MinaT

You need to tell your doctor this. You aren't suppose to have real sugar. You need to do the pre-op shake, all 100% Protein powders are made with some artificial sweetener or chemical. Truvia does not give me a headache or make me sick (which is based from stevia) aspartame causes severe headaches and I have a brain tumor. Some people have no issues with them. I hate the taste of all artificial sweeteners, except Truvia, which some people hate. There are no Protein shakes made with truvia, but if I want the sleeve, and I want it to work, I have no choice but to do it. It's one of the reasons I am avoiding the sugar-free Jello and sugar-free popsicles, so I don't get overloaded with sugar-free crap. This is something you are going to have to discuss with your doctor. Maybe someone else knows of something else, but truth is none of this tastes that great, but you have to do what you have to do.

You are looking great, you are definitely an inspiration and you motivate so many people here Lissa with good, practical, advise. Good for you and congrats!

It will be considered June, it's 6 consecutive months, I had to do it too. Make sure you use this time to learn to chew your food, not drink Water with your meal, eat your meat first, vegies second, slowly get rid of carbonation, wean from caffeine, get off pop, set yourself up well for the surgery. Sign up for myfitnesspal.com or fitday.com and start keeping track of your Proteins, carbs, calories and even if you go overboard, you can see where your weaknesses are. Also make sure you get your 64 ounces in. If you start changing these habits now it will make it easier later. I did the six month program, and surgery is Monday for me and I've lost 69 pounds pre-surgery. I'm hoping by Monday to make it a full 70 pounds. Something to be proud of. Surgery is only a tool, and is not a cure all. Spending the six months wisely to overcome bad habits will only make the tool (the sleeve) work the way it's suppose to in the end. I had to deal with the six month program through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, all pretty big feast holidays and that just makes me more proud of all I have done. Good luck, it really does go fast if you have the right attitude and you really want it bad enough.

I'm sorry Crichard. I felt the same way as you. Nina and Crichard, once you know the insurance company has it, give it a week and call, it doesn't hurt.

What is stage 2? My stage one will be clear liquids for 2 weeks. Then weeks 3-4 & perhaps 5 is full liquids, I have to wait until I get released to pureed, then soft, then regular foods. You are two weeks out and eating solids already or is liquids that hurt.

Just from lurking here for so long, and reading everything I can for the past 7 months, I have followed so many people's pre-op and post-op posts. Those that seem to be on a stricter diet after surgery seem to have a better recovery rate, less complications and you hear about less stall issues, especially since they are introduced to new foods slowly. Those that get out of the box and start eating right away, seem to have more issues and more complication and post more why am I not losing like everyone else. There are always unexpected complications that happen, which cannot be controlled, but by and large, those that that realize this is a tool and it's up to them to control what they put in their mouth and when and do things the way it's meant to be done, seem to be far happier and are far more successful. What you do with your tool (the sleeve) will determine where you will be 2 months to a year down the road.

No, I am having some serious adhesions removed and a hernia repaired and removal of some polyps

Congrats and best wishes to you and good luck!! It's an exciting time for sure.

Added, thank you for the update!

Stalls can happen even on the pre-op shake plan. I gained 3 pounds this week on my pre-op shake diet. I drink 3 Protein shakes New directions plus my decaff tea and maybe one popsicle. I am drinking about 70 ounces of a Water a day. I exercise 2 hours on the gazelle and I walk 1 to 1-1/2 miles a day, plus every other day I have lifted weights. I started out 237 - gained 3 pounds in one day to 240 - hit 231 now i'm up to 233, yesterday I was 234!!!! I see people that lost 15-20 pounds on 2 week shakes. I You would think I would have lost more or even not gain, but it happens. Here's the stats for the last 10 days calories carbs fat protein sodium potassium Totals 624 34 19 79 1,984 2,170

The size has never even come up since I started this program in November and I'm getting sleeved on Monday. I guess maybe I'll be asking that before they knock me out lol.

Holy cow, did I repeat myself about 20 times in that above post lol!!! I miss my vitamins so much, I am so foggy since they cut me off all my vitamins and minerals I always take.

It's funny sometimes I am reading a post in another thread completely different and I see that they are on pre-op shakes and I have to hunt down the date or I notice someone that hasn't posted in this section so I add them and send them a note to check this area out. I am spending less time at my computer as I have a lot of pre-op things I want to accomplish and surgery is June 4th. Please if you notice someone not on the list, Post here for me, Again, I'm going in June 4th and am trying to keep up with the list the best I can, but if you see something let me know and if I can't get to it right away, please be patient. Silly me and my lists, I am sorry in advance if I can't keep up during surgery and immediately thereafter, but I will try if they get posted in this section.

Please remember that many people do not lose during the 1 week visit. Some retain Water and have more bloating, more inflammation and some people actually GAIN, I am pretty sure I will gain weight, I retain water easily and I'm off my water pills and I will be given a ton of fluids in an IV for four days. I am assuming I'll be nice and bloated and I have chronic inflammation. Go me! It's not going to be theend of the world, it will come off. Relax and cut yourself some slack right now. Don't expect to have the same results as those that drop 17 in a week or those that gain 8 in a week. I had a c-section and my son was 9lbs. 8 ounces Imagine having a child, not eating in 3 days, but just having fluids and gaining 15 pounds...it happened to me, it's normal.

I wish I could help you. I'm not really as addicted to food as much as some people seem to be, I have a hard time exercising since I get sick a lot. I also have an issue with chronically eating only once a day and I have no metabolism. I drink my calories in juices and I eat because I cook and it's more of a social aspect in our family. On and off steroids for issues like you are explaining has contributed a lot too. For me it's mind over matter, not being lazy and eating Breakfast and lunch so I don't load down on carbs at dinner and drink so many empty calories.

Added you aled and Pdubbaya23 looking forward to hearing your date. Wow so we're getting close.... June 1, 2012 BigGirlVee -- Dr. Coirin, Modesto, CA 2thenewme -- Dr. Jose Rodriguez, Mexico AChristie -- in Juarez

Lucky you. I've paid $600.00 so far out of pocket. $200.00 first fee when I met with the nutritionist at month 4 of pre-op. $200.00 on the first day of 2 hour meeting with the nurse nutritionist and they sent me home with 42 (14 day supply) of shakes for the pre-op diet. $200.00 on the last pre-op appointment with the head nurse, where I received my spirometer, my last testing orders. I get free appointments for life with the nutritionist, and the head nurse, free monthly group meetings for life, etc. discounts at a fitness club by my home. My insurance is 90/10 - and unfortunately medicare (my secondary) doesn't cover the sleeve yet, and since my surgeon changed hospitals from Methodist to St. Mary's they have to redo their Centers of Excellence Bariatric thing for medicare. I'm hoping medicare picks up all the ekgs, upper gi etc. I have heard nothing about tummy tuck or the pan(whateveritscalled) surgery. Thanks for the awesome information and wow - what great friends. I don't really have friends that live near me and truthfully only one friend and my parents know about the surgery. Looking forward to hearing more about your journey and being in the June 2012 club with you!

I was told not to take anything a week before my surgery, i quit them all Sunday. I'm wondering why.

Wow!! I have to be on clear liquid Protein for 2 weeks after surgery, then 4-5 weeks of full liquids before I even progress to pureed or soft food! Hard to believe what a huge difference there is in the diets different surgeons or bariatrics group let you go on . I'm going to stick with what my doctor is recommending so my stomach can fully heal.

Thanks so much for that information newfoundlove. I am on day 10 of pre-op shakes and I was forced to stop on Sunday my flaxseed oil (for my dry eyes and heart) and my glucosamine chondritan, calcium, magnesium, vit. d, zinc, Multivitamin & my furosemide (Water pill). Yesterday I had a hissy because I gained 2 pounds in one day on 3 shakes...really? I was more tired yesterday than any day so far but I completely forgotten that Sunday I quit taking my Vitamins and water pill and I'm sort of suffering because of the lack of vitamins and I have water retention because of how much water I drink and I have not had water pills. All I can think of is I can't wait to get on my multivitamin and my flaxseed and glucosamine because my joints, eyes and body is suffering already lol.

Always remember full liquids still must consist of at least 80 grams of Protein. If you don't get your protein, at month 3 and 4 your hair will be paying a serious price. We all have to suffer the dreaded 3-4 month post-op hair issue, you can make it less dramatic by getting in all your protein. As stated above, still watch out for empty calories and empty nutrition foods and high sodium content, it will just make the weight loss that much slower.

Added Tonibugg - and was wondering when your surgery is Trcyprkr70?

I was confused on this too. I have surgery on the 4th and they made me quit all my Vitamins so I wasn't sure when I'm allowed back on them. I definitely would like to get on the multi-Vitamin, Biotin and b-12 as soon after surgery as I can.

The skim milk during the pre-op adds too many unnecessary calories etc. so you have to mix it with water. I always add ice to drinks and mix it in the magic bullet. Hard to believe we are getting so close to our first few Sleevers.

It takes a lot of courage to make a post like this, so that's a huge step. You pretty much laid it out there what the problem is. You have been snacking and not drinking Protein shakes and eating healthy. Make yourself accountable. If you used to chart your food on Myfitnesspal.com or some other start doing it. Start visually becoming accountable for what you put in your mouth. If you see it on paper, it becomes real. Start counting your Water, and start moving again. Not sure what it cost you or your insurance for this surgery, not sure how much pain you endured, but think about that next time snacking becomes an option. There's no more surgery after this one, except hip, knee replacement, etc. plus doctor's bills for sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes if you don't correct your ways now the scale WILL eventually start going up. Good luck and I wish you the best. You know what to do, lots of people here to help you and encourage you.