Lissa

Shelley, For right now, you know how much you need to get in during the day, which is probably 64 oz of liquids. Divide that into how many hours you'll be up today, which is probably 12-14 hours, so between roughly 5 ounces an hour. Can you commit to drinking 5 ounces every hour? That way you'll know you're getting in your liquids over the course of the day. Early on, my full signal was actually pain in my left shoulder and I had no clue. I was trying to walk off the pain in my shoulder and, when I took a drink of water, made the pain start again. That was a duh moment for me. You'll get it. Just keep working at it.

Welcome, Jenny!! Good luck for your surgery on Monday!!! Lisa's Hope, You're almost there! Good job!! Good luck to you as well!

Nope, you haven't messed up so badly that your surgery won't happen. You do, however, need to stick as closely to your doctor's guidelines as possible from here on out. The pre-op diet is supposedly to shrink your liver, but I suspect it's also to see if you can comply with the dietary restrictions given AND to help you detox from caffeine and sugars. The early post-op process is tough enough without having both of those addictions to break as well. Good luck!!

Hi Stacey, I'm 8.5 months out from surgery. I eat whatever I want, but I don't do bread, potatoes (except mashed when I eat out with one particular friend), or Pasta. There are minor exceptions, like toasted ravioli a couple of times, but in general I don't eat them. For me, those foods seem to swell up and fill me up very quickly. If you're my friend on My Fitness Pal, you'll see that I'm definitely not perfect. I ate zingers one morning instead of "real" Breakfast food and I still like chocolate. But, I still don't believe in "good" or "bad" food. If I truly want something, I'm going to eat it and then go on with my day and my life. I do try to eat the less nutritious foods before I work out so that I have some chance of working them off, and I still adhere to 70g of Protein and 64 oz of Water per day. I did just up my exercise to do cardio twice a day and weights 3 times a week. I also added in the "zombie stairs" to my routine. I was doing them every day, but my knees protested, so now I aim to do them 3 times a week as well. They are an added bit of cardio, plus they're great for the butt and legs! You're doing terrific yourself, so don't be hating on yourself. You're over 50% already and not even 4 months out yet!! YAY!!!

Luvs, Print this post out and put it somewhere that you can read it when you're having the post-op blues in a few weeks.

I agree that you need to call your doctor. Ordinarily, I'd say that broccoli just doesn't agree with you, but not being able to eat or drink today is a big red flag, IMO. You say that you feel full, but you can't take anything in by mouth. Yeah, you may have a blockage somewhere. Perhaps wait a couple of months before you try raw broccoli again once this is resolved? Good luck!

I do stir fry pretty often actually. There's a great product at wally world which is steak fajita meat, pre-cooked. Heat it in a skillet with the veggies you like. YUMMY

Me Me Meeee, Updating the profile picture requires makeup! LOL

CowGirl Jane, That was an amazing post!! I am in awe of your journey!

You lost a good bit pre-op, if you've lost 8 pounds since surgery. That can slow down the starting numbers, along with the fact that you have a lower amount to lose in total. I suggest upping your Water intake and using MFP to track your food and water consumption. Remember also that they pump us FULL of fluids during surgery and it takes a little while for that to all come out. I think you're on track and doing fine, but maybe try another scale just to see what that number says. I wouldn't buy a new one unless you see a big difference between what your scale says and what another scale says. Yours may just need batteries, too.

The puppy (Gizmo) thanks you all for your kind words!! He is always gazing adoringly at me in pictures, but what he really wants is food, Water, a cuddle and for "mommy" to let him dance for his stuffed lion! I really tried hard NOT to get the "pole" (center of the mirrored closet doors) in the picture! I wore that outfit today when I went flea marketing and I felt pretty cute in it, too! Thanks for agreeing with me that purple is a good color!

nanny, My Fitness Pal is an app for your phone where you can track your food and exercise each day to help you know whether you're reaching your daily goals. You can customize the calorie and protein goals for yourself and it will give you reports that will help you refine your eating and exercise habits. I use it in conjunction with my Fit Bit and it has helped me break my last stall and reach the Century Club. Hopefully, it will help me get to goal quickly from here.

Anna, I suggest finding a recumbent bike. I use the ones at the gym, but they are often on craigslist for cheap. IMO, the recumbent bike is easier on the knees because you're not pushing down on the knee. Start low and slow, just like you would with weights. Do what is comfortable as far as pace and resistance and build up as your legs get stronger. I had the same problem with one leg looking thinner than the other, but that has improved a good bit. Walking on regular roads is still uncomfortable for me, but I can do about 3-4 miles on the treadmill without pain. I have doubts that the treadmill will ever be my preferred exercise, but I can do it. Almost all of my muscle has come from the exercise bike. Just take it easy on the knees and don't push them to pain. You may want to push them to "sore" sometimes, but not to actual pain. If my legs hurt while I'm working out, I try to figure out whether it's the muscles hurting (good) or the knee joint hurting (bad). If it's the knee, I slow down. If it's just muscle aches, I keep going. Also, you don't have to jack up the resistance to get a good workout. I'm still only at 3-4 on resistance, but I can set a pretty good pace. My goal with the bike (or any cardio) is to sweat like a pig. As long as I'm sweating because my heart rate is elevated and I'm working hard, then I consider it a good workout.

Hit the gym tonight for cardio and did 10 minutes on the elliptical, which is HUGE for me. Jumped off the elliptical and did 20 on the bike. When I got done, I felt HIGH from all the endorphins. Almost better than sex!!! LOL

Mina, I'm a lot like that when I get on a roll, so your posts don't bother me.

Ange, a good friend of mine used to keep her pills in her car and take them as she got off work every day. She'd get in the car, then take the pill. No fuss, no muss and it was a great way to keep track of taking it for her.

Wheetsin, I have a name for one other set of body parts: The "girls". I used to joke that the "girls" had to be fed whenever I ate because I was always dropping food on my shirts. I don't do that much anymore. My shirts AND the girls thank me for it. Most other body parts get called by their real names (arms, legs, butt, etc) unless one or more of them is hurting, then there's often a swear word in front of the name. That's usually when I'm on the Helliptical (thanks for the name BK Mama).

Good Elaina! Where are you?

I like Katie's post and agree with her, but I'd add one more thing. You need a therapist pronto! You are so depressed that it's making me cry and you need some back up and support desperately!! Go see someone who specializes in bariatric counseling if possible, but any therapist right now would help you. I'm concerned because, from the tone of your post, it sounds like your dad "forced" you to have this surgery. I am stunned and frightened for you because of that. Please, call someone for some help today. I want to see you be successful with your sleeve, but I want you to be in decent mental health when you get there.

Well, if they're giving you an obnoxious comment, you're allowed to be obnoxious back. The answer I'd give is "Yep, I sure do know what I'm getting myself into" and go on to the next subject. If they then comment negatively again, I'd respond with "Yep, this is going to save my life, improve my pre-diabetic condition (which obesity is), and make me feel better about myself". No One can argue with "medically necessary". Trust me, I know.

Steph, I did have to have a filter installed and then removed, only mine was placed through my groin into my vena cava. The ultrasound tech found that scar tissue during her ultrasound yesterday, but she said even that looked really good. Those two surgeries were WAY scary for me!!! But, I would do every last bit of it again to get where I'm at today!!!

BKMama, Let me tell you, It DEFINITELY is almost better than sex. Notice the almost!!!

Ladies, I had to check in again. I've ramped cardio up tremendously in the last couple of weeks and I'm officially in the Century Club!! I've lost 100 pounds and I'm 8.5 months out from my Aug 30 surgery! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!