stephL

I think everyone looses weight differently. My nurse told me you will only get out of the surgery what you put in. I know I need to be better about the exercise,

I just hit 8 weeks and it seems like my tummy is more sensitive than the 4 week point. I find that I have to go back to liquids and pureed foods all the time. I also have a lot of issues with constipation. Is anyone else having any digestion issues?

Honestly, if you were not nervous, there would be some deeper issues. I too have gone through all the steps and will be having surgery the end of the month. Until I got the approval from the insurance company I was fine. Once the approval came in, the panic started. To sum up a very long story, if you are having any anxiety know that it is totally normal. If it would help, talk to a nurse or your surgeon and discuss your concerns. I had over 40 questions for my surgeon and she took the time to sit with me and answer all of my questions and reassure me that I was making the right decision. There are also tons of support groups aside from this website, which has been a God send to me, that can help you. Just relax and know that what you are feeling is normal. This is a HUGE commitment being nervous is OK.

Just when you want to give up, think about all the work that went into this process. I know it is hard, but anything hard is always worth it in the long run. If you need a change in what you are drinking try GNC Lean 25 shakes. They have 200 calories for 2 scoops and I usually only use one. Very filling and absolutely delicious. Maybe changing things up will help the craving to cheat. Just remember, you can do this and we are all here to help support you. Just think of it as a marriage. You're new lifestyle is a "til death do you part" situation.

I am scheduled for the end of this month and I am having a really hard time with food all of a sudden. I want to eat everything and anything I see. I do not want to have to reschedule my surgery because I put on weight. The program I am in has you loose 10 percent of your excess body weight prior to surgery. Any ideas why or how I can kick this by the end of the month. Nerves and excitement are kicking in pretty hard.

Katt. Is there another hospital you can transfer your records to and deal with another surgeon. Sorry u have to go through all this.

I would talk to a diet counselor and start a support group ASAP. It can be done. Be confident. Posting on here admitting there is an issue is the first and hardest step. Just know that you are stronger than food.

I think cutting out the coffee and bread are going to be the hardest. I am also doing one Protein shake as a meal once a day. Do know of one that does not taste like chalk or leave an after taste that tastes like feet? There are also lots of great apps on the phone that can help you eat better. To answer the question, I eat what I normally eat, just count calories and adjust portions, the rest will work itself in as you adjust your diet. The app I use is called MY DIET DIARY. I just started the process in Feb so I am still working on adjusting what I eat. If your insurance will cover it, maybe consult a nutritionist. Best of luck.

I just started this process in Feb and I have found that between appointments and waiting for the ball to get rolling. It has been very helpful to do as much research as possible. I have several books about how others have made the journey through this surgery. It has brought up several questions that I need to have addressed at my next appointment. Things I would not have thought of had I not been doing the research. However, this site has been super helpful and I love that you can be completely honest and not be judged about what you say. I have also been working on little changes that are going to have to be made post-op. For example, not drinking with meals and getting on the Vitamin schedule.

I think you are so used to being overweight that it is hard to accept the new you. I have the same fear. I have been a size 22 for so long that I can not even begin to have the image in the mirror be thinner. I think some visits to the psychologist is a good idea. Do they address issues like this in the pre-op process? I have a lot of issues (more like luggage) that have caused my weight to be my shield and losing that, honestly scares me. I am currently going through "trauma therapy" that has been very helpful so far. I know I am not ready to go under the knife yet but, I know this is the right decision for me. I have done a lot of research on the psychology of weight loss and it's insane the info out there. I am going back to college this fall to get my degree in psychology and hope to be in a bariatric setting. Hope all this makes sense, sorry for the random thoughts.

I just signed up on here today and the honesty in all of the above comments is refreshing. I have always been the "fat kid" and all my life I heard from friends and family that I would be so pretty if I would just lose weight. So I always though that the only way I could be attractive is to be thin. Although my main goal is to be healthy, I would like to look into the mirror and not see the "fat kid" looking back at me. And I would like to be able to cross my legs.

If you are working with a Bari surgeon, they will let you know what tests need to be done. I just got the process started and have had to have a ton of blood work and an upper endoscopy. They were all ordered by the Bari surgeon or the nurse with the Bari clinic. However, I am sure it is different for all clinics. This has just been my experience.

I have read the big book of VSG and it is excellent - I also found a quick read book called THE SLEEVED LIFE BY PENNIE NICOLA. Just an FYI for those of you considering this surgery and gives you some ideas of questions to ask your surgeon. When I read it, I came up with some things I have never thought of or would have not asked my surgeon. If you read it. let me know what you think. Happy reading - Stephanie