LookingForward22

Welcome!

Hi! I’m scheduled to be sleeved on the 16th too! I’m on day 4 of my 8 day liquid diet. How are things going for you so far?

Welcome Amanda! I’m pre-op… currently on day 4 of 8 of my liquid diet. My VSG surgery is scheduled for Tuesday! Best of luck on your journey! Lots of knowledgeable people on here to help answer questions!

You got this!! I’m starting day 4 (of 8) today and honestly, so far so good. I haven’t really felt hungry… the protein drinks from my plan have kept me satisfied. I’ve made my water goals every day. Head hunger is real - but manageable. If I had one “complaint” it’s the constant waking at night to go to the bathroom, but if I get my liquids in early enough - it’s manageable. Best of luck!

I started with Premier Protein but then switched to Fairlife. I like both, but I prefer the Fairlife. I have also used Isopure unflavored protein powder (tried the choc & vanilla, like them too - but the unflavored is more flexible) to make protein smoothies, add protein to soups, broth, yogurt or food that needed a protein bump.

Congrats on your date and starting your pre-op diet! Look forward to your updates and cheering on the progress!!!

I have been given an Rx for blood thinners as well. I picked up my pre-surgical shot to start Monday, and they will give me blood thinner in the hospital and I will get an extra to go home (the number of days and dosage I will get when they give me the script… every person is different). The needle is thin and the shot is subcutaneous in the belly (different spot every injection). I was warned it will likely bruise and the meds sting according to some people - other than that it is supposivly no biggie. I’m not a fan of giving myself shots, but I do take ozempic shots weekly. They are small thin needles as well. Here is a link my program gave me that might help. Your Rx may be slightly different if it’s a different brand - but watching this took some of the anxiety out of it for me. https://www.lovenox.com/patient-self-injection-video Hope this helps! I agree with the advice above… check in with your provider - and your pharmacist when you pick your shots up on instructions. That video is JUST so you can see the needle and get a general idea - your instructions may be different. 

I’m still pre-op but I agree with your mom. 50 lbs in a month is a lot of progress. Check in with your Nutritionist if you can and see if they have any advice to help you through this. They might see something for you to adjust or that you are missing. I’ve read many times about stalls, hormone fluctuations during monthly cycles … water retention from salt (broth or canned soups) all impacting fluctuations. Stick with your program, keep track of intake and check in with your team (that’s the advice my program drilled into me). Good luck. I hope you are through this stall soon and pick back up with your progress!

Keep progressing and doing the best you can - that’s all any of us can do!! I love mini goals… something to strive for!!

Yes - I give myself a shot the day before surgery, i believe they give me blood thinner in the hospital and then for a set number of days after (I forget off the top of my head how many days). Here is a link to the video my program gave me. If you aren’t taking lovenox, yours may be different but this will give you the general idea. https://www.lovenox.com/patient-self-injection-video The needle is very thin and small. It’s given subcutaneous (in the fat). I was warned may bruise at the injection spot, and you will not give two shots in the same spot. I take ozempic shots once a week and they occasionally pinch for a SECOND. I’m expecting the lovenox to sting a little or burn a little more than the ozempic - just by the nature of the medicine.

@SurfingMama my ultimate motivator was my liver function numbers were not good and my liver was enlarged about 3 times the size it was suppose to be. My endocronolgist said my best option was significant weight loss to hopefully reverse the damage. He explained that there was a chance it wouldn't help, but there was really no other treatments for NAFLD & NASH, than weight loss. If I did nothing and my function continued to deteriate, I would eventually need a liver transplant. So I worked my butt off to loose as much weight on my own as I could to see if there was any improvement. 40 pounds later, my numbers started to improve and there was a palpable diffrence in my liver size. My family and I talked about it and with all the risks, the rewards way outweighed them so I made plans to move ahead (my surgery is next week). I am thrilled at the prospect of the weightloss and the benefits that alone brings, but if it hadn't been for my liver I am not sure if I would be on this path right now, but I am grateful for the opportunity to become all round healthier and feel confident in my decision to have the surgery. Congrats on your progress and I am so glad you were able to remove all the cancer!

@heartofmercury glad to read you are home now and that all went well. Look forward to updates as you are feeling better!

@Rachael101 you are doing a great job! When I see stats like yours it give me hope that i am headed in the right direction! My surgery is next week, I know that everyone's path is diffrent but seeing people succeed is very motivating and gives those of us following a similar path a glimps of what could be. My highest was 382 about a year ago - but I have been over weight all of my adult life (I am 48). Occasionally I feel others judgement (oddly enough more when I meet a new doctor - more so than new people). But mostly I am self conciouse when I bump into things, squeeze into places or choose not to participate because I am worried I wont fit. So really, I am a bigger problem than others... except those darn doctors who want to blame everything that happens on my weight (well, loose some weight, if that doesn't resolve then we will see what we can do.... <sigh> as if I haven't thought of that). Thankfully I have a great regualr team who have been working with me on health issues who can see past the weight and as a result, I've managed to loose 62 pounds in the last year (10 of that on the pre-op diet, 5 more days to go). I am looking forward to not worrying about bumping into things as I walk past or fitting into places (or exceeding weight limits)... I have already seen a little progress in some of those areas with the weight I have lost so far. I am also looking forward to not being as tired, being more social and getting some relief with some of my other medical issues. Keep up the great work!

It does sound like we are on similar paths! My highest was 382, I just hit 320 today. I'd love to have your height - lol... I am 5'3 (lost an inch somewhere used to be 5'4" lol). I don't have a formal goal weight - but I am taking one goal at a time. In high school (many many MANY years ago...) my body liked to float around 145-160 while I was playing sports and lifting weights. 2 kids and 30 yrs later, I am not sure how realistic my "ideal body weight" is as a goal (being I am not sure i ever saw that as a teen/adult...) but I will be happy with healthy and landing anywhere in onederland! Im eager to be more active and maybe even enjoy exercising again! I look forward to seeing your progress and cheering on those mini goals as we go forward!

Congratulations on your loss and getting a head start on those changes! That will certain help when you get back to a regular diet! I’m on day 3 of my 8 day liquid diet … (3 Protein Shakes a day, 24 oz 100% fruit juice [no sugar added] & a minimum of 64 oz of Water. I can also have unlimited sugar free Jello, popsicles, broth/bouillon or zero electrolyte drinks that count towards my water goal). So far I have had broth every day, it helps cut the sweet of the juice and Protein shakes, but I haven’t felt hungry or the need for more… yet. (The high protein diet is only 7 days, day 8 is all clear liquids - 60 oz of juice, 64 oz or more of water, plus I can have unlimited amounts of broth/boullion, sugar free popcicles, “zero” electrolight drinks, low calories water flavor aids… nothing red though).  As of this morning I have lost 10 pounds on my liquid diet (I have a lot to loose) - which brings me to 62 pounds lost so far since June 2021 (my highest weight).

Day 3 of pre-op diet (5 more to go). I’m down 10 pounds since staring the pre-op diet (62 total since I started trying to loose weight last year). Today was the first time I really “saw” weight loss in myself. My clothing have been looser, but I hadn’t noticed obvious body changes until this morning. It hit me - there’s going to be a lot of skin.. lol. Already getting some “wings”, but honestly I don’t mind it’s a badge of accomplishment at this point. I’ve earned those wings. 🤣 Today is the first day I have felt actual hunger, but I’ve been more active today than the last two days and it wasn’t bad, the protein shake helped. I also was around food and ok… but I have to stay off FB and avoid ads…. Those pictures kill me!! My plan is to get all my requirements in (shakes, juice, water) and if I feel like I need something more I’ll add in broth, jello… or one of the other allowed “free foods” to tide me over. I’m hoping I can drop at least another 11 or 12 lbs before Tuesday. That would put me in a really good position to get under the 300 lb mark before the end of the month and I have seen the scale point to anything in the 200’s in a looong time. I’m almost as excited to hit that number as I am to get to onederland! Lol. Now that will be a celebration!!

I’m sorry for your loss and your frustration. I love the way you were able to find motivation to look ahead and find the positive.

Cheese will be a nice treat. I may have to start that soft food shopping list myself! Lol. Great idea.

Congratulations! What a feeling to reach milestones and goals! 🎉

Congratulations! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to help celebrate as you reach those milestones. I know exactly what you mean about being under 300…. It’s been a long time for me as well. I can’t wait to get there either! Mini goals are awesome motivators.

What I wouldn’t give for an egg right about now. Lol

I haven’t had the joy of diarrhea yet - but I agree about the broth. I def look forward to that after all the sweet.

Oh no … I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. Just finishing up my day two. I woke up with a horrible headache (probably from lack of sleep) & dry mouth, no idea how, with all I’m drinking … and a little nauseous come to think of it but as soon as I started drinking the headache went away. I hope day 3 is better!

I’m on day 2 (of 8) of mine. I can honestly say I haven’t felt physically hungry but the head hunger (wanting to taste textures and or certain foods) showed it’s self today. It wasn’t bad… but it was there. I’m full liquids (no solid food) - so taking in 123+ ounces a day (between the protein shakes, water and juice requirements), and that’s kept my tummy full. Last night was rough - I felt like I woke up constantly to run to the potty. Despite all the fluids, I woke up with a dry mouth and a dehydration headache (don’t ask me how). It went away as soon as I started drinking again. Today I tried getting all my fluids in by 7pm to prevent the constant waking. I’m a little tired today from waking up and probably from the the reduced calories (around 870) I think, but I’m hoping my body will adjust and my energy will perk back up toward the end of the week. Best of luck! It really isn’t that bad… so far. I’ll see how I feel on day 6. Lol

Congratulations!!! It’s the little things that keep us going. Keep up the good work!