JenWith

Good luck to you! I wish I had some words of wisdom on your liquid diet. I was fortunate enough NOT to have to do a 2 week liquid pre-op diet. My surgeon feels people struggle too much with that. I only had to keep my calories to under 1000 per day for 2 weeks. My last couple of days I had to drink more and eat less but that plan made it much easier for me.

Seems that way, doesn't it? I never had reflux or heartburn before. Not even when I was pregnant. Now it is awful. I just got another refill on my Omeprazole script yesterday. I have my 5 month f/u appointment with my surgeon at the end of this month and I plan on asking him about the meds and if it is okay to take them forever (or close to it).

Wow. Others just like me! I gave up soda many years ago and have been a Water drinker for about 17 years. After my surgery Nov. 2014? Nope. I can't stand it! I've tried filtered, bottled... whatever. YUCK. I wasn't drinking nearly enough. Now? I am addicted to Crystal Light lemon iced tea powder. Put that in my water and I'm back to drinking 80+ oz a day. I TRY to drink a bit of plain water during the day too; just to say I did.

@@ccol625 - I'm sorry you aren't getting the family support. I think it's more out of surgery fear on your mom's part. I'm sure she approves that you are doing something to be healthier for your boys. Maybe the thought of surgery is scaring her and she doesn't know how to tell you without scaring you. I was blessed with husband support and my 9 year old has been my food "police". Good luck to you! You will find lots of support here.

Since the scale has agreed the last 3 days, I'm taking this as law. I am FIFTY POUNDS down! 50!! 5-0. FIVE OH. WOOHOOO!!! Reached my first major goal/milestone. So, so happy. Took 16 weeks. I don't know if that is slow or average but I don't care. As long as the weight keeps coming off, I will be happy. Next goal - next 25 pounds by June.

You look great!

Just found out that if I want to keep my job, I need to relocate to Kansas City, MO sometime before 3Q2015. Since my husband runs 2 successful businesses of his own PLUS his own full-time job, relocation is not an option. I am not the breadwinner. I want a carton of cigarettes and a tub of Ben and Jerry's. Talk me off this ledge. I was so excited to see another pound gone this morning. Now I just want to curl up in a ball and cry.

@@p1Sz - LOL! I AM! I'm part of their IT department. They are taking all of the Corporate department and moving to KC. My IT group is lumped into that move. Unfortunately, my husband runs two sucessful personal businesses and he has his own full time job. He's also an only child with aging parents (who are our neighbors; fun times). We're not going anywhere. I'm still feeling down with this news and change but I'm handling things okay.

Thanks all! I went to get my nails done. Had another cry when I got home and parked myself behind my sewing machine for a while . Had a Greek yogurt for dinner. It is going to be tough but we'll pull through. Hopefully I will hear by Monday when my transition date is so that I can plan.

@@livanneluv - from my surgery experience, which went A-OK, I felt like I was hit by a truck for a week. I think your timeline- you will be pushing it and regretting going to that conference. I was 2 days in the hospital plus I slept for 2 days once I got home. I didn't feel like myself again until a week to 10 days after surgery.

My dress pants for work... I rushed to get ready this morning. 12 days off; hard to get back into my routine. Anyway - I picked a pair of pants out of my closet and I'm walking the hem off. They are at least a size and a half too big! They are HUGE. I am doing myself no favors wearing these pants but I had to get out of my house on time. They will get washed and put into the donate pile this week. My daughter tells me I need to get new pants. I'm not shopping until Spring. There is plenty in my closet I can "shop" from until then. And hugs. My daughter is 9; she can hug me and clasp her hands at my back. She is super excited she can do that. So I am.

Awesome! Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!!

Tomorrow, I check in with my surgeon, 1/2 way through my soft/purée stage. I was hoping to be down 10 more pounds but I wasn't going to stress over it. I am happy to say, as of this morning, I am down 9 more pounds PLUS I ventured into the next set of 10 digits on the scale!! WOOT!!! For work today, I am rocking a shirt I haven't worn in 1.5 years because it was too tight. Not today!! AND I can put on/off my jeans without unzipping or unbuttoning them!! Can I say I LOVE my sleeve!!?! I am feeling so lucky, I think I need to buy a lottery ticket!

I drive into the office twice a week (3 days a week at home). I bring in my own lunch and Snacks because it's too expensive to eat out. I used to pack my lunch bag with little goodies for the day. Not a lot, mind you. Just some tasty treats. I am jonesing HARD for a piece of dark chocolate right now. You want to know what was packed in my lunch box for today? A Greek yogurt (had it this morning; few bites and full), my 1.5 oz of "chicken casserole" (diced chicken, pinch of steamed spinach, pinch of cheese, and some salsa), and some chicken broth for just in case I want something warm to drink. My lunch bag is no longer fun. sigh. I will get through this today but I really want chocolate!

I have a 9 year old and she's a great eater. I cook dinner for her and my husband; chicken, pork chops, steak, veggies and the like and try to IGNORE all the tempting smells. We're not big fast food eaters and my kid HATES hot dogs and chicken nuggets so I'm good there. She has a steak and baked potato appetite. LOL. I keep her favorite snack on hand, tomatoes. She is allowed to have tomatoes any time she wants. I don't have to worry about her too much. She polices ME! I took her to Subway over the weekend. She got her sandwich, chips, and bottle of Water. I got 2 small scoops of tuna fish. She opened her chips and asked me "are you allowed to have any chips, Mama?". I told her no and she put them away so she didn't eat them in front of me. She's a keeper.

I know what you mean. I can see the loss in my face but not really anywhere else. My husband told me he sees it in my legs, my waist, and my (starting lack of) back fat. I am glad for the back fat to be going away! I also see it in the way my clothes look on me so I'm going with it. My scale says it is so. Another pound GONE this morning. WOOT! In time, you will see the loss in yourself too.

First couple of weeks post-op will be a challenge but sounds like you have a great support team in place. You will do great! Good luck!!

Thanks All! I usually had some chocolate in my bag for such cravings but that was before surgery. I don't want to pick up the habit again. I would like to hope that a little taste every now and again will satisfy me. I will say this... I had a major habit of getting some sort of chocolate at checkout every time I went shopping (grocery, Target, Walmart, wherever...). I haven't added a chocolate treat to my shopping list in a long time. Victory for me!

I've been happy shopping in my closet for the last week. I have found 5 pairs of work pants that I haven't worn in 2 years that fit again. I can retire my black yoga pants as work attire. I only go into the office twice a week so my work wardrobe doesn't need to be too extensive. I am not doing any clothes shopping until Spring. I will deal with what I have available to me for the winter. I will say, I have been taking a lot more selfies (but not posting them anymore) because I love the fact that my triple chin has disappeared since my surgery 5 weeks ago!

@@kira10062014 You were sleeved on my birthday!

I read an interesting tidbit on UnJury's website: For all unjury flavors, do not use in liquids hotter than 140º F. Proteins, when heated, change texture. For example, you have seen an egg white go from a clear gel, to firm white, when cooked. For UNJURY, in a hot liquid, the proteins tend to clump. A food thermometer is a good way to get the temperature nicely warm...just right. I'm going to assume that Optifast is a Protein powder of some sort; then my tidbit of information helps. If it's not, I have no more advice to give.

You look GREAT! I wish I took a picture on my own week 1. all I have is a face shot in pre-op at the hospital before surgery. In short, people SUCK. All you can do is just walk away. Probably very jealous of you too. Keep up the awesome work.