LouiseC

I did optifast for two weeks before my surgery and it was great. I made sure I had a good range, including the desserts. I added miso soup and also made sure I had the two cups of vegetables everyday as well. I would have a shake for breakfast, a bar for lunch with a cup of miso soup and a cup of vegetables and then either the optifast soup and the other cup of vegetables for dinner, or more miso and vegetables for dinner followed by the dessert. I was not at all hungry after the first 3 days and I lost just under 11kg in 2 weeks!

I have a big family who are big on celebrating. I have learnt that what is important to me is the time with the family, not the food. Previously, the food and drink held big appeal! But now I know I get pleasure from time with them. Fortunately they are all super supportive so no pressure to eat anything and they take extra care not to wave food around under my nose!

I have lost 31kg since I started my prep on the 14th May. I think this is a phenomenonal weight loss and my doctor agrees. In fact she said I was in the higher than average range for weight loss post surgery. Perhaps you should ask your doctor to clarify. 27 kilos is a lot of weight, almost 60 pounds.

Thank you for explaining. I am not from the US so it didn't make sense to me. We don't have those commercials though we do have an escalating obesity problem.

There are healthy foods that are calorie dense. Go for mono unsaturated fatty acids- nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil etc. these are not bulk but are loaded in energy. I did not become obese eating take out and drinking soda. I became obese eating very, very good food. I just ate too much of it. So I don't see that you need to eat poor food in order to gain weight. Your doctor sounds like an idiot.

What on earth do you eat on a zero calorie diet?

One week here. Used a pillow under my belly and went on all fours. All good :-)

Have you tried going lactose free?

This is about protein bars? Oh that's right. For a minute there I though it was a demonstration on how to wear your ass as a hat

I drink out of a Tupperware sports drink bottle. When I finish each bottle, I attach a post it note to the bottle with the time I can eat, 30 minutes ahead. After I eat, I then attach a new post it with the time I can refill the water bottle. Seems silly, but it really works for me. Especially at work. I have adjusted to eating without drinking.

We eat out a lot. I have not had too many issues. I have a new found love of tapas bars! Perfect sizing and beautiful food.

When I want a wine, I have a wine. I find it dehydrating and can lead to heartburn so I am not wanting it as much as I did ore surgery. But I do enjoy a glass with dinner or with friends and do not intend to stop this. I do not find that one glass has the same effect as five previously. I can sure feel it quicker, but it passes quicker too. Of course, I also do not consider I was addicted to food so I have no concerns about cross addiction.

And since the topic has gone the odd way it has, I can state as a happy and fulfilled Atheist that I am happier in more traditional female roles in my marriage. I am happy to do the laundry and leave my husband to do the yard work. I do not think this made me or my husband a bad parent. Our now adult children are not broken as a result. The difference is, that we talked about it. Communicated. It appears the OP has said nothing for 18 months which has clearly contributed to the problem.

Oh this made me actually laugh out loud!

Awesome. Great idea for a thread. I am blessed with my husband. He is so supportive, I was self pay here in NZ, which was approx $20K and he was 100% on board. He supported me through pre op and post op and even now is my biggest fan and cheer leader. I have had to start packing up what I don't eat to stop him eating it and gaining weight! Our kids are awesome and so are our parents and I do feel truly blessed. But he is number one. I must remember to tell him......(lol)

No, I just listened to my doctor, my NUT, and (most importantly) my body.

Just realised (while answering the leg shaving thread) that since the surgery I have been taking better care of my self all over. I exfoliate all over, shave, pluck, wax, mani/pedi, moisturise, oil, preen and basically spend way more time on me than I can ever recall doing before. Is this a common phenomenon or have I just become more vain? I feel good. And I think I look better than ever. So I am not complaining, I just never realised how much care I wasn't giving myself prior to surgery. I tried to post pictures yesterday and fAiled, so I just changed my profile picture instead. I am 65 pounds lighter than I was 10 weeks ago. I love my sleeve and the new me. I loved the old me as well, but interesting how the love of the new me involves a lot more attention! I posted the picture I have here as my profile picture onto Facebook yesterday and was swamped with messages telling me how great I look. I wept reading them all I was just so happy. I know I look different but I am surprised to find that I am treating myself better as I never thought I treated myself poorly. Sorry this is a bit of a ramble, I was working it all out in my head as I typed!

Thank you :-) I guess I was surprised to realise I was treating myself better as I never thought I treated myself poorly. But funny how those little self cares can make all the difference. Kind of like matching bra and panties, even though I may be the only one to know I am wearing them it just feels better to know I am! Though I do spend more time looking at myself in the mirror than I have in decades, so perhaps I am just gaining in vanity!

Interesting. I did find it hard, just due to needing to move and bend and not having a lot of room in the shower! However now it takes a long time to shave but I am doing it with more care Funnily enough, I have been taking more care with my body and my self care since the surgery. I shave, pluck, moisturise, oil, exfoliate and generally take better care all over. Interesting, I hadn't clocked the difference but there is a difference.

They are married and have a child together. Do you really see family as being that disposable?

Did you not have a conversation prior to having kids? Values are not easy things to shift. There is no right or wrong here, but you do seem to be at a values clash. I am surprised that this has not come up over the past 18 months of your child's life. Either it has only just started to bother you or you have been keeping it quiet. I can understand how your husband would be confused if you have not complained about inequity until now.

Just all proof that the temptation for a whole new you is kicking the butt of the temptation on chocolate cake and food you know to be bad for you! There will be foods, post op, that you want to eat ( head hunger) but your new sleeve won't want you to eat. This current temptation you are experiencing is just proof that you have what it takes to make the right choices in the future and to make to most of the tool that the sleeve is. I think this is awesome!

Stick with it. The first 3 or so days are the hardest for most per op diets.. Be sure to get your fluids up and use the time to prepare what you will need post surgery. Your life is about to change :-)