eazye

Jennie, I feel your pain and your anticipation of what is to come in the next several months. As a guy, I am not a big clothes hound, nothing like my wife anyway who sounds quite a bit like you with clothes. Anyway, I had surgery 4 months ago and Sunday was the first time I went through my closet to clean house....it was eye opening! As I pulled each item out, dress clothes, sweaters, sports jerseys, jeans, etc, I was shocked and appalled at how big I was just a couple months ago. What I was not expecting was to see all of my favorite "go to" clothes be stuffed in a trash bag to be sent to Goodwill. This also included my winter coats that I could wrap around my body 1 1/2 times. My first impression is "holy $#!%, I have to replace my whole entire closet for the most part, that is going to be expensive!" Then I thought how great it is to be able to shop in the normal section of the store rather than try to find those one or two things that I feel might fit and look ok on me. I completely decimated my closet and I realized just how few clothes I have left now that all of the "too big" stuff is gone! One of the greatest "victories" I have experienced because it was very visual. Jennie, you will be utterly shocked when you try on the clothes you are setting aside for the spring! Even if you feel they are too small for you now, you may be surprised and you will find them way too big when you go back to them. I had this happen with a few items that my wife bought me that were too small to wear prior to surgery. I never wore them because I missed that window of opportunity between too small to way too big. You have no idea how being AVERAGE or NORMAL can feel so good. It may seem like a weird thought right now but you will know when you hit that point and it is nothing short of amazing!

I had my surgery on the 23rd but not down much from surgery day, down 14 lbs. Im not upset by that since I'm down 70 lbs with pre-op starting last Feb. I didnt think I would be losing at a very high rate after surgery since I lost so much up front. But, I feel really good and have no pain anymore. Been back to work since day 7 after surgery and have been fortunate that getting my Protein and Water has not been an issue. Now, that doesn't mean I can get much more in but at least I'm able to take in what I need. I start pureed/blenderized food on Monday so that will be a nice change of pace! I will be on normal food by the time I go on vacation in Mid September. I will be three weeks on Monday and will be playing in a golf outing this Sunday. Already tried hitting with a full swing and have been completely pain free. Doc said to listen to my body for determining what I can do but dont over do it so thats my plan.

I am in the same place as you although I am only 2 weeks post op as of today. My 2 weeks on Optifast leading up to surgery, I lost approximately 18 lbs, then another 11 lbs in the first wek while on the liquid diet. Now that week 2 has come and gone, I have not lost a thing this past week. I know from my caloric intake and protein intake that I cant possibly go without losing weight but it may just be different than what others have experienced. I know how you feel and sometimes think the same way, but i just keep telling myself that it will come off.... Now, I am down 70 lbs since February so my weight loss may be slowed since I lost the initial weight before surgery that many may not have lost until after. Regardless, I feel that once I can start rigorious physical activity, I will lose and keep the weight off.

I am not sure, my doctor seems to be a little more strict across the board on how we recover so..... Could just he that he is overly cautious but this is standard for my Bariatric Care Center.

Well, Monday, July 23rd is quickly approacing and I go on a clear liquid diet starting sunday. So far I have actually enjoyed the Optifast diet since I chose mostly the peanutbutter/chocolate and the chocolate bars. I think they taste pretty good, maybe I am weird!? To this point since I had my first consultation at the end of Jan, I am down 52 lbs and roughly 8 BMI points as of this morning. Only about 80 lbs left to goal! I hope that continues through after the sleeve. Only really one thing bugging me about this whole process is the fact that I can't lift over 15 lbs for the next month. That means I cant pick up my 1 year old....that will be harder than passing up any food out there! Anyway, I am looking forward to the big change next week, time to take it head on!

My doctor said 4 weeks because of the risk of infection at the incision sites. Showers only for 4 weeks, no "soaking" of any kind....

I am having my surgery on the 23rd and just started my 2 week pre-op Optifast diet on Sunday (8th). So far so good but yesterday was rough, I was truely hungry and the shakes were not cutting it....think I drowned myself in Water to compensate. Anyway, I thought I did a good job losing weight on my own over the past 4 months but have dropped 9.5 lbs since starting Optifast on Sunday. I really didn't think I would lose when on optifast because I had lost weight already, boy was I wrong! Good luck to all of you, gonna be a wild ride!

Well, I finally got my date, July 23rd. Although it is only 2 months out, it feels like it is so far away still. I just want it to get here so I can get started! I have had good luck with weight loss already just from changing my diet (down to 278 from 317 lbs) but they are still going to make me do the Optifast for 2 weeks prior, which I was hoping to avoid. Oh well, comes with the territory I guess. Not really looking forward to the Optifast diet even though I have really cut back on my eating!

I am scheduled for July 23rd with Dr. Zografakis in Akron, OH. I'm excited but it still seems so far away....

I've only told my dad/step mom and my brother/sister-in-law since they are my neighbors (yes, we have the family "compound". My wife is actually a surgical RN and works with the doctor doing my surgery, might be a little tough to get that past her...haha. Like others, most will be supportive but not worth that one person who isn't.... Fortunately I have been sticking to a very strict diet over the last 2.5 months since getting in the program and I am down 35-40 lbs. My weight loss now will mask the effects of the surgery so quick weight loss post surgery will not really be noticed.

I like this topic because I think it may be one of the most surreal aspects of this whole process. I am not sure what everyone else's situations have been over the past but I was never a big guy, I'm 5' 11" and ranged between 155-185 from the time started high school up through the time I was out of the military (4 years active duty) and into college. Since then, I have ballooned to 315 at the beginning of Feb. It will be weird and I do not ever feel like I will ever think I am skinny even WHEN I reach 175-185 again. I will clean out my closet and it will be a strage sensation to shop for normal, in-style clothes again because being bigger, selections are limited, especially for guys!