Primha

@@Dub Love the pictures lol Mine is my pre-weight gain clothes. Right now I have a closet full of stuff that doesn't look like anything I could possibly ever wear but I'm less then a month post-op, so it's going to be a while. Congrats on your progress!

I'm not telling anyone, except my husband. My previous weight loss experience taught me a lot about busybodies, gossip and drama associated with someone's major appearance change / improvement. Plus, I am at somewhat lower BMI range (which is still severe obesity BTW!) and I don't want to hear everyone's "expert" opinion on what I need and don't need to do - it annoys the daylight out of me. Where all of those "experts" and "concerned friends" have been when I was sinking deep into depression and gaining pounds just before their eyes???

^that^ I am a medical professional and in my field we often have to reassure people that we are really not disturbed by their condition. Do you want to know the insider secret? Not only we are not disturbed, we don't even give it a second thought. It's just a routine, a part of job. No biggie. And big THANKS to all the nurses out there!

@@KristenLea91 congrats!!! Hope you'll have an easy recovery, and keep us updated!

Very simple, actually - I just do it. My surgery will be scheduled in few days, and I chose not to tell anyone because I don't want to deal with all unsolicited nonsense that I know would come. I get enough of it already, right and left just because I went on low carb diet at request of my NUT. My husband knows because he'll have to transport me, but he is neutral at best. No family or friends support because there will be no support. And it doesn't matter to me, because I was given a chance to leave behind a life of obesity, illness and despair. To get my freedom back, to get my life back. It's like a miracle for me, to be given a chance, and I am NOT going to blow this chance, support or no support. I want it THAT bad. For me, it's like crawling in the desert for years, and almost loosing hope, and finally seeing on horizon this oasis with Water and life, and hope to survive... and suddenly somebody appeas and tells you "naw, I don't think you need it, crawl back to where you came from". What would you tell them? My answer would not pass censorship on this forum

I am currently pre-op, and I have a question for those of you who are past honeymoon phase: once the healing is complete, and hunger comes back, how bad is it? Are you able to manage it with the smaller portions? I am not talking about cravings, but rather about felling of not having enough of the regular food that you are actually allowed to eat. Allow me to explain: I've been very successful in the past with loosing weight on the low-calorie diet. Keeping it off- not so much you know the story. Largely because I can go only so long while feeling starved /dizzy / weak. My body always wins, and eating comes back with vengeance. After starving/gaining/starving cycle for more than 20 years I got to the point where I am simply afraid of having to go hungry for weeks and months again (( So tell me pls, what it's like for you? I so do not want to get it done and to find myself counting minutes until the next meal comes ( Thank u!

LOL @@katladee it's going to be a sight to behold, for sure! And I'm wishing you a peaceful holiday season and happy countdown to the beginning of a whole new life!

@@katladee - ROFL, my rolls are just hanging melancholically waiting for The Call

@@sarinemaniss Thank you It drives me crazy not to be able to plan in advance

I haven't heard from my surgeon's office today boo-hoo-hooooooo Waiting is the worst.

@@katladee Congrats! I can imagine how thrilled you must be now. BTW, who are Pointer Sisters? ( JUST KIDDING!)

ROFL. To OP- I'd keep it short and sweet, and wouldn't bother with too many details: "it's from my recent surgery, babe...do you want to make my booboo better? ". I don't see why a normal guy would be more interested in gathering your med anamnesis instead of making your booboo better

Thank you all for your input. I am a very good example of how restrictive dieting does more harm than good long term - I clearly remember how in my childhood physical hunger was just a cue that my body needs some fuel, nothing more. It definitely wasn't a scare like it became later: something bad, that should be avoided and suppressed at any cost, yet always at the arm's length, ready to unleash. It's all very screwed up, I know. Head hunger is also a very real matter to me , but I am actually planning on starting therapy to address that (and my sleep problems). It's time to meet my demons.

@@tmcx28 What brand brand is that unflavored Protein? I have exactly the same problem- I cannot stand dairy, haven't had it since infancy and milky/creamy protein mixes make me gag!

It must be awesome not to have to battle hunger every day. I've been dieting since I was 12, and spent much of my life within normal weight limits, but hungry because of the calorie restriction

Soooooo jealous of all of you with their dates set!

I am probably going to have surgery some time mid- to end of January. I just had gastroendoscopy, psych eval, and bloodwork done, and waiting for the office to contact me for results. There is another mandatory appt with NUT before the surgery, and it's going to be mid January. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks for everyone's input I am gathering all info I can - good, bad, and ugly , so I can better prepare myself. In my experience there is no major life change (no matter how positive) that comes without some stress/struggle (unless you are a My Little Pony moving into her new castle. I am not). I still have several weeks before my surgery, so I am using this time to plan, to prepare and to learn. I am OCD like that, I guess. I started some of a post-op practices so I just would not have to deal with the adjustments that were totally new to me on top of everything else. And I read, read, and read. There is something comforting in knowing I am not the only one out there

Thank you ladies! I like very much what I hear so far!! It was my biggest fear- to go through all of it just to find myself starving again. I can handle few hungry weeks post op, as long as it's not going to be something permanent, and thanks for the warning! I also started practicing post-op type eating (protein+veggies) and post-op behaviors (no drinking while eating, etc) so I just can see what it's like and t prepare accordingly. Head hunger, cravings and grazing are all very real for me but that's a separate issue I am learning to deal with. In my case, just getting sleeved is NOT going to be enough- I have to make some major lifestyle changes, or I'll be back to square one. I read forum a lot and you guys are really invaluable source of info!!!