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Damnitalltohell !!!!!!! I was counting on using some tequila as my post-workout drank after tomorrow's gym session. Aww hell......gonna do it anyway as I'm grilling my post gym protein. Gonna carve out some room for a couple skinny 'ritas by some extra time on the treadmill tomorrow. Looking forward to much anticipated day off work.

Yup.....I was tired..............tired of hurting. Knees, hips, back.....all hurting badly. I was tired and ready for a change. Was my energy level compromised during the pre-op 14 day liver shrink diet ? It was the first week....but then I sort of leveled out and then began actually feeling more vital and amped up. I'm not sure if this was due to my body becoming adapted to entering and maintaining a state of ketosis or if it was my growing excitement and happiness over my upcoming surgery finally arriving........or simply a combination of the two. I went through a really amped up feeling the first two weeks post-op....with the exception of the first couple days letting the hospital meds wear off. Then by the third week I felt periods of fatigue. Found out that it was simply the results of lowered blood pressure. I'd been on blood pressure meds for high pressure for years. Doc cut dosages and all was well after that.

I stayed on Protein shakes for the first four weeks. They satisfied me and I didn't want to add back foods like oatmeal and yogurt. I wanted to lose weight and those foods simply weren't relevant with my personal goals. Some folks swear by them. To each his own. That type of stuff simply makes me want more of it and as a result I'd likely sit around and think about food vs. having something healthy that took care of my needs.....and move on and get stuff done until cellphone alarm reminded me hours later it was meal time. When I resumed food.....one the most helpful foods I found were the foil packs of flavored tuna. They made for great lunches at work. I also found that loved grilled chicken breast, chopped, shredded and very lightly sauced. There are Tyson frozen pre-cooked chicken breasts in the freezer section of the grocery store. Very easy to prepare. Baked fish was another oft eaten food. Omelettes, too. Wendy's chili I did try....was a little concerned about the spice aspects but found that I had zero trouble. It worked just fine.

I don't understand the math. "At least twice a day" and "At least 3 to 4 times a week" isn't adding up. 14 BM's a week....you were spending some quality time on the porcelain throne. Anyway.....reduced frequency of bowel movements is something that all wls patients have experienced. We eat less....we pass less through our systems. Also the type of foods we eat is more efficiently utilized by our bodies...at least that's my limited experience with VSG. Always great to confirm such with your doctor like you are planning.

What I'd like to have known the most.....the very most.....is something that I didn't have the vision to see back then. What I'd loved for someone to do was to lean in and whisper in my ear, "Dude....you are struggling mightily just to get through each day. You are hurting all the time. You body is betraying your fat lifestyle. You are a ticking time bomb. You are taxing those who love you very heavily. Guess what ?.....Every bit of that will be hugely improved in months. Every single bit of that." This knowledge would have made the delays leading up to surgery much more tolerable. It would have made me laugh all the way through the short and simple 14 day liver shrink diet. It would have made me laugh at any fear or discomfort. I would have pushed my way to the front of the line and popped in my own IV needle and wheeled myself to the operating room. Life is so much better now. In Every Single Way. That's what I wish I could've known.................

Personal philosophy is good to establish on the subject, I suppose. The scale is simply a tool as far as I'm concerned. It shows one single metric.....my weight. As a weight loss surgery patient, I find the scale a damn important tool. Clothes can lie....as we all can dress with larger or smaller cuts of clothing or even change colors and the look/fit is different. The scale, though, shows the cold hard fact of whether or not I've lost or gained. It's gonna be a huge tool when I reach the fighting weight I want to live with, too. It takes only a few seconds to hop on it and get a reading each day. Trends can be countermeasured in a swift and easy way. I'll keep fresh batteries in my scale and look forward to the weight readings at various doctor's appointments. It's a number that I'm proud of and will remain proud of. That was sort of the point of bringing out the big guns and attacking my weight with the aid of wls. It is a priority in my life and one that drives many other aspects. Keeping it under wraps will better ensure that all else goes smoothly. I need my scale and the data it can provide. So do my doctors. Being defined by my weight......nope. I get what you are saying there. I was a jovial fat guy. I still am. Just not quite as fat and hell of a lot more healthy which makes me happier. A smile now isn't forced....it's genuine and full of relief.

On the other end of the spectrum......I've never had dumping sensation. I can eat anything I could before.....I just prefer not to. Once I've been weeks without eating sugar my preferences really narrow. I want nothing to do with it. 1,000 consecutive Dairy Queen commercials could play and I"m not the least bit interested. If and when I do have something high in sugar it feels weird....unnatural. A bit jittery. 30 mins later I have cravings that take a day or two to go away. Sugar is dangerous for me. Best avoided. Almost never missed.....unless I actually have it. Cycle of stupidity for me. Since living post-op, I find that I much prefer some cold blueberries or grapes if and when I want something sweet. I don't have the cravings afterwards. It's a nice treat and one that does't create issues. Breads, oatmeal, Cereal and etc has a similar effect that sugary stuff does.....just not as intense. I simply feel better when I avoid it.

Somebody will be along in a few minutes to tell you they spent two years taking bariatric support classes......learning all they could......then had the surgery now barely 8 weeks out they'll tell you it was a mistake, yada yada. Give that whatever credit you deem appropriate........and then listen to the vast majority of people who've had VSG surgeries. I think you'll conclude that most don't even have the stomach ache you mentioned. Just a bit of tenderness around the tiny sutures is all. Most are off all pain meds in a day or so. I was shocked at my low pain level. The only discomfort I had was from an abdominal hernia repair that was done with my sleeve surgery. Pleasantly surprised at the low pain level and fast recovery. To read some of the reports around here you'd think folks had been eviscerated by fire-breathing dragons.........get past those and read the opinions of the majority.......

At first, he didn't want me to. He was so nervous id get sad and depressed which sure, I did but it came and went. He actually has been staying away from sugars/ breads/fast food etc since my surgery day which has been a God send for my recovery and new lifestyle. He's determined to lose some pounds and have this lifestyle together. This was his big 30 so I did want to do something special. He has been very expressive and very grateful. It's nice when people see how hard this is for us especially in the beginning. He didn't get popcorn either! I was going to really struggle if he did. Haha!!! Over all, I woke up today and yeah, I didn't get steak but I'm doin okay! Lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App You did great. Hang in there and KNOW FOR A FACT that it get's much, much easier. Skip over the rubbish gloom and doom posts of regret and sorrow. That's a battle for someone else to fight. Your's is the good fight......righteous in that it will deliver your health and peace of mind. Easier days are ahead and you'll have that steak and many other tasty items. Everything tastes better in the future, too.....because it's guild free as you are sticking with your plan and getting strong results. Good days ahead.....even better, too, that he's showing support at a strong level by cutting out the junk himself. Good dude.

Damn right !!!!!!

Do what you know is right to help ensure your safety for your VSG. Put the junk food aside.

Great job on quitting smoking, @@SleevieMcTummyTuck How much weight have you been able to lose during the 6 month diet leading up to your surgery ?

I dropped a bit of weight during the months leading up to surgery. Felt good during that process. Felt like I was establishing control of finding comfort from food. The 14 day liquid diet and the month I stayed on it post-op really were what unlocked this feel at a much deeper level. Weight was falling off me and I was feeling the relief in my back and was able to drop all the steroids, pain meds and muscle relaxers. My thoughts were clear and my mind was focused. The extended period on liquid only helped me break away from food and I've not viewed it the same since.....and am grateful for it. I find comfort in smaller clothes, walking without intense pain, lifting weights and feeling that nice soreness in the days afterwards, interacting with others, doing public speaking to groups every day on my job and feeling great standing in front of them. I finally.....after all these years.....realized that finding comfort in food was simply a lie. The food was poisoning me and making me dangerously heavy.

Got over it by losing it. Getting past that point. Getting healthy. Expending effort in the gym and learning to enjoy life without relying on the false comfort of food. Food is simply fuel an yes, it can be tasty fuel, but fuel nonetheless. Free yer ass and your mind will follow.....................

I hope he appreciated what you endured for him. I've always enjoyed cooking/grilling. I simply ceased all that for a two months of time bracketing my pre-op 14 day liquid diet and the 6 weeks after surgery. Staying out of the kitchen made things easier for me.

When we play stupid games.......we'll win stupid prizes. I throw that nasty stuff in the garbage. Cottage cheese disgust me for some reason. Hurl factor is high just thinking about it.

Calories are always a concern for me.....even while on low carb diet. Granted....most folks following a typical low carb diet will enjoy the lack of hunger from eating the Proteins and fats and will not overeat as a result. We are dealing with people here, like me, who overate for reasons other than hunger. For us, calories are always a concern.

Most people do not have issues with Protein drinks. Not sure where you are getting this. The only time I sweated while eating was over the years of excess that led up to my need for wls, lol. I'd made eating an Olympic event. It's likely you are seeing a psychosomatic response now.....stressful times around the act of eating....anxiety amped up.....want to do things just right, etc.

Well done !!! I know it sucks, but it'll be a breeze once you are post-op. The pre-op diet is all about you taking action to ensure your safety during the surgery. It's a great way to flex your willpower muscles. You can do it. Enjoy the amplified rate of weight loss you'll be seeing near the end of this 14 days. It's awesome. Just wait.....those other muscles will be emerging in the months ahead as you burn off the unwanted fat. It gets much, much easier. You are just having to do the hardest part now.....at the beginning. Stick with it and have no regrets. You'll feel better on the day of your surgery, I promise. You'll bebop in there ready to rock 'n roll and be highly confident knowing the you've done your part. Keep flexing those willpower muscles and profit from this.

I don't have recipes for my Protein powders. I simply mix them with ice Water (using the recommend amount on the package) in a shaker bottle. Now....down the road in six months or so I may adopt a different strategy. That'll be when I hit maintenance living. Perhaps I'll adopt that use of a blender and add in some fruit or Fairlife milk. Right now, though, I"m squarely in weight loss mode and don't need any additional calories with my Protein shakes.

You are doing great and looking sexy. Finding your stride indeed. I'm appreciative of you using the bigger weights because that leaves the light stuff available for my old arse to lift. Finding solace in the gym is one of the sweet victories of post op living. I'm working this weekend but am looking forward to my lunchtime lift sessions. It's a pleasant way to break up the workday. I"ll be off on Monday and looking forward to my gym time that morning. I think that part of the fun is simply being surrounded by motivated folks. It's really an emotional boost. That...and being able to enjoy my iTunes and push myself.

Awesome job !!!!!!

You have a lot of healing to do. Your stomach has been through some serious trauma. Much inflammation and such. You are likely getting some odd feels that will subside in the weeks ahead. I can remember these days well. I sorta felt that "blah" feeling the first 3-4 weeks, but then between 6-9 weeks things really started to fall into place and I felt exceptionally wonderful. That's been how it's gone ever since.