makemyownluck

cut out carbs - clean your cabinets and fridge, get rid of rice, Pasta, sugar, all of it. Give it away if you can. Otherwise, toss it. You WILL be tempted to eat it if it's already right there. Get rid of your soda and other sweetened beverages, even juice - it has carbs, too. Replace 1 or 2 meals with Protein shakes. Increase your protein so you feel full without the carbs. Start moving. Walk around the block a few times, hit the gym, whatever. Just walk. If nothing else, walk, walk, walk. IDK what you're starting at weight wise, but most overweight people are carrying around a lot of Water weight, so watch your sodium intake also. Skip salt when you can. So yeah, basically do what your dietitian says. It works!

the only thing you need to use with caution after being sleeved are NSAIDs for prolonged periods of time because you will have a much higher risk of an ulcer with a smaller stomach.

YESS!!!!! Call them twice a day if you need to. They are working FOR YOU! I mean, be polite and patient, but don't ever hesitate to call when you need something.

I think that would differ for everyone. Being overweight means you have a lot of fat on and around your organs, so losing weight will help them function better by not being overcrowded in your body with fat. Your heart will definitely improve because it won't have to work so hard to maintain your smaller body, as I'm sure is true for other organs as well. As far as statistical data like with quitting smoking, I think there's probably too many variables to come up with a number that would be relevant anyway. When you're evaluating a single organ like the lungs, you can get a test group of people with similar stats to compare, but with a whole body, there's no way to predict how all of these organs would work together any more than you can predict where someone is going to get cancer in 20 years. lol, forgive me if that makes NO sense, I'm in a pre-op liquid diet head fog.

That's great!! Good job -- I'm a high BMI'er myself and wanna pull off some impressive numbers like that!

I gotta say, I'm surprised I got so much "DON'T DO IT" feedback... I already made my choice to have this surgery. This time next week will be my Sleeve Eve and I'm ready for it. I mistakenly thought more people would say they had these thoughts as well. That doubt was all part of nerves. But whatever, if I'm unique in these thoughts, I'm okay with that. I'm just being honest with myself, but I'm not going to back out of this now! I've made all these healthy changes to be prepared for what's coming, not so I can turn and run away.

I did low carb, high Protein diet for months. Started eating greek yogurt for Breakfast and at lunch with a small salad. I made homemade Soups on the weekend to have during the week for dinner, broth-based with lots of veggies, nothing with cream. Kept it light, but still satisfying. This worked out really well for me because it was winter time, too. IDK how much I'd love it eating Soup like that all summer... I'm not vegetarian, but I did start having Morningstar sausages for breakfast on the weekends, and I really recommend the brand Gardein. They have really good breaded items that are somehow low in carbs. They are really good and satisfy a crunchy, breaded craving. I also incorporated healthier Snacks like almonds, cheese sticks and Veggie chips. I didn't count anything but carbs. I tried to stay under 90 for the day, and it was pretty easy to do. NO processed food, no bread (except the occasional whole grain toast when out to breakfast), no Pasta. No Desserts, no soda, limit those indulgences. I allowed one meal a week to have anything I wanted or really craved. I did this for months and definitely gave in a few more times that I should have around Christmas, but all in all, I stuck with it pretty well. I could have lost a lot more if I'd gone to the gym, but I went AT BEST once a week, and that's an average of weeks of going 4-5 times a week and weeks not going at all... it's still something I'm working on! Seems when it comes to working out for me, I either GO HARD or stay home - literally! Good luck to you!

They are carbs, but still full of great nutrition. It's a good carb to have, unlike processed foods, white carbs, etc. Everything in moderation, and natural is always best!

Thank you and congrats on having your date set!! I'm definitely trying to focus on the positive and keep my eye on the prize. The fact is that I'm freaking starving and the only reason I'm sticking to my diet is because I have this goal in mind. If I cancelled tomorrow, I'd be back to my old eating habits in no time! I need to remember why I'm doing this. To better my health and my life! My sleeve is already working for me and I haven't even gotten it yet - I've gotten this far because I've been preparing for the new me. I think the doubt is cuz I'm nervous, and that's natural in this situation..

You steam a cauliflower and then I think you cut the florets off and put it through a food processor. Makes it a "rice" texture. Then use a cheese cloth to squeeze out all the moisture. I saw it on the food network or cooking channel a few months ago. I was intrigued, but I haven't tried it myself yet. This recipe sounds realllllly good! I <3 cauliflower!

I just had my "first 50lbs lost" celebration Saturday. The celebration consisted of weighing myself about 20 times to verify my scale was working and then doing a happy dance. *gasp* I celebrated something without food! It's true, it IS possible! A SV and a NSV all at once! Well, I started feeling really lightheaded over the past few days and it was concerning me because it was to the point that I thought I might fall over or pass out if this kept progressing. I called my MD and made an appointment for this afternoon. My bp was only 100/60! Six months ago it was 168/94. My doctor told me to stop taking my HTN med! HOORAY!! I'M MEDICATION-FREE!!! I was talking to the nurse who was surprised that I've lost 50lbs pre-op. She was asking me what kind of diet they had me on and how I was feeling about it. I told her I felt hungry all the time, but it wasn't unbearable. She told me she didn't want to discourage me, but that I had a rough few weeks ahead of me... but also that she was really excited for me and can't wait to see the results. I'm really just so proud of myself that all my hard work has paid off to better health already. But it also gets me wondering if I should be having surgery, why see how far I can get on my own... unlike a lot of people, I haven't had the yo-yo thing my whole life. What if in preparing myself for surgery, I was able to learn enough to make better choices and live a healthier life without surgery? And then I wondered if the reason I don't want people knowing I had surgery might have a LITTLE to do with my own shame over my weight and my lack of control. Yes, I'll be happy to lose weight - but wouldn't I be just a little prouder if I knew I did it without surgery? Maybe. But I'll be proud of myself for losing the weight in any event, so why should it matter how I get there? I don't wanna feel like "I've come to far to back out now" but I really didn't start having doubts until today, when I realized that I could effect change in my body, all by myself... The doubt isn't so great that I'm going to postpone surgery, but it's definitely got me thinking... Did anyone have or had similar thoughts/questions? Surgery is 9 days short away...

I'm pre-op as well and have had about the same amount of time between getting scheduled and my date. I got my date of May 2nd at the end of March, but my insurance didn't approve it til the first week in April. It seems like time has somehow slowed down AND sped up at the same time. This surgery is all I can think about anymore -- in some form or another. So, be prepared for some sleepless nights (get some Melatonin, it's saving my life right now!) and lots of time on this board! The more you learn, the better you'll do! Congrats on getting your date! LET THE FUN BEGIN!

I totally agree with the glorfied candy bar analogy! I look at labels of the different ones I see all the time, and none of them seem like a good nutritional value, aside from the fact they have protein. And considering you can get more out of a shake protein-wise, and they are less calories/carbs, I'll stick with shakes until my diet can include more protein-dense food choices. Of course, that's easy to say considering I'm still pre-op! I'm not even a week into my pre-op liquid diet and I'm already completely sick of these shakes!!

Stop it! I just posted about my tummy doing whale songs yesterday!! Lol, we ARE sleeve sisters! Liquids still suck. I'm over them... gonna be a long 9 days. PLUS post op, ugh. All part of the journey, I guess!

I noticed that those interactions dried up the more weight I put on. I'm looking forward to getting those lost interactions back as I lose more weight. It wouldn't tick me off when it's strangers. But I'm already wondering about a few SNAKES around my office and how they'll be allll in my business when they start seeing me lose. It'll be interesting to see how people I know react to the smaller me!

Go, girl!

Every doctor tells their patients something different, so I think it's really up to you to limit what you do so you don't over do it. My doctor said no lifting over 10lbs until 6 weeks out. But I can walk around as much as I feel like I can handle. You don't want to rip open an incision or give yourself a hernia! But getting some exercise will do you good, but maybe not lifting quite yet...

I'm pre-op, started near where you are (my high is 459) and I've already lost over 50lbs. I'm having surgery May 2nd, so I'm excited to see how much I lose total. As "high BMI'ers" we tend to lose more quickly, but we'll hit stalls just like everyone else does. My surgeon says his results with sleeve vs. bypass are similar. Bypass patients maybe lose 5-10lbs more than the sleeve patients do, and I can live with that if it means fewer complications long term. Bypass patients can regain weight just like we can, but we don't have as high of a risk of long term anemia or Vitamin deficiencies like they do because of their intestines being altered. Everyone has to make their own choice on what they want to live with - either surgery is going to require work on your part! Good luck!

Welcome to the site! I'm having surgery May 2nd and hope to get out of it exactly what you're hoping to get out of it. Thanks to this tool, we'll both get there!

Hell week - so appropriate. Hell twoweeks is more like it. I appreciate the feedback. Can't wait to feel like Superwoman, Bean! I called my PCP and I'm going to see him tomorrow afternoon just to be sure it's not my blood pressure. I am on a med and I've lost a bit of weight in the past few months, so it's possible that it's getting too low. I was doing okay with the lightheadedness over the weekend, but today at work there was about a 10-20 second period where I really felt like I was going to pass out. It was kinda scary, I won't lie. I just really hope it's not something that will delay my surgery... but I don't know if I can deal with this for another week and a half, especially if it gets worse like it did today. Then again, if my doc tells me to stop my bp med and my bp is too high the day of surgery, that could be a problem. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I just want to feel right.

Well... at least you know what you are. :)

I'm assuming you're one of the "lower BMI" patients... and I'm sorry you've gotten such discouragement from professionals along the way. They should all know better! As a high BMI'er who's gotten nothing but support from my MD, nurses and all the people I've met along the way with my pre-op requirements, I can say that their support hasn't made me feel better about myself or my decision. It kinda made me feel like, "Well, why would they say I don't need it? I'm freakin' huge." It's a shame that they think they are entitled to tell you what they think. I'm not sure what response is best (probably no response is best, but I'd have to bite my tongue from saying something like, "I don't remember asking for your opinion..." while making a face as if I were trying to recall if I did ask for their opinion...) Try not to let them get you down. They don't know your whole story!

yayyyy on having a date! I changed surgeons as well, however I'm doing mine in the US. You have to be comfortable with who you're choosing, I give you credit for having the guts to go with a surgeon you've not actually met! I wish you good luck with your journey!

AGREED! I wanted to (figuratively) murder every single one of my neighbors when I smelled the grills being fired up yesterday. I can't imagine baking a cake right now. Unless I planned to use it as a pillow. For my face.

You can call your insurance and ask if you have a pre-existing waiting period. They can tell you when it ends (can be up to 2 years)