Lila21

Maddie, I am so, so happy for you! I know that defeated feeling, and it's so great to hear that you are feeling so much better. This is very motivating for me to read as a pre-op! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.

Dawn, I just copied down this list of changes that someone posted to deal with their gas problems. Maybe one of these will help you! Here's the list: I was taking Gas-X. He told me to stop taking it and to use Maalox Maximum Relief. • I was drinking a Protein shake called ENS chocolate Milk. I would mix it up thin but as it would sit it would get very thick. He asked me to stop drinking it for a while. • i was taking my multi-Vitamins in the morning. He said that they can sometimes cause gas/bloating/nausea so he asked me to take them at night before bed. • I was using soy milk for my shakes. He asked me to use regular milk for a while and see what happened. • I was taking one or two SF mints daily for my breath. The contained sugar alcohols so he asked me to stop.

That was a really powerful post, and sooo motivating. Thank you. I usually really need to work out along with changing my diet to lose weight, so I think I will be right there with you. But, you are so right that we must keep doing what we know we need to do even when we feel discouraged.

Wow, that's sooo exciting to hear! How wonderful for you!

WAY TO GO!!!!! Keep us posted on your progress!

I've heard that your tastes may change after this surgery... is that really true? And if so, does anyone know why? I'm just curious about people's experiences on this one. Thanks!

Wow, thanks for the replies, guys! Frankly, I wouldn't mind it if I suddenly didn't like sweets :-). I just wonder why it happens...

Wow, Congratulations, and thank you for sharing! I am pre-op, and this is exactly what I am hoping for!!!! Thanks for the encouragement!

Your symptoms sound almost like dumping syndrome. Maybe check the sugar content in your drinks? I would def. call your doc., too! I am glad you are feeling a bit better today!!!

Oh, I am so sorry that happened to you! I am doing all my preop work now, starting the diet, etc, and I can't imagine how frustrated I would be. However, the silver lining is that you didn't accidently get a lap band. That would have been REALLY awful!

Yeah, guys! I feel like this is a great way to end 2010 and kick off 2011!

Thank you for sharing! Really, your description of how you are feeling makes me so glad I made this choice. I am still pre-op, but I every time I read a blog entry like this, I feel so happy. Thank you!

Wow, you are doing great! Thanks for the encouragement and offering to support folks if we have trouble emotionally. For some reason, that's one of my big fears (I have not been sleeved yet). I've heard that the hormonal shifts can be hard emotionally, and that scares me more than the physical pain!

Congratulations, glad to hear everything is going so well!!!

Thanks so much, you guys!! Great list, OregonDaisy! also, Celebrate will send you free samples of their Vitamins if you ask. They have a Vitamin that has a shake consistency. Worth trying if you just want to add your vitamins to your Protein shake. No shipping or anything! I also really like their powdered vitamin drink that you put in Water. It tastes like Kool-Aid.

OMG, naughty BF!!! Tell him if he likes your sexay new bod to ban the junk food! :-)

I think exercise is a major player in losing weight. It's not the calories burned so much as your body functioning more efficiently. When you exercise, your blood moves more oxygen into every part of your body, and so every organ can do it's work better. I'd say take the advice above and add in exercise slowly at first. Don't overdo it, or you won't want to continue. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to exercise! Good luck! You can do it!!!!

I will be sleeved on the 14th, and I think I will be just recovering in time for xmas, but I still plan to do everything ahead of time as much as possible. That way, you can just take it easy. Hopefully, someone else can take care of the cooking and whatnot so you don't have to take care of much. Just sit back and watch the xmas chaos unfold!!

Good luck!!! I know you will do wonderfully!! Please post when you are on the other side :-))

Unbelievable! That is so inspiring!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!

I have the same problem. About 7 or 8 years ago, I managed to lose about 130 lbs with very strict dieting. Even after I lost the weight, it was a continual struggle with the scale, fighting to keep it off, gaining some, losing some, and finally gaining it all back slowly. People who don't have weight issues do not understand what a constant struggle it is. Because of the fact that I have lost this weight before, I've been told time and again, "You lost it before, so you can do it again." I think the best you can do is explain to them that you tend to regain weight, and that you want a sustainable solution that's going to work for the long haul. Ultimately, some people may never understand why we made this choice, but I think as long as you are sure that you are making the right choice, just try to ignore the comments and know you are doing the best thing for your health.

I got my packet for pre-surgery requirements today, and I noticed that my surgeon suggests (but doesn't require) a pre-op liquid diet for two weeks. I am currently on the South Beach diet and doing OK with hunger, but I am afraid I'll be starving on a liquid diet pre-op. Does anyone know the reason it has to be liquid. I understand why post-op it must be a liquid diet, but not sure why you need to do that before the operation. I am curious because I tend to stay less hungry on solid foods, and if the goal is just to lose weight, I'd rather stick with South Beach.

Yay, I'm so glad to meet someone who will be in the WLS support group! To add someone as a friend, go to their profile and click "add me as a friend." To add the ticker, you have to go to a ticker site, and then you enter your stats. Once you get all your stats into the program, you copy the code into the signature of your profile.