MrsSmyth

Hi everyone, Tonight i was able to adapt some 'comfort food' to help me adhere to the pre-op diet. I purchased some Continental Chicken Noodle Soup and before I put it in the saucepan I sieved out the noodles. I used to drink chicken noodle soup with my grandad...almost the best thing about visiting my grandparents as a child!! LOL Anyway, I thought it tasted pretty sensational! To be honest, on a scale of 1-10 my discomfort level being on this diet has only been about 6...at worst. It is actually getting me in the mood and I am feeling really excited about surgery and the weight loss to come. I know, I sound like a sicko! LOL I feel better now that I have started it...i was quite anxious about being able to stick to it and now I feel somewhat reassured I have decided that I am not going to take to the 'sick role' while I am in hospital and I will take loose fitting clothing to wear during the day. Other people recommed earplugs and lip balm too. I might even bring an eye mask because any light at night wakes me up. I am not one for being stuck in bed so hopefull I will be able to get up and about a little after the first 24Hours. My surgeon told me that I will be in for four nights...I am hoping that if all is going well he might let me home a little earlier to my wonderful husband. :-) It amazes me that alot of the American Sleevers are only in hospital overnight. I note that Leah Jade recommends dairy....I have heard that people lose their tolerance for it after this surgery. i am hoping not because I really enjoy milk/yoghurt and a little cheese. Also, it is a good source of protein. Sams72...there are many types of protein powder and some of them have significant carbohydratee content so be sure to check out the labels. I am using Optifast for pre-op and I like just their vanilla shakes and I have their chocolate pudding for dinner (that makes me feel a little guilty for like 2 seconds). Optifast is recommended because Nestle have done the research on it and proven the positive effects on the liver (reduction in size of about 10-15% which makes access to the stomach easier and safer for the surgeon). There are others very similar such as Isowhey and Optislim which have some pretty great flavours. I really like strawberry Isowhey and Optislim Caramel Shakes. Optislim have a new 'Platinum' range which has glucomannon (a fibre subtitute) in it....not sure if this would be a good idea for sleevers immediately post-op. Everything you eat claerly depends on what stage you are at. I know that my nutritionist has told me that post-op (once I pass the fluid trial) it is kind of the same as the pre-op except taht I can use other brands of protein supplement as well as skim milk, 'drinking yoghurt', diluted fruit juice, veg juice, tea/coffee, diet cordial and Up & Go's (I would rather have a better lower fat and higher protein shake than an Up & Go though). Water and chewable multivitamins are the rest of the post-op programme for weeks 1-2. Then I graduate to ''Puree Phase' and doesn't that sound so appealing...NOT! :-) I am planning to take a few of my favourite things to the hospital with me because when I can finally start taking some protein I think I will keep it down much better if it is something that I know and like. :-) Be careful with the gummy multi's...any of them that I have seen on the shelf here in NSW all have actual sugar in them. In fact there has been a bit of uproar about them because people feel it is encouraging children to have a sweet tooth. That is so totally enough....for the moment! :-) Bye for now, Mrs Smyth

It is probably a sign that you are keeping well hydrated and when your body is ready to let the 'water weight' go it will do so! Also, don't get too preoccupied with the scales...that can frustrate you and take the enrgey that you need to focus on pre-op!! Power on!!

I feel your pain...I started my preop diet yesterday...one week before I am supposed to. I thought it might help me get 'in the zone'. 10 minutes ago I was feeling like I might eat my lipstick mark off my Pepsi Max can! LOL I am over it now! :-) Remember that this is preparation time and the skills in resistence that you learn now will be helpful to you after surgery and also give you a head start on your weight loss. This is what it is all about!!! :-) Stick with it....you can do it!!!!!

I just noticed how some of my lipstick has rubbed off on my Pepsi Max can....I wonder if I could eat that? LOL

Why not try a cold boiled egg? Maybe a little Pate on a light rice cracker or something like that. Maybe a little high in fat but a good quality chicken liver Pate will have some Iron in it too. Hommus/Hummus is a good source of vegetable protein from chickpeas and is really nice on a carrott or celery stick...great recipes to be found online for this. How about Tofu? Not the most perfect suggestions but might do for a little variety once in a while. Congratulations on your progress!!!!! :-) Mrs Smyth

My first day on my pre-op was yesterday and I ahve to admit that I did not do it as specified by my nutritionist. I didn't have two cups of authorised vegetables. I think I was afraid to eat some in case I wouldn't stop!! LOL I did have two cans of Pepsi Max and two serves of Lo-Cal jelly along with about 1200mL's of water. The jelly really took the edge off last night. I was terrified going to bed in case I would wake up hungry. I have never been a night eater but I know when I have been following low calorie diets I have woken feeling 'antzy' (as I call it) and this is probably from low-blood sugar levels. I think the high protein content of Optifast stops this happening. Today, I am planning some vegetables at lunch time. Oh, I am spoiling myself!! When is your surgery Sams72? Mrs Smyth

Seriously, I hate this pre-op diet but I know the value of it! Obviously, I am an overeater and love my food and I think the pre-op will give me the opportunity to ease myself into my new post-sleeve situation. Clearly, I will not be able to eat either the volume of food I have enjoyed in the past. Again, being honest about overeating, I enjoy it in the short term but not in the longterm and I am so ready to get healthy. I am thinking that surgery will not be so much of a shock to the system having dome the pre-op diet and it also makes the surgeons job easier because it shrinks the liver a little and makes it more pliable for movement to access the stomach. This information is on the Optifast website if you log into it as a health professional. This is why so many doctors recommend Optifast...they did the research to prove the outcome of a two-week Optifast diet. Do what your surgeon tells you to do and you should be fine! I have read that some sleevers in the US do not even do a pre-op diet...not many though because they all have to lose so much weight to get their insurance companies to cover them for the procedure. Not a bad idea...it demonstrates commitment to it. It sounds like we could abuse the sleeve if we wanted to by drinking high calorie drinks etc. Are you in Perth too? I can't seem to find any November Sydney sleevers!! :-( Ciao, MrsSmyth

The dress looks great!!! Just be sure that he deserves to see you in that dress!!! Enjoy your night out!!!!!!

Hi, From what I have been reading on these blogs that the best way to get over a stall is to get back to basics. Do what you did at the start when it was just falling off!!! I am so sure you can ahieve your goal (so close...wish it was me...not long to go)and I am guessing that your body is just testing you to see if you are seriously committed to your new lifestyle! I think that this is a good learning experience because we will all need to re-employ our basic skills at different times to undo the damage done when we have been a little complaceent. Think of it as being a way for you to exercise these skills! Amazing transformation....a big congratulations to you and your hard work!!!! Keep at it and you will conquer!!!!!!!!! Ciao!

Just me again, I was interrupted before I could finish my last post. Another very important thing that I have learned for reasons of comfort is that including a couple of teaspoons of Benefibre with your protein shake helps decrease any risk of constipation. This has been an unfortunate side-effect of high protein diets for me in the past. My nutritionist brought this subject up and gave that effective tip. She also suggested using Movicol if it really persisted...luckily I have not had to use that as yet but it is good to know of a good option. In relation to the Biotin and Hair, Nail & Skin supplements...I use 'Solgar' brand. For a general multivitamin I use 'Thorne Research' Multivitamins for Women....all from iHerb online. The nutritionist has given me a chewable multiviatmin to use after surgery but I have also noticed on iHerb a range of 'Twinlab' Bariatric Support supplements and I think I will order some of those too. IHerb deliver to Australia within a week and their delivery prices are cheap as chips!! Not that we should eat any of those now! :-) Also, be careful ladies if you take Fish Oil etc because they thin your blood a little and it would probably be wise to stay of them for a while before surgery. However, it is much better to talk to your surgeon about that issue. Hope you all enjoy my little hot tips that I have picked up along my journey! Mrs Smyth

Good morning to you all, I have had challenges trying to keep my sleeve surgery quiet since my father is having the same surgery two weeks after me. He is happy to talk to everybody about it! He cracks me up and I have no hope...my family like to talk. Anyway, I have decided that I will not be bringing up the subject myself and will just politely avoid any detail discussion....should it arise. God love them but most people just don't get it!! :-) I am day 2 of my pre-op...have decided to start a week ealier and surgery is on 14/11. I am so NOT a person who ever vomits but as I write I am fight the urge to do so...major mistake taking fairly high dose vitamins with just a little Optifast shake. Don't worry ladies, I am holding it in for now. This brings me to the recently mentioned issue of hair loss!!! I am paranoid about it too and my research has told me that there are two critical things to do in order to minimise it. W all lose a little hair. 100 strands daily...which always seems like more whne you have long hair...I don't know how my husband deals with long dark hair strands on the bathroom floor...I am paranoid about that and spend ages picking them up every morning! :-) Anyway, the first thing is to keep up your protein intake really well and this alos assists in keeping hunger/craving pangs at bay...so this is a big important thing to do. The second thing is to but some high dose Biotin supplements and some Hair Skin & Nail support supplements. I am doing both and I but all my supplements online with iHerb...an American supplement company who are beyond sensational!! I love them!! Despite being a Sydneysider, I am enjoying your thread here...hope you don't kick me out because I am from the East!! :-) Ciao, MrsSmyth

HI Lubelu, I agree totally with your plan of action regarding revealing your surgery. I am for surgery on 14/11 and I have done the same. I have not kept it top secret per se but I have found that the whole process is difficult enough to digest myself (excuse the pun) and I don't need people who have no experience of the excess weight heartache passing comment on what they have no idea about. I have the support of the people important to me and they trust my judgement and that is all I need to know. I don't need to hear negative comments that may come from a poorly educated perspective. I have started my pre-op Optifast diet officially today...a week before my surgeons recommendation. I thought it would be good to hit the ground running...I am over being contemplating it and I want to jump right in. A big congratulations to you on your results so far...I can't wait to be on your side of the journey!! Mrs Smyth

Congratulations on your 3lb loss! It is a lovely start to your journey. I am planning to start my pre-op diet tomorrow...3 weeks out from my surgery on 11/14. Doctor only demands two weeks but I feel three will help me get 'in the zone'. :-) I feel relieved when I see how difficult it is for American 'sleevers' to get insurance cover for their procedure. We have none of those issues here, as such.

I have also been a bit concerned abot the opinions of my social group about this course of action to reduce my weight and have come to the conclusion that the l;ess said the better...especially with non-significant people in my life. I think that people who have not had to make such a decision have really no idea the courage and despperation it takes to make such a decision. If we recall ourselves....it takes much time and research to come to the decision ourselves. How can we expect others to understand the reality of when they have no real connection to the situation.What does everybody else think on this????

Hi everybody, It looks like we are all so much closer to our surgery dates and especially so for those early November 'sleevers'. I hope that all is going to plan for you all and that there are no major doubts creeping in. I feel like I am over that stage. My only worry is the pre-op diet but I know it will be OK when it comes to the crunch...so to speak! i have noticed that a few of you are quite worried about the IV...please don't...these health professionals do it every day and I have yet to hear of somebody failing to go through surgery beacuse of that issue alone. Just close your eyes, relax and it will be fine!!! Does anybody have any useful information to avoid weakness/tiredness post surgery? I am a little concenrd abot that but I am guessing if I keep up my protein and water levels that should not be too much of an issue. Ciao, MrsSmyth

Hello to all the November 2013 people, I am scheduled for the operation on November 14th in Sydney, Australia. I have a two week Optifast programme to look forward to prior to to surgery date but I am thinking of starting a week earlier. For me, this is going to be the hardest part and any suggestions would be much appreciated. I think my motto will be 'Just Do It'! :-) It is great to have this forum to chat about such a big change in life! I have noticed on this thread two other people having surgery the same date as myself....it is so nice to have some company! :-) TTFN, MrsSmyth