Willow818

I just wanted to share that I'm 6 days away from having my surgery. I spent my Sunday afternoon "spring cleaning" my pantry and kitchen. I did my fridge last weekend. I threw out all of the food that I wouldn't be able to eat after surgery and all of the expired food too! (THAT needed to be done). I went through my small freezer and got rid of all the chicken fingers, pizza pops (left over from step-kids visits), and *gasp* my favourite, the perogies! Found a lot of stuff that was freezer burnt. Good thing it's gone. No temptations after surgery. I just wanted to say that if anyone was delaying this, don't. You'll feel better. I felt empowered. Like I was in control of everything that I would feed myself after surgery. It was three hours of my life and it's something I won't have to do after surgery while all the hormones are going on, and trying to fill the emotional uncertainty with food. Setting myself up for success! 6lbs down on my pre-op. Clear liquids start in three days!

Thanks @@The New Kel ! I will have to do the same to the cupboards and the fridge for my husband. But he's supportive of my process and I think he's looking forward to eating some more healthy options with me. He has major will power and can lose weight easily. I plan to do my closets and clothes in the next few months. For some reason, throwing away expired food is easier than getting rid of clothes that I spent hundreds of dollars on over the years. I have been yo-yo-ing for so long I have clothes in style in various sizes. So, I plan to get another wear out of some of them, and in a few months do the big purge on the closet and various other areas where I have tons of clothes!! Looking forward to that day!

Hi @_Kate_ I may have mis-typed that. My surgery is in 6 days. I'm still pre-op, not post-op. Thus the reason that I did NOT want to wait until after surgery! Going to MX, staying there a week. When we come home, I plan to make the couch my friend while I'm healing. Then the work begins with exercising! This year, the "resolution" will stick.

Hi I'm in the middle of pre-op right now. 2 Protein shakes a day and a meal with lean meat and veggies. Next week I start clear liquids before surgery on Saturday. Have you heard of Ideal Protein? They have pre-made shakes along with powdered shakes and ones that would count as clear liquids. I also use Promasil by Rivalus protein powder. The milk chocolate and the soft serve vanilla are good. My friend also recommends the Cookies and cream one. Just other options to try. I bought Promasil at the local GNC. Good luck and you (and we) can do this!

I had my gallbladder out 8 years ago. My surgeon recommended high Fiber, low fat diet at that time. Though, I was back to eating what I wanted within a few months. I think if you stick to healthy fats you'll be ok. The liver takes over the gallbladder functions so you just want to be good to it. Good luck!

@@Rainbow2015 How are you feeling? Your last post was that you were to have surgery on Dec 5th.

hahaha Thank you sir - I feel like I'm going nuts sometimes... thinking what did I get myself into? Then think - Okay, you can do this... it's for your health and the rest of your life. I appreciate the laughs!

Okay - so I'm 17 days out before surgery. Pre-op diet officially starts next week. Pre-Pre-op diet is now. Getting my mind in gear for protein's and liquids. Joy. Looking forward to all the changes. What I want to 'complain' about now is...my body KNOWS that I'm about to do something drastic to it, I'm sure of it. Stretch marks. I'm talking stretch marks. They started appearing on my belly months ago. Yep, that sign that you know that your pants are actually that tight because your body is now telling you that you're eating too much for your skin. ugh. I know, 'first world problems'. But here's my issue... yesterday.. and I mean yesterday... the normal stretch marks on the belly. Been putting Vitamin e cream on them to keep them in check, drinking more Water, and obviously not eating crap. But tonight... just tonight.... NEW STRETCH MARKS... angry little red slashes continuing to confirm my suspicions that my body knows.... it just does. I'm not a diva, not planning on becoming a bikini model later in my life, and I've been dealing with stretch marks since my teens (big hips)... I just find it sooo irritating and also ironic that I go on pre-op diet and have been preparing my body for all of these changes, and instead of rewarding me with some weight loss, even a pound or two, it slashes out at me with stretch marks from the inside, showing on the outside... like "Oh no you didn't woman... you're gonna cut out a part of me...I will mark you... you will rue the day..." I feel like the mysterious entity that is inside my body that has a camera to the outside world is waging a war.... like "the hunger games"... pitting my internal organs against my skin. Whoever ends up alive at the end is the winner. This is just a little rant of mine - I will totally win this hunger game - my body doesn't know that my mind is stronger. Like the mocking jay - I am the change that will win the war... rebel skin be damned.

I'm the same way! My surgery is Dec 17th. I go from excited about post op and my future and afraid of what surgery is going to be like. I've had laparoscopic surgery about 8 years ago when I had my gallbladder removed so logically I'm not afraid - emotionally I think every other day "What the heck am I thinking". All I can remember post op from that is that it was painful to twist around to wipe because they punch through your ab muscles haha.

I just finished reading "The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve" written by the people who run this site. Tons of good information (The chapter on risks tried to scare the pants off me, too bad the pants caught on a roll and I pulled 'em back up after the next chapter on the benefits). I too have the days of thinking WTH am I doing! I go from days or weeks of being so excited for post-op to anxious about pre-op. My husband is super supportive and only wants the best health benefits out of this for me, though he will mourn the loss of 'the girls'. We see a lift surgery in the future. haha @@boysenbear are you taking any food / protein stuff with you to Mexico? I'll be there for a week, staying at an all inclusive - hubby will be doing the eating and drinking for us both. I was thinking of taking some Jello, Protein powder that can mix with Water, maybe some powdered Soup broth in case I can't get what I need from the hotel...

Hi All, Pretty new on here from Northern Canada! I'm scheduled for Dec 17th - like boysenbear I'll be in Mexico. Anyone else nervous and excited? I feel like I've read almost everything I can, pre-op diet starts in a couple weeks. Trying to develop good habits now... more Protein, more Water, smaller portions. I feel like I'm over-preparing... anyone else?

HI, I'm about 40 days out from my surgery (booked for Dec 17th) Mexico, self pay. I'm from Alberta, Canada. I'm one of those "Type A", "always be prepared", "most organized in class", kind of person. I do my research and apply what I've learned to make decisions. So, I have my pre-op diet (I've had it for months), and have been studying it ruthlessly over the last few weeks, trying to get the right Protein powders, buying my favourite flavours of Jello, preparing my husband on how he can help me cook food, etc, and reading multiple posts here on bariatricpal.com. Getting more and more nervous/anxious/excited as the days keep trucking along. Having mini "food funerals" along the way...while trying to develop better habits before going into surgery - drinking more Water, get more walking in being a couple of them. My pre-op diet is specific about when to start the diet/how long to be on the diet, and then when to start liquid diet based on your BMI. Trouble is, while I have gained weight since, I used to see a personal trainer who was trained to measure body fat percentage the old fashioned way, with the callipers and the millimeters.... at the time, her measurements were about 10 points or more below what my fancy Fitbit scale or the online calculators told me. My question is.... for pre-op diet reasons... do you believe the scale's reading or maybe drop some points off it? Do you use the well published chart that's based on height, weight and age? do you trust the online calculators? Any pre-op advice?

Hi New on the forum. Looking for some information from experienced sleevers. Still deciding weather to actually have surgery. I'm about 85% yes. I'm about 240, 5'7, BMI: 37.6, 34 years old. Recent blood tests reveal that I'm in the 'normal' range for every thing on the list but can't seem to loose weight. I've been struggling with weight loss for as long as I can remember. Frustrated! Post-Op Vitamins: I read here and other sources that you need to take post-op Vitamins depending on what your surgeon says (anything from B12, Iron, etc). No where have I seen for how long patients need to take the vitamins for? Do you gradually reduce Vitamin intake after a few months? Do you get your nutrients from food once you're eating more solids? Are you taking vitamin supplements "for life"? Insulin Resistance: I'm about 98% sure that I have insulin resistance (still to be confirmed by a doctor) - does this surgery help with reversing that? Anyone have experience with it? If anyone has any advice, information, encouragement, I'd appreciate it.

@naturegirl: is this like a Multivitamin a day or more intense? I'm asking because I'm not great at remembering to take pills everyday. I get that it will be a habit formed. Do you find it easy? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't know if I have PCOS. Waiting to see a doctor that takes me seriously. I will ask for tests on that though. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App