your blog post and I thought I would share that I drink carbonated water everyday (2-3 bottles) of medota springs or la croix, etc. and eat 100% normal.... I drink about 1 soda-- not diet (coke or dr. pepper) per week. I feel no different than before besides the fact that I eat about half as much as I did preop. Don't worry too much about the first 5-6 months. the hard time in the beginning is so worth the final result.

That is SOOOO good to know! Thank you for sharing.

I just read your post. First of all, I want to encourage you to focus on all the positive things you will gain after surgery and weight loss. Don't focus on all of the things you will be giving up. I was sleeved on Sept. 10 of this year and I am down 60 lbs and 48.5 inches!! I would rather have that than any Dr. Pepper in the world! LOL...I will be honest I do miss the soft drinks and I'm amazed at the post of people who are drinking them. I am too scared because of what the carbonation can do. But again, I don't need them so it's a good thing I have a healthy fear of consuming them anymore. The drinking before, during and after was not difficult but a challenge. I was a drinker too and I think the hardest is not drinking alot before the meal is served. But, as others have stated, it gets easier. The vitamins do become second nature. Trust me, they will make you feel so good (because of your nutrient deficiencies) that you will want to take them. Good luck and focus on the end result. Be patient. I am three months out and I can eat about 4-5 bites and I'm full. My doctor told me that it will take me a good year for my sleeve to be formed and completely normal. It's a slow pace but you will look up and not be able to believe how fast you got there!!! God bless.

Although it seems daunting before and shortly after your surgery, it doesn't take long to figure it all out and find that it is easy. Before surgery we tend to obsess about it but all of these things fall into place.

Also, I had no gas pains and any other pain was controlled with medication in the hospital. Once home, I required no pain medication. Not all have the same experience, but many do.