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My bag is packed, ready to go. Check In at the hospital at 5:30 tomorrow morning. It is hard to believe that I have come this far already and the day is finally here. Although I know this journey has only just begun I have to celebrate the small successes along the way of making the decision to make a change, seeking help, making a true commitment, sticking to the plan, working the program, working on me and recommitting each and every day to keep loving me and working to improve me. We all can do this! Here's to determination! Here's to LIVING! HERE'S TO US! If it is not too difficult or stressful for you, I say go and enjoy yourself but drink your protein prior and enjoy sipping on your teas, broths, etc while they eat and you all socialize. I am on day 10 of 14 and took my son to dinner for his birthday last week with family and did exactly that and was so glad that I went and enjoyed myself. It didn't bother me at all nor anyone else as they understood (many of whom I didn't feel the need to explain the full situation but simply if asked why I wasn't eating I explained I had an upcoming medical procedure and was on a very limited diet. No questions asked. Enjoy yourself! You can't stop living! This is only the beginning of life-long changes when we will not be able to eat as others do. Good luck and be strong. This is your life, live it! ❣️

March 30th!!

Good luck and congratulations on taking steps to improve your health and quality of life. I am less that one week post-op (3/3/23) from VSG. I feel great. I have had no nausea and the only pain I have experienced is similar to a muscle soreness as if I had been doing abdominal exercises. You got this! **my saving grace during the pre-op diet was kosher pickles**

Quest Bars are the best for me. 20 g of protein, almost half daily allowance of fiber, 180-190 calories, not a lot of crazy ingredients. And they taste great. I usually have one a day. Look at labels carefully because many/most protein bars are basically candy... not a lot of protein, loads of calories/fat.

You definitely look younger!!! What a change! Congrats!

I know it's almost automatic to assume that post-surgery life is going to be punitive and you'll never ever ever eat any "naughty" thing again but that is untrue. The restrictive phase isn't forever, and there will be pizza and cake in the future. The only difference is you won't be wanting more than a couple of bites, so it'll be an occasional treat and you'll be fine with that! Once slip up isn't going to ruin things if you've stuck to the pre-op plan well the rest of the time. But absolutely be upfront and honest with the surgeon regardless.

For me the weeks and days before surgery were harder than after surgery. It takes time to undo our behaviors and habits. Since your surgery date is so close, you undoubtably have taken many positive steps in the right direction, one little tiny half-step back is forgivable. So forgive yourself and know others are with you on this journey!

Made zucchini noodle bolognese last night. Mixed the noodles in with the bolognese & added a tin of lentils too. Ended up with what looks like enough for 10 meals 😁 so froze several single serves. This is supposed to be a one cup ladle full but I heaped it a bit & then couldn't eat it all.

I get anxious before every surgery I've had, and they always go off without a hitch! Honestly, I think my RNY was the easiest surgery I've been through.

I felt like I was missing something every day. I counted that I had 12 different appointments for tests and the dates and times kept changing so I feared I dropped one or asked for the wrong test. As it happenned I got every last test correct, but the surgeon decided on another at the last minute. Grrrr. Because of my surgery being 20 years ago and the fact I had a couple of huge risk factors, Doc said I had about a 1 in 20 chance of dying on the table. In fact, his last words when we talked just before surgery were "You know you can die from this surgery?" Yes. "Do you wish to continue?" Yes. I never worried about my recovery but I did research complications and visualized how I would deal with them. I had an 'open' surgery, meaning they openned me up from stem to stern and closed me up with 30+ staples and a drain. Every little movement was exruciating pain. I knew this was a short term thing and the staples would come out at 4 weeks or so. I told myself I could do anything for 4 weeks. Pain meant eating (puree) and drinking were impossible but I kept trying. Always keep trying. As I said, I prepared by knowing what could go wrong and mentally preparing for it. Knowledge, for me, is power. Just focus on doing the best you can. Don't kick yourself for what you can't do or do wrong, it's part of being human. If you have a rough time, it's just the price of admission. If it's easy take the W and keep going. Success starts and ends in the mind. Good luck, Tek