bethL

Hey slinderella! Thanks so much for the kind words. I didn't think of stocks. That's a fabulous idea. I've been using Japanese and Chinese seasonings to spice things up a bit. Anyone who says surgery is the easy way out is full of it. This is literally the hardest thing I have ever had to do and I am ashamed of myself for letting myself become this far gone. I am so grateful for this site. I've been surfing it all day attempting to convince myself that it's worth it.

I'm really struggling with this pre-op diet. I am so famished. I look forward to taking my vitamins so I can chew something, and I am probably drinking my weight in decaf herbal tea. I heard the Japanese believe that a happy tummy is a warm tummy. So, I'm rolling with it. I just don't know how I can get through the 10th! It's agony!

I will try premier. Im up for anything at this point!

Awesome guys! Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. Sugery is August 10th. Pre-op Diet starts officially tomorrow, but I've been trying to get used to it by having one shake on Monday and Tuesday and then two shakes yesterday and today. I'm so ready for the rest of my life to begin.

Cigna lost my submission and ended up rushing it in two days. It was really frustrating. I called them every other day. My doc called them. They kept telling us in the medical director's office when they didn't have it at all. I hope you have better luck. Stay on them!

Oh my goodness, I was feeling the same way. I start friday, but I thought if I built up to it by doing 2 shakes and a meal this week, it might be better. The headaches and lightheadedness are tough. I'm starving. The shakes taste bad. I hope it's worth it!

I loved reading your story, too. I was a size 4-6 in law school. Always yo-yo'd before then. The minute I got out of law school, I blew up like the Hindenburg. It's been terible. It's the most stressful career Incould have chosen, and I need help. surgery is scheduled for August 10th. In taking my life back. Fancy job or not!

I was just talking to my husband about this! I am scared of this, too. I know it's hard. I want to be a health nut and never eat or want chee-toes. My husband suggested that I keep seeing my counselor to discuss my anxiety and food cravings before anything gets out of hand. To fix how you eat, You have to first find out what's eating you...

I'm an August sleever! Augustb10th by Dr. Richardson in New Orleans! Nervous because I'm a tax lawyer and I'm cutting it dangerously close to my 9/15 corporate extension deadline!

I feel terrible especially since I chose the location for lunch, but I'm going to have to bail. I have a client who has to meet with me on Thursday. I'm a Tax lawyer and Louisiana taxes are due on May 15th. I thought I could get away, but I can't. I'm so sorry! I will meet you all next time!

I'm good with it! Perfect for me! Thanks for being so accommodating to the newbie.

I can't really help with the sleeve questions, but I had my gallbladder removed by the same doctor on my Wedding anniversary (October 17). The night before I was so paniced. I kept thinking "what will this do to my husband if something really happens to me on our anniversary." I thought about all of those Discovery health horror stories about surgeries. It's anxiety and irrational fears. Something could happen, but odds are, you will be fine. I don't even remember going under. I just remember waking up. Then, I watched stupid TV for a week. My husband kept telling me I had to go back to work, eventally and I shouldn't rot my brain. He said he married a tax lawyer not some one who watches Maury Povitch, Dance Moms, and Toddlers and Tiaras. I told him to shove it! This is going to be great! Before you go to sleep tonight, dream of the places you want to go and the clothes you want to wear when you reach your goal weight. Dream of not being tired when you walk long distances or not freaking out when you get the middle seat on an airplane. Dream of your next high school renuion or all of the events that will come in your life where you will actually want to keep the pictures as momentos instead of stowing them away because you hate how you look. Keep your eye on the prize!

Aw shucks, ya'll are awesome. I don't want to interfere with anyone else's schedule. I see that you've done LaMadeline and Coffee Rani. I work in Mandeville right next to Bistro Byronz (probably TMI for a blog, but oh well!). I can easily get to the Northpark area in Covington if necessary. I'm not sure how your schedules are. I am still in the very early phases. So, coming up with a diet friendly place rather than a gluttonous place is hard! LOL I love Coffee Rani's Rani-watchers menu (in Mandeville). I also like that LaMadeline has fat-free dressing for their caesar salad, and I dig the ahi Tuna at N'tini. Bistro Byronz is right next to me which is always good. As long as we are in the area between Mandeville and Northpark, I can do anything. Help me decide Please? I am not sure of budgets, time, etc. I don't want to overstep! I'm a terrible decision maker.

Hi! I'm new and I live and work in Mandeville. I'm up for a lunch every now and again if you will have me - especially when you guys decide to do something in the Mandeville area (my time can be a bit limited). I haven't been sleeved yet, but I'm hoping to have the procedue in July. I'm having all sorts of fears!

Hi Louisiana Sleevers! I'm Beth and I just made the decision to go ahead with the sleeve. I went through the 6 months with the dietician for insurance purposes and I almost chickened out, but I'm ready now! I'm so excited about this change in my life. Although I'm struggling with "last meal" syndrome where I think every meal right now is my last one, I'm trying to combat the urges. I do have a question, how do your docs feel about sugar free snowballs? I just had one today and it was icy and sweet and cool going down. I imagine that it might work well (unless there are hidden calories and sugar that I am not aware of).

Please keep us posted! The entire reason why I am having the sleeve done is so that I can have a healthy baby. I'm about 265 right now with 100+ lbs to lose. My doctor told me that I had to wait two years, and that just seems like agony and far longer than necessary. I don't know why he wants me to wait that long. I'm anxious to see how everything goes with you! Congratulations!

I'm in the pre-surgery phase as well, and I, too, am struggling with who to tell and what to say. Reading all of your responses have been extremely helpful. I have received a ton of support from my husband and my mother. When I tell others such as the tech giving me my EKG or the X-ray tech or the guy at smoothie King who questions why I need a “Gladiator” with no fruit when clearly it's not the best tasting item on the menu, their facial expressions relay what they are really thinking: "why don't you just stop eating you big fat a**?" Don't they think I've tried that? I've tried everything. People are very judgmental. I shouldn't care, but I do. I don't want to tell my father because my size zero anorexic stepmother will tell the universe. I can hear it now: "Beth looks so good." Stepmother: "She had bariatric surgery” with a tone that somehow minimizes the work that I DID do. As for co-workers, I subscribe to the theory that you tell one, you might as well tell them all. I've buffered the issue by claiming that I “haven't been feeling well” before all of my upper GI tests. Then, when it comes time to schedule the surgery, I will take the vacation time and tell them that I've been having gastrointestinal issues that need to be addressed – I'll be out of the office for a week and I will work from home for the second week. Maybe one day I will tell the world about my journey. For now, it's my journey. I will share it only with the man I've chosen to spend my life with and the woman who gave me life.