joatsaint

Thanks for the post. I don't really miss crunchy things, but I am getting bored with my current menu and these may work for a little diversity.

I can't believe you would be so mean as to post something like this! It's on NOW!

Sorry to hear that. I over did it by accident the 2nd day after surgery, just drank too much water at once. But it did teach me to slow down. Even at 7 weeks out, I am very careful how much I swallow at once.

I really agree with #4. Weighing in the morning before you eat or drink makes for a pretty good baseline for tracking weight.

Just be patient. The weight will come off. In the past 7 weeks, I've probably been stuck at the same weight 4 times - the scale won't drop for almost a week and then I'll suddenly drop a pound overnight. As long as you're eating less than your body is using for fuel, you can't help but lose weight.

The powdered Crystal Light lemonade is the only one I've found that has no aftertaste (I also tried Grape and strawberry Energy). I haven't tried any of the liquid Crystal Light concentrates. The bottled Crystal Light has a different flavor than the powder, I didn't like it.

oklafarmgal, I wasn't strictly by the book when it came to my pre-op diet. Don't let it get you down. We all experience setbacks. It's what you do afterwards that counts. Tomorrow is another chance to start over.

I know where you're coming from. I woke up from recovery thinking, "My God! What have I done to myself!!!!!!!!!??????????" I read so many posters saying, This was so easy - I had no pain or nausea - Only 3 days and back at work. I was hoping for the same easy path, but I was in real pain for about 6 days. I couldn't eat much more than a couple of nibbles of a popsicle or a bite or 2 of sugar free Jell-O. My stomach gurgled almost constantly - all day and all night. sleeping more than an hour or two was the limit before the pain would wake me up. But things kept getting better and by day 8 I was doing MUCH better and on day 10, I was back at work with no pain or discomfort. Things will get better, I promise. Just hang in there.

fyre_storm, I thought I recognized you from the competitions - only I thought you were Japanese? Oh well, you had a good run, time to let the next generation have their turn.

Congrats on your success.

My underware size bothers me too. Mine starts out as boxers, but when I put them on, they become a thong!

I would tell them that my doctor says it is medically necessary, since it is. Since you can refuse to have any surgery, any surgery can technically be called "elective" - heart valve replacment, gall bladder removal ...

The only way I was able to lose weight pre-op was to go low carb. I ate less than 20 grams of carbs a day and lost 10 lbs the week before surgery. I was drinking the EAS carb control dutch chocolate shakes twice a day and eating only Protein (grilled pork loin) for supper. The bad side of going low carb is that if you cheat, you body will hang on to every one of those carbs and you will gain weight back.

Lander, Thanks for the advice. It feels like I am passing jagged rocks sometimes.

Congrats on your success! Keep pimpin that sleeve!

I had anxiety right up to the point they put me under. I think I was in denial right up to the time they put the iv in my arm. I laid in the pre-op room, surrounded by other patients and nurses, thinking, "What if I just got up and walked out of her right now?" But fortunately I had firmly committed in my mind that I was going through with it because I needed to improve my health and life. I realized that I couldn't do it on my own and just like someone with a heart problem, depression, or a serious disease, sometimes you can't get better on your own.

I was on Clear Liquids for the 1st week, full liquids 2nd week, and puree the 3rd. I guess the food stages and speed through each one is different per doctor. When I was in the mushy stage, they said anything I could blend up with no chunks was okay. But to be safe, if I were you, I'd call the doctor or nutritionist just to be sure.

Congrats, you must be very excited. I'm on my 7th week as well.

Next time you have one of these encounters, pretend you are answering your cell phone and then say, "Excuse me, your proctologist just called. He said he found your head!"

I'm happy for ya! I know the feeling too. I wanted a bite of pizza (just a bite or 2) for about 4 weeks. I got my pizza fix a week ago. Ate less than 3/4 of a small slice. It was delicious and I haven't needed it since. Although I did have another craving flung on me. Didn't even know I wanted it, but I passed my mom's table and she had banannas in a bowl. Suddenly I wanted that bananna so bad!!!!

Congratulations, you look fabulious. Keep pimpin that sleeve. I hope to be in twoderland by March.

I look at it from a different angle. I have convinced myself to be happy that it takes so long to finish a meal. I use to eat so much and even though I hated eating, my hunger would just drive me to eat and eat. It makes me happy when I go to a buffet with my friend. He piles his plate high and I fill about 1/2 my plate (and I can't finish it!) I am so happy that I can't finish that plate and don't have to go back for 2nds. I have more time to talk and people watch. I use to never look up and sit in the back. Head down, hunched over the plate, just thinking about what I was going to eat on the next trip to the buffet. Now I eat a little here and there and watch the freakshow file past my table.

To get through the pre-op diet and the surgery, I asked myself 2 questions (and I had to remind myself about the answers several times!): Was I lying to myself when I said I'd do whatever was required to be successful this time (I chickened out on the 1st attempt to go through with the surgery)? Do I want to fail again and be the same or worse off a year from now?

Welcome to the forum. How far along are you towards surgery?

You didn't say how long since your surgery, but all I ate the 1st 6 or 7 days all I ate was sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, and Crystal Light. So I ate virtually zero calories. After that I was eating a bit more, about 1 can of soup a day. I didn't feel any ill effects. Just take it one day at a time, it will get better.