Cyka82

I was banded on June 1st, have lost 30 lbs since the process began. On average, I walk about 10 -15 miles a week. I've become obsessed with walking. But I feel like a serious failure because I'll get down in the dumps (aka something goes "disastrously" wrong) and eat EVERYTHING in sight, I do it consciously too - which is probably the worst parts of it. It's just like the "old times". :- Any suggestions on how I can avoid this?? Tips, tricks, ANYTHING? Thanks for any advice!

Do the Gas-X... I know exactly what you're talking about, especially since I had the hiatial hernia fixed as well. I lived religiously on the gas-x for a good two weeks. Thank god I was able to get a case of it from costco. I still use it time to time when I'm not mindful of the hiccups (indication that you're full). It was also a better solution then the liquid vicadin that put me out for hours at a time and made me feel like I had a hangover when I did wake up. And yes! Use the breathing thing they gave to you, it prevents constriction and promotes healthy healing from having a tube jammed down there during the surgery! :smile:

Cutting down the hours is non-optional at this time. As it is, I'll be taking a $1k/wk pay cut when I "return" to work. (I'll be returning on what can be called desk duty, and have also been warned that I'm lucky I have a job to come back to since I'm a freelancer.) Have you been successful with working on average 16 hour days and on the liquid diet????

How much do you weigh: Wednesday it was 311, two weeks ago it was 318 (bmi fluxes between 49 and 51) How long is your pre-op diet: Pre-op diet was for two weeks (14 days) What is your pre-op diet: What is it, well the one page of information says that it helps to shrink the liver... reduce recovery time... and etc. Almost everything that everyone has said on here. Has your doc told you what he wants from your preop diet (ie shrink your liver, drop 10% of your weight, etc?) There seemed to be no exact reason for it, she basically talked around it, and seemed like it was a general thing that is a 'requirement'. She even quoted the generic packet of papers that I got. At a serious loss.

Is there someone out there who has worked 15-20 hour days and been able to successfully master the art of this liquid pre-op diet? The bulk of my work is / was physical labor including heavy lifting; hours in a day don't matter. Day one went fine and dandy (12 hour day). Day two was going well... and then the WALL. On hour 8ish, I started to get sick to my stomach. Drank a high Protein shake / shot fruit thang, drank crap ton of Water and some juice... basic bodily explosion happened... hour 12 approached, stomach was eating itself, whatever, drank some water / home brewed ice tea (no sugar) and shook it off. In the middle of hour 15, I started to get really woozy, sat down, started to get that in and out feeling. Sitting down was my saving grace.. put my head down and regained myself... went back to work. At the end of the 18 hour day, I was beyond exhausted, almost blacked out on the job, and was in a bad place emotionally. On the way home everything hit me like a ton of bricks and had a total girl meltdown. My liquid diet, now includes a bit of food. My 'dietitian' nor doctors office was helpful in this matter. The pre-op diet, had very little information, where as the post op was LOADED. Think one page vs 10 pages. I feel guilty as hell "sneaking" in a sandwich once a day to get me through my hellish days, and even then I drag hardcore. The doctors only suggestion for me was "don't work long hours". I can't really afford not to, since I was told to take 10 - 14 days off of work. I feel like a failure and I haven't even started yet. Btw when I do eat at this point (almost 6 days), my stomach is a disaster and doesn't handle it that well. All suggestions comments welcomed!!! ab lib notes / rant: I have no ultimate weight goal in mind. Numbers are numbers and I really don't see the point of seeking something that could be possibly unattainable AND make me look like shit [again]. (I'm pretty muscular and broad shouldered to begin with. Back in the day I was pretty athletic, and know what sort of exists beneath this bubble I've created.) I have a few over all goals: To be able to work and not have to worry about "weight capacities" on ladders, automated lifts, etc. I'd like to be able to buy clothes in a non-plus size / non-men's section. I'd like to see my feet again. I'd like to have legs instead of kankles.