no onions

Ok - so my rant is - tame and somewhat trivial. #1 Today, we tried a new video conferencing system at work. It's actually very cool technology, but I didn't realize it followed and zoomed on me when I spoke. I caught a glimpse of myself in what I think was a 4k display (think ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION, better than HD) and boy oh boy, not good! Though, Ultra High Defintion was not really kind to anyone in the room. One of my co-workers has bald spot that was zoomed in on for some reason. Ha. #2 Why must my photo be visible in every work email or instant message I send? It's a pretty terrible photo from my first day on the job (about 3 years old). I will certainly take a new one at some point in the not so distant future!

@@CowgirlJane @@SlimJill - Hypnosis here too. And I bought some expensive set of CDs that I NEVER opened. Ha! As for gross food diets, liver, yuck, yuck! If anyone gave me a diet of any organ meat or boiled eggs and onions (things I hate), I would starve to death.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Good luck to you!

Someone actually brought this topic up today at a pre-operative meeting today. The suggestion was made that you should stick with someone grilled, perhaps chicken or fish (if you had to do fast food at all). I think @@Elode has some good tips above!

Perhaps there are online trainers that you could google, or google that search in your local area. If you're going to any support groups, it might be a good question to pose to the members. I have no idea where you are located, but there do not appear to be any who specialize in my area. Good luck to you!

My surgeon follows the 30/60 drinking rule (before/after meals). They said following this rule allows digestion to occur more normally and also keeps you feeling fuller long. I'm not quite sleeved yet, and am still working this rule into my diet.

I have no underwear help for you, but had to comment as I too can relate to the Missouri humidity. If I intend to sweat (like say go for a walk for exercise), that's fine. But tell me WHY, must the heat and humidity be so bad that I sweat and sheen walking from my car to my office. Naturally, when I reach my office, I promptly turn on my fan and blot my forehead with a paper towel. Ha! Good luck to you!

My reply is somewhat tongue-in-cheek as I can relate to many of you. The most effective diet, for me, was the eat nothing diet that I did in high school. I ate saltines occasionally and sometimes sugar free Jello. Then I would exercise like a fiend and weigh constantly, multiple times per day. I lost every pound and then some. It was so effective that my parents almost checked me into a hospital to get help. It became a contest (in my mind) to see how many days I could go without food. It was, admittedly, crazy. As an adult I could never seem to master this diet, which was probably for the best. I honestly don't know how I functioned. The second most effective diet for me was counting calories, lots of exercise and some side-effect from Wellbutrin that gave me tons of energy to spare. That side-effect wore off after a few months and so did my motivation. I did have a good stomach flu during that time that almost brought me to "onderland." HMR was also a very effective diet for me. It was very-low-calorie liquid diet (in my case) with weekly meetings and Dr. appts/monitoring. It wasn't sustainable, but it was very quick weight loss. Possibly the least effective? The time I spent $900 on a personal trainer and only went to about three sessions. To their credit, they called and called to try and get me to come in. I'm hopeful (and fairly certain) that the gastric sleeve will ultimately be the best solution for me. I will use this tool effectively - I'm not going under the knife for fun!

I started my 10 day diet a week early, just to get the kinks out. My surgeon doesn't require a liquid diet prior to surgery, but a maximum of 1400 calories from a recommended "healthy" foods list. It was a drastic calorie reduction and I felt like caca the first few days. I'm feeling better this week. Hope you're feeling well soon too!

My sleeve surgery is scheduled for later this month. I go from excited to not thinking about it all. I awoke this morning, sleeping on my stomach, and had a few moments of weirdness. I thought I had just had my surgery and was almost in a (dazed-sleepy) panic about hurting myself by sleeping on my stomach. So - apparently I'm thinking about the whole thing more than I thought - thank you subconscious!

So glad for you and best of luck moving forward. I am a bit anxious about my own upcoming surgery and stories like this help.

@@lanipilgreen - I'm not sure about the answer to that and will be discussing it with my Dr. I found an older thread that might have some info (or opinions anyway). http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/187366-sleeping-on-stomach/

2cents here. I am very conscious of "tone" when writing and speaking. I sometimes struggle with what I really want to say, with what is actually going to be productive. And there are times when I lose my patience and don't give a sh** how it sounds. With that said, there is likely some good information in the article, but the tone is abrupt and for those that don't like "the cold hard truth" or more likely, the way a message is delivered, then you just stop reading or discount everything the author writes.

no onions: because I hate them (they pollute so many dishes) and I am not super creative. I'm the person who will order without onions whether it indicates it or not. I'm the person who will also say, "I did order that with no onions, right?" I'm the person that sends salads, sandwiches back if I find and or detect the taste of onion, with the instruction of "make it brand new, please." *Also no: chives, scallions, green onion, etc. *Servers probably love me. *Fun fact: I can say no onions in 5 languages. I traveled some in a previous job. Result of biting into raw onion accidentally? Immediate gagging/heaves. I've mellowed somewhat as I've gotten older.

My past experience with liquid diets did not result in diarrhea. It did result in small bowel movements, sometimes... I would describe this as "loose" but not diarrhea. That being said, if you're post surgery, I cannot comment on what's normal (for me) yet. My surgery is later this month. Good luck to you!

I think I would probably try and set expectations in advance of the visit. In my opinion you should consider your recovery to be the priority. My surgery is scheduled for later this month so I cannot speak to energy levels. Best of luck to you!

Thanks so much for the kind words! Will definitely update on my progress. I may even add my (horrible) photo! :-)

Insurance, possibly the most rigorous part (to-date) of the whole gastric sleeve journey, has approved my procedure. It took 3 days to approve after my surgeon's office finally submitted all of the paper-work. I'm scheduled for surgery in the middle of June, first patient of the day -- my hope is that the surgeon is well rested and on his "A" game. My program is through Washington University in St. Louis. http://www.weightlosssurgery.wustl.edu/ The program has a ton of requirements, similar to many others. I started exploring Bariatric programs and options in December 2015 and joined this site in January 2015. Bariatric Pal has been tremendously helpful in answering my questions and sometimes even entertaining. I hope to be able to contribute more about my experience post-surgery and give back to others. Good luck to all!

@@Angie85 It's a prescription - my gastroenterologist prescribed it for me. If you don't have a specialist, I would consider looking up the bile acid malabsorption / bile salts diarrhea and take the info to your Dr. My primary Dr. just kept telling me I needed more Fiber and was very unhelpful with respect to this problem. The gastro guy knew exactly what it was based on my description and said some % of gallbladder patients report it as a side-effect. Good luck to you!

I'm not planning any food funerals. I've personally had enough over the years. I can completely understand the desire to have one. @@lauren8486 On my most successful diets, I would begin to crave healthy stuff, like carrots, mmm mmm doesn't a carrot sound good. And it really did sound good!

Wow and glad you're feeling better! I want to make sure I understand -- you experienced the bile leak after your surgery 3 years ago, or it somehow happened after your gastric sleeve surgery in May? I had my gallbladder removed in my early 20s and didn't have any complications initially. I say initially, because shortly after (few months) I would have the dire need to use the bathroom after eating. It's only been within the last 2 years that I've been diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption (aka bile salts diarrhea and several other names) and treated with Cholestryamine (mix powder with water/juice - I think some people can get pill form). Cholestryamine made a night and day difference in my life and my symptoms are gone as long as I consistently drink the medicine in the morning.

June 17 here - anxious, but feel prepared as possible. This site has been very helpful.

Had my gallbladder removed many years ago. Surgery was fine. I did experience something like "dumping" syndrome when I would eat. It's called bile acid malabsorption or bile salts diarrhea. Many people do not have this complication, but it sucks if you do. For me and many others it is totally treatable with medication. I take cholestryamine and It works wonders! Best of luck to you.

@@LipstickLady That awful font. My rant is not terribly serious, but I really cannot tolerate reading the pink cursive font. For the love of -whatever- please show some mercy on my eyes. :-)