RJ'S/beginning

Trust me...the closer you get to the surgery date the more determined you will be.........I looked at some photos of myself last night and was shocked at how big I had gotten....The sleeve has saved my life I think........ Forced to limit food intake...you will have no choice.....Once the weight starts coming off....you will want to see progress faster and faster to get away from what you were before the surgery...... Every day I ask my hubby if he thinks I lost weight today....It is not about the loss really.....it is about your health....but for me the weight coming off is the beginning......

Don't worry about stretching the sleeve out for now.....You will deal with maintaining when you are at goal weight. You will know when you are full...trust me there is no feeling like it if you over eat.......a good measure is 1 cup of food if it were puraded....But at first you will not eat as much as 1/4 of a cup....It took me weeks to work up to 1 cup...I do have before and after pics....but I feel that the photos still make me look huge...... I am trying to have a better attitude about the weight loss...I just want so badly to be at goal......Impatient I guess......It is very exciting to watch the weight come off......and you will find that too.......and you will want to continue to lose...... Keep your goal in mind and hang tough!

I have been told by 3 people lately that I took the easy route by having the sleeve......There is nothing eay about changing your life to be a healthier you....The sleeve is a tool, we have to do the work to succeed..... I don't care what they think......down 116 lbs and counting.....Go girl go and take no prisoners...

What you are doing is having a food funeral...I was so glad I did that before my sleeve.....A lot of people have the funeral before they go on the liquid diet...you are not alone.... Today I had a Harveys hamburger and before the sleeve I would have chowed down on it and felt stuffed and sick.....Today I took everything off the burger and ate a little bit of the bun and half of the meat.....I was so happy to have the burger......but the sleeve keeps me from eating it until I am sick...... I love the feeling of never being stuffed.......I watch closely how much I put in my mouth and I have turned into a picky eater....I eat things I have never eaten before and loving every minute of it....lots of protien and then veggies, fruit and carbs in that order. 116 lbs down......and I am happy I did it... Best to you!

I had the most horrible complications with my sleeve.......I was 5 months in the hospital and almost died.....That said........with everything I went through and I went through a lot.....116 lbs lighter and happy I did it....I eat better, feel better and most of all I am going to be here for my grand daughter......She is the most precious thing to me and it was all worth it... Any surgery is a risk...even having teeth removed......You have to decide what is the most important things in your life and go for it.. I was 1 in 600 patients my surgeon did and I was in great health....but nothing is sure in this world...so you better make sure that you have the right motives for this new life that you will be having..... All the best girl!!!!!

Try some digestive emzymes.....They are working for me as I have been having the same issue. Can't stomach beef...only fish or chicken { brown meat }

thank you all for your kind words.......It is a slow come back as I have nurses coming in every day to handle the wounds. I cry a lot when I think of how easy it is for some. Then how it went for me. But....I am alive and have lost 100 lbs at least...so there is some good news. You know what is interesting...I have no clothes that fit me...I missed out on that part of being excited about getting new clothes..... Since I am house bound for another 2 months as I also got a parting gift of a level 5 bed sore on my ass......so I can't wear slacks or anything that would make me really see the difference in my size... Is all this worth it.......I think so..could not go on the way I was....What happened makes me shudder. 5 surgeries later......I just didn't expect all that......it was the longest 5 months I ever lived.. I am eating solids now and 1 Protein shake a day.....Can't eat much though....have not found my limits....

I can hardly believe it..15 days of Slim Time and Water ....done, finished, completed...no cheats...a lot of gagging though...tomorrow I go to the hospital at 6 am to be sleeved.....I am so excited and nervous at the same time....the whole world is opening up to me after this.....it is up to me to see what I want out of it next..... Been packing and cleaning the house......... All you Nov.6th sleever....congrats.......will be remembering that I am not the only one on this path today.......

ArcuxX.......you ain't talkin fidelity here...

newgirltx....your doing what they refer to on this forum as a food funeral......eating every thing you are sure you will never eat again.....I did the same thing....you will get down to it when it is time and be happy you had the funeral....I know I was.....today is day 15 for me pre-op diet...I was ready when the time came...and no matter how hard it has been I have stuck to it.....you will do the same....... Best to you!

Just about done day 14....right now the family and friends are eating a lamb dinner and the smell is to die for.......I have locked myself in my office ....only because all of a sudden I am mad at anything and everything...........give me strength!!!!!!!!!!

I hit a wall on day 12 where I just felt I could not swallow another mouthful of the stuff........I cried like a baby most of the night because I had had enough........today is day 14 for me.......I only have 8 more shakes to drink......I think I can push through this.....It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done...BUT......I can say and be telling the truth that there have been no cheats...none.......I am scaring myself I am being so good!!!!!!!!

Sorry...I meant Slim Time* protein drinks! no sugar ...and lousy taste as well......

I hear you........

I am on day 13 pre-op....and it is true I am not as hungry as I was the first week.......The third day I cleaned the kitchen, watered plants, laundry and some other things...I was on fire with energy...the next morning I bombed out and have felt tired ever since........ As the surgery is getting closer I am having more panic attacks.........wow.......will be glad when this part is over and I am home and healing and totally moving toward my goal

If my surgeon opens me up and finds out my liver did not shrink enough..he will close me back up and cancel the surgery...I cannot take that chance......been waiting way too long for this to happen...been so faithful it is unbelievable...Slim Fast shakes 4 times a day and Water..that is it.....have not taken a bite of anything in 12 days...... I envy all of you who get to drink broth and eat a meal daily .......

I am cheating in my mind.......

Your killing me here....I am sorry but you are very funny.......I think your going to be just fine....Your doing it, and I think you will go the distance.....day 12 for me...I am so proud of myself I can't stand it.........you will be so proud of yourself too...I promise!

Stacie9229...TY so much for the encouragement.....congratulations on your accomplishment.......can't wait until I too have lost 111 lbs.......

Wow...today was a really scary day for me...went for my last appointment before the surgery on Nov.6th.......I have been on the pre-op liquid diet for nine days now and only lost a few oz's. After trying to get me to admit that I cheated or drank milk or what ever else she could think of that would not show a loss of 5 or more pounds...... She proceeded to tell me that the surgeon most likely would cancel the surgery and have me continue the pre-op shakes for 1 to 2 weeks more....I burst into tears as they are the most disgusting things I have ever tasted up to this point in my life. Not to worry though, seems that a lot of people get cancelled for different reasons....really wanted to know that...not! I have followed the pre-op religiously for 9 days so far......the only thing I have drank besides the shake is Water, water and more water...... Well the verdict was that she would contact the surgeon and phone me later in the afternoon after she talked to him and she would let me know if it was a go or not........ I cried all the way home which is a hour and a half drive one way........I waited for 3 and a half hours and finally she called and said the surgeon said it was a go......... I was so happy to hear this news.....this journey started 4 years ago for me when I went on a waiting list...I can taste it now....and success.......so glad that hurdle is over....... Just thought I would share!

I kinda thought about it and then thought better of it....

I have had nothing but Slim fast shakes and water for 11 days so far.....It has not been easy, I am hungry all the time..the smell of food cooking whaffs through the house ..and it makes me feel like I am not going to make it.. Then I went to my last pre-op appointment on Tuesday and only lost a few ounces.... They were concerned that my liver was not shrinking enough for the surgery.... They phoned me later and told me it was a go as I had lost 17 lbs from the previous pre-op diet that I was bumped from..... I wiped the tears of joy from my eyes and continued drinking this disgusting liquid..... I really think it comes down to mind set...if you are ready...you are ready..if not then figure out why and make the changes...... Remember that you are doing this for you and no one else......remember what you want to become and why you are doing this in the first place....keep it on the frig or close to you to remind yourself...and keep a journal... And for goodness sake...pat yourself heartily on the back for progressing in any way you can...... You have gone through so much to allow food to stop you in your goal......There is no failing miserably, it was a test run......

I am on day 11 pre-op Slim time shakes and Water....... If the shakes do not taste good.......put ice in them or drink them cold...a straw worked wonders for me, because I cannot tolerate the taste of the stuff.. You are lucky you get to have other things besides the shakes and water...... You can do this....you are in total control of this choice and should be very proud of yourself for getting this far......come on girl....you can do it....you can do it........ The beginning of a smaller , healthier and happier you.......

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SO UPBEAT...LOL...I THINK I WOULD BE TOO IF I GOT TO EAT SOME FOOD AS WELL........

The Pre-op diet is designed to shrink your liver so that you will have an easier time of it after the surgery...... I have added a lot more Water to the shakes and made them the night before ....also my daughter introduced me to drinking them with a straw...I place the straw at the back of my mouth and can hardly taste the sickening crap....... So I am drinking them cold and with a straw...seems to take the edge off.. However I am so hungry the pains in my stomach wake me up at night and makes me want to hurl...been drinking boiled hot water too...that helps you feel filled up.....what ever.......60 oz of water on top of the shakes and I am going out of my mind.........I just keep counting down the days....7 to go for me......