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I had a little food at my mother-in-law’s today, but it was our only Christmas celebration, but I also had mostly soup. I chewed slowly, and told myself that was the only solids I was going to allow myself to have in this whole liquid diet phase. Doesn’t matter, still feel guilty as all hell. I’m back to liquids already (had a protein shake for dinner), worked out an extra 40 minutes today to make up for it. Back to liquids tomorrow. 6 days until surgery (12/30)!

i can relate to each and every person that has stated all the reasons I won't miss about being fat and I know this is absolutely TMI, but I hated using the bathroom because I can't get to myself to clean myself properly without having to get back in the shower once again.

I've never dumped, and no absorption issues. With the exception of iron (some people can't absorb oral iron and have to have occasional infusions - but the vast majority of us do fine on oral iron). anyway, besides the iron, absorption issues are pretty uncommon as long as you keep on top of your vitamins. as for eating, I can eat anything now except for really fatty meals. For example, before surgery, I used to love to go out for Friday night fish fries. These would consist of two or three pieces of breaded, deep-fried fish, French fries, cole slaw with mayo, and a roll with butter. No way could I eat that much fat now. I could maybe have half a fried fish filet. Anything I had with that would have to have little to no fat. Other than that, I have no restrictions - I can eat everything I ate before, just in smaller quantities. As an example of that, before surgery, my husband and I would get a large pizza and each eat half of it. Now I can only eat one or two pieces. I physically cannot eat any more than that at one sitting. But...that's fine. That's about what most of my never-been-obese women friends eat, so... as far as "finality" - a couple of thoughts. RNY is technically reversible, although it's a complicated surgery and is only done if you have a serious medical issue that cannot be resolved another way. Sleeve is not reversible. The other part of your stomach is gone forever. As for revisions, the most straightforward one for sleeve is DS, since at one time the sleeve was the first phase of the DS back when they did the DS in two stages (they discovered a lot of people were able to lose their weight just with stage one, so they started offering that as a standalone surgery a few years back, and it pretty much replaced the lapband back when that went out of vogue). They also do VSG to RNY revisions, but that's mostly when there's an unresolvable GERD issue. RNY usually improves - if not outright cures - GERD (not always - but usually). RNY can be converted to DS, but that's a complicated surgery that only a handful of surgeons do. To do that, they have to reverse the RNY, then do the sleeve, then do the intestinal bypass (stage 2) part of the DS. Although to be honest, most people with RNY don't get revisions. We do see some revisions from VSG to RNY because of GERD, though.

I'm 3 weeks post op and this is what worked for me. If the hospital doesn't give you one, make sure to have an abdominal binder! I never had surgery before and I lived in my binder for the first week. Having that extra support helps with walking. Also get good reusable ice packs on amazon. I got ones that covered my whole stomach and they were life savers! Make sure you have a good amount of pillows to prop yourself up at night. It just feels better to be on an incline than to lay flat (at least for me it was). I got a big u-shaped maternity pillow that helped keep me on my back because I'm a side sleeper. Also the first two nights I sleep on our recliner. Don't wait to take your pain meds. This goes for in the hospital as well as at home. Everyone says this but walk, walk, walk. It helps break up the monotony of being in the hospital. At the same time, don't feel bad about sleeping. I had constantly read how people walked seemingly all the time post-op. I think I did 3-4 loops over a few hours and then tucked in for the night. When you're not walking always make sure you have your calf pumps on to keep the blood moving. Sip sip sip! Glue your water bottle to you! I went in for fluids about 13 days after because I was very dehydrated. I walked a lot when drinking on the beginning because it felt better and seemed to go down faster. Have a pillow to put over your stomach for the car ride home. I constantly had my pillow over my stomach for 2 weeks because it was a comfort and also so I could text easier since I rest my arms on my stomach when texting. Lotion and lip balm are life! Most importantly, know that you will experience a lot of different emotions during recovery. I scoffed at this but sometimes I feel like a teen with my mood swings. [emoji23] Finally, give yourself grace and try to stay as positive as possible. It will be tough, but every day you'll wake up feeling a little better than yesterday and with more energy! Try not to play the comparison game too much. I got myself all worked up in the beginning because I wasn't where others were. I recover slower than others and that's okay. It's not a race. Listen to your body. I wish you the best of luck and a fantastic surgery and recovery! Seeing the weight loss every day is such a motivator and helped me get through the tough days. You got this! Sent from my SM-G988U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Whoever started the Loser club here it still to this day cracks me up and it is such a Oxy Moran statement. As we loose we become winners! Now that's a fact Jack. So for all you new people less then say 8 Months and who are freaked out about the holidays and what is going on! Read below Veterans feel free to add to this thread Lets start with you are in the same journey all of us did or are doing, My Journey was rough the first few months, the head games, the body fighting back, educating myself, etc. So all I can say is ride out the wave of aggravation, it does end. For me it was about the one year mark when I really realized how to run my body and stay healthy and happy. Not saying it will take everyone the same amount of time, but be patient you will get there. I crashed big time 2 months out, I have tossed up food many times, I fully agree there are some speed bumps in the journey! Today is my second X mas and as a chef (professionally trained but run a engineering firm, thought it would be a good double major) I cook for many. This year is a private cook for families who are in need. I am Blown away by how many families I will be feeding this holiday, actually so many I have to do half today and the other half tommorrow. No big deal I have a huge outdoor kitchen and indoor kitchen and lost of help from some of my employees. The amount of gifts for those in need filled up two pickup trucks Never seen anything like this especially where I live in one of the wealthiest places in the world - Naples Florida..... So Will this bother me since I can not eat, NOPE! Now not going to say last x mas did piss me off a little but now I look at food as just a thing, Not a obsession that dang nearly killed me! You will get there also so once again if you are struggling ride out the wave it will pass. Reach out to friends and family or even here if you are having issues, ITS JUST FOOD! I know easier said at my stage then yours. Wow while typing this a buddy called and said Steve had to go to the ICU for Covid, Can you go disinfect his house and dog. Part of my company is a remediation/Disinfectant company for mold and Now Covid. That puts things in perspective, he has been battling it all week from home. Back on subject. To wrap it up all I can say is the Holidays are about family and friends, Food is just a thing that in the USA gets abused. Focus on the good things this year and how good next year will be, WTF Knows it can not be any more insane then this year. But i have great kids and friends and great employees, that's what matters to me, Not food! So stay strong - Stay healthy- help those in need if you can - ask for help if you need it. By the way I did call the North Pole and Santa is not a big fan of protean bars and yogurt. Screw him he should learn to eat healthier. No cookies in this house for him! Enjoy and Happy Holidays Please stay safe!

I do a variant of this, for breakfast every morning I mix a premier protein shake with cold brew coffee. Yum!

Your surgeon or dietician didn't give you post op food plan? Have they given you the go ahead for soft foods? While the post op food plans do vary typically there seems to be a clear liquid stage (maybe up to three days), then a two week full liquid stage, then a pureed food stage (maybe a week or two), then a soft food stage (another week or two)....all this depends on the surgeon, dietician, how well someone is tolerating the various stages. Maybe time to check in with your surgeon / dietician see if you can progress through the stages...bearing in mind your stomach is healing right now.

I can smell thinks pretty strongly especially eggs. Also my sense of taste intensified with VSG but even further after RNY conversion. Almost everything is too salty or sweet from me. It's kind of annoying but I have learned to live with it.

Dec 15th Sent from my SM-G960F using BariatricPal mobile app

i can sit in a booth! I can shop in normal stores. AND I DONT MISS SWEATING WITH EVERYTHING I DO!!!!