blizair09

I talked to the psychologist for about an hour and then I had to take this really long inventory assessment that took me about an hour or so. It wasn't bad. I was in the throws of my six-month pre-op diet, and I had my head in the game. She just helped me to cement it there. I actually enjoyed it...

Good luck!!

With mine, they approved it based on an initial formula for whatever was keeping you out of work. Then, they extend it. In my case, they approved it for 4 weeks initially, and then they extended it for another week after we talked on the phone. I have a follow-up appointment with the doctor on November 1. They told me to have the doctor's office send the records of that visit and they would see about extending it until November 14 (the return to work date given by the doctor). From what I understand from my colleagues who have been in similar situations, they will approve it; I just had to go through this documentation. I'm not sure how yours works, but if your doctors orders are reasonable, I can't imagine they'll say no in the end (even if they make you jump through some hoops). Good luck!

I did the same thing with what I would consume on a typical "travel day" on one of my work trips. Between drinks (usually a screwdriver or red wine depending on the time of day) at the Delta Sky Club at the New Orleans airport, the connecting airport, and the arrival airport; drinks in two first class flights; fast food breakfast and lunch en route; Snacks on both flights and a small meal on at least one of the flights; and a fancy dinner on the work AmEx (steak, potato, salad, wine, dessert) or room service fatty goodness, it was easily 4000-5000 calories. It was insane and I wasn't thinking at all about what I was doing to myself. And I did this for YEARS!

Best wishes for a great day tomorrow!

You might want to keep them so you can do one of those "look how much weight I lost" pictures when you get to your goal.

Congratulations and best wishes as you continue your journey!

On my plan, you can bring salads back in at Week 7 post-op. Salads were a staple of my pre-op six-month diet, but I am on the fence about them when I get to the 7 week mark for the reasons @@BigViffer noted. In fact, now that I have more protein-enhanced choices (cottage cheese, string cheese, scrambled eggs, and, next week, fish), I am trying to focus more on having those several times in the day so I can be much less reliant on Protein powder.

Congratulations on the awesome start. I know you are going to continue to do great!!

These next few days will suck, but it will get better soon. Hang in there!

The work table. Does anyone else have a random table at work food collects on? Someone brought in donuts or bagels or its someones bday so there's cake, or leftovers from a team lunch. It's always full of something! I just love sitting next to it. Haha. The absolute WORST. And why do they have to have donuts at EVERY meeting?? While there are still plenty of carb-filled choices, my company finally moved toward more protein-based choices at company events -- especially Breakfast. This came about because so many people were skipping the provided breakfast and expensing breakfast at the hotel (at a hefty cost -- even taking elite benefits into account). Once all that extra cost was analyzed, they started making some changes.

I you have 6 weeks you can take -- take them. I am taking a total of 6 weeks (sleeved on September 28 and going back to work on November 14). There is no way I could have gone back after 2 weeks, and even though I am feeling better for the most part, as soon as I go back to work, the focus will be on work and not on getting my Protein and fluids in. My long-term success hinged on taking time to get myself started down this post-op path before stress and work drama get added into my mix. (That being said, I have been with my company for 10 years, and I have tremendous benefits -- short-term disability that pays at 100% for up to 13 weeks being one of them.) As far as telling your colleagues, that is your decision to make. I have been very open with everyone in my life from before the first doctor's appointment. I also lost 99 pounds during my six-month pre-op insurance-required diet program, so everyone in my life is well-aware of my journey and what is going on with me. Good luck!

Best wishes for the best day possible!!

My surgery was four weeks ago tomorrow, and your post made me pause and think about how I was feeling four weeks ago tonight. Tomorrow, you will be anxious. There is nothing that will stop that until the drugs kick in. But, you will be fine. Once you wake up, it will suck. The next couple of days will suck, too. But then, you'll start to rebound. I started feeling much better, and as I got back out in the world more and more, I continued to feel better. Then, you set yourself to focusing on Protein, Fluid, and walking full-time for a while, and watch the magic happen. I wish you the best day possible tomorrow. I can't tell you not to be nervous, but everything will be just fine!

What did your surgeon say?

Just keep eating what you are allowed to eat as they eat their BK. Trust me, you'll be better for doing it. And soon enough, your weight loss will speak for itself with regard to your efforts. It is just food. I know that is so hard for all of us to remember sometimes. But it IS just food.

I guess it's a good thing I don't have much hair to begin with. After I finish losing all my weight, I told my partner (only half jokingly) that I was either going to have one of those hair transplants, or go full-on Mr. Clean with a beard (minus the earring)! :-)

Awesome. Good luck!

Ughh i was sleeved oct 10th and still on full liquids and feel starving. Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App I was on liquids for 21 days. It was never a hunger issue for me; I haven't really be hungry since the surgery, but I was sick to death of those liquids by the end. Now that I am steadily adding in solids, I am retiring those liquids one by one, and I am hoping to be done with Protein powder on a daily basis in about 3 weeks.

That's awesome! Congratulations!!

Unflavored Protein powder and broth was a lifesaver for me early on. After Day 14, I was able to add cream of chicken Soup (strained), and I mixed the unflavored Protein Powder with it. Once I was able to add in more dense foods, I phased it out, but it was great early on... As far as the Fluid goes, you just have to stay on it all day. Even now, I drink Water from the minute I get up until I go to bed at night. Good luck!

What was your starting weight and how much weight have you lost so far? How are you doing with your Protein and Fluid intake every day? What are you doing for exercise? It's hard to say without knowing more about your situation. Also, what is your expectation for weight loss and is it reasonable? I have found that many people on here have VERY unrealistic expectations regarding the weight they think they should be losing...

That's way too carby for me right now. Maybe once I get to maintenance.

Learning how to exist around food that you can't (or shouldn't) have is a mental exercise that takes work and determination. You are always going to be around food (or even other things) and you will always have to make the decision about whether you should have it or not and then do what you have to do. I think this entire journey is much more mental than it is physical. I don't think there really is any perfect answer. I have just chosen to embrace what I know I need to do to be successful and not cut myself off from life as I do it. And that means that I drink Water when my friends are drinking alcohol, and I eat whatever I am allowed to eat or I don't eat anything at all in situations where everyone is eating whatever they want to eat. It isn't easy, but it is worth it to move toward my goal. Good luck!

I haven't been sick (in terms of vomiting) at all and I am 27 days post-op. But I have followed my plan to the letter, and I only eat very small amounts at one time. My Protein and Fluid in-take is an all-day, full-time job right now.