blizair09

I have always thought that coming to terms with the scope of the journey is one of the toughest parts of this entire thing. Best wishes as you continue down this long, but oh-so-rewarding, road!

You and I sound very much alike, @PixelToph. I lost 99 pounds pre-op following a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat diet. And I am going right back to that once I can bring meat and veggies back into my diet. I have a carb addiction issue, and I just have to stay away from the little bastards. (And all of my labs were in the normal range at the time of surgery just from doing that.) I feel really sorry for so many people on here who go straight from eating anything they want to a very long and difficult pre-op liquid diet to all the restrictions after the surgery. It is a very tall order. I think it is criminal that surgeons don't require people to do at least a month of a low carb diet before the liquids kick in pre-op. My pre-op diet changed my relationship with food -- and that was a necessary ingredient to my overall success in this journey. It sounds like you were the same way! Best wishes as you continue your journey!

I am a week out today, and that would be way too much for me. Today, I walked to my spa, which is about a mile from my house, had about an hour and a half worth of services, and then walked back home and I was WORN OUT. I was so tired, I had to wait to take a shower. This is going to be my walking for about a week and then I'll see about adding more. I am hoping the tiredness will diminish. And I am handling everything pretty well. I have had little to no pain since the third day post-op; I am ahead on my Protein and Fluid goals to the point that they moved me on early, and I have slept on my side since the night in the hospital. But some folks on here go back to work the same week they have the surgery. I am on medical leave for six weeks. And today's sojourn to the spa reminds me why I was wise to take this time. (This is, of course, only my experience...)

@@mrssoupmix Happy birthday! And best wishes as you continue your journey!

@@Smdnght28 Those are real reasons to have a conversation. My post was more of a commentary on the many (and I mean many) threads on here where people's partners are downright awful to them when they are just trying to make a positive step forward with their health and well-being.

I have been serious -- really militant -- about what goes in my body since I started my six-month pre-op diet in March. That being said, I have had a 34 year love affair with diet coke, and I had it up until I started my voluntary liquid diet 3 days before my surgery. (Call it my one huge weakness...) Caffeine withdrawal was the least of my concerns after surgery. It was probably there but just blended in with the overall misery of the situation, so I didn't notice it like I would have in a cold turkey situation before the surgery. As of today, I haven't had any caffeine in 10 days, and I am doing pretty well. I am not missing it at all (and frankly, that is blowing my mind). My advice is have your coffee, etc. now, and deal with it when the time comes. That mentality has served me pretty well.

Good for you! It blows my mind when I read all of these posts about husbands/wives/boyfriends/partners/etc. being anywhere from unsupportive to outright mean and hateful. I cannot imagine not supporting my partner in an endeavor to improve his health. I get that some people have a lot of insecurities, but what does it about that person (or the state of the relationship) when a good thing gets this kind of reaction??

Congratulations! And happy early birthday. Mine is Friday -- and getting more healthy is definitely a great present!!

What are you eating at one week post-op? Just curious. I am exactly one week post-op today, and I my plan is still on Clear liquids. I can add packaged Protein shakes today also if I want. Saturday, I progress to full liquids. But I am a long time away from anything solid. Scrambled eggs are the first solid thing -- and that is like October 27 for me.

The differences in the different post-op plans are so interesting. I can have sugar-free Jello always, but I can't have packaged Protein shakes until Day 7.

sugar-free Jello is considered a clear liquid on my plan. And you are on Clear liquids for the first week. What are you allowed to have right now?

Hi everyone, I just got home from my first post-op, follow-up doctor's appointment. I weighed 288 pounds this morning -- 10 pounds down since surgery five days ago and 109 pounds down overall. I am SO excited. Overall, I am doing pretty well. I stopped taking pain pills two days ago -- even the incision sites aren't really bothering me too much anymore. I am so far ahead on Fluid and Protein goals that they upped me to 40 grams of protein per day and I can start Protein shakes immediately. Everything else will stay on the current pace (which will put me at scrambled eggs on October 27). I go back to the doctor on November 1. Also, (in case anyone is interested), they told me I could resume most spa services (tanning, red-light therapy, massage, etc.) immediately and I could resume hydro-therapy in 2 weeks. I am super psyched about that. That will give me something fun to do in the day while I am on medical leave. (And the spa is about a mileish walk from my house each way and that just builds in extra walking every day!) I hope this finds all of you reading doing well. I felt like hell for the first few days after surgery, but everything is definitely looking up and I am getting better every day! Best to all, Blair

That is a tough situation. I have loved bar hopping and going out since I turned 21 in college. (I'm 40 now.) Alcohol and food have been the centerpiece of my social life for almost 20 years. I started my six-month pre-op diet March 21. Three times over the next month we had company come to or through New Orleans and visited us and each required "going out" in one way or the other. By the third one (mid-April), I was trying to save the calories for the boozing so that I would still come out to about 1500 calories (my daily goal at the time). Not only did I get sloppy really quick because I had nothing in me, but the hangover was beyond hellacious and I had no way to combat it (no carb heavy foods, no grease, no hair-of-the-dog -- no nothing). So, I made the decision to cut alcohol out on that horrible April morning, and I am here almost six months later and still haven't had any. And I lost 100 pounds pre-op. Am I going to give it up forever? No. I hope to be able to integrate the occasional drink back into my life around mid-December. But during this time, I have tweaked my social life where alcohol is not at the center of it all. We've been out dozens of times to concerts, shows, bars, Bourbon Street (unfortunately), you name it. I've enjoyed the people and the company and haven't let my temporary-alcohol-free-status keep me from having a good time. You are an adult and can do what you please. This is only my experience. I HAD to let it go to move me toward my goals. But for an ex-man child, fraternity guy who lives in New Orleans' French Quarter, if I can do it, anyone can.

@@James Marusek I purposely stayed off of the scale until I went to the doctor's office for my follow-up this morning, 5 days after the surgery. They pumped me so full of fluids and air that there is no telling what I weighed, and I didn't want to know. (Also, they drew blood and ran labs the morning after my surgery. My glucose was 88 when my PCP ran labs for my clearance for surgery. The reading from the post-op labs was 150. At my appointment this morning, they told me not to stress about it -- it was the fluids and the stress from surgery.) The moral to the story is to stay off of the scale for at least a week (or until your first follow-up appointment)...

I was mortified before, during, and immediately after the surgery. At 5 days post-op, it's a whole different feeling. Be brave, and know that good things are on the horizon. Best wishes for calmer nerves and a good day tomorrow!

I lost 99 pounds pre-op. My surgery was last Wednesday (September 28). I had my first follow-up this morning, and I have lost 10 pounds in the 5 days since the surgery. If you do low-carb/high Protein pre-op and then follow your surgeon's plan, you'll be golden! My progress-- Highest weight: 397 (March 2016) Surgery weight: 298 (September 28, 2016) Today's weight: 288 (October 3, 2016) Good luck!

Burned microwave popcorn is one of the most heinous odors out there. Definitely termination-worthy!

What a story! Welcome and I wish you great success as you begin your weight loss journey.

@@gemigirl I hear ya on the eggs! I had my post-op follow-up appointment with the dietician and NP this morning and we were charting my course for the next several weeks. I can try scrambled eggs on October 27. I'm looking forward to that!!

@@*susan* It is sort of like a Water coffin. You lay in there on your back. The temp gets up to about 118-degrees and the moisture (water, steam, etc.) makes your skin softer. They have several "add-in" options, but I like Co Q-10 and lavender. Supposedly the Co Q-10 aids with weight loss, but who knows if that is accurate. (I've been dropping weight the whole time I have been doing it, but that it is thanks to all the hard work I am doing -- but maybe the hydro therapy helps it along!) It is SUPER relaxing and I'll be happy to get back to it!

@@melunruh I feel the same way. I had my first follow-up appointment today, and since I have been exceeding my Fluid and Protein goals, they moved me on to 30-40 grams of protein and I can start Protein shakes immediately. Full liquids (including yogurt) comes along on Saturday.

Great picture! Congratulations!

@@hudjess Good for you. I did this for my partner and for me, so that we can have a long, happy life together. Best wishes as you continue your journey. It is SO worth every sacrifice you will make!!