LAN2k

This person has a desire to commit suicide and has abandoned all hope for recovery of her sanity and well being. This is so sad. What sickens me most is the fact that people (generalization) are actually entertained by this. God help this woman because she is very very unwell.

Now that could work! I never thought of checking powdered milk. Smart doctor there.

I agree I couldn't stomach any of those clear fruity Isopure or protein bullets (although I didn't try every individual brand out there). If you have a Trader Joe's store, in your neighborhood, they have come out with their own brand (Trader Joe's) fruit juice or nectar blends, (similar to the "Naked" drinks. One of them is a high Protein Drink made with whole food natural fruit juices of the tropical variety. There may be some carbs but they are from fresh fruit. Each container is I think 20oz. and has 30 grams protein. You can find them in the refrigerated section, or ask a store clerk to find it for you. Also they are not "bariatric" concoctions with artificial sweeteners and weird tastes that can elicit the gag response.

Congratulations ToonTownAngel, Best wishes to you on your WL journey.

Congratulations Dan, your doing great and you have a really healthy attitude. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your experience.

I had nightmares after attending a lapband information session. I literally awoke in a sweat one night thinking I had the band and was so relieved that it was a nightmare. I very much wanted the sleeve and the only time I had second thoughts was the night before my surgery. I got scared and thought about backing out right up until I started my car to drive to the hospital (5:30), the morning of my surgery. I'm 6 months out now and I am very glad I had the surgery. It took me longer than most to adjust emotionally to the changes. It's a major surgery but a good one for weight loss, the weight does come off. Just adhere to liquids as prescribed by your surgeon to prevent any complications while healing, try your best to find liquid protein supplements that you can endure and follow the protein first, then veggies etc...as you progress to real foods. Best wishes for smooth sailing throughout the process.

Hi Liz. Congratulations on your approaching surgery. I was given a pre-op dietary instruction pamphlet from my surgeon. It listed 2 diet options. The first was to drink 3 whey protein shakes per day, no solid food. OR 2. Two shakes per day and one low fat, light meal. I opted for option 2 and had a Vanilla, Chocolate, or Mocha protein shake (using Jay Rob Whey Protein Powder + skim or 1% low fat milk), for breakfast, and another for lunch. For dinner I prepared a low fat/low carbohydrate dish, usually a salad with grilled shrimp or chicken, tuna etc. Sometimes I had a salad with a piece of steak. The day before my surgery I stuck to liquids only. I started 4 weeks before my surgery and lost 15 lbs by my surgery date. I had my surgery at a hospital only 40 minutes drive from where I live. Post surgery just be prepared to keep yourself hydrated, take frequent walks (I did arm exercises, no weights) and get ample rest. Your protein intake will progress with time. Best wishes.

It's taking some adjusting for me to get comfortable with having a sponsor. I'm making the phone calls to her as scheduled, but I feel strained sometimes to talk as if I want to say the right things to her so she stays motivated to be my sponsor. I have also been in therapy and it has not ever really challenged my wit. I've always felt as though the therapist would simply hear me, nod his/her head, just very passive sort of listening. I'm told that working the 12 steps honestly and thoroughly will manifest change. Change is what I want, not only on the outside but from within. I hope I will achieve that so I can willfully pass it along to others who want the same. Thanks Ricky. I'm glad your available.

I read Chapter 5 today. I am still working on being honest with myself. I am hopeful but don't know that the 12 steps will work for me. My faith is weak. I know that, now that I am not able use food like a drug, I see the emptiness inside. Over indulgence with food has robbed me in a very real sense. Food has intoxicated me and like an alcoholic has black outs, I've had time outs, time away from real life issues. I suppose food was the tool that enabled avoidance behavior in me. I numbed myself out with it and so it was like being drunk. With each binge, (and my "volume eating" were binges), I suffocated a portion of my abilities. And now I need to sort things out. I'm working on Step 2...And I believe in God! But I have not really surrendered my will and life over to him, (Step 3) because if I really had I would not have obsessed myself in food all these years. But it looks as though I'm going to need to obsess over myself in order to "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself" (Step 4) at some point soon. And that's about all I am able to comment on at this juncture. I've got work to do and all I can do is try.

Hey Tiff thanks, this is neat. I just did it and the feedback calculated matched the goal weight I set for myself at the getgo! Actually it's 1lb over. We shall see. To be continued...

I tried it twice at different doses. Zoloft took my appetite away. I wish to be off these meds altogether...but I am afraid that the depression may come back. It was an awful dark place of despair and I just don't want to be in that place.

Stand by... I'm on it. In the meanwhile who knows there may be others who will be interested and willing to contribute. Thanks Ricky.

Ah duh!! Thanks I just found it "How it Works". Okay Ricky..I hope you will give me time to read up to and through chapter 5. My sponsor gave me a "My 1st Study Assignment" There are 53 questions for me to answer. She said there is a method and purpose for doing this. So I am really only beginning this venture. I am WANTING to do it so badly, as I wanted to have the VSG. I have realized through my personal experience post surgery, my emotional and spiritual experience a huge void within me and so I hope you will be patient. I don't think I can just skip over to chapter 5 and give an honest assessment since I think I need to work myself gradually to understand it all. I'm a slow reader only because I self distract. I'm going to try and answer the questions given to me by my sponsor while reading through the Big Book and I will respond here when I get there. This is all very exciting to me, where there is hope. Make sense?

Sounds like a plan. I am on step 2 in the program w/sponsor. I am thinking that you are refering to the OA 12&12 book? I'll have to read through chapter 5 then and give you my thoughts.

I think it is true that not everyone who is obese is that way because they over eat. The convenience of addictive/junk/fast food at every corner and sedentary workplaces absolutely contribute to the problem. In my case however, I have been an excessive or over eater since I can remember. I ate more than the average person or more than I needed. My stomach always felt stretched and as time went on (by about age 14 my body caught up and I got fat. Being heavy caused me to slow down. After coming home from school, left to my own devises-- both parents at work, I would pull out a loaf of soft fake white bread and slather on the peanut butter and jelly and eat one sandwich after another until I tired of the taste. After that I'd be so lethargic I'd take a nap. Then dinner with family then whatever I felt like eating....this for me was not normal and I knew it but hadn't the self control. As I got older I became educated hence I made healthier food choices but I still ate too much. I am definitely a compulsive over-eater so having this surgery is only part of my cure. Since sleeved 6 months ago, my appetite has grown and though I am not able to eat as I used to, I'm seeing my obsession with food as an issue or disorder that needs to be addressed. Now I'm sorting things out, and open to the 12 step program for "Over Eaters" (OA) and psychological counseling. I guess I'm an exception.

I would like to, yes. So far I have the BB and the 12&12 OA book, I should probably pick up the OA workbook?

Thanks for the listing. I'm really delighted to be in the 12 step program and I am growing from the literature. I am actually excited.

Stacie I too am so glad to know your going to be able to get back on track and progress in your WL journey. I don't need to tell you (but I will) to remember to take it slow and have patience with your nutrient intake. It may be a bit tedious during the liquid phase but before you know it you will be enjoying many foods only in small amounts.

"Gentle" ... I feel that word as a healing word. Thank you.

I just started to read the Big Book. I recently got a sponsor, we're trying it out. I also picked up The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of OA. Ironically the honesty I am grappling with is self honesty. I procrastinate, avoid and medicate with food. I have this feeling that there are elements of my character which I don't want to look at because I'm afraid I won't know what to do with them or maybe what I will do without them? I resign to take it slowly, to only bite off what I can chew--lol-- so to speak.

Thanks ishary...At first I wasn't sure if I fit in with the people attending OA, since I had surgery and have lost a significant amount of weight. But as my eating habits have been altered and my appetite is back and my sleeve restricts me from eating the way I used to, I've so much more time to think...and I really get it that I have had an obsession with food...and it is important for me to address it. I can only speak for myself, and I'm glad that this thread has been acknowledged. I would love to be involved in a WLS support group! There is one local to me that meets every week but it's closed to those who have had surgery elsewhere. It's run by the surgeon who performs WLS surgery at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY. I pleaded with the staff to allow me to participate but was told that they are full to capacity and adhere to a strict policy. So I went to OA and I am glad I did.

I appreciate your honesty and I am so glad that you have your date for surgery. Best wishes to you in your weight loss journey.

After my surgery I walked into a 12 step OA meeting for the first time in many years. (I went to one meeting years back and walked out). Today, I really need to be around people who also need people. My surgeon offered group support for WLS, but only once a month and once a month was/is not enough for me. There is also 12 traditions of any 12 step program and anonymity is once of them. For my circumstances, it's helping me more than one on one psychotherapy. These are real people from all walks and professions who allow themselves to open up, share and trust one another. I am slowly learning what it means to live in the moment and finding it helps me. I also find this message board a great source of support. But I need the addition of person to person contact and although it may not be for everyone, the 12 step group of OA is a very good thing for me. I'd also like to add that this message board in another way has been like a life-line for me especially when I was at my worst.

I definitely agree with you MlkPas. I've been communicating on this message board a few months before I had the VSG. There are many very healthy minded and productive people who are thriving post surgery. I am not there yet. I have only begun to deal with my inner core which hid behind my food addiction. I know this is the truth for me. I also believe that many people who have WLS will need to come to terms with their lives without the ability to eat to excess. There are so many variables that have to do with being overweight.. It's not so simplistic or black and white.

Hi Ricky, Lis here and I'm a grateful recovering compulsive over-eater in other words, food addict. Grateful because the surgery is forcing me to face myself. I have felt like a tortoise stripped of its shell. Anxious, I went home from the hospital and sank into a most morbid depression. I was so bad that I didn't care about losing weight. My life as I knew it was over and I was left stripped of my identity, alone in my disease and terrified. Terrified because my drug of choice, food as I knew it, was history. My aging parents came to me and stood by while I was paralyzed with fear, I dwelt on death. I went for counseling. I went to 2 psychiatrists. I went through 2 anti-anxiety medications and finally was put on an antidepressant that stimulated my appetite enough so I wouldn't end up back in the hospital, (I was repulsed by food). Now I am working the 12 steps. Years ago, in spite of my lifelong addiction to food, I snubbed the 12 step OA program. Not any more, although I'm still afraid, I'm grateful because the effects of this surgery, (withdrawal from food as I knew it), made me realize my addiction and how years of addiction to food stunted my growth, (joke unintended). For me, shedding the weight is not enough. As I now see it, I've no choice but to work the 12 steps and heal inside. I'm on step one and it's taken me half a lifetime to get there. Thanks for your post.:smile: