BoredFatGirl

It is a bit different here in Denmark since we don't have insurance requirements, but the program itself still has prerequisites. I can share what I have needed to do this far. Keep in mind that I am still pre-op, though! First thing I needed to do was get my starting weight logged. After that, I needed to get an EKG, blood work, and give a stool sample. I am expected to lose 8-12% of my starting weight or more and maintain that up to the date of surgery. I still have to meet with my dietitian and have a 1 on 1 patient seminar (due to me not being a native and not being fluent in the language). I was told to just call in once I met the weight requirements and they would schedule a surgery. I did call and get weighed at the clinic, but have not got a date yet. I assume this is because I still need to meet with my dietitian and have my 1 on 1 meeting, though. However, they may want my dietitian to monitor my weight for a while prior. I can certainly keep you updated! My meeting with the dietitian is on the 18th. Wish me luck!

I think the main thing that helps me is remembering that what I've been eating and how I have been eating all this time obviously hasn't been in my best interest. I feel like this is the fresh start that I need to 'fix' myself (my body and eating habits) before it messes up anymore aspects of my life.

That's great! How are you feeling?

I am both nervous and excited. I have always been, at the very least, chubby. Like you, I have always settled for being 'less fat', rather than going for thin, or even in-shape. My weight has gone up and down (with a focus on going up) ever since I can remember and I never thought this surgery or being thin was something that would ever happen to 'me'. I have gotten used to being 'the fat friend', to having to wear certain things because of how I feel about my body, and having to even filter how I speak in public because of my insecurity. Learning how to mindfully eat and use food for fuel, rather than to fill a temporary emotional void, will, no doubt, be hard, but the mental struggle of getting that fat girl mentality out of my head once I actually achieve my goal is a whole other story, I imagine.. I've been on the keto diet myself (pre-op) and it has helped a lot with helping me focus on protein while being mindful of my fat and carb intake. Still, its not always easy. I am someone who loves to cook and am constantly looking up recipes, or seeing them pop up in my timeline on Facebook, and I can't tell you how many times I have thought about what I could make from the unhealthy choices real quick. I haven't though. And I honestly think its because of these forums. Use the tool your doctors have given you to lose the weight, and use these forums for the support you need to keep you going. Track everything! You got this! ♥

I would really avoid eating more than what your doctor has recommended. I don't think your pouch is going to burst, but you will end up stretching out your pouch way sooner than intended. After all, we have a reason as to why we are getting or have had this surgery, so lets use the tools given to us for as long as possible!

It's such an exciting journey.. Doesn't it feel that much more 'real' once the meetings begin?? Personally, I am so excited for the journey to my new future self. I know it's going to be a BIG change, but I know it's going to be 100% worth it.

I had been a 1kg away from my goal for a few days - jumping up and down a few hundred grams at a time. I was really getting discouraged and almost indulge my feelings with more food and after psyching myself up, I chose not to do that to myself. I woke up this morning and hopped on the scale - low and behold - I finally hit my goal weight!! I can't wait to see my dietitian later this month. It's my first meeting with them and I've already got my weight down! Just wanted to share my pre-op success!! 💃

I use Bodylab Whey 100 (in various flavors). It has 75g of protein per 100g of powder. However, I only use roughly 30g of powder when I make a shake, so that's like 23g of protein per shake. You can mix it with water or milk. I use it with almond milk, personally. It's pretty tasty and perfect for breakfast!

Awww! I know I will miss it too. I've always been one to drink a whole lot of liquids. I recently switched to only ice cold water and omgg.. *drools* I can't get enough!

Originally, I was going to go for the sleeve surgery. My friend has already had it done and I've heard very little complaints from her. I also thought it would be nice to have something to 'share' with her. I joke that bypass is 'Frankenstein-ing your insides', but I am also a bit serious about it, too. The sleeve seems like it was just an easier procedure and I was told that you lose your hunger hormones, which seems helpful, too. However, after talking to my doctor, I was recommended to do bypass due to my acid reflux & heart burn becoming worse after the sleeve. I was also told that there is a higher percent of weight loss to be expected when going with bypass over sleeve. He warned me of possible dumping with the bypass (but since being on these forums and talking to others, it seems to happen from having either surgery). He also said that it really only happens when eating food you shouldn't be eating in the first place, and I felt that. He said I could choose either, but I'm set on bypass.

I found this website: https://frida.fooddata.dk/data?lang=en Alone, it lets you sort by a specific macro, but it also lets you download the datasheet. I asked my husband if it would be possible for him to set up a page for me to use that would let me do exactly what I've been asking for here. He's working on it today, so I will let ya'll know how it goes later! It is a Danish website, but they do translate it to English. I assume the datasheet will come in English as well. We can toss it up on our server if it works and if anyone is interested in trying it, I'd be happy to share. Think it's something everyone could use!

Yeah, I typically do the same thing along the lines of planning my food out the night before. Helps me feel 'safe' about my food intake and I don't have to worry about it the day-of since I know exactly what I will be eating. I just had a rough day yesterday and ended up messing myself up. It would have been convenient to have access to a database like that with search functions.

MFP has been great for me too! I track everything I eat there and helps keep me in check, but I am just hoping to find a tool where I can find foods that I may not have thought of, that would fit my macros instead of sticking to the same variety of foods I’ve made to fit my macros for now. :)

I don’t need a calculator. I was looking for a search engine for food based on the amount of x, y, z macros in it. I know that I can look up the nutrition for individual items, and I do that all the time. If one of those places show that, I would definitely be interested. I am looking for something that will give me useable food (ideas), instead of me looking up individual items and hoping they ‘fit’ my daily goals without going over limits. Hope this was more clear than my original post.

Could you give me an example of a search like what I am looking for via google? I am a bit of a noob! 😅

Just stumbled across a video on YouTube that I thought would be useful to share with you guys! I love the steps that he has made out and the way he explains it. Although he is talking about a serious topic, I think he's hilarious about it as well. Hope that you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

You should follow your doctor's instructions and trust the process. Like @TattooedSeaStar said, there are doctors who won't even perform the surgery if you haven't done the diet before-hand and they can definitely tell if you haven't. Besides that, you are only hurting yourself by going against what they are doing to help you lose weight. With all that being said, we are humans. If you mess up, you mess up, but you shouldn't let that ONE mess up turn into a day, week, month, etc of mess ups. Brush yourself off and get back to what you are supposed to be doing. You are the only one who is in control of your success. Cheating on the plan is only cheating yourself. Stick to it and I promise you will see good results!

I definitely understand this. I've been telling pretty much everyone in my inner circle that I am going through with surgery, even updating my Facebook with my current weight loss progress, and it seems like I've got a good amount of outside support! My main concern is I drink like a fish (not alcohol, but water, for instance) and it seems like I won't be able to chug water like I am able to now. I think I can handle the food, though. I've been replacing 1-2 of my meals a day with a protein shake as of recently and its not terrible! I am happy to hear that you feel that way. I honestly think its the best choice for people who struggle with their health and losing any weight at all is a step in the right direction to a longer, healthier life.

Fair enough! I just thought his points in this particular video were nice. I honestly didn't do much researching about him after this one. I am personally a fan of the a*****e-ness that he seems to have going on, but I definitely understand that it's not for everyone! 😅

I agree! That is absolutely amazing. What was your weight the day of surgery? Curious as to how much you lost before hand! I would be incredibly happy to lose that much!

I am gonna keep on working on losing more weight, but I am just so pleased with myself right now! Thank you guys. I am really loving these forums. Feels like I have a safe place to call home!

That's fair! I am hoping that I will be scheduled sometime soon after I see my dietitian, but we will see what they have to say when I get there! I bought a winter jacket online last year that was pretty expensive and it ended up being at least 3 sizes too big on me, but I am stuck with it and have been.. I will be happy that by the time I need something like that again, I could grab myself something more realistic to wear outside!

Yeah, I think investing in some stretchy leggings and tank tops is going to be my best option for keeping it cheap while losing all this weight!

I am in the pre-op phase as well. I want to lose weight to be healthy, where I can do things that I couldn't before and be able to have children that I can keep up with, etc. However, I think we are all a bit vain to some extent and really want our bodies to look good, too! I can't wait to be able to wear cute clothes, walk by a full-sized mirror and check myself out instead of hurrying by so I don't have to see it anymore. So, no, I don't think you're a horrible person and you're definitely not alone in those feelings!

I have not got surgery yet, but there is a website that my doctors have given me to show me how I will be expected to eat during difference phases of my surgery. From week 5 and forward, I am to eat 6 times a day (1dl per meal) and to drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. Protein is suggested to be around 75g-100g a day, which seems like a lot (more than I eat currently on my pre-op diet). It doesn't mention eating carbs in particular, but it does say that I should have roughly 40-60g of whole grains per day.