Birdy18

There is no such thing as failure here. Yes when we are at a stand still, we do feel like we've failed, but in reality, we haven't! you are doing great and at the end of the road when your at goal, you will have less baggy skin to deal with! That's fantastic in it's self. Just continue to eat Proteins and veggies and the weight will come off. We are have times when we experience this too.

I will be happy when I am not having my Asian Mom not give me those disapproving glances when I eat and to her not saying " your so pretty but just dont gain any more weight". I am tired of the the "Skinny B!tches" checking my husband out and giving their looks of disbelief when they see who he is with (me) I will be "Skinny B!tch" too only maybe not so much a B!tch.Knowing my Mother in law won't be talking about my weight to my husbands entire family behind my back and instead she will be talking and speculating on the lack there of but I am not telling her a thing . I look forward to not getting Fat Girl Rash on my thighs where they rub together when I wear dresses in the summer. Wearing a swimsuit that isn't black and doesn't look like an old lady suit. Not always feeling like a "Schlumpadinka" in my clothes,

Can't wait to not hear "...but you have such a pretty face" said to me directly as if it's a compliment!
Can't wait to rock the fashion and styles I truly love and that's fitting for a trendy 28-year old girl!
Can't wait to not be the "fat friend".

Can't wait to not hear "...but you have such a pretty face" said to me directly as if it's a compliment!
Can't wait to rock the fashion and styles I truly love and that's fitting for a trendy 28-year old girl!
Can't wait to not be the "fat friend".

Can't wait to not hear "...but you have such a pretty face" said to me directly as if it's a compliment!
Can't wait to rock the fashion and styles I truly love and that's fitting for a trendy 28-year old girl!
Can't wait to not be the "fat friend".

I can't wait to feel comfortable in my own skin, to not have my thighs rub together, to meet new people and not think that they must be thinking how fat I am. To not be looked at by other people (particularly men) like I'm invisible. To have clothes that fit properly- no matter the size I wear, not all of the outfit fits my body- leaving some loose some tight (make sense?). This is my big one....to sit in a chair and not try and have most of the weight taken on my legs for mortal fear of the chair collapsing underneath me. And my other big one- to sit down at a cafe/restaurant and eat/drink without being out of breath or can't eat as my fat squishes my stomach making me feel ill. To not take several attempts to get out of my couch, shuffling my big fat bum further to the end of the seat to get up. To one day have someone look further than my skin folds and fall in love with me as a person. To no longer have guys drunkingly confess that they really like who I am but can't get past the weight factor. Needless to say- I will NOT be giving them another chance on the future!

Cant wait to wear something nice to sleep instead of a big ass shirt.
I cant wait to dress my age.
Cant wait for my stomach not to hang over my jeans. And always look like a rice sack wearing a belt.
I cant wait to say " damn i look good in that dress"
I cant wait for people to not judge me by my appearence but by my brains and heart

Can't wait to not panic when at a restaraunt they are about to seat us at a booth, and I'm wondering if I can fit!
Can't wait to not have to worry if my shirt is pulled down all the way in the back, so my big b---- is not showing:)

I am only two months out and I have a completely different outlook on life. I have so much more energy. I no longer dread going out in my clothes that are too tight, or worrying that I am so big and unhealthy compared to my friends and aquaintences. I used to hate to go shopping, but now it is becoming an adventure. I just got out of the Plus departments and into regular sizes. Granted I have to wear size 18 pants and XL tops, but the selection is SO MUCH BETTER!! I am trying not to buy much now because I will continue to lose and get smaller, but it is fun just trying things on and having them fit! I no longer look ahead to social events with dread. I am starting to look forward to them! The best part of all is my relationship with food is changing. I was so afraid that I would have to "give up" all my favorite foods. I am discovering that I can still eat delicious things and stay within healthy guidelines. My tastes have changed, (for the better) my cravings are diminished. It is A LOT easier to resist your head hunger when you really do not feel hungry. It is a lot easier to make good choices when you don't feel that sensation of being so hungry you can't think straight. I feel like food is no longer a monkey on my back. Don't get me wrong, there are still things that tempt me. I may occassionally eat a little bit of a tempting treat, BUT I can stop at a little bit and eating it no longer triggers my going on a week long bender of eating junk and sweets. That is so liberating!

Hang in there. I cheated with grilled chicken breast strips nearly the whole time and my surgeon had no issues. Just make sure you stay away from carbs---one carb cheat will make you feel like you are starting over. I tossed in the grilled chicken breast and did enough time on the elliptical to burn any extra calories I had consumed--and still lost 14 pounds. Nutritionist said it probably made me lose more to do it that way. Help--aka your sleeve--is on the way!!!

liquid diet blows. The pre-op is horrible and nearly impossible until you get to day 3 or 4.....seems to get easier after that. I am 9 days post-op, and the liquid/pureed stage is way way way easier now. Like it is not even a problem at all. It isn't like you have to do it for months without a tool. A week of the post-op is easier than one day of pre-op. You can do it---and it will sucketh royally at times, but it is not nearly as hard as you think.

I copied a post I made in another thread about pre-op diets here. Hope this helps you.
........may I just say for someone struggling with the liquid diet that I am pretty sure we would all agree that....... liquid diet SUCKS! Not just sucks a little bit but really really really sucks. So if you are all whiny and angry and down and thinking about driving up to a window for a heart attack in a sack....don't think there is anything wrong with you. If there is anyone out there who can say that the liquid diet was a breeze then they most likely wouldn't need surgery.
The good news....it starts getting easier about day 3. Somewhere along day 3 you go into ketosis if you are on a high protein/low carb diet. This acts as a natural appetite suppressant. If I had to do 14 days of day 1 or 2 I would never make it. I am on day 4 and it was doable today. Not fun, not pleasant, but doable. To be honest, however, I have been an over-sensitive, emotional wreck for the past 3 days. If you are reading this on the first few days of your pre-op diet you are probably overly sensitive, tired, shaky, have a headache, and are absolutely starving. The entire world is probably ticking you off and you could come through the computer and slap someone that says "if you can't do the pre-op how are you going to do the post-op?" I caved and had a boiled chicken breast and asparagus on the first night, then a boiled chicken tender on day 2 and 3. Today I did ok. If you do cheat, make it a smart one. Don't cheat with carbs or you will kill the ketosis benefit. Good luck..........
In other news--I am now 10 days post-sleeve and the liquid diet is so very very very easy now compared to before. My first surgery date was cancelled (anesthesia issues--nothing to do with pre-op diet) and I had to continue on the pre-op diet for another week. I was so discouraged and upset and struggled so much that last week. I mean--there was a baconator combo involved--upsized. This is hard--very very very hard and you don't have the help of a sleeve yet. Do the best you can--have a "smart cheat" lined up so you won't fall off the wagon into a cheeseburger--and realize that help is on the way.

My surgery went very well. I quit taking pain meds the first day, and I was up and walking around the evening of my surgery. I haven't had any nausea or vomiting since I've had my surgery, which is exactly one year today. It was difficult to get the 64 ounces of Fluid in at first. I think it took me several weeks to be able to do it.

Let me pile on. This is a great thread. Given the way it has exploded, I think it points out that best case is pretty common.
I had an easy surgery exept it was hard to pass gas because I was constipated (make sure you don't have one in the chamber when you go into surgery). After that everything was a breeze.
I took a week off from work but did not need it. Zero pain, nausea or hearburn. I was walking two miles, 4 days post op. I was back to working a 60 hour week 10 days after the surgery. I get my Protein and my Water every day without much drama. I am starting to renew my social life (without beer). I am eating out occasionally to feel more normal (sashimi, Soups and seafood).
I just had my 4 week post-op visit today. I am down 45 lbs since I started my pre-op diet 6 weeks ago. That is almost half way to my goal. I am taking my calories up to 1,000 a day.

I am off Cholestoral and blood-pressure medicine. CPAP machine is in the trash. Leaving for a trip around the world next week. No worries.

You're doing so well - great job!!
I'm on day.. (where am i?).. 4. The mornings are always easier for me in terms of how I feel. I make my own shake with ice (Shakeology) and am ok until around mid-day. Then the mental fog sets in. I heard around day 4 that you're supposed to feel a ton better, and I'm not sure that I do yet. I feel like I'm outside my body, not really present. Yes, I am aware that I am speaking like a complete alien, but I feel that way! Ah!
The first two days I had the worst headaches (carb withdrawal, luckily cut out caffeine months ago). And I already "cheated" with a few bites of grilled chicken each on those first two days.
Every time I'm having a particularly tough moment with the all liquids, I come to this forum. It does help, but I feel like I'm struggling so much more with the pre op than other people have mentioned. I guess my will power and addiction to food (both physically and emotionally) are just coming to a head. I'm just willing the 10 days I have left to pass by as quickly as possible but I admit that this is really really hard for me!

I thank you all too! I was on the verge of canceling the surgery. I think I'm now back on board!!

I want to Celebrate and shout from the rooftops! I made my surgeons goal on my appt day! I didnt even know he had a goal for me and he turns to me and says, "Congratulations, you made goal!" I said what??? I made up an arbitrary goal of 135 because i remember weighing that in college. I had no idea what my goal was supposed to be... He said "see, your ideal weight is 138 and I weighed in at exactly 138! Wow.. I thought I had missed it by three pounds but it was so refreshing to say that I finally made A goal. I always fall short but not this time! My wonderful hubby made a great slideshow of the whole process, starting from our Brazil vacation spring of 2011 to now. Its been quite a ride!!!!! Woohooo... I cant believe I made my surgeons goal in exactly one year!!!!! Wooop! enjoy the show..
http://animoto.com/play/a5Pa3Hpgm8GSDxDYkhPFuA?utm_content=main_link

Omg this is wonderful and helpful information...I am scheduled on Aug 29th . Thank you all for making me a little less nervous.. EXCITED IS WHAT I AM...

I would say mine was super easy. The worst thing I had was the nurses trying to make me get into a bed that was too tall for me, but that was quickly fixed. The only other problem I had right after surgery was being extremely thirsty, I couldn't do my test for leaks yet and until then I couldn't have anything so I got those lemon lolly things that tasted nasty lol. I was ready to get up and walk around first thing the next morning(my surgery was in the late afternoon/early evening so i was pretty much asleep the rest of that day). I walked around as often as they let me out of my room and once I was home I felt great and could do pretty much anything except bend over to pick stuff up because my abs were sore.
I've gotten sick a total of 2 times in the 20 months since. The first time I ate 1/4 piece of bread well part of it and my body was like nope not happening (that was 4 months after surgery and I don't eat bread now by choice) and the second time was after I had a really strong drink, I hate that feeling of instant drunk so I don't drink often and someone ordered me one on my Bday and boy o boy I didn't get 1/4 of the way through and I was long gone lol.
Other than that it's been smooth sailing and easy going, but I don't tend to push it with anything. That doesn't mean I haven't had any snags with habits.

Are you serious, you felt guilty. Yesterday my family pulled the same move. I had to watch them, eat great looking food. Me on the other hand, I'm eating broth from chicken noodle soup and having to leave the chicken and the noodles. The waitress was looking at me like I was crazy when I just ordered a soup. Then looked at me like I was insane when she picked up a broth-less bowl with chicken and noodles.

So I had my pre-op nutrition appointment this evening. I really like the nutritionist and it was a plus because she spoke good English. Our convo went into Spanish several times, but I really like talking about all this health stuff in English. She took my height, weight, and measurements. It is confirmed I am shorter than I originally thought! 165 cm equals 5'5 ....Wow. I thought I was more like 5'6. So we talked about my history, she looked at my labs and told me how great and healthy they look. Again, confirmed I am healthy fat. If such a thing. HA! Anyway we talked about a variety of subjects. She did give me homework:
No Sugar
No Flour after 4 PM
Practice eating slower (I told her I am a fast eater)
No Calorie Counting
and she told my husband to HIDE THE SCALE!!!
Can I just tell you that I am a daily weigher, but after being on the boards for the last few weeks, I do believe it will be a great habit to break prior to surgery. My husband told the nutritionist he loves her for life.

I am a week shy of 3 months out and I feel pretty much normal. I can sleep on my stomach, I can do crunches when I work out, I had an alcoholic ( low cal) drink, and I can eat a little bit more. Not a lot, but more than 2 tbsp like in the beginning. I'm still steadily losing, some weeks better than others. I'm down 57 lbs now and it's all been worth it. Hang in there!
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You have no idea how relieving it is to hear someone say this! I'm on day two (really, it's only been two days?!) of pre op too and I snuck bites of plain tuna and had pieces of grilled chicken (no skin) yesterday. I'm in a constant mental haze and fog, and the headaches are pretty unbearable. Just thinking about your comment and knowing that beyond hopefully days 3 and 4, it'll get better. Don't even get me started on the BMs...

I'd like to at least see and feel what "too small" may be like! If I don't like it...I'm an expert at gaining weight, I already know that!

Can you imagine with the technology what WLS will be like in 20 years from now? Lol that's crazy.