phdizzle

Thanks all!

good luck!

I think it takes time because dropping diet soda stimulates weight loss in 2 ways. 1. Your sodium intake is lower and therefore you lose Water weight 2. Diet soda causes cravings which make you want to overeat. So you may have already lost the water weight, but the reduction in eating could take longer, like regular weight loss. But removing it from your diet is a good idea overall. I similarly LOVE diet coke. I can't get enough it and I had serious withdrawal headaches when I went on my pre-op. But I'm glad I dropped it too!

Surgery was yesterday but in last 24 hours or so I've been getting a congested throat / behind the nose / chest. I probably spit phlegm 4-5 times. Mostly clear, but some darker. No fever. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks your advice - what's a hole in the carpet though?

Made it through surgery alive. Apart from getting really scared and crying when they strapped me in the bed in the OR. Felt really awful when I woke up - super nauseous. They have anti nausea and I feel better. Now at home. Two kinds of pain: 1. Abdomen pain - like doing wayyyyyy too many sit ups 2. Gas pain in belly and back. Had 3 gas x strips so far. Using heating pad on back. Have walked a few times since surgery. At hospital, going home and in my apartment once. Should I be walking every hour or so? My feet and legs are tingly- which makes walking annoying. Haven't passed any gas - cant wait to do so. Happy I can drink Water well enough. Eager to be healed.

I used gnc go lean which is amazing!!! Good luck Tiffany!

good luck!

Japandii also helpful thank you!!!

Wow that was SO helpful. Thank you so much IP9 for sharing.

Tomorrow I am headed in for surgery. I'm in an outpatient surgery center which is nice and very close to my apartment (in NYC) and my mom is coming in for the day to take me home. I'm trying to tie up all possible loose ends before I go in! Make sure my clothes are accessible, my trash is taken out, my dishes clean and all that jazz. Any advice for any post-op MUST HAVE's I should have accessible near my bed? Wish me luck.

I'm not planning to get pregnant. I'm required to stop them before my surgery and start them back 10 days post. Thanks for your support.

Happy to report I made it through my big holiday party without cheating once. I drank crystal lite throughout and half way through I snuck to the kitchen for half a Protein shake. I think some people caught on to my alcohol free night and suspected pregnancy - but who cares. In other news I'm on day 13 of pre-op and a little disappointed with my weight loss so far. I feel like I eat nothing and should be losing more. Ill have to readjust my expectations I guess. My big meatball if you will is my self esteem. Even though I've lost 10 lbs so far, looking at my pictures from my holiday party makes me feel so gross. And low self esteem is not really helping my excitement (though that's a bit counterintuitive you would think it would boost my motivation.) It doesn't help that my fiancée and my few friends who know about surgery act like its a magic solution and I've already lost all the weight. Further I think being off my birth control pills and limited calories has been toying with my emotions. Any advice on keeping self esteem in check?

I'm in the exact same boat! I keep dreaming that I cheat and then I feel really guilty. Ha! It will be better I'm sure! Good luck! I think we have surgery about the same time!

Greetings Banders - Today is day 10 of pre-op liquid diet and I'm proud to say I haven't cheated once. I think it's the fear of something going wrong in surgery because of not following strictly. Anyhow, this weekend my fiancee and I throw our annual holiday party which is a HUGE drinking and eating event. Because I'm hosting, it's the only one I haven't avoided. Wish me lots of luck making good choices this weekend! So far I've lost 9lbs on the pre-op diet. I'd like to lose 8/9 more so I am 200lb by my surgery date, next Wednesday. If I stick on my diet, I bet it's possible. Finally - looking for some reports from post-op'ers My friend who had her galbladder removed laproscopically that post operation she felt terrible for daysssssssssss. What's recovery time looking like for you all? Happy Holidays all!

Feeling good on Day 5! Finally... My continuous headaches and uber tiredness are GONE. After my crying screaming fit this morning, I feel like my emotions are back in check. I love, love, love GNC Lean shakes - the peppermint mocha and Cookies and cream are fantastic. I finished my 18 page draft of a term paper and I'm just 1 paper shy of finishing this semester. The ever Quest to become a real phdizzle. I'm not hungry - just extremely unsatisfied - I'm haunted by fantasies of delicious mexican food. Looking forward to 12/19!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I tasted a bunch of these choices but ultimately I found one that FINALLY tasted good. GNC lean blended with ice. http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12098395 Cookies and cream was delicious and I am looking forward to trying peppermint mocha tomorrow. It's a little higher in calories and carbs than Bariatric Advantage but I'll happily drink 3 of these per day instead of 4 of the other. I could barely get down 1-2 shakes per day.

Finishing up Day 3 of my Pre-Op Diet (11 more to go until surgery!) My doctor's pre-op diet guidance is 1 low-carb yogurt (I've been having fage 0% with a packet of truvia) 1 cup of skim milk 4 Protein shakes / day (1 of which I can have with sugar free pudding) Unlimited calorie free drinks + sugar free Jello + popsicles No caffeine, carbonation Caffeine headaches have finally subsided and I am rocking caffeine free living. Unfortunately I hate my Protein Shakes. Hate them. Bariatric Advantage high protein. Vomit. I feel like I've tried everything including mixing with pudding and nothing works. I'm thinking about picking up a store brand shake (allowed as long as it has 20+ grams of protein, limited carbs and <150 calories) Any suggestions? I'm dying over here.

Tomorrow is 2 weeks until my surgery! I'm started the all protein liver shrinking diet. I'm so excited to have a jump start for starting 2013 new. I'm getting married in May 2014 and I am so excited for the changes I will see between now and then. Wish me luck!