Enough Is Enough!

[MsDallasSleever 65]

Had anyone else gone over board with their eating pre-op? I've always known that I was addicted to food however now I've been over indulging to the point my feet are swelling from the salt intake and I've been having pain in my right arm off and on.

I realized that I need to stop over indulging and take it easy. Had anyone else experienced this?

[jrabbit81 89]

Yes yes & yes

It's really gone mad since I knew I was getting op!

[Wheetsin 714]

Well let's see... between mid-September when my band was removed, and late March when my sleeve was done, I gained about 60 lbs. I'd say I went overboard with my pre-op eating.

But coming off 6 years with a band, about 4 of which spent never knowing if I could eat or not, I allowed myself the time off without the guilt and really over-indulged in all my favorites, and things I knew it would be a LONG time before I would have again.

With 20/20 hindsight (not really because I knew this at the time, too) anything you gain now, you'll just have to lose later. So I'm not saying I did it perfectly & you should too, but just keep in mind you are taking steps backwards.

[MinaT 669]

If you know you are doing it now, just stop. It's just causing you more weight to lose after surgery. It's also make your liver more fatty and will make the pre-op diet right before surgery harder. If you are drinking pop - quit now or go through withdrawals later, if you are drinking caffeine quit now or coffee withdrawals will be harder.

Take this time to learn to chew your food, and not drink for at least 1/2 hour after eating.

You are basically making yourself sicker before surgery, which is the worst thing you can do. You will be able to eat after surgery, but why not set yourself up for the best possible outcome after surgery.

Sign up for myfitnesspal.com if you haven't already - work on getting 80 grams of Protein in eat your Protein first, eat vegetables second and carbs third. Drink your 64 ounces of Water and if you want to have one day once in a while to have a favorite food, do so but pick and chose carefully, do you want a margarita, or a doritos or a piece of cake.

I tried this program 3 times and the third time I said I was going into this 100%. I knew they were going to do a major surgery, which always comes with complications and if I was going to allow someone to take out 85% of my stomach and I was going to end up paying a ton of money for it, that I was going to go into this with my eyes wide open and put forth full effort. You are in control of your actions, and that's the one thing I have learned. The sleeve is a tool only, so in the end you are really the one that controls the tool.

Make a choice to stop the "last meal syndrome" now before you end up feeling worse about yourself.

[MKambalimath 92]

I wish I would have taken the pre-op a little more seriously. I didnt even really follow mine that well, just the last week when it was supposed to be 2 weeks. I think if I would have lost 20lbs on the pre op like a lot of other people here have, I would be at 55lbs lost now! I cant even imagine what that would be like

[MoreganK 164]

I kinda did. I went to lots of my favorite restaurants one last time. I really want to use my first few months post-op to let go of all my bad habits and start over with better eating choices. So, I let myself indulge a little bit.

And the weird thing is, I've been working so hard on my mental self, that while the food was all delicious, in the end I felt like it wasn't really worth it. Its just food. Food is nourishment, I shouldn't look at it like its a hobby or a friend I'll never see again. I also had to remind myself that the liquids and the mushies that I'm dreading are all temporary. I kept forgetting that. I'll be enjoying lots of my favorite foods again soon, just the healthy ones.

[MinaT 669]

I took the pre-approval diet pretty seriously for 6 months but I also treated myself to a Margarita once in a while, went to Red Lobster and had a margarita, appetizer and lobster lobster lobster! I went to House of Kobe and had fried rice but I made sure when I did my "last meals" they weren't every day. I followed the 80 grams of Protein, 45-50 grams of carbs and stayed about 800 calories a day and still made sure at least once a month or so I did something special like Red Lobster. I did my six months pre-approval through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, St. Patrick's Day, (I still had a Reuben) , Easter & Mother's Day.

What made "last meal" days so special for me though was, that when I would stall, the day I had my last meals, where we would go out to eat, or I would have a Reuben with two pieces of bread and something special, the next day I actually would have my stall break because I did get extra calories in. Of course, I always felt a little guilty when we had our "fore-special" outtings but in reality, it made them better and I realized I made better choices. No reason not to have a special day where you eat a hamburger, but maybe get rid of the top bread and do open face, or take one day a week that you get a little extra something special.

[pdog 51]

Umm...I'm doing horrible at eating right. I am not yet at my 2 weeks preop but over the last few months I have been eating poorly, what ever I want in large quantities...its bad I wish it was easier to just stop, but that's one reason I'm having the surgery for the restiction to help me stop!

[skinnychef 0]

Umm...I'm doing horrible at eating right. I am not yet at my 2 weeks preop but over the last few months I have been eating poorly' date=' what ever I want in large quantities...its bad I wish it was easier to just stop, but that's one reason I'm having the surgery for the restiction to help me stop![/quote']

Hardfor everyone at every stage. I had my sleeve June 13th.....and I think mentally this 2 weeks liquid phase is so hard. I am ready for some normal food.

[nardelkn 1]

I have been doing it for the last 2 weeks. My surgery got moved to July 3rd so I literally ate my way through Disney World and now feel super guilty but i feel like i cannot stop!!! At one point I was even eating a second dinner on vacation because i was up late and hungry with food all around. I now have to spend the next 2 weeks detoxing (again) from sugar, soda, caffeine, fried everything and my worst habit, nicorette. I had gone gluten free for months and flushed it all when I got in the "last meal" mindset. Oh well, all i can do is try again. good luck to everyone else.

[justmeandmysleeve 91]

Ms.Dallas,

I have been having the same issues. I realize that I am sabotaing myself by saying "one month until D-day" or "let's have the final supper before it's too late."

I daily remind myself that I can have my favorite meals after surgery it just will be smaller portions....meaning that chicken I love I will just have it for 2 dinner and 2 lunches instead of at one time.

I find it so difficult, but I am making little changes daily to prepare myself for my pre-op diet. I've started by drinking a Protein shake in the morning for Breakfast rather than driving thru Starbucks. Also, my husband and I are trying to make a conscious decision to be active at least 5 times a week. We've walked, taken bike rides, I am going back to my Zumba classes. I am hoping these habits now will help in a month when I don't have any choice.

Good luck getting your head around this process....I am finding that it the hardest part!

[MinaT 669]

Good luck to you all.

I don't mean to come off condescending or mean to any of you that are struggling, that is not my intentions, but hard love is all I can really give you all.

Recovering from surgery is not easy, it's a whole lot easier with your mind in the right place. Going into such a serious surgery with your mind set on this is what I am doing, I am doing it for these reasons and I CAN DO IT. By sabotaging yourself prior to surgery by saying you can't do it, will make it so much harder afterwards.

That's why they have the pre-approval stage, the pre-op phase so you can get it into your head you can do it. You are worth doing it.

I wish you all the best of luck. The biggest hurdle in winning this race is believing in yourself and telling yourself that you are worth putting the effort into it. I know I'm worth it and that's why I worked so hard.