EileenFrances

Mix the Celebrate with milk instead of water. All the protein shakes have that horrible fake sugar taste. But to me, sucralose is less offensive than stevia. Stevia is totally undrinkable.

Nooooooo way! If I successfully lose weight, I will happily tell people how I did it. But before the fact... Absolutely not. Too many negative comments.

So far, I have to say Celebrate is tasting the best. If you don't think Celebrate is good, try a Jay Robb, then taste the Celebrate again.

Keep me posted on how you're doing. I'll be just a few days after you.

Hi. June 29th is less than three weeks away. Anyone else scheduled for June 29th?

Long time. I went to my first seminar in Feb 2011. I wasn't sure about wanting to go this route, but I was inspired by an acquaintance's success. Still, I wasn't keen on the idea. I told myself, "Okay, get serious about losing weight -- or else!" By October, I knew that I just wasn't going to be any more successful at losing weight as I had ever been. I went to a seminar at a second hospital that Oct 2011, and at a third hospital in Nov. I started my six-months of doctor visits in November, as well. Finished the six months in April and started on insurance approval. Got that in May, and now surgery is scheduled for June 29th at the third hospital I checked out. Beginning to end: Feb 2011 to June 2012. It takes time. Start your six months of doctor visits even before you choose a hospital and surgeon.

What a tough choice! Follow-up is so important for lasting success. However, the first hurdle is the surgery. Considering that, potentially, you could die from this, or have leaks and complications, I would prioritize the surgeon's skill, experience, and expertise as number one. Is there any option to continue looking at other hospitals and surgeons to find a place where you are satisfied with both the sureon's skills AND the follow-up? My own experience was that I was very unhappy with the first two places I went. I am having my surgery at the third place, where surgeon and follow-up are both good. Best advise: keep looking. Even if you have to travel a bit.

Any June Sleevers finding they're getting it all in before the ax falls? I find I'm having everything I know I won't be able to eat again. Not a binge, like stuffing. But enjoying my eating. Is anyone else doing that? It's probably not a good idea. They told me not to gain weight before the surgery.

Here's my opinion. Anything sweetened with Stevia is undrinkable in my opinion. I dumped the Jay Robb down the drain. Sucralose is pretty good for a diet sweetener. Celebrate ENS is pretty good and it not only has Protein, but Vitamins and minerals as well. Also, Syntrax nectar Sweets whey Protein Isolates from the Vitamin Shoppe is very good too. EAS Myoplex Lite ready-made drink is also ok.

Website is: www.liponation.org Great site. Lots of support. And get-togethers. Thank you for telling me about this. I would never have known. I would like to get involved afterwards.

Great! What's your date? And where are you going? I'm June 29th at Mt. Sinai.

What you ate is on my pre-op diet. I'm supposed to have 2 meal replacement shakes a day plus abhealthy dinner - you know, protein and vegetables. I asked if I could add a high-fiber cereal in the morning and was told, "sure."

I'm reading "It Ain't Over 'til the Thin Lady Sings.". It was written by an addiction specialist about her gastric bypass 10 years ago. Some of the info is not pertinent to us, but the emotional component sure is. She makes many suggestions for coping with emotions once food can no longer be your method of self-soothing. I'm enjoying reading it.

Hey! Anyone scheduled for June 29th? I'm getting ready by tasting all the various Protein shakes out there. So far, Celebrate ENS is pretty good. Ordered a bunch online to be prepared for when I start the pre-op diet.

Yes, HI! My surgery is on 6/29. I'm fom Northeast Queens, not far from the Nassau border. There's a Queens and Long Island group under groups. We should try to support each other!

Not silly at all. I'm scared too. Not of the surgery per Se. But of the unknown after time. What will my stomach be able to handle? I have such a healthy digestive system, I should be grateful. Instead, I'm going to take a perfectly healthy, functioning organ, and cut it apart. What will I have then? Sure I'm scared! If I wasn't morbidly obese, I would never do this! But I know my future without it: crippling joint pain in my back and legs, heart disease, possibly cancer. So I'm gritting my teeth through the fear and doing it anyway. Actually, the way I'm handling it is just to think of today and what I need to do now. By taking each day as it comes and not thinking ahead, that's how I'm coping with it.

My father is also very against this surgery. I'm grateful for this forum, too!

My two cents worth is to share this only if you want to and only with those who are going to be supportive. Those who've said they received nothing but support are lucky indeed. That is not always the case. A couple of years ago, I tried the Slim Fast Diet. My best friend's response was, "You're on another one of your crazy diets again!". I was very hurt by the condescension and lack of support. This surgery is too big an undertaking to get more of that. So you have to evaluate for yourself who to tell and when. There's nothing wrong with the decision to keep it to yourself. However, you can't just be missing from your grandchild's birth without explanation. You can say you'll be in the hospital for some other reason that sounds acceptable and not so worrisome, like a gallbladder. You can decide in the future if you then want to share your true journey. Ultimately, the journey is yours and it's up to you when and if to reveal it.

Robin, I'm going to skip Facebook. This is the only forum I'm talking about my surgery in. I am not telling people in my life about it. A couple of years ago, I tried the Slim Fast Diet. My best friend's response was, "You're on another one of your crazy diets again!". I was very hurt by the condescension and lack of support. This surgery is too big an undertaking to get more of that. So, no friends. No Facebook. I'll find my support here among those who are doing it and understand.

I'm so glad to have found two people on June 29th. I'm sure there are more. They just need to find this thread. We can keep in touch and be a support for each other as we go through it. I'll bring my smart phone to the hospital to see how you both are doing afterward. I hope you'll be connected where you are. When are you two starting your pre-op diet? I'll be starting on 2 Meal Replacement shakes plus dinner each day on June 18th. Then two days of Clear liquids starting June 27th. I'm not real confident about this pre-op diet. I told the nutritionist, "If I could diet like this, I wouldn't need surgery!". She just laughed and said it's only for ten days.

Hi Robin! Glad to have a friend to go through this process with! And I can't believe you quoted Zig Ziglar. He is my favorite motivational speaker. I just love him. What are you up to now? I've just received several packets of Protein shakes from my internet orders. The three companies I'm trying are: Celebrate, 4-ever-fit, and unjury. Trying to pick what I'm going to use for the pre-op diet. I'm trying not to be nervous about this by taking it one day at a time and not thinking about it too much. Best of luck! Stay in touch, Eileen

What fascinating stories! Thank you for sharing them.