Lissa

I'm not sure I qualify as a successful sleever yet, but I have made a ton of lifestyle changes already. I don't go into convenience stores anymore and just wander. If I go into one, I'm looking for something specific, like Water. If I'm hungry when I walk in now, I grab a small bag of nuts, not a candy bar like before. I almost always carry a Protein bar with me and I usually have a couple of bottles of water floating around in the car, so trips into the stores are rare. I walk way more than I used to do. I think nothing of walking to the mailbox in my apartment complex, or hauling our garbage to the dumpster. When we first moved in here, I could barely walk from my apartment to the car. I also walk to the "gym" here to do my treadmill walks...and THAT is something I'd have never considered pre-sleeve. The biggest lifestyle change has been going out to eat. I still do it, but it's not the focus when I meet up with friends now. We'll hit the movies, go shopping (for clothes, yeah!), or take a tour of something now as the main focus of an outting. I don't know if it's really a lifestyle "change" so much as it is a lifestyle "enhancement"!

Lily, I have tried it. As a matter of fact, I still have more than a case of the stuff because my surgeon's plan said that I had to drink 3 a day post-op, but I couldn't handle it. I have a HUGE sweet aversion now and even a half pack of Crystal Light is too sweet for me. I bought mine from Amazon.com. Try to find some in the store and try one. Good luck with your journey!!

Terrific! That's wonderful!! What an amazing victory for you!!!

Raquel, I'm not sure if you are saying that your liver numbers are elevated or that your weight is bouncing around. If it's your weight, that's normal right after surgery. If it's your liver numbers, I'm curious why they are checking them. I hope your post was just looking for some encouragment and, if so, know that we're all rooting for you to be home quickly... and that I'm glad surgery is over and you're now on the loser's bench!!

Well, I'm not the source for anything based on alternative music! LOL I've edited this because I came across as snarky, which was not my intention. I hope you find some videos that use alternative music. I wouldn't know alternative music if it jumped on my head. I'm more into old rock and roll, which tells you that I'm way older than you! Good luck.

Get some videos to do at home. Turn down the volume on the tv and listen to your own music? TRY to develop a tolerance for the "stupid" music? It does at least have a beat to it...that's a plus. I get what you're saying because I'm definitely not into much of the newer stuff, but I can usually tolerate it because I know it's helping to get my heart rate up and to help me keep time with the class. I just keep remembering gym class where we all had to count. I felt like a moron counting 1...2...3...4, etc. for every jumping jack and push up we did. Good luck! I hope you find a solution that works for you!

I had egg drop soup after surgery and it was yummy! Of course, I left the egg part in the bowl and just drank the soup part, but it went down really well. I imagine I could have had it pre-op, without eating the eggs, but I didn't think about it them. It's basically a chicken broth, but chinese places add lots of other stuff that might not be so good. Some add MSG, which causes me a headache. I just ask if they use it. You may not have that issue. Good luck with your journey!!

Chicadee, I just told my hubby this morning that he's going to gain all the weight I'm losing if he keeps finishing my meals! I usually order whatever it is that I'm craving. I love BBQ ribs, so I order the kids meal at Sonny's BBQ with a side of veggies if they have something I like. At Denny's I order from the senior menu. This morning it was the senior scramble and I ate the meat and about half the eggs. Hubby had the rest. Mexican places almost always have something with chicken and a sauce I can eat. I love refried Beans, but can't finish them and much chicken, so I usually box them up for later. I haven't tried italian or pizza since being sleeved, although I did order chicken wings when son ordered pizza a few days ago. About 4 wings were enough for me. Luckily, son finished the wings for me. I'm very restricted on veggies right now because of medication issues, so it looks like I eat really high fat! LOL I also like to order Wendy's chili, or a cup of Soup if they have something I like. Somebody else posted that they prefer to order individual items and build their own meals. That's a great idea if you're someplace where none of the meals are compliant with your sleeve's wishes. Chili's is my toughest place to go because my sleeve doesn't like spicy anything, not even black pepper is agreeable to Rex. So, I always order salmon there and ask that they "just" grill it, then I add a veggie and some kind of sauce on the side. The first time I did it, I had "When Harry Meets Sally" flashbacks! LOL

You are doing great! Try something different in the Clear Liquids phase that you haven't had yet. If you're sick of broth, try a small Protein Shake, or have the juice from a bowl of egg drop Soup. Try some of that Kellogg's Protein Water or just drink some juice mixed half and half with water for a different taste. I'd stick with either apple or cranberry myself. Also, I am now really liking the Mio drops Strawberry/watermelon flavor. It's not so sweet that it's cloying, but it changes up the taste of water. And, since you can add as much as you like, you can adjust the taste to your preference. Good luck!!

Congrats on the fantastic weight loss! Here's hoping you get to goal quickly!!

I love the picture you have as your avatar, so I already knew you were gorgeous! However, the before and after pics show that you are gorgeous at any weight, you just look so much younger and healthier now! Congrats on the century mark!! I'm waiting for my turn at that one!

Mia, Welcome to the loser's bench! Glad things are going well for you!

I'm between 800 and 1000 calories a day, but I am still in full-on weight loss mode. I've actually been "stalled" for a week or so, but I have added weights and treadmill to my routine. I know I'm building muscle and my clothes are getting looser, which tells me that I'm getting smaller physically. I am thinking 170 for my goal right now, but will definitely be reevaluating that as I get closer. I'm 5'8, so I may look too thin at 170...or I may still need to lose more, depending on how well I tighten up. Right now, I'm just enjoying the journey. I want to get to goal, but I am not in a huge hurry as long as I am medically safe from my co-morbidities.

Sarah, Thanks for the suggestion about cauliflower! Hadn't even thought of that. I should really take a walk down the frozen veggie aisle at the store, hmmm? I'm not overly fond of squash, or I wasn't pre-op, but I could try that too. I've been ignoring the messages on MFP as well. It is just part of the program, I suppose. I really laugh at it when it adds my exercise calories in...like I'm going to eat those, too! Thanks for the advice!

scottiff, You're actuallly doing very well for being so early post-op. It takes a while for the swelling to go down enough to get the full amount of liquids in daily. Try Ann-Franc's suggestions and see if they help you.

coffee, I'm glad you moved your surgery date up!! That was a very smart move. It gives you less time to obsess, and you'll be getting thinner and healthier more quickly! Believe me, you will NOT wake up during surgery. The meds used insure that we stay under because the docs do not want you moving around while they are working on you. I don't remember much for an hour or so after my surgery, even. And, apparently, I decided to walk from the recovery bed to my hospital bed. It was only a couple of feet, but I don't remember it at all. You were working on different issues last week, if I remember correctly. It sounds like your mind, like mine, is just racing around. I had the same problem. Today I'd be worried about this and tomorrow I would worry about something else. If you meditate, pray, or otherwise do something (besides eating) that soothes you, do that. Call a friend and go to the bookstore, or take a walk if you are able to do so. Go to a movie...anything to distract yourself. Obviously, avoid horror movies. If you're really bothered, write downn the worst case scenario, then burn the piece of paper and tell yourself you aren't going to worry about that! I know it sounds hokey, but anything that works to relieve your anxiety is worth doing. I've posted before that I "knew" I was going to die on the operating table, and I was okay with that becaue I was going to die soon because of the medical complications of obesity if I didn't have the surgery. I was totally surprised to wake up! Then I had to wrap my head around living with what I had done! From now until surgery, concentrate on reading other people's success stories and on getting you and your house ready for post-op. You'll be so busy you won't have time to worry, I hope! Best wishes on your pre-op diet (if you have one) and I'm hoping to see you on the loser's bench soon!

What kind of pre-op tests? If they are the standard labs, EKG, etc, I can't imagine why the insurance won't pay for them. My insurance has a specific exclusion for WLS, but they paid for the labs, EKG, AND they paid for the surgeries I had before and after for the installation and removal of a filter in my Vena Cava. Good luck!!

Cheeky and SLL, It sounds like you are both doing great! Congrats on being sleeved and having smooth recoveries! I think it's great to post our post-op experience for others to read about, even when folks don't have the smooth sailing we three have had. Good luck!!

Faith, Are you sure your surgeon put it in that order: Protein and then fluids? Most of my reading, and my surgeon, reverse that order. They want the fluids in FIRST and then worry about the protein. I drank lots of broth when I was on Clear Liquids post-op and I was allowed to count the broth in my liquids count, which helped. Your surgeon may have a different order, but we are in more danger from dehydration early on than we are from malnutrition or diseases caused by protein deficiency. However, YOUR surgeon is the expert on your condition and may have reversed that order because of co-morbidities, so s/he is the one you should listen to. Good luck on your journey!!

This is a major life change. Of course you're obsessed with it. Didn't you obsess over having your first child? Yes, you did. You probably read everything you could find, worried about having the perfect nursery, and tried to insure you'd be the best parent who ever lived! We all do it and it's normal. I suggest you read the thread about what to take to the hospital and that you explore the forums about other specific questions you have. The answers ARE here and, if you can't find them, lots of us are ready and willing to answer questions, too. Good luck to both of you!!

I agree that you should call your doc's office and let them know you're in mega-pain. It DOES get better very quickly, but you should practice the tiny sips (use a teaspoon or a tiny medicine cup to make your sips smaller). The heating pad may help, and there is NO reason for you to be "brave" and not take the pain meds. Your doc gave them to you for a reason...THIS is the reason. In a few days, you will feel much, much better. If you're not nearly back to human by Monday, you should be IN the doctor's office looking for relief. Tums, gas-x strips and/or an acid reducer will help, as will the walking. Good luck and congrats on being sleeved!

WOWZERS!!! You've done incredibly well!! And, you're almost to goal. I'm totally thrilled for you!!!

Chrissy, There are tons of Protein products out there. You can order online from a host of places, including Amazon.com, unjury, Bariatric Advantage, etc. If you're new to protein shakes/drinks, I suggest going to the sites and ordering or asking for samples of their products. I personally like the Click brand of Protein powder that is sold several places, but others have had good luck with other brands. Walmart, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, and Sams sell several kinds of protein powder, Protein Bars, etc. Make sure you're getting whey isolate protein powder so that you get one that is readily available for your body to make use of it. Walgreens sells some protein shots that have collagen protein in them. According to the weight lifters' boards, that kind of protein is not readily available for our bodies to use. Whatever you do, don't over-buy on the protein powders, even if you adore the flavor pre-op. My taste buds (and many others) have changed radically since surgery. I can't handle the sweet flavored Protein shakes anymore. They make me gag. I drank a lot of chicken and beef broth when I was early post-op. That gave me liquid and some protein when I couldn't handle anything else. Do read the thread about what to buy for after surgery. Smaller cups, silverware and plates will make it easier when you transition to mushies and then to solid foods. A food scale and an accurate measuring cup for liquids are also very handy. Good luck on your journey!!

lml, Welcome to the loser's bench! I'm so glad that you're home and resting well!! Good luck on your journey!! Congratulations on being sleeved!

I've been waiting anxiously for you to check in! I'm so glad things went well, and glad that you only had a few minutes of misery, although I'm sure it seemed like forever when you were having it! I'd already warmed you up a spot on the bench. It's nice to see you sitting there...and peacequeen is right behind you. Congrats!!! Good luck on your journey!!