New here!

[SkinnyDown 409]

Hi, I'm new here. Female, 49. I have been lurking since I started my journey, in September. Since that time, I have been making many changes, awaiting a date for my surgery. (Gastric Bypass). I had my surgical consult a week ago, and everything went very well. I feel very confident about my surgeon. He seems to think despite my having previous colon resection surgery that I am still a good candidate for what I believe he called a low limbic Gastric Bypass. I have made a lot of changes, which I notice everyone else has too. I just hit my 1 year smoke free anniversary I stopped drinking diet soda, gave up caffeinated coffee, I am drinking about 100 oz. Water daily, passed all my psych evals. I am recording everything I eat, and I'm losing, a small amount of weight. I'm on 2 types of insulin, so that's not an easy task, but I am working on it. I eat Breakfast, and I haven't done that since I was a kid. I still worry about one thing, I still have a craving for something sweet after a meal. I don't bring bad things into the house which helps. It still doesn't change my cravings. Maybe that in and of itself is a problem, thinking foods are bad or good. I have my last dietary meeting at the end of the month. They told me about 6 weeks from that appt. will be my surgery. Anyone else have issues with specific foods, or sweets? I have done so much work, but I know I have to tackle this last craving to be successful. Sorry if I seem like I am rambling. It's just a lot and I hope to make some friends here, and work through some of these fears and doubts with others who may be having the same thoughts. Did anyone else have to have an endoscopy because they have GERD? I do. My surgeon is doing it though, so I'm glad of that, he should be able to tell me right away if there are any issues that would prevent surgery. Thanks so much for reading. Gahhhhhhhhhhh I'm really doing this. Maybe that's why it took so long for me to actually get up the nerve to write here. It's getting so close, there is no turning back, and I am happy, and ready, but I could use the support of others who are going through this and have gone through it.

[esskay77 785]

Congratulations! Sounds like you are already doing great which will set you up for success throughout your journey. One thing that you might want to add is attending support groups. It is highly recommended, though not required. One WLS center said that people who attend support groups have a better success rate than those who don't. I didn't see their data but I am attending support group meetings anyway.

So, the sweet after dinner. Isn't it funny how we all have that? lol. For me, I either have to just not have it or find something that still fits the program. sugar free Jello pudding, sugar free popsicles are 2 options. Fresh fruit, though you have to find what you are able to handle--I'm a year post-op and still have trouble with some fruits. Apples can be tough--I definitely peel them but even a small apple an feel stuck. But, you could also cook a small apple and add some cinnamon to it, sugar free hot chocolate is great this time of year. Or, my fave, this cottage cheese dish:

16 oz fat free cottage cheese

1 cup lite cool whip (if you can get sugar free, that's best I think)

1 scoop of Protein powder (I use gourmet vanilla!! mmm)

1 package of fat free/sugar free cheesecake flavored Jello pudding

4 tablespoons of skim milk

Mmmm--this is amazing, even if you think you don't like cottage cheese!!!! It is decadent. Sometimes I even add crushed pineapple (without the juice) which just amps the awesomeness of this dish!

You could also substitute other sugar free jello's instead of the cheesecake jello pudding. SF Orange jello (dump the powder right in, don't actually make the jello--same as the pudding). Get creative and try different flavors.

This is what I do. I don't know if it is right or not but it keeps me sane. I did run it past the NUT and he didn't think it was horrible (though he did say to make sure to not use the pineapple juice from the crushed pineapple).

Best of luck to you and keep us posted!!

[SkinnyDown 409]

Thanks so much for your response! I'll try that recipe, it sounds great. I will be attending a WLS group, but at my clinic, you go after surgery, not before. Which I thought was a bit weird, but at least I know I will have support after surgery. Thanks again for your kindness. I appreciate you taking time to respond to me.