SassySenior

I feel for you. I was where you're at. What worked for me is to figure out what I could do vs. following a traditional diet. If you have more than 2 weeks, do what I did. Start recording everything you eat on the My Fitness Pal site. Nothing like seeing the cold, hard facts. This helped me realize what I was consuming. Once I knew that, I was able to make slightly better choices. I'm not a snacker. If you are, start chewing gum, drinking coffee with half and half. I ate cheese and crackers when I was super hungry in between meals. Just figure out what you can eat and can stick to, keeping in mind to reduce your calorie count from what you're eating now. You'd be amazed how much easier it is to reduce your caloric intake once you know what it is. If you're having trouble with the pre-op, reduce the carbs you eat, but don't eliminate them. One doctor I saw told me to have one sensible meal: 4-8 oz. meat, 1/2 cup mashed potatoes or rice, veggies and 1 piece of fruit. Said I could have fruit 3 times a day. For the other two meals, he recommended a Meal Replacement bar. He doesn't like Protein drinks, but that's what I drank for the other two meals. When I got so hungry I couldn't stand it, I ate some raw, unsalted nuts and drank another Protein Drink. I just struggled through it as best I could. I wound up losing 13 pounds in two weeks, with one week to go on the pre-op diet. I find out tomorrow what more I've lost. Best of luck to you. You can do it. I did, to my shock and amazement.

jottbaby, How are you? How did your surgery go? Write when you can. I'll be where you're at in 2 days. OMG. I really can't imagine it. The only other time I had surgery, I was being operated on for ovarian cancer. It was terrifying - they didn't know how bad the cancer was and/or if I'd survive the surgery. Luckily, I made it through like a champ and they got it all. That was 14 years ago. Hope you're doing good!

Cheryl, alas you and me does not a summer make, or something like that. Arts137, LindafromFlorida and others, sorry we didn't get a chance to know you. To my other friends here, sorry if my pre-op diet mood made me so grumpy. Or whatever your reasons for not replying today. I am unofficially shutting this site down. I won't close it completely on the off chance a newbie posts. But the only thing I'm gonna be pumping up from now on is my weight lifting. Thanks for sharing your insight and advice. You can still post here, if you want. I'll be checking back every now and then, but not regularly as I have been. Thanks for helping me get ready for surgery. Just 2 days and counting.

Hi Cheryl, Always good to hear from you. You have been doing incredible! Who would have thought not too long ago that you would weigh 100 lbs. less in just a few months? That is both fantastic and unbelievable. But it's your hard work that made that happen. I hope you are as proud of yourself as I am of you. It sounds like you have pretty well figured out how to meet your nutritional needs, between your regular food, the fruit, your Protein Drink and the V8 juice. I have a question for you on the V8. Does that fulfill our requirement for veggies? If so, I'm gonna do that, too. I like veggies, just don't like cooking whole meals. Right now I have some asparagus going bad in my refrigerator. I don't think you can freeze raw asparagus or can you? Have you tried heating the Quest bars in the microwave for 15 seconds? I've heard that's what it take to make them yummy. The ones I liked the best are the Mixed berry Bliss, strawberry Shortcake and the Almond one. They are pricey, so I just bought a large box of Premier Protein bars instead. They are ok, and cost a lot less. I just started drinking Vitamin Water from Kroger. It doesn't have a lot of flavor, but it does go down pretty easy. I can see me drinking that next week to help get my water in. Any suggestions for the 1st stage? liquids. I am planning on drinking decaf coffee with half & half, if I can. I know that milk is not recommended, but I am not a saint, and I'll be doing whatever I can to get those liquids in. I have been having a really hard time on the pre-op, being hungry. But I hear I won't be hungry after surgery. I sure hope so. I'm already super grouchy from not eating. Normally, I have an abundance of patience ... but not now. I'm just as likely to bite your head off as say hello. Were you like that? Ah, the power of the mighty pen. Right? Well, I think I annoyed a couple of people because there is no leash on my tongue. I'm too hungry. Usually, I make an effort not to be too argumentative, but right now everything annoys me. Were you like this? When did it change? If you want to keep in touch, feel free to post here or PM me. xoxo Kate xoxo

I have come to a conclusion. Unless, I hear from 4 members tomorrow, I am going to shut this site down. My surgery is Friday, and I'd love for you all to be there with me to go along for the ride. But I don't see enough interest here to continue unless you prove me wrong.

Ringo, I'm in Dallas, but my surgery is in Denton, TX. No one has ever accused me of being a saint ... and certainly not since I've been on the pre-op diet. Are you drinking Protein drinks? The only one so far that I like is Premier Protein chocolate. It's pre-mixed, which I prefer. It's not that I'm lazy, it's just the RTD are perfectly mixed and do not have to be refrigerated. Plus, I can keep a carton near my bed and grab one when I'm hungry, which is most of the time. I take full advantage of the 1 decent meal a day. I think it's supposed to be "lean" but I do eat cheese and the occasional cracker. Just enof to be able to continue on this starvation diet. Sorry to hear you're having life issues. This is not the time for stress in your life. Heck,it's hard enof to do this pre-op preparation with no stress. Doubt I could do it with stress. Hope today has been a better day. Where are you having your surgery?

Ringo, Buddy! Glad we're gonna be buddies. How are you feeling? Are you all ready? I'm not. Haven't bought my vitamins yet. Still working on the liquids. A friend said she'd make broth for me. Gotta remind her. How's your pre-op going? Hope you'll forgive me, but I loved Paul. LOL

That is terrific. Hey ... we have the same stats. My HW was 431, my CW is 368, and I'm being sleeved Friday. Hope mine goes smoothly like yours!

Why do you have to wait 2 weeks. Why not try eating fruit now in very small bites. As to Protein, there's so many kinds. Of course, there's Protein drinks ready made, Protein powder, eggs and eggbeaters that you can add to drinks. Lots of Meal Replacement bars, nuts, meat, shrimp, cheese ... the list goes on.

Did she say meat specifically, or did she say get your Protein from food?

How is everyone doing? We have a new member Arts137. I think he's been lurking. Clearly, hiding his talent in the shadows. C'mon Arts, join us and post. We are holding our breath to hear from you. I talked to our friend Connie (Coco) last night and she seemed a little bummed that there wasn't anyone she could relate to. Said she was tired of reading about 20-something and other youngen's getting the surgery and how they dropped down to size 2 or 0 afterwards. I urged her to come here and post among us "mature" Sleevers, but she didn't sound too enthusiastic about it. I'm sure she'd enjoy our repartee, and I'm pretty sure she lurks here. So, Coco, c'mon down! Encouraging words for Coco and welcomes for Arts are appreciated.

5 Days & Counting After nearly 3 years, it's totally unreal to me that I'm actually going to get Sleeved. One thing I read recently that has offered me great comfort is a post a nurse wrote that said in her 20 years she never saw anyone die on the table. I think that's what everyone worries the most about. I don't think I'd be as worried if it weren't for my prior heart attack and the fact that my heart races frequently. Wonder if this could be related to hunger, because it seems that this happens when I haven't eaten. Thoughts? Remember, I am diabetic. I still have a bunch of things to do before Friday. I'm seeing my surgeon Wednesday and meeting my new PCP Thursday. Glad I have a chance to meet him before my surgery. It's a long and interesting story of how he became my doctor, but it's late and I don't have the energy to tell it now.

Has anyone heard that Kroger is now carrying a line of health food? I forgot the name. But I was doing research online, and I ran across it. I haven't been there, though, because going anywhere is such a hassle. My new wheelchair doesn't fit me, so I feel very unsafe in it. (It's way too big - at least 5 inches from me to the back of the chair.) I can only go on Handirides Transit (for disabled) with it, and I might have to sit on it for 2 hours while they make their other stops. Hopefully, I will lose enough weight that I'll be able to fit in a friends car.

I just love it when we all agree. Peace all around. Or is it? Only thing I worry about is what ramifications there might be down the road. But I am officially getting off my soapbox. Live and let live. Go your own way. I know I will. As long as we're not hypocritical about it. For instance, I don't like it when people say to me "listen to what your doctor says" and then go off and do their own thing. That's ok, as long as someone is not preaching that gospel to me. None of us need permission to do our own thing. I wouldn't recommend my pre-op diet to anyone, but it's working for me. I've lost over 13 lbs. this month, probably more, but I won't know till I get weighed on Wednesday 'cause I don't own a scale.

Aha! I get it now. Missouri ... of course. Cooking may sound easy, but put yourself in my shoes, my huge body, my tiny kitchen, my disabling arthritis and a fridge that's a 90 degree angle to my stove at the entrance to the kitchen. I can't reach the cabinets, because I'm sitting on a chair. I actually have to hang on the refrigerator door and reach inside. Now do you see why cooking is so difficult for me? Of course the crockpot is easy to use, but I have nowhere, no way to put ingredients together. My "table" is tiny, unstable, in the living room and I can't get close to it. My floor plan is not like a house. I don't have a dining room. I don't have a counter I can reach. All I can use is the one drawer that holds my silverware. I will get off your case, with one last question. Did you talk to any health people about using Protein drinks as a main food source? I will let it go. Only brought it up because I care about you. It's your life to live, of course.

Thanks, Faye. As soon as I can, I will implement this. You're a gem. We have the best people in this group.

Perspective is everything, Laura. So glad to hear you're not rude, altho a strong intimation does count for something, no? Wish I had your insight, grace and savoir faire.

Gamergirl - I knew it was a he. I probably would have been easier on a she. I'm glad you liked what he wrote. I didn't. It was deceptive to me to pretend to need a lot of info and not admit that you already had done a ton of research. I kind of felt like, he was saying well ... I already know that and a lot more. Especially, since I personally spent a lot of time locating the info on research I had done. Just be honest and not pretensive is my point. Don't play me. Don't pretend to be a "newbie" when you're not.

Faye, forget about counseling, you and Tony should open a cooking school for dummies. Your advice is great. Thanks! I have new hope! For sure, I microwave ... how else to heat up my frozen Marie Callendar dinners. Yum. I've always wanted to fix fish but never knew how. I actually like seafood, especially salmon. I'd love to find a recipe like the salmon I had in Las Vegas once. OMG it was what turned me on to salmon. It had some kind of sweet glaze (maybe cherry). I have been jonesing for it for years. As to the crock pot. Are you ready for this? I have one sitting on top of my kitchen cabinets, out of reach. I had it on my dining room table for a while because I really wanted to use it. Another case of having no clue and being intimidated by the idea of browning the meat first. Part of my problem is that I cannot get into my kitchen. It's too small and I'm too big. That plus, the attendant I have cannot cook a lick. I have taught her how to make things like grilled cheese sandwiches, eggs, etc. But if anyone can ruin food in a flash it's my Ana. Based on that, I'm afraid to try and direct her to using a crockpot, especially since I know nothing about it. In my life, there are two roads. One that I travel on most of the time, doing things I'm really good at. The second road is things I'm really bad at ... like cooking. I actually used to be a decent cook, but never got that into it. Never had a family to cook for. My father was a gourmet cook, like you. His brother was a chef. I grew up eating pretty tasty food. But my mother was nervous about having someone in the kitchen, so she never taught me to cook. I don't have any of her recipes. There's other stuff I'm bad at on the other road. Like sewing, in fact anything domestic. A goddess I'm not. I'm a great driver, I played and won tournament Backgammon, can do math in my head, a good writer, excellent at research. Champion swimmer, Water ballet, great dancer, super creative, inventive ... things like that. Competition and creativity ... outside the home. I'm just as bad at things as I am good at other things. With your help, I bet I can start eating some home-cooked meals. Yes, I use the oven a little to heat up food. It's hard to cook in it because imagine my kitchen. On the right is my fridge, right next to it is the oven. No room to do anything. If you're willing to answer a bunch of questions, I'm sure I'll be able to cook more.

Well, OK then Jean. But I doubt you'd ever find a nutritionist or m.d. to agree with you that Protein drinks is a good way to get protein. That was my whole point. Not that it hasn't worked for you, but for your health, real protein is the way to go. Personally, although you didn't ask , I think you could find a better way. BTW, I was only kidding about becoming a Vegan. However, you might find being a vegetarian is a good choice. Hmmm. All our Kansans stubborn? ROFL. Still love me?

Thanks, McButterpants. That is such a cute name. Oh, yeah, I'm actually on my 2nd pre-op diet in 1 month. yech. I've already dropped 20 lbs. for a total of 63 lbs. since last year. And Ringo, you have to be my sleeve buddy since we're on the same day!

There is a great article on another site that discusses all the surgeries and why the sleeve is best. I have a link to it somewhere. PM me and I'll look for it.

That's what the propaganda says. But I have lost 63 lbs. in the past year ... more than 20 in the last month. I actually completed one pre-op diet but had a row with my surgeon. Now I'm on my second pre-op, and get the same reasons. Well, folks, I've already lost the weight and "shrunk my liver." So the only reason is to lose more weight before the surgery with irrational scare tactics ... not because it's necessary, but because they can force me, scare me, or deny me surgery if I don't lose a prescribed amount this time around. I would much rather drop the weight when I'm not hungry after surgery. But they are the boss of me.

I don't know much at all about food addiction, but I do know about addiction in general. In most addictions, people do not really want to change until they reach their bottom. Or until the pain of staying the way they are is greater than the fear or pain of changing. When you just know you can't keep doing what you're doing. When you feel you absolutely must stop letting the addiction rule your life. For example, an alcoholic or drug addict craves the next drink or the next fix, but that craving has taken over and someone's life just keeps getting worse and worse. In these addictions, you must want to change, otherwise you're not ready and it won't work. While it's difficult to sabotage the sleeve, I guess if there's a will, there's a way. Unfortunately, some addicts never get ready and wind up dead, in jail or killing someone else. As was said above, you will be able to eat your favorite foods again, most likely, but it will be months before that will happen. One of the many reasons I'm getting the sleeve is because it will take away my hunger to a great extent. I am so tired of being hungry all the time.

There is a Mexican surgeon that has a bad rep, but I don't remember who it is. I just recall reading about a complication he had and someone posted, "I can't believe Dr. ??? is still doing surgeries?" If I knew a doc had a patient die, there is no way I'd go there, even if it was free. But that's just me.