Pelekania

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I'm not asking anyone to decide for me, just wondering if it even works or if anyone knows about the carbonation.

That's funny, I have been on the two week pre-op (surgery tomorrow morning) and the third evening I had a bowl of Tomato Soup and I thought how wonderful it tasted.... you know... when you actually slow down and enjoy it!

Every Dr. has a different set of guidlines... mine suggests clear liquid for 2 weeks and full liquids for 3 more! Screw that. I went to the cornell weightloss page and their patients eat mushies week 2! Dont hurt yourself with a big fat steak but some pureed stuff you have been craving is not gonna kill you, It will just set ya back a bit in your rapid weightloss. I chopped up a scrambled egg and a quarter pattie of lofat turkey sausage an had that for breakfast. I chopped the heck out of it but wow was it yummy! Just the small lift I needed and now I am back on track. Onward and upward my friend!

People have a fear of the unknown, which is a natural response. She also has a right to voice those concerns without having to feel inadequate. It may not be a war zone, but sometimes we only know what we see and what we see comes from the media... Does the cartels ring a bell???

I didn't really do a liquid diet... Maybe a couple of days at the beginning of the 2weeks. I drank 2 Proteins shakes and are whatever I pleased for dinner(could never finish my meal). So, I guess I cheated. My frame of thinking was I didn't want to try and cheat once I had surgery and not be able to control it like some ppl.
I am a weak out after completing my Clear Liquids (no cheating and I stayed on it longer than what he'd recommended) and started my full liquids today. Am eating a delicious Tomato Soup right now and it is delicious.
My advice is don't deprive yourself because you may not be able to control yourself at some point. Make a tweak to your per-op diet... Customize it to fit you and still be healthy and low cal. But I am no doctor just a patient who had done it differently with no complications and following my post op.

You can do it... Go back to the basics! Drink Proteins shakes and Water with a lean and green meal and you can drop that in a week ( it will be Water weight), but none the less.
I am cheering for you!

Girlfriend you are down 109#. You will get there. Shouts out to you for losing that much weight! You look great!

No matter what type of surgery there are ALWAYS people who disobey post op guidelines and rules. It drives surgeons crazy.
On the bright side I can say that some people I assumed would do terrible end up doing fantastic... And sometimes the perfect patients end up breaking rules and regretting it.
I truly believe aftercare is a MUST, including mental counseling. Intense counseling.

I think it's less about judgment and more about being shocked someone would take those risks at that point. I haven't been the perfect patient either but I definite didn't do that DAYS after surgery. Though i was still in a lot of pain For the first week so food wasn't even really on my mind. That's a really risky chance to take less then a week after surgery that could potentially kill them. Say a prayer for them and walk away I guess. Not much else you can do. Your doing what you need to do and that's great!

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but who cares!!! Don't worry about other people- it won't help you And the comparison judging isn't a healthy practice, even. If you are right!! We can't eat like other people and you obviously are following your surgeons recommendations- keep up the good work and focus your energy on YOU and positive messages!!

It's the same damn show on every channel!!!!

Here in Texas the surgeon I spoke to was $14k. I just didn't have that much and did a Ton of research and ended up going to a very reputable surgeon in Mexico. I am in the medical field and so I understand your concern about Mexico. But I can tell you first hand I received first class treatment and wonderful medical care!! Best wishes on your journey

I know that you aren't interested in going out of the country and neither was I until I started doing my research about going to MX. I would say don't limit yourself because you would be surprised at how skilled those surgeons are, especially since they perform the more frequently.

I know that you aren't interested in going out of the country and neither was I until I started doing my research about going to MX. I would say don't limit yourself because you would be surprised at how skilled those surgeons are, especially since they perform the more frequently.

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

That is amazing, you are doing great! What was your starting weight?

I'm hoping I have some results like this! I'm 27 too and will go back to the gym ASAP. I'm 10 days post op and down 27 lbs. I hit a small stall today because I'm having problems with fake Protein. I get to start real food next Wednesday so I'm just trying to hold out for the real deal!

lol. Work out
Tuesday, thurs & friday nights 7pm, 30 minutes, Jillian Michael's Yoga Melt or Killer Buns & thighs video
Saturday & Sunday @ 6am & 3 pm, treadmill 20 minutes, incline 10.0 & 2.5 speed, then i weight train for 1 hour which includes 4 sets of 10 on each muscle machine. i focus on my back and legs and arms for 1 extra set because i want a smooth back and strong arms (my back looks great by the way). i focus on increasing my resistance as much as possible. i want to make sure that its always difficult to complete the 10 repetitions but i can do it without taking a break. after each set, i stop for 1 minute then continue.
Hope this helps!

WOW! That is incredible! Please fill us in on your daily menus -- how many carbs, calories??
Congratulations!