rebecca_dsu

I'm very ready for the change in eating habits forever. I know it won't be a pleasant process, but it is so much better than the yo-yoing. And once I get that truely "adventure ready" body, I won't want to give it up.

Happy Anniversary!! 37 years is a rare thing this day and age. So congrats on staying with the love of your life!! You will make it to your goal soon enough!!

Good luck!!! Let us know how things go after surgery.

Thanks for the heads up... now...go take a nap

Glad you found something you like. Just an idea... would it be possible for you to mix in a half a scoop of an unflavored protein powder into that to up your protein (10g just doesn't seem like a lot for a protein drink). Remember you are gonna have a very tiny tummy and have to get in a lot of protein (65-80g) So be creative on how to get in the most "bang for your buck" as far as how much your tummy can hold in a day. Keep experimenting!

From Knoxville, TN on Delta... $500 round trip. (layover in ATL)

I think they are pretty good with just Water. When you are right out of surgery, no you can not add fruit or milk or anything other than water. (You can add milk in the full liquid phase, and fruit in the "puree" stage if I'm not mistaken). Go ahead and try one with just water and see what you think. I really didn't think it was bad.

Did your surgeon require you to lose weight? Was it mandatory to lose a certain percentage or amount? If not, your preop diet is all that is important and is needed to shrink your liver so it won't be in the way during surgery and can easily be moved around without bleeding. If we were successful at diets, we wouldn't need this surgery, so don't beat yourself up. Your new "tool" will help you from being able to yo-yo. But do yourself a huge favor and do the preop diet as best you can. It will help you ween yourself off of carbs before surgery and you will feel better. (most people are on it for one or two weeks...some liquids only, some low carb...it's whatever your doctor/nutritionist has told you to do). Just because you fail at "diets" before the sleeve, does not mean you won't be successful with the sleeve.

Ha! Exactly!

Thanks for the link! Those shakes look very yummy. I never thought of using cottage cheese in a shake... I'll give it a shot!

I'd find another surgeon. You probably don't want to be one of his first sleeve patients (I'd want a surgeon who has a couple hundred under their belt already)...but that's just me. So sorry for all your troubles and frustration. I'd put in a call to my insurance and see what will need to happen if you switch surgeons.

I haven't had the surgery, but did want to just give you a ((hug)) and say I hope you will use your "tool" to get to your goal. We all know the sleeve doesn't cure us of the mental attachment to food...that is a life long process for a lot of us. Have you tried counseling to deal with the "head hunger"? Your sleeve is just like my treadmill at home. I know how to use it, but it does me no good at getting to my goal if I don't use it (and turning it on and letting it run without me actually stepping on it does not count). Your sleeve is just a tool...and the great news is you still have it available. Go back to how you started after surgery. Start eating those Proteins first 60 - 80g a day. Drink your fluids. Start walking and build up from there. Track your calories and stick to around 800 - 1,000 (or whatever your nutritionist recommended after your tiny tummy healed up). 5 small meals a day and no grazing... You can still get to your goal. There is hope for you girl...so run with it! But as someone about to have surgery and who is a food addict, I sure do appreciate your honesty. It means a lot to me, and I know dealing with my own head stuff is gonna suck bad...

Gosh, poor guy. I couldn't imagine going through that. It's kind of hard to equate for us women, but I think it would be like getting breast cancer and having your boobs removed (and not being eligible for reconstruction), or being a woman in your child bearing years and having to have a hysterectomy for medical reasons and never being able to give birth ever... See it from his point of view. In his mind, what makes him a "man", what he uses to show you love and where he gets satisfaction....is giving up on him. He's probably hurt, embarrassed, feels useless and probably somewhat worthless. Of course he's not going to want to be close to you and certainly doesn't want to do other things in the place of actual sex. I know when I feel like crap the last thing I want is my husband all up on me. "In sickness and in health"...girl, here it is...be with him through this. Talk with him about it, and get rid of your selfishness for the next few months. Find out how you can help him instead of being in the frame of mind of "he won't cuddle me". You will be fine without some huggin', cuddlin', makin' out for a while. Be there for him. This is the biggest blow to any man's ego and pride...so find ways to lift him up. And ask him how you can help him through this, and assure him that he will get through this. Go to doctor visits with him if he wants. Help him find help and the answers. I know you are frustrated...but this ain't about you Show him Love...and that don't mean physical touch in any fashion right now. (Are you familiar with the different love languages? Quality Time, Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Physical Touch) You getting skinny + his penis not working would be tuff on any man..ha. Good luck!

Silly question...but are you "regular"? Did you know the human intestines can hold up to 25lbs of waste? If you aren't getting in your Water...perhaps, things aren't being "flushed out" properly. Just a thought It's just not possible for your body to function normally and not be burning fat if it's only receiving 800 calories of "energy" from what you eat. And on top of that you are exercising...so that's more calories burned a day on top of your BMR (the base calories your body would need to perform normal functions if you just sat all day). So don't worry...the scale will follow...

So sorry that happened to you. I definitely wouldn't recommend that doctor to anyone for sure. I hope you can heal and get on with you new life. So very sorry.

That's fantastic! I'll have to come visit you on the 6th when I come for preop testing!!

My mom lives in Mobile! Is it possible for your daughter to self pay? (I'm 32, 250, 247ish and insurance will not pay, so I'm heading to Mexico and self paying). Good luck to you both though!

I could be wrong, but for most folks the preop diet is more about shrinking the liver, and not about losing so much weight. I don't think you will be seen as a failure...10 lbs is great!

Congrats!!! I'm June 7th!! Can't wait to go through "recovery" with you...

Oh goodness yes. And sadly I'm a volume eater, so it's like "I'll never be able to eat a half a dozen donuts again.". I've had a few of these "last supper syndrome" moments the past few weeks. I'm not looking forward to having to mentally deal with my "stuff" when I can no longer find comfort/distraction in food. It's gonna be tuff. I'm craving a mellow mushroom calzone and a half a dozen krispie kreme donuts as my last suppers...

The Isopure is a good idea. And can you not throw a half a scoop of unflavored protein powder into your purees?

Today my husband and I cleaned up and organized our garage, and it made my heart hurt a bit. I hate that I have a garage filled with adventure waiting to happen, but that right now I don't feel good enough to do any of it. One wall holds our Kayaks, another our hiking/backpacking/camping equipment, another our bikes. (see attached pictures). When I started working on my health 7 years ago, my heart starting yearning for adventure, and while I have been on some amazing hikes, bike rides, and kayaking trips at this weight, it still holds me back (though I am 75 lbs down from my heighest weight) and I get so frustrated at the fact I'm slower than everyone else. I'm so ready to have this surgery! So what adventurous things are you looking forward to, or what new adventures are you experiencing now post sleeve weight loss? I need to hear some encouragement from my fellow adventurers! If I'm truely finally going to have it out with my attachment to food, I need to be reminded why it's worth it. All that stuff in my garage does remind me, but I want to hear it from you guys!

I found myself completely confused at the grocery store today. Thoughts in my head went like this: "I need to be buying healthy stuff and start working on losing a little." "But you still have 8 weeks until surgery...and you are never going to be able to eat the bad stuff again, or don't need to for several, several months...so you better get it now." "Yeah, but wouldn't it be great to lose a few pounds even before the preop diet starts." "Didn't you hear me...it's going to be MONTHS before you can have sugar again." So my cart was the strangest mix. From Protein shakes to a pint of ben and jerry's to fresh fruits and veggies to nutella (aka crack). Gees. Is anyone else preop going through this weird jacked up, not knowing what to do mind set? I certainly don't want to gain any weight prior to surgery, but I'm really not feeling like jumping on the "get strict now!" band wagon either.

Did you mean 287.4...since your starting weight was less than 387.4? Either way, glad you are progressing! Were you taking a calcium supplement after surgery and still had a vitamin D deficiency

Congrats!! I'm a June sleever too... can't wait! Good luck!!