LipstickLady

Someone is getting lucky tonight!! He's a keeper!

I have planned out most of my favorite restaurants and this is one of them. Ours has great black bean Soup and it is vegetarian, so that's a great option. If you ask, you can order off the "sides" menu (like adding chicken to a salad) and ask for shrimp, chicken or steak to add into the soup or on the side. If you have a favorite, ask for the sauce on the side and just use a bit.

WOW!! You look great! And your boobs DO look bigger. HA! How exciting for you.

I told my teens. I explained to them that this is MY way of getting healthy so that I could better help them STAY healthy. I needed to tell them so that they would understand why I am eating differently, looking at Vitamins, shakes, websites to explain it, etc. I did tell my father because we are very close, but I was not going to tell my mom until AFTER the surgery. I caved and it went much better than I expected, but I have no qualms about not telling people. It's easy enough to say that I have changed my eating habits and I'm exercising more. My kids understand that some things are private, but that said, I don't expect them to lie. I am not proud that I got to the point of needing surgery but I am not ashamed that I made the choice before I developed diabetes, high blood pressure, body pain, etc. It's the best choice FOR ME and I could give a rat's ass who might not agree (including several of my dear friends who are very vocally against any weight loss procedure). It is what it is and if something is to go wrong, I can't feel like I didn't prepare them for what was going on.

Looking forward to input on this!

Just think about all those people who used the potty, didn't wash their hands and then touched the food, the utensils, etc. Think of all their nasty breath on it, perhaps a cough or a sneeze and just the general ickyness of a buffet like arena of food. BLURP!!

Yes, this!!

The exit door.

On the plus side, your teeth will look great!

That's going to be a real challenge for me. I am working on one thing at a time now, pre-op. I've cut out sodas, sugar, high carbs, most processed foods... I've got three weeks to work on the drinking with meals thing. ARGH!

I've got one for my Protein drinks and one for my liquids. My kids know they are not to be touched. My Protein Drink fits perfectly in a full sized cup of chipped ice as do my Crystal light drinks now that I've given up my Coke Zero. (I don't even miss it! GASP!) It's got a handle, it's got a straw and the only place I go without it is the potty. Edit to add: Did you know you can get them personalized? Go to the site directly and you can make the inside liner whatever you want!! I am having one made with a picture of my Goldendoodle.

Gum is a must for me. Have you smelled ketosis breath? It could kill a dragon at 50 feet.

This was a concern for me as well as I am attached to my Tervis tumbler and I drink everything through a straw. I gulp more air from a cup than I do a straw and I can tell that now, pre-surgery, by how much I burp. I have several friends who are a year out+ from surgery and have used a straw from day one. They are fine. As for smoker's lips? Use a wider straw. It's not that big of a deal.

On the pre-op dieting? GOOD FOR YOU!! I am doing the same thing. I figure that I am going to be the boss of me and I am going to make my decisions instead of the surgeon. If I cut the crap now, then I made a choice instead of having the choice made for me when the surgery is over. I think you are right on and I can't wait to hear of your progress.

No kidding. I do martial arts and one of the things that I am really looking forward to is doing my jumping kicks without worrying about a black eye or a bloody nose. I have to wear 2 sports bras now and I am sure I will later. That the only great thing about being 41 and having saggier boobs -- they have farther to travel on the way up towards my face.

I've not been sleeved yet, but when I lost 80 pounds on WWs, I brushed my teeth and gargled with something strong like Listerene. Nothing tastes good after that. For a loooooooong time.

WOW!! Your boobs are fantastic now!! I'm hoping mine will shrink, but I was a double D when I was 116, so I am not sure. If you gotta keep something, at least it's in the right place. GOOD JOB!!

Congratulations to you!

I have planned mine out many times over the last few weeks and with surgery coming up three weeks from tomorrow and the pre-op liquid diet starting two weeks from tomorrow, I've finally decided what I am going to do. I'm not having one. Why? Because I know that eventually (within 6 months or so!), I will be able to eat anything I want, I will just do so in moderation. (Imagine that concept!) I don't want to mourn the loss of any food, because it's not going away, I am just going to be limited in quantity. I have had more food in my 41 years than I should have consumed in a lifetime and I really see no need to mourn something that isn't dead and more importantly, has done nothing but made me unhealthy because I've allowed it to take control of me. I want to be the one to make the decision to stop eating so much and to start being healthy, I do not want my surgeon to decide for me. For many people, once they go under, the decision is being made for them by the surgeon who is doing the cutting. Because they are no longer able to eat in mass quantity, they don't. Up until yesterday, that was going to be me. Yes, I've been doing one shake a day and high protein/low carb/under 1000cal for the last week and have lost 10.8 pounds to show for it. In the back of my mind, though, I was looking forward to having a smorgasbord of good stuff a few days before my diet started. I've looked at a million pins on Pinterest and gotten sad that I will never eat that or make that. I've been hyper-aware of all the new restaurants that are opening in my area, studying the menus, trying to figure out what I can have ONE LAST TIME. How ridiculous! I don't want my surgeon to steal MY power, I want it to be MY decision. I decided Wednesday of last week that I would start prepping myself for the pre-op diet and yesterday I decided to stick to it right up till my surgery date. I decided to cut back on my favorite - Coke Zero - and have only one every few days. No more. I've not had one since Friday and I've lived! Yesterday I completed all my pre-op blood work, xrays, tests, doctor visits, and signed off on all the papers. I also did all the pre-registration. The surgeon asked me if I was ready to make all the changes starting post-op that were necessary for my success and that really hit me. I told him I was not. I was ready to start right now. I decided that I am in control of my body NOW because God knows I will not be in control of it for the weeks immediately following my procedure because at that point, I will be forced to do it. I am the boss of me. Starting TODAY. Good Lord, I think it finally clicked and I cannot wait to start my new life. Oh, wait. I already did. **EDIT TO ADD. I have no idea why this post is shaded or sized this way. HA! I made it bigger so it's readable.WEIRD!!!**

All the meat is pressed and kind of icky if you think about it. That said, this fatty isn't too particular. OBVIOUSLY.

Girl, you are living in a fantasy world. Everyone knows you can't laugh your ass off. If that was the case, all us jolly fatties would be skinny as a rail.

Really? Wow! Never would have thought to try that. I use quick oats now to add fiber, but that's interesting. Another great add is a dash of sausage seasoning (Pensley's if you have one) to add great flavor. Over are the days of using 2/3 hamburger and 1/3 sausage.

Call and ask for their pre-op diet. I've been doing 1 shake a day with two high Protein low carb meals and under 1000 cals on odd days, 2 shakes with one meal like above and under 800 cals on even and have lost 11.5 pounds in a week. It's hard, but the reward will be worth it!

I'd allow myself to hurl if need be. Better out than staying in. Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you. I appreciate your support!