Jessica.O

I had to do this for three days before surgery and it was hard! I avoided places that had food or food smells (mall, movies, etc) and spent my time at the pool or at home. My husband ate all his meals out which helped a lot! I was grouchy and tired and wobbly but I did it because I knew I had to in order to get my surgery. BTW no one warned me about the diarrhea.... consider yourself warned! It is tough but in the big scheme of things it's such a small blip of time and it means your big day is coming. Stay strong.

Thanks for sharing Autumn, how inspiring! Do you need to wear any kind if compression top when you go running? I cant imagine myself ever running... I suppose no one does when they're so overweight though. Who knows what I'll find passion for when I'm lighter and have more energy.

Oops typo! I meant so fowardly, not cowardly

Wow jtickle it sounds like you are shrinking so fast and you are really working hard at it. I still don't have the energy to work out like that, I hope I get it soon! I seem to have stalled this past week (on the scale) but my legs feel firmer and less jiggly and I have swapped out my baggy swim shorts for a pair of tiny shirts I have never been able to wear before! They're still probably a bit too small for me but the others were falling off as soon as the got the weight if the water on them so that's encouraging. Also, I got hit on at the park this week! I was laying out in shorts and a tank top, sunbathing and reading my book, and a guy asked me if he could join me. He said I was cute. I was so shocked I didn't even tell him I was married, I just said I'd prefer he didn't join me. I felt flattered and creeped out and guilty all at once. It's been a long time since I was hit on so cowardly like that

I saw another thread about hair loss and someone said something that really put it in perspective for me: If shaving your head would make you lose your excess body weight, would you do it? Of course you would.

Wow our surgeons have very different diet plans! I was allowed to start mushy foods at week two and flaky fish with cooked veggies at week three.

I've only eaten out twice since surgery. The first time was with my husband. We agreed on a main dish together so he ordered that and extra sides, that way I could nibble on his tilapia and eat some of the mashed potatoes without wasting a whole meal and he still had plenty to eat. This was ideal for me but since he travels a lot I will need to figure out other ways to order smartly when eating out with other people. The second time I was out with friends and just ordered a side of pasta. A friend of a friend had RNY and I know when she goes out to eat she asks them to box up half her meal at the time she orders. Less temptation on the plate in front of her. I will probably try this as i progress and can eat a wider variety of foods.

Yup. The doctor just said to wait 10-14 days after surgery before swimming or taking baths. Despite having to sausage myself into a swimsuit I've always loved swimming and it's low-impact on my joints It's nice to get some sun now too after the first couple weeks stuck on the couch.

Have you had an appt at a bariatric surgeon's office? When I went in for my first appt the receptionist took down my insurance info, called the company and got me answers within 20 minutes. Mine required six monthly visits pre-op with a nutritionist, EKG and blood work, and a psych eval. Another thing you can try is to call the surgeon's office and ask if they can provide you with the code(s) for the procedure then call the insurance company yourself and provide them the codes.

Tammie- I had horrible pain in my back after surgery which turned out to be a strange place for gas to build up! Try to get up and walking, it really will help.

Angel, my surgery was July 1 and I've gone from 270# to 247#. I seem to have stalled at this weight for about a week now which is frustrating. I would say on average I am eating 1/2-3/4 cup of food per meal three times daily. I've found it much harder to get my water intake since I've had to withhold drinking 15 min before, during, and 45 min after meals. My energy level is pretty decent, like I'm not really napping anymore and I've found some projects around the house. My stamina has left me with not much ability to sustain physical activity. I can walk with my dog for 1-2 miles tops and have done no cardio or weight lifting. I have been going to the pool 2-3 times a week and paddling around. I'm not swimming real laps, just treading water and kicking around trying to work my muscles a bit. After 45 minutes of that I'm exhausted! Yesterday a trip to Pier 1 wiped me out.

I feel like a turd today. Breakfast was Greek yogurt with fruit, not bad, right? Then I snacked on olives and a slice of cheese which made me feel guilty. Lunch was macaroni with tuna and I haven't had dinner yet. Olives and one slice of cheese isn't the end of the world but I feel so gross. Not hungry or full, just enormous and gross. Like the food is just sitting there and not moving through. I took the dog out for a long walk but it didn't seem to help much. Is this what "full" is now? My surgeon kept saying "you'll feel Thanksgiving full eating a small amount." I don't feel full! I feel slightly sick.

July 1 here and I'm down 23#! I think I'm on the cusp of feeling physically smaller...

I had my buyer's remorse around week two. All I wanted was to eat nachos or a burger and feel a full belly!! I am now four weeks out and feel much more optimistic. I am down 22# and can't wait for my clothes to get baggy! The added variety to my diet has helped tremendously with cravings. I am married and we have a dog, too. I used to love going out socializing but as we settled into comfy cohabitation we got fatter together. Although my husband is overweight he is very active and I hope I'll be able to share in some of his hobbies as I slim down. In regards to skin, I really hope my arms and thighs don't have too much extra. I'm pretty small chested so not too worried about the boobs and I can't imagine ever feeling confident enough to show my belly! I'm not opposed to plastic surgery in the future but finances are tight so I don't know if it will be an option.

Do you have a surgery date yet?

Great job jtickle! When was your surgery and what kind did you have? Do you feel smaller??

I slept on my side from the first night after surgery. It was the only way I could get comfy, hugging a pillow on my side. No problems for me.

Dannysgirl, You WILL lose weight but after that initial period (typically 12-18 months) it is then up to you to maintain that loss. Educate yourself, read books, attend support group meetings, read online (just stick to credible sites), and work with a WLS nutritionist. You can do it just know what you're in for. It isn't a magic fix, it's a jump start and a tool that you will have to learn to utilize. My biggest fear going into this was that it wouldn't "click" for me, that I wouldn't understand how to use the new pouch. I'm only four weeks post op and it is coming to me so much more naturally than I thought it would! You can do this!

I think I did alright when I was just on liquids because I was too scared about pushing my limits to try any solid foods. Now that I'm eating fruits and veggies, toast, eggs, and fish I don't feel as scared about having a bite here and there which is what happened at the wineries. It's such a common way to socialize (over food). I know I can change things on my end but i don't expect my friends to all change for me. They are aware and supportive but if they all want to one thing and i don't then i miss out on the socialization. I hope someone here can share some advice. I think for now I'll avoid food-centered activities for a few weeks and then try it again.

Four weeks post op and down 23#

It sounds like you are going to be well prepared for your surgery and I admire your ambition! Do you have a date yet?

I had my first social food challenge today. I was the DD for my friends to go winery hopping today. I found myself snacking on crackers and dip three times while drinking water! Not a felony offense I know, but I am beating myself up a bit for it and now feel nervous about doing social things like this again. We are all getting together on Thursday night (Project Runway!) for a potluck dinner. My friends know about the surgery and are supportive, that isn't the issue. I guess I'm feeling a little mistrustful of myself. Anyone else found themselves "cheating" in social settings? How do you avoid it in the future? I don't want to be a hermit but maybe I should just stay home.

It sounds like you are getting pretty anxious! I had to see my nutritionist for six monthly visits leading up to surgery and we didn't discuss grams of Protein, calories, fats, etc! The things we worked on together before surgery were how to start changing my habits on preparation for using my new pouch for example, I had to slow down my eating and take 20-25 minutes to eat each meal. I also had to make sure i was eating three meals a day with no snacking. We talked about what to buy before surgery, what Vitamins I'd need and why, what I could eat during the initial stages post op, etc. The calories and carbs and Proteins will come later. Just slow down. We ALL think we know a few things about eating right because we've done every diet under the sun, read every article, measured our food. We've lost tons of weight! But we gained it back. None of us would be seeing bariatric surgeons if we didn't need the extra help. You need to put your trust in the professionals. It's such a foreign concept to actually practice what they are teaching, believe me I know, but I'm so glad I had those visits. It really gave me good preparation and I think using my pouch is coming to me more naturally than if I hadn't had those sessions. BTW my surgery was just on July 1 and I'm down from 270 to 247!! I strongly recommend finding a surgeon and facility that are a bariatric center of excellence. This means they are held to higher standards. They have to provide comprehensive care and support for long term success. They typically have their own nutritionist with bariatric experience and host support group meetings. I attend one meeting before surgery which was really helpful to me (and my husband). I hope I've helped!

I am almost four weeks post op. I went through the same thing as you. It was very hard to sleep comfortably the first 10 days or so. I mostly dozed off and on for a couple hours at a time. I found that borrowing a friends recliner helped me get comfy. My energy started to pick up around two to three weeks after surgery but my stamina is still pretty low. My first outing was 10 days after surgery. I went to Homegoods with my mom. It was perfect because they have so many chairs to sit and rest in!

Cottage cheese with applesauce was my jam!