Marisa46

I try everything. For me sweets in general never feel good going down. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) they haven't made me sick. One great thing I have found is Starbucks hot cocoa mix. I mix it with skim or 1% lactose free milk and seriously the chocolate is so good. It's not sugar free but it doesn't make me sick and it satisfies my chocolate craving.

Take a few deep breaths and don't stress yourself so much. I know easier said than done. You will handle what ever comes up in the future beautifully!

Thanks! those are great exercises and I am going to try them all!

Don't fret; stalls are normal...just keep doing what you're doctor told you to and you will see a loss. Don't get discouraged.

Question about the hair loss-- Have y'all been keeping track of your protein? I've been afraid of hair loss too and have been making sure I get at least 60 grams of protein a day. I hope that hasn't been in vain.

When I cant use food, I feel very irritable. I agree that this is a learning experience and no one said it would be easy, but I really wish it was easier than this! Good luck with everything

Thank you!

Good luck to everyone! Don't think in terms of how much weight but think about how you look and how you feel. Trust me your doctors will let you know if you are losing too slowly.

Just take it slow...and remember that not everything will be scary. I empathize with the PTO problem; I'm eligible for FMLA but at the moment my boss is being less than supportive about my being off. It must be so much worse if your family isn't supportive. I've only had one person in my family not support me. The great thing about this site is that you can say everything that's on your mind. I've found great support here also. Good luck on your journey.

The doctors in my group don't require a Pre-op diet, thank God. They only ask that you eat smaller meals for a couple of days prior to surgery and nothing after midnight the night before surgery. Am I the only one on this site who's doctors don't require a Pre-op diet?

No, I've heard of other doctors who don't require a liquid diet. A lot of the centers have different requirements. I envy you. Today is a better day but I wish I could just eat! But it will be another month or so before I'm eating regular food again.

Hey! Done is done! If you keep beating yourself up you run the risk of giving up. Forgive yourself and move on to tomorrow. One day at a time-- You can do this.

Your blog made me smile today. I'm inspired that someone who is so busy and has so much emotional dynamite to deal with handled life's crap in a thoughtful manner (completely unlike me!) and you are dealing with things from a position of strength. You are great!

I'm sorry things went so poorly during the beginning; I'm praying for the rest of your journey to be much easier.

I understand. I, like you, are not worried about the surgery, but I am worried about whether I have the coping skills not to turn to food when things are hard. But the reality is that's one of the reasons I need to have the surgery. Food has become a much larger part of my life than is healthy. My therapist says that as long as I start out with a good sense of who I am before the surgery that's going to help me through the changes after the surgery. I think that your post is very intuitive. You seem really in sync with what you are feeling and thinking; so, IMO, you're going to be the same after surgery. By the same I mean just fine.

I hope things get better for you soon and you feel better. 24 pounds is 2 dress sizes--way to go!

Wow! Thursday you must be so nervous & excited! I can relate to sending an email to all of your friends. I'm really independent too and I don't want to be a burden. I hadn't thought about my time in the hospital. I was just concerned with getting a ride to and from! The mass email is a good idea--thanks for sharing it!

Way to hit it out of the park! Bravo!

I'm just going to imagine myself trying on beautiful clothes in stores that I could never shop in now! Much better than a coke!

Wow! Great discipline I hope I'm able to be as disciplined when the time comes.

Thanks kiki you are totally right about just smiling and ignoring the conversation. I hope I can adjust to the afterwards as well as you have.

I'm glad that you're progressing so well. Don't let anyone tell you you took the easy way out. The WLS process is not easy and change is difficult in the most perfect situations. if a person needs WLS the situation is not perfect! Be proud of yourself for overcoming all of those hurdles to get to the other side! Remember to be kind to yourself.

Thanks Joni, Spatters, and Longer Life! You are all right! I do deserve the help, I am afraid that I'll be turned down, and I know that as a Christian part of our journey is about being of service to others so I shouldn't deny people the chance to help me. It is so hard! I told all of my immediate family and my closest friends. Usually I tell people stuff after I've finished it!

The hospital won't release me to go home in a cab someone has to be there taking responsibility for me. Security (liability). Good news--when I let people know I needed the help, two people were like "you know I'll do this for you--quit stressing"

That made me feel good. Spatters you know how hard it is to be rejected when you are in need, I'm so glad they said yes because it would have really hurt to have no one who would help me.

& Happy New Life to you ShapeShifter! Thanks

Thanks everyone! It's good to know I'm not alone while changing my life. Encouragement is wonderful!

I can understand not wanting to share it with the people you work with because it is PRIVATE. I've been going back and forth in the decision to share with the people I work with. Fortunately (unfortunately?) when I evaluated my relationship with my team members I realized that I don't think of them as good friends. Really, my idea of them is as friendly co-workers.

I don't plan on telling anyone who is not family or a close friend. If a person and I haven't had a heart to heart in the entire time I've known them then I see no reason to share my private information. They will know I'm having surgery and I will be out for so much time. That's it.

I worry about people commenting after the surgery, but I plan to dodge any inquiries. Honestly, though if you are close to these people and you genuinely want to share with them by all means share. If one of them has a different opinion than yours--discuss it. Your discussion with them will teach them a few things they don't know. If you want to keep something private then please allow yourself to do so.