Catracks

My surgery is less than 1 week away. I do have a love affair with food, but like you, I'm going to embrace the new life. I've only been on the liquid diet for a week and feel so much better.

People get 12 weeks of nutritional classes? I only got one 3 hour class. Not all people have the same insurance requirements. The surgeon might have other requirements as well. I notice some folks on a pre-op diet get vegetables and maybe a little meat for dinner. I'm straight liquids . One more week to go ....

Ugh, I can't imagine having to cook for my husband and daughter during the pre-op diet. They've been so supportive and considerate. Without me asking, they eat up and clear away leftovers immediately. It helps.

Tuttle, my surgeon has a weekly support group. Also you could turn to the person who gave you your psych eval. I think I will still be able to enjoy food, but there are lots of things to turn to. There is God, church, people, pets, volunteer work, hiking, crafts, books. I've heard it said that a person with an addiction replaces it with another so make it a healthy and happy one. I suppose these are only words because I do not know what clinical depression may feel like or if you are even there. I do know what situational depression feels like. I have had to give myself a stern talking to and get myself involved in something. This seems to be my solution for everything these days. Go to Theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. She is gastric bypass, but the food and restriction about the same. She loves to cook and still loves to eat -- just not in quantity. She knows how to make up for it in quality. Her recipes are awesome!! Hope you feel better. Keep us posted.

I just had an idea. Please do tell me if this is tacky. I got a bunch of tupperware as a Christmas gift (I love it because I got tons of small sleeve sized containers). Anyway, how about stashing a small tupperware container in your purse and pack your own food away. That way the wait staff has no idea that you have a lot of leftovers. Men -- a backpack? your GF/Wife's purse? I think this is what I'm going to do.

My surgery is January 11th. I'll report back :-)

I am also on a pre-op diet (day 2), but they didn't give me a set amount of weight to lose. I got on the scale today to get a starting point and found that I'd lost 11 pounds from my original weigh in. Surprise!!!

Congratulations! This was the scary hurdle for me.

Hey! Watch the old librarian jokes! Signed, 40-something Librarian, LOL

I've got all this stuff in vacuum bags in the garage - everything from size 5 to size 14. I'll be glad when I can get into petite clothes again (the cut off is 12 or 14). I think I will end up as a size 6 which is around 135 for me. At 110-120 pounds I was wearing a size 3. That's where my surgeon said I should be. I think that's a bit low, but we'll see. I was VERY thin then. I'm 5'1" BTW. I don't mean to be crass, but my husband is going to miss the boobies. I won't. HAHAHAHA!!!

and yes to the low blood sugar. I think that's it too.

I had my Protein shake this morning. Not too shabby: 8oz skim milk, 1 scoop of chocolate Protein powder and a tsp of Torani SF chocolate syrup. So here I am at work. I feel pretty good actually. It sounds stupid, but I sort of feel lean and mean LOL! The only problem is an intermittent feeling of slight nausea. Anyone had this? Do I need more Water? Does it go away? My instinct is to have some warm broth, but I'm trying to wait until lunch as I left my midday Protein Shake and Jello at home in the fridge (yeah, stupid!) It's almost 10:00 here.

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad I'm doing the pre-op diet as this is the one I will be using post-op. As it is now, I have to have something in my stomach - even a little broth or I get nauseated and have a bit of what I can only describe as acid stomach. I know it's only 1 day, but so far, so good. I mixed plain Isopure Protein powder into some Soup last night. Boy, yuck, that stuff smells nasty. Couldn't taste it or smell it when it's mixed into a strong flavored soup. This morning I made a lemon cream shake. (Pro Max vanilla, 1/2 tsp SF lemon pudding mix, 1 tsp Torani lemon syrup). I'm definitely not lactose intolerant. I've been reading on these boards that there are people that can't stand the Protein shakes. Seriously, the net is full of recipes so that they need not be consumed plain. You know, you can even bake with them or turn the shakes into ice cream with a little home ice cream maker. You do need to use 2% milk for that though - otherwise skim or 1% will do for shakes.

Crickets chirping.

I does NOT sound crazy. Here is crazy for you: I want to be able to wear board shorts and a halter bikini top.

Jas - Use the vanilla as a base. I use skim milk and I also add SF Jello powder, crystal light powder, Torani syrups or SF instant jello pudding in the blend. For instance: 6-8 oz skim milk 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder 1 tsp SF instant cheesecake pudding mix 1 tsp strawberry SF Torani syrup or strawberry crystal light to taste For pre-op and later on mushies onward throw in a couple frozen strawberries Ta-Da! Strawberry cheesecake shake. Go to Theworldaccordingtoeggface and grab her recipes. You don't have to just drink the stuff unadorned.

My mom wanted to come and wait on me hand and foot, but I'm one of those who doesn't like to make a big deal of things. I like to putter around the house without anybody around. I was ambulatory after a c-section so I think i can take this.

Quick soup from Sunset magazine. You can use any kind of sausage you like and omit the potatoes if going low carb. I would also cut everything into smaller pieces. Ingredients 1 pound brussels sprouts 1/2 pound andouille sausage 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 large red potatoes 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth Preparation 1. Trim ends off brussels sprouts, remove any damaged external leaves, and cut in half lengthwise. Set aside. 2. Remove casing from sausage and cut into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Put olive oil and sausage in a medium pot over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until sausage is well browned, about 7 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, peel potatoes and cut into roughly 1/2-in. pieces. 4. When sausage is browned, add bay leaves and caraway seeds to the pot. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add potatoes, broth, and 1 cup Water. Bring to a boil. Add brussels sprouts. Partially cover pot and reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain a steady simmer. Cook soup until potatoes and brussels sprouts are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove bay leaves and serve soup hot.

"Remember that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of adipose tissue (fat)." We no LOL. A pound is a pound. I think what you meant to say is that a pound of muscle is preferable to a pound of fat and that is what you are trying to replace some of the fat with. I also think that muscle is heavier by volume (i.e. a square inch of muscle is heavier than a square inch of fat). I was reading this so I know what to expect post surgery. Now I won't be freaked out when I stall.

Pro Max from SEI Pharaceuticals. http://www.seipharmaceuticals.com/products/MAX-Protein.html I just tried the chocolate and the vanilla. It's actually really good.

I'm so very happy for you! I have to wait until the 11th.

Also, If you can take a compliment: I've seen your posts before and your picture with them. You are very pretty. So there!

I know EXACTLY where you are. My surgery is the 11th. Most of time time when I am not looking in a mirror, I don't obsess over the way I look. Show me a mirror and I am in shock over how huge and bloated i am. I'm sorry, but it's almost freakish. I am so terrified about getting into situation or meeting new people that I don't go out to very many get-togethers. There is this Christmas party given by my husband's friend in a swanky part of Los Angeles. I know it's small of me, but everyone there is dressed to kill and gorgeous. It's not even my scene if skinny, but looking this way .... NO WAY! I am also down to squeezing into 2 pair of pants. I cannot bear to buy a size up from an 18. Don't worry. You've got it right. Just focus on what you have to do.

My surgery date in January 11th. I start my pre-op diet on Dec. 28th. My pre-op appointment in Jan 4th. I'm waiting for my packet too. I'm so excited!!!

My first impulse is to want to talk you into it because of all the success stories and the people who say that their only regret is not doing this sooner. Also know that you have a great support system right here.