Jack Fabulous

Blood clots was a fear of mine as well. My dr prescribed blood thinners for 1 month after surgery. Thankfully, I had no issues. I think you should discuss your concerns with your doctor and see what he says.

Different doctors have different diets but they all have the same goal -- shrink your liver so that the surgery is easier. My diet was similar to yours. I would recommend following your doctor's instructions and not worry about what others are doing.

I went on a month long last supper and ate at all the fancy restaurants in town before my surgery. I'm glad I did, because after that month of gluttony, I didn't want another 5 star 10 course meal again.

I set up private consultations with several surgeons. I also read their reviews online. I found one that I was most comfortable with, and went with him. Find one that not only answers all your questions but also addresses your fears.

GO! GO! GO! Read as much as you can about other people's experiences. I found that really helped me because nothing was a surprise. I felt like at every step of the journey I knew what to expect. Knowing that what you are experiencing is normal is half the battle.

GO! GO! GO! Read as much as you can about other people's experiences. I found that really helped me because nothing was a surprise. I felt like at every step of the journey I knew what to expect. Knowing that what you are experiencing is normal is half the battle.

My hospital gown was very comfortable. They gave me two which I thought was very forward thinking of them. They put one on the front and one on my back. It was perfect.

The fear of complications during surgery is very normal. I was afraid that either I would never wake up, have a heart attack during surgery, or that the doctor would accidental cut an artery and I would bleed out. But here's the thing. This surgery is "routine" and my doctor does 6 or 8 of them a week. Also, it is very similar to a gallbladder/spleen/appendix surgery. When you think of all the surgeries being performed every day with no complications, you need to have faith that yours will be just as smooth.

1. Imagine the new healthier you 2. Walk around the block 3. Call a friend 4. Make a list of your Top Ten Reasons to Lose Weight 5. Make a To Do list 6. Turn on music and dance 7. Jot a thank you note to someone 8. Go to bed early or take a nap 9. Read a book 10. Blog or journal 11. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure 12. Plan a healthy meal for your family 13. Surf the Internet 14. Finish an unfinished project 15. Walk your dog, pet your cat, feed your fish 16. Brush your teeth 17. Balance your checkbook 18. Say a prayer 19. Chop veggies to keep on hand 20. Give a massage 21. Clean out a junk drawer 22. Play a game with your kids 23. Try a new route on your walk 24. Drink a glass of water 25. Kiss someone 26. Try on some of your clothes 27. Look at old pictures 28. Rent a video 29. Wash your car 30. Take a hot, soothing bath 31. Update your calendar 32. Work in your yard 33. Start your holiday shopping list 34. Count your blessings 35. Write a letter 36. Fold some laundry 37. Check your e-mail 38. Give your dog a bath 39. Send a birthday card 40. Meditate 41. Hug someone 42. Rearrange some furniture 43. Light a fire or some candles 44. Put your pictures in an album 45. Plan a trip (real or imaginary) 46. Straighten a closet 47. Clean out files 48. Visit a friend 49. Clean out your trunk 50. Do something nice for someone

Most of these decisions will be made my your surgeon and not the hospital, so I'd recommend discussing this with him/her. My surgery was at Virginia Hospital Center (and they were awesome) and my doctor did not put me on any type of catheter for drainage or a tube down my throat. I was not given any pain medication after the day of surgery because of my sleep apnea, but the pain was manageable and got better each day. You may very likely have a morphine pump. I was not given a pump but was given small amounts of morphine that first day. After surgery, you will physically not be able to pee for the first two days because of the anesthesia, that is why some doctors use the drain. I'm glad my doctor didn't.

We all go through a rainbow of emotions before and after surgery. It is normal to have second thoughts. My surgery was much smoother and my recovery was quicker because I listened to my doctor and stuck to the protein shakes. Try Premier Protein Chocolate -- It almost tastes like chocolate milk. Also, feel free to check out my blog because I write a lot about how I survived all the fears, emotions, and one month of protein shakes. I'm 4 months out and looking back at it, that one month seems like a far away memory and I have no regrets.

You want to talk embarrassing? I used to eat the 12" sandwich with DOUBLE MEAT!

I usually eat turkey sausages, veggie sausages, string cheese, oatmeal for breakfast. Zone Perfect protein bars are good too. For lunch I get a Lean Cuisine or half a sandwich.

Congratulations! This is a very exciting time for you. I am 4 months out and have lost 73 lbs. Feel free to go through my blog to get ideas on how I deal with different things like, buyers remorse, pureed foods, etc

What's the No. 1 excuse for not working out? Lack of time. Sure, we're all busy handling multiple priorities and rushing around from here and there every day. However, no matter how busy you are, someone even busier than you are is working out right now. If you look closer, you'll discover that you do have the time to work out—and you deserve to use that time for yourself.. Squeezing in just a few minutes of physical exercise a day has huge benefits on your health, gives you energy and perks up your mood. In fact, a new study published by The Lancet found that if inactive people increased their physical activity by just 15 minutes per day, they could reduce their risk of premature death by 14% and increase their life expectancy by three years. Also, remember that "working out" doesn't have to happen in the gym or last for an hour! Short 10-minute bursts of exercise, accumulated over the course of the day, can add up to big fitness and health gains too. Here's how to start fitting fitness into your busy life today! 1. Wake up earlier. sleep is definitely important for overall health and weight loss, but could you hit the sheets just 30 minutes earlier, so that you could get up and work out before your day starts? Working out in the morning has numerous benefits including regulating appetite and boosting energy and will ensure that your workout is checked off first thing each day! Because really, how many times have you had the best intentions to exercise in the evening, only to have to work late, help your kids with a project or generally just feel too exhausted to get off the couch? With morning workouts, the time problem is solved! 2. Cut down on media. For just a few days, record how much time you spend surfing the Internet, checking personal email, watching TV and playing video games whether it's on your computer or your phone. You just might be surprised at how much time you spend on Facebook or playing Angry Birds. Just a few minutes here and there can add up to an hour or more each day. Cut out just some of that screen time and, voila, you suddenly have time to squeeze in at least 10 or 15 minutes of exercise into even the busiest day. 3. Be an active TV watcher. It's unrealistic to never watch TV or to shun the Internet forever. So when you do, try to incorporate some physical activity. When watching TV, make it a point to do some jumping jacks or push-ups during commercials. Doing a little exercise during the commercial breaks can add up to almost 20 minutes of fitness for every hour of TV you watch. No matter how you do it, try not to sit for more than 20 minutes at a time! 4. Try an active commute. One of the best ways to fit exercise into your life is by incorporating it into your school or work transportation routine. If you live close enough, consider biking to work. If you take the bus, walk to a bus stop that's an extra block or two away, or get off the bus a stop sooner than usual and get a few more steps in. And if you drive to work, park as far away as you can—even a few blocks away, if possible. 5. Make it part of your routine. One reason it's so challenging to fit exercise into a busy schedule is because we're not used to doing it. Start making some form of exercise—whether it's walking the dog, doing 10 minutes of yoga or going for a bike ride after dinner—a daily tradition, just like showering, brushing your teeth or hitting the coffee shop on the way to work. It's easy to fit in exercise for a few days here or there, but by incorporating it into your daily routine like you would your hygiene, you take the process of working out away from willpower and into habit. 6. Mix socializing with exercising. Do you normally spend time with your family or friends by going to dinner, watching sports on TV or going to movies? Make your social time more active by planning events that get all of you moving. Go for a family hike on a beautiful Saturday morning, play a game of tag football with your buddies during halftime, or make a date with your significant other or best friend on the treadmill. There are so many options for squeezing more activity into your social calendar! 7. Turn chores into exercise. While cleaning might not be the most fun activity, it's something we all have to do, and it can definitely be a workout if you want it to be. Set a kitchen timer for 20 minutes and see how much of the house you can clean. Try to be as efficient and quick-paced as possible, and I guarantee you'll work up a sweat. If you're doing lighter housework that is harder to get your heart rate up (like laundry or organizing), throw in some lunges or push-ups every few minutes to start feeling the burn! 8. Schedule an appointment. If you had scheduled a doctor's appointment, you wouldn't miss it would you? How about that important business meeting? Of course not. Working out is actually as important as going to the doctor or any other obligation that you prioritize, because it helps you perform better as a worker, parent, student or volunteer, and keeps you in tip-top shape. So whether it's scheduling in an hour to go to that group exercise class, investing in personal training sessions or even making a date with yourself to do that workout DVD over your lunch break, write it in pen in your calendar and treat it like any other appointment you can't miss! 9. Find an activity you love. Think of your favorite hobby or pastime. Do you have trouble finding time to do it? Most likely, you make time for it because you enjoy it so much. It's the things we don't enjoy that we put off and don't feel bad about missing. That's why it's best to choose a physical activity that you actually enjoy and look forward to. Not only are you more likely to do it, but it also adds more fun into your life. And we all could use some more fun in our busy lives, right? 10. Say no. If you've gone through this entire list of tips and don't think a single one will work in your life, then it's time to look at your priorities and responsibilities. Do you really have to bake Cookies for that fundraiser? Babysit for your sister? Take on that extra project at work? Attend that wedding shower of your second cousin? Remember that there's nothing wrong in saying no. Yes, we all have obligations to others, but don't forget about the obligation you have to yourself to take care of your body and your health! Remember, exercise gives you energy and keeps you healthy to keep going in that busy life of yours! So don't think of exercise as another to-do to squeeze in on your already busy schedule. Instead, think of it as maintenance for your health and a way to de-stress and do something for you!