Sweetybabs

Woo Hoo! I am glad your doing so well! God is good!

Oh mercy...I can not begin to tell you the shock I was in when the surgeon called me this morning (minutes before my pre-op) and said he had to cancel my surgery! I thought..."WHAT? I have done 3 weeks of liquids for NOTHING!!!" I even asked if he was kidding. He said no...he had a death in his family and had to go out of state the day after my initial scheduled surgery and his two other partners are at a conference out of state...so there would be no one to take proper care of me. I appreciate my surgeon so much and his compassion was priceless. But, my tears were coming regardless if I wanted them or not. After a few minutes on the phone with my loving husband I was fine again. God has brought me this far and I refuse to let Satan "trip" me up! I will wait patiently for Nov. 23rd to have it done. Yes, that is 3 weeks away, which means 6 weeks of liquids! Yea me! And...it is the day before Thanksgiving! Again..yea me! The holiday thing is no real concern...but it hurts when you've worked so hard to get to the BIG day...and poof...the BIG day is 3 more weeks away! Worse things could happen! So... here I am in a daze... The way I see it is... this give me extra time to lose more weight (62 pounds lost so far!)...and more time to practice my drinking small sips...and more time to exercise...and so on! Over all it will all work out fine and I choose not to worry about it. I am very grateful for this experience and I look forward to the BIG day...when ever it is!

That is a great idea..with the medicine cup. Thanks

AWESOME! You look great!

I am excited for you! My surgery is Wednesday.... Keep us posted on your progress!

Yes, Thank you for the detailed blog! It was very informational...and I appreciate it!

I am 6 days from surgery! I get on here several times a week to stay up on the latest and greatest news on the sleeve surgery. I love the comments, warning, postive thoughts and prayers. I can see how the pain would make you second guess your decision. Most of us have zero tolerance for pain...me included. However, I know the pain is coming....much like pregnancy and childbirth...we have to metally prepare for the pain. I gave birth to three 9+ pound kids...so I think I got this! Check back with me next week to be sure....LOL Pain is more of a mental disability than a physical disability...so that is how I plan to cope. Keeping a clar mind...stay mentally busy and pray A LOT!!! I wish you a fast recovery and the same to all of us who are waiting to have our "new stomachs"! God bless!

My surgery is Nov. 2nd...and I have no real concerns. It is not different than any other surgery..all come with concerns and complication risk. However, this surgery will help me me healthier in the future. I have prayed about it and feel confident that this is the right thing for me. I trust my doctors and surgeon...and know I am in good hands. Positive thinking is a GREAT tool! I wish you the very best! Calm your mind with prayer! God bless!

I certainly will! Thanks so much!

Surgeons have to tell us that.... to protect themselves. So...with that being said..you know will lose atleast 65% of your weight! I am confident that I will lose 100% of mine! If we all do what we are suppost to do... diet and exercise...we can all get to our desired weight!

Congrats on the surgery date! Mine is Nov. 2nd...looks like we will be taking this walk together! I began my pre-op liquids on Oct. 18th ...I choose to do one extra week to REALLY shrink my liver! It has gone well and I am so ready! Best of luck and let us know if we can help! Babs

What a amazing blog...I loved it! I can relate to all of this! I lost a very dear friend too... FOOD! I had a nice long talk with it and we came to a mutual understanding that I will only eat what is good for my body...all other has to go. We agreed that I will no longer eat when I am happy..sad or indifferent. With this...I have lost 53 pounds BEFORE surgery, which is 10 days away. Like you...I am doing this for ME! I am the strongest person I know...and I KNOW like I KNOW....I will be a success with this tool (VGS)! I exercise daily...move more...and obey all the doctors orders. So...I am confident that all will go well with the surgery and the post op! Keep up the great work and stay positive! God Bless!

I am UHC too.... the good news is it only took one week for them to give me my approval! So..I too am praying for your approval! God bless!

I know what you mean! My husband is my ROCK! I am so blessed to have him in my life. When you have someone like that in your life..it makes everything easier. Enjoy!!

I have been on pre-op liquids for 13 days now... surgery is in 10 days....and I still eat with my family. I have broth or a protein shake and all is normal for us. I think "mind over matter" is the key. I cook meals for the family..bake cakes, cupcakes and brownies. I refuse to let my changes disrupt this family. We are no different now than we were when I ate like they did. I prepared myself for this journey months in advance and knew what was coming...I don't feel left out or cheated when I see my husband (6'5 and 180lbs) eating a BBQ Chicken and Bacon Sandwich, or when I see the kids eat warm baked chocolate chip cookies. I actually look at them and think...Ewww, I use to eat that! Yuk! I ask..."Do you know how many calories that is?"...ha ha ha! I am very aware of food and what food does to people...mentally and physically. It can control people...it once controlled me. I would binge eat at times... having a Starbuck coffee, 2 chocolate twist donuts...on the way to work and then eat a McGriddle Combo at work. Later snacking on chips or pastries before lunch. Lunch would be Chinese or Mexican food...ending with ice cream sundaes or another pastry. Gotta have dessert right? Then I'd snack all afternoon...get a treat on the way home and still have Dinner...maybe pasta and bread or fried tacos. And last but never the least...CHEESECAKE for a bedtime snack! Yep....I ate all of that in one day! I can't even count the calories or carbs in that. And I wonder why I weighed 350+ pounds! Humm...I figured out the answer. So....now when I watch others eat like I did..it grosses me out! Food is not our friends...I look food in the face....watching Food Network or the Cooking Channel all the time... and know it no longer controls me. I control it! I decide what goes in my body now. I love to cook..so watching those TV show about cooking..inspires me to change up the recipes and make it healthier for me and my family. Remember....and I may eat these words in the weeks to come...LOL...but, eventually we can all eat our favorite foods...we just won't eat LARGE portions. I have friends who have had the sleeve and the RNY and most are 6 yrs out now...they eat whatever they want but small portions. So...someday we too can have BBQ Chicken and Bacon sandwiches...or maybe just a bite or two..which will satisfy us completely. Liquids are tough...but look at the reward...you are so close to the soft foods..and trust me I would love some mashed potatoes too. I weigh everyday...it keeps me honest! Yes the scale moves differently everyday...I know somedays it is + and others is -...I just know that my body is changing and it helps me know what I need to change. Savor this moment...embrace it and prepare for the next phase...nothing last forever! You are doing great! God bless!

I am out of the 300's....no more 350+ either! I feel TWO-riffic!!! I have been battling a sinus cold...and my feet hurt soooo bad from the plantar Faciitis that I can barely move...but I keep walking the 1 1/2 miles per day and all the other stuff that I do on a daily bases. Timing was great on the sinus cold though...I would rather have it now..than to have it while I am recovering from surgery. Let's see what else am I doing... I have been on the liquid pre-op diet for 13 days now....it really hasn't been that difficult. Here is what I eat every day (or close to it). 4oz 1% milk with a scoop of IsoFlex Protein (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Egg drop soup or other soup stocks Jello Decaf tea and coffee Over 80 oz of water per day That is my new diet! In those 12 days..I have lost 8.8lbs! That is good...but I was hoping for a bigger number! I excercise daily...most of the time it is me walking 1 1/2 miles per day. I can't do cardio because of my AFib..and bad knee. So walking is my friend. I bought the Zumba...but haven't been doing it...why you ask... I have no cordination ...and it frustates me. I will keep trying though. What else.. Surgery is in 10 days! Yes...10 days...next Wednesday! I am so excited for this..I have worked very hard to reach my goal..(being under 300 lbs before surgery) and now that I am there (298.2) I am ready! I don't have any major fears... surgery itself is scary but I have a great team of doctors and my surgeon is the BEST! If I have any concerns it is post-surgery with blood clots...I take coumidin and that is always scary! My pulmonologist is awesome and I know he will take great care of me. Family... oh how I love the support I am getting from everyone. NO ONE is unsupportive in my friends and family circle. I am truly blessed and I know this after ready the post on here. My family has prepared and is waiting patiently for the surgery day too. Well... that is it of now! God bless!

What kind of documentation is needed for these surgeries to be covered? Also, I heard on the breast lift...the insurance company requires you to reduce to a "B" cup. Any one know if this is true? (I have been a "F" cup all of my adult life and it would look really weird for me to be a "B" cup)

It is amazing how most of our storys ...are the same! My journey was 3 months to the day...surgery is Nov. 2nd. I would have been devestated to learn that it was actually 6 mths.. Just think of it as added knowledge and time to prepare for the actual WLS experience. I began a strict diet on Aug 2nd... 1200 calories 90 carbs or less 80-100 proteins 50 fats 80 oz of water or more per day walking 1/2-1 1/2 miles per day All of this helped me lose 52+ pounds before surgery! Which has helped me correct a lot of my bad habits! I am blessed to have had the support team to help me through this. Now, I am on the pre-op liquid diet (1 week in and 2 weeks to go) and let me tell you it has been easy! Yes, I said it HAS been easy! My mind and body are on the same page and that makes all the difference. I wish you the best in your journey and look forward to seeing the results! God bless!

I vote...YES!!!! I weigh everyday...it keeps me honest and it helps me make good food choices knowing I am accountable to the scale. The scale doesn't lie! Some days it is up...down or stays the same...either way, I know am doing ok or I need to change things up a bit! To me it is another tool to my weight loss goal!

I agree.. has someone not shared their success story with me...I wou;dn't be doing it either. I am grateful to ALL the people who shared their WLS stories with me! I hope I inspire someone or many...to change their life-time of obesity to a life-time of being healthy!

I too had never seen a therapist...but went reluctantly! I actually went twice..and enjoyed both sessions! I had already been on the program 2 months before going...so I had come to terms with my food "demons". All went well...and I am clear for surgery on Nov. 2nd. I highly recommend everyone get control of your food habits..the sleeve, band or RNY will NOT help you do this! It is YOU and only YOU that will make those necessary changes...the sleeve (WLS) is a tool..not a solution. Wean yourself off of your "sugar/food" a little at a time. If you want chocolate, eat a Hershey Kiss instead of a large piece of chocolate cake or pie! If you crave caramel...have a Werthers Butter Cream candy...see how this works? There is a modest subsitute for every craving. Try eating 1-3 (no more than 3) bites to satify your craving. I hope these tips help you...I know that is how I lost my 50+ pounds before surgery! God bless!

I am pre-op... surgery is Nov. 2nd..and I know what you're talking about. I too have used the past 3 months to prepare for this permanant lifestyle change. What I found that worked for me is...I made my plate..or ordered as normal. Then I would only eat half...take home the other half or freeze it. Sharing with another person helps too! This helps you cut back on large protion sizes. I am on the liquid part of the pre-op...and it is easy because I was already use to the small portions. I drink 80-100 oz of water a day...so I never really feel hungry! Eating slow is still a hurdle for me. I have 4 girls living at home and 4 other grown children outside of the home..we are never still. So...that will be my greatest challenge! I hope this helps!

I know what you mean..isn't a calorie a "calorie" no matter what it is..or how it is consumed?

AND....all of the carbs are coming from the milk products!

I am pre-op on the liquid diet...walking 1 1/2-2 miles a day! Why is the scale going the other way! I have gained 1 pound! That makes no sense to me! I am averaging... 800-1000 calories per day 90-115 proteins per day 70-80 carbs per day 20-25 fats per day 80-100 oz of water/liquids per day (No sugar, no soda, no real food..nothing but protein shakes with 1% milk, gogurts, sugar-free pudding and soup broth) PLUS...I exercise! What am I doing wrong? The scale has varied... 10/11/11...307.0 10/12/11...304.0 10/13/11...302.6 10/14/11...301.6 10/15/11...302.0 10/16/11...301.2 10/17/11...302.2 See the problem here on the last 5 days of liquid? Am I getting to much protein...using to much milk... to much sodium in the broth (I only eat one cup per day)...WHAT? Sad in Oklahoma!