BKMama

This is good info to know. I'll need to tell my trainer he won't see me for a few weeks. I'm going to add it to my list of questions for the surgeon too.

I was sleeved on the 4th also! I have been trying really hard to come up with a new dish every day for puree so that I don't end up going crazy from things being too bland. So far I've been sticking to homemade Soups so that when they are blended it doesn't feel as though things are way different than they were before. It is a mind thing for me so having "soup" would naturally be creamy and I don't feel so weird about it plus my family can have the same thing (without blending). I am only eating about 4oz per meal (sometimes only 3 bc 4 can make me feel too full at the moment). The great thing about it is that even using fat free and low sugar and sodium ingredients in the house is eating healthier and no one has noticed a difference. I was always cooking before so I feel like it's important to continue to try to keep things somewhat normal while making much healthier choices. My husband is always super honest and he has loved the food I've come up with both nights. The only difference right now is that I had some complications to the anesthesia so I am currently immobile so I have had to sit at the kitchen counter and walk my hubby through the steps to get the food made. Maybe a chef will be born...lol. And, although everything I've used is lowfat, etc. there's no way I am getting too much sugar, calories, or fat since I can only eat 3-4 oz and both of these meals are full of Protein and can have unflavored Protein powder added if you want more. All that said said, we made broccoli and cheese Soup yestereday and white chicken chili tonight. So far, the white chicken chili was my favorite. Posting recipies below:
Broccoli Cheddar Soup: (1/4 butter, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup skim milk, 1 can fat free Campbell's broccoli/cheese soup, 2 cups fat free chicken stock, 1 bag of steamed broccoli florets, 8 oz fat free sharp shredded cheddar, and pepper to taste. (the recipe calls for salt but I left this out so that it's healthier and I couldn't tell the difference.) Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter over medium heat, and add in the flour, stirring constantly. Add milk, can of soup, and chicken stock. Bring to almost a boil. Then add the broccoli and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the cheese last and then give it time to melt before serving.
White Chicken Chili: 4 cans great northern Beans, 1 lb. chicken, 2 cloves garlic, 1 cup diced onion, 2 t. Oregano, 2 cans lowfat cream of chicken, 3 cups lowfat chicken broth, 1 can diced green chiles,6 oz low fat/fat free sour cream, and 2 cups low fat monterey jack shredded cheese. Cover your skillet with olive oil, add the diced onion, crushed garlic cloves, chicken (I added whole pieces and cut up later, but you can cut up beforehand if you want), and canned chilies. I set the stove top on about 4-5 and covered with a lid and let all of this cook together. I went ahead and got my larger pot ready and added the beans, cream of chicken, broth, and oregano and let this start heating up on low to medium heat. After about 10-15 minutes (when my chicken was cooked through) I added the skillet ingredients (I cut my chicken up at this time) into the pot so that everything could cook together. I cooked on medium heat for about 30 minutes. At the very end, we added the 6oz of sour cream and the cheese and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes and then it was ready to go. I added about a tsp of sour cream on top of soup right before I ate it and I loved it. I will probably have this again for lunch tomorrow.
Anyways, sorry this went so long, but I love when people give me ideas so I wanted to share what I've done so far.
Rach

You know, when I first started the process, my insurance company (BCBS) required a 6 month waiting period. The Center of Excellence that I am having my procedure at has a program that takes at least 4-6 months to complete. I started this process in November and have my surgery tomorrow. In some ways it feels like it's been for-e-ver but in other ways I feel like going through the process taught me so much about myself as well as made sure I am going into this eyes wide open, as prepared as possible which is a clear difference between some people who didn't have to go through that process.
I feel like I'm on a soapbox (sorry!) but honestly in hindsight I am very glad I wasn't able to get this done quickly. I needed this time to start getting my head together. :-)

You know, when I first started the process, my insurance company (BCBS) required a 6 month waiting period. The Center of Excellence that I am having my procedure at has a program that takes at least 4-6 months to complete. I started this process in November and have my surgery tomorrow. In some ways it feels like it's been for-e-ver but in other ways I feel like going through the process taught me so much about myself as well as made sure I am going into this eyes wide open, as prepared as possible which is a clear difference between some people who didn't have to go through that process.
I feel like I'm on a soapbox (sorry!) but honestly in hindsight I am very glad I wasn't able to get this done quickly. I needed this time to start getting my head together. :-)

I am having my surgery a day after you guys on the 5th. Today I am doing the first day of my all liquid diet and watching a NCIS marathon on USA since I had today off from work. Tomorrow I am going to work, and when I come home take my laxative and just chill and get ready for Wednesday.

Okay, this may not be a big NSV, but it was to me. I have never worn less than a size 22 or 24 in LB jeans, even when I lost weight on my own. But, today I stopped in LB to buy some Spanx and said let me try on some jeans. My surgery was 2 weeks ago today and I could wear a size 20 jeans! Woohoo! I don't know how much I've lost because I decided not to weigh until I go to the doctor on Wed., but I'm pretty happy with that little victory! Yay me...

I don't agree with my program that encourages everything fat free and sugar free. It's just garbage! I didn't do any low fat or fat free anything and made goal. :-)

I used to think it was easier for me as a single person to eat quickly prepared foods. But since my surgery, I found that to be exactly the oposite. I rarely eat out at a fast food place anymore. I prepare meals and snacks with whole foods so much more often (at least 80% of the time). It's more of an awareness to keep sugar and fat out of my daily routine that keeps me eating 'clean' foods.

Most things that I eat are clean. I do love my Premier shakes and I have 1 a day,sometimes 2. Other times I'm eating nuts and an occasional protein bar. I will only eat organic now but find that to be somewhat limited at times. I now am looking for variety at meals and enjoying my salads.

i'm pre-op.. i eat clean. to me, it's common sense. processed foods are usually GMO (genetically modified) & there's all sorts of chemicals and junk in the "food" (if you can really even call it that due to it having little nutritional value).. i don't want that gunk in my body. y'know?
so.. i eat clean. it's not hard. when i do make breads & stuff, i try to make 'em myself.. so that limits how much i eat them. lol

I am 5 months post op. I generally eat 90% non processed foods. The way out post op diet and nutritional needs are, there really shouldn't be much room for much else. I usually try not to get anything that requires being bagged or boxed with the exception of frozen veggies.

I try to focus on clean-eating for sure. It's about an 80/20 approach because of the limits with sugar. I don't have a sugar sensitivity but for instance my protein shake I wouldn't really consider "clean". Plus, where I live it's hard to find a lot of organic products (dairy, eggs, meat etc)

I am pre-op & have tinkered w/ the idea of trying to eat clean post-op. I have incorporated it a little so far. My surgery date is 9.20.12.

You guys are all gonna do great! I just wanna say that I'm 2 weeks 3 days post op. I'm doing puree I have 2 more days til soft food and I swear it hasn't been that bad. Since surgery I have not been hungry. I got bored with liquids but I was never hungry. Also, I have had a very positive experience, no nausea, i've tolerated everything i've tried, no unbearable pain only sore the first week and now I have one spot that is tender. I went back to work in a pediatric doctors office 10 days after surgery. The hardest part was is getting all my water in. I wish you guys the best! Stay postive and keep us posted!

Bkmama I am on 9/24

Hey we can be buddies too, omg I am just on day 2 and going crazy, I need a good Soup I can buy like yesterday, am so hungry

I am 9/4! Good luck!!!

Hi, BKMama-
I'm a psychologist so I'll chime in here with my recommendation--find a general therapist with at least 10 years of experience. In that time, they will have treated people with food issues as well as other issues and will be well-equipped to handle whatever comes up in your sessions with them. BTW, pick someone you like and respect and who you can sense likes and respects you. The relationship between you has to work for therapy to work.

Hi guys,
So, I'm thinking I want to go ahead and get a therapist lined up for after the surgery just to have someone to help me sort through my feelings. I notoriously bottle things up and it's just not healthy.
I'm just wondering, should it be a "normal" therapist (meaning just general therapy) or should I try to look for someone who specializes in food and/or coping issues. If you started therapy post-op, which worked for you?
Thanks!

Why is it that almost every post on here lately turns into arguments. Who cares when someone had sex if I could have I would have had it in the operating room. This site is supposed to be for support, not so much anymore:-P
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I completely understand. I was traveling for work, on my way back home. I had been furiously checking the seat assignments and someone was placed in the middle seat at the last minute. When I sat down, the woman next to me acted as if I had the plague. She huffed and puffed and made me feel completely uncomfortable. On the verge of tears, I went up to the flight attendant, explained what happened, and pleaded for her to change my seat. Thankfully, she was sympathetic and changed my seat. As I got off the plane, I couldn't help but hug her and say thank you for being compassionate.

I completely understand. I was traveling for work, on my way back home. I had been furiously checking the seat assignments and someone was placed in the middle seat at the last minute. When I sat down, the woman next to me acted as if I had the plague. She huffed and puffed and made me feel completely uncomfortable. On the verge of tears, I went up to the flight attendant, explained what happened, and pleaded for her to change my seat. Thankfully, she was sympathetic and changed my seat. As I got off the plane, I couldn't help but hug her and say thank you for being compassionate.

I completely understand. I was traveling for work, on my way back home. I had been furiously checking the seat assignments and someone was placed in the middle seat at the last minute. When I sat down, the woman next to me acted as if I had the plague. She huffed and puffed and made me feel completely uncomfortable. On the verge of tears, I went up to the flight attendant, explained what happened, and pleaded for her to change my seat. Thankfully, she was sympathetic and changed my seat. As I got off the plane, I couldn't help but hug her and say thank you for being compassionate.

I completely understand. I was traveling for work, on my way back home. I had been furiously checking the seat assignments and someone was placed in the middle seat at the last minute. When I sat down, the woman next to me acted as if I had the plague. She huffed and puffed and made me feel completely uncomfortable. On the verge of tears, I went up to the flight attendant, explained what happened, and pleaded for her to change my seat. Thankfully, she was sympathetic and changed my seat. As I got off the plane, I couldn't help but hug her and say thank you for being compassionate.