Beanzilla

Good luck! I've been on my pre-op diet for 2 weeks now. My surgery is 8/23. The first few days were really difficult for me, because I'm at work most of the time and my co-workers get take-out every day, but now it's not so bad. I've lost 17 pounds so far, so that has motivated me to keep going.

Somehow I missed this forum before. I saw the Christian one, and was like "what the hell!" So yay! I'm glad not the only non-believer here. I used to have a bumper sticker on my mini-van that I used to own that said "We're all going to hell and I'm driving the bus." I'm going to be sleeved in August, I'm married, no spawn (and never will be), bisexual.

It's mostly vanity for me. I want to be tiny! I want to feel good about how I look, like what I'm wearing, and not worry that I'm taking up too much space. Yes, my health is important, but wearing clothes sized in the single digits would be so exciting!

When I was going to go through insurance (long story, not going into it), I would have gone to Henry Ford's Bariatric Center with Jeffrey Genaw or Arthur Carlin. Both are highly respected. I ended up deciding to go to Mexico for my surgery because of insurance issues. Here's the link for Henry Ford: http://www.henryford.com/body_academic.cfm?id=39922 Good luck to you!

Yes, yes, yes, SweetTee! I love shoes too! I have so many gorgeous shoes that I haven't been able to wear in a few years. I almost sold them last year. I'm really glad I didn't! And I can't wait to buy new heels!

I liked the chocolate from Unjury, but I hated the strawberry, vanilla, and unflavored. I thought they were gross. I haven't tried the broth because the idea of drinking something warm when it's a million degrees outside is not appealing to me. I really liked the cocoa-mochaccino from Champion Nutrition and the chocolate truffle from Nectar Sweets. I have other samples coming that I'll be trying soon.

I want to run! I want to wear cute clothes, shop at "normal" clothing stores, wear a dress or skirt, wear shorts, go to the beach, go anywhere I want and not worry about whether or not I will fit in the seating, ride a bike, and wear high heels again. I miss wearing high heels! Ooh ooh and knee high boots! I want to wear knee high boots. I also want to plant a huge, beautiful flower garden and a little vegetable garden, and do all the work myself, because I can.

Thank you for starting this topic. I've been wondering the same things!

In the building I work in, it's all tiny women that use the handicap stall. I've never been a fan of them, unless the regular stalls are super small. They kind of freak me out, though I'm not sure why. They don't feel as private (which is dumb, I know). Oh, and I'm short, whith short little legs, so the height of the toilet is uncomfortable.

Well, it's kinda funny...then again, I use humor quite a bit, so I find it funny. The first time it happened, I was like "really? I'm so freakin' fat I can't wipe my butt? Really?" It's one of those things people take for granted. Who knew that could be a problem? And then there's the creativity involved in figuring out how to reach, and, um, yeah.

It was a combination of things that all just added up. I hate looking in the mirror, and have been isolating myself because I feel too embarrased to go out in public. I got over 400 pounds. Several people commented to me how great I looked in my wedding pictures and "what happened?" (I was still overweight in those pictures, but not by that much). I can't go grocery shopping without my back hurting. I can't walk far without being out of breath. I sweat a lot, without much effort. I have a hard time fitting in movie theater seats and always worry about seating anywhere I go in public. I HATE clothes for fat people. I hate the way my face looks. I hate the way my body looks. I'm sick of losing, gaining, losing, gaining. I feel like the "real me" is hidden because of my weight. I am not living life. I'm 32 years old, and I have so much to do, so much to see, and I'm hiding in my house. That's no way to live!

Thank you! I started easing in my pre-op diet a couple weeks ago. At first I replaced Breakfast with a Protein shake, and now 2 meals are replaced by a protein shake. Some days I follow the diet fully, but not all. Once I actually have to follow the diet, I know I will. I have to. I haven't weighed myself, but I feel better already, and my skin has cleared up some. Luckily the Protein shakes are filling, and maybe this is psychological, but I haven't been wanting to eat as much, and I haven't been wanting to eat the bad stuff I used to.

I have problems with diarrhea and IBS too, and like you, a cause wasn't found. I went almost gluten free, and it seems to have helped. Hopefully it will help you too!

I'm so sorry your husband and his family are treating you this way. They sound like very unpleasant people, but I'm glad you are taking steps to distance yourself from unhealthy people. It takes a lot of strength to do that, and that strength will help you through this process. I'm getting sleeved on August 23rd as well. My thoughts will be with you. I wish you the best and continued strength through this.

Pre-op diet: 2 protein shakes per day, and a healthy salad for dinner with a protein, and a little bit of lite dressing, one month before surgery. 1 week before, all liquid diet, no pop.