Jen.D

Christen, I was right where you are a few weeks ago. I drank diet coke from the moment I woke up until dinner, when I switched to wine. But, I knew I needed to give it up for this surgery to work. Plus every time I turned on my computer I was reading another article about why diet sodas are making us fat. Anyway, I found another, healthier drink that I could tolerate (unsweetened iced tea) and picked a day to quit- cold turkey. I can tell you that the first day was awful, I had a huge headache. But I was surprised that by the second day the headache was gone. It's been about 2 weeks, and I'm feeling good. I haven't had my surgery yet, so I may still try to give up the caffeinated tea to help with weight loss, but at least I've sworn off the bubbly stuff.
You can do it!!

Sometimes I break a stall with a high calorie day. I usually stay in the 800 calorie ballpark, and once a week or so I let loose up to about 1300 calories. Seems to keep the stalls away.

I am 11 weeks out from surgery now. I am 4'11" starting weight was 216, I am now down to 169:) I am kind of a slow loser as 19 pounds is from preop diet. 47 pounds total is not too shabby, right?

Christen, I was right where you are a few weeks ago. I drank diet coke from the moment I woke up until dinner, when I switched to wine. But, I knew I needed to give it up for this surgery to work. Plus every time I turned on my computer I was reading another article about why diet sodas are making us fat. Anyway, I found another, healthier drink that I could tolerate (unsweetened iced tea) and picked a day to quit- cold turkey. I can tell you that the first day was awful, I had a huge headache. But I was surprised that by the second day the headache was gone. It's been about 2 weeks, and I'm feeling good. I haven't had my surgery yet, so I may still try to give up the caffeinated tea to help with weight loss, but at least I've sworn off the bubbly stuff.
You can do it!!

Can't believe I am already 6 months post op! While I will never forget where I started, it is starting to be a distant memory and my new life is better than I ever could have imagined!!
The struggles in the beginning were worth it, after all who wouldn't have struggles when you do something like we have done. I just try and take it one day at a time, we all have our good days and bad, but you can't let one bad day overtake all the progress that has been made!
Loving my sleeve still!

There are meds that can help prevent gallstones. Ask your doc to give you some!

Lot's of good advice has already been given. I'd like to add one more. While marriage counseling would be great, it sounds like you also need financial counseling. My husband and I went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University several years back and it helped us to pay off all of our debt except our house (which will be paid off in 3 more years). It has certainly made our marriage stronger to be in agreement about money, and to not have lots of debt payments to make each month. The website to find out more is: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu
Good Luck!

Frozen yogurt and popcorn. I am not trying sweets of any kind. I did poke my tongue in the top of a cupcake and then ran away.

April 4th here!

So I am almost 3 months out and I am down 2 sizes. I haven't bought the newest size though cuz I've paid so much money for my current wardrobe and I am just being cheap. I've always had to shop at places like Lane Bryant, and I feel like I've wasted all that money! I keep having to pull up my jeans (it's annoying, but actually secretly feels great!) and my top is not shrinking quite as fast as my bottom and my legs are. I finally caved and bought new swim suit bottoms for Water aerobics, but I just can't bring myself to buy new tops yet because swimwear is so expensive.
So...my plan is this weekend to start hitting up places like Goodwill and Salvation Army. If I am going to be dropping sizes this quickly, I am not spending a ton of money on clothes. When I get to my goal....I will definitely splurge, but in the meantime, resale shops are definitely on my horizon.

Christen, I was right where you are a few weeks ago. I drank diet coke from the moment I woke up until dinner, when I switched to wine. But, I knew I needed to give it up for this surgery to work. Plus every time I turned on my computer I was reading another article about why diet sodas are making us fat. Anyway, I found another, healthier drink that I could tolerate (unsweetened iced tea) and picked a day to quit- cold turkey. I can tell you that the first day was awful, I had a huge headache. But I was surprised that by the second day the headache was gone. It's been about 2 weeks, and I'm feeling good. I haven't had my surgery yet, so I may still try to give up the caffeinated tea to help with weight loss, but at least I've sworn off the bubbly stuff.
You can do it!!

Do the surgeons check (ultrasound) your gall bladder before surgery? So they can remove it if it's already having problems? I'm thinking I should ask for this if my doctor doesn't already do it. And I'm definitely asking for the anti-gall stones meds!!

I use the Water flavoring packets that are only like 5-10 calories a packet for a 20oz bottle of water. Then put it in a Popsicle mold I got for a dollar. It takes about 2 bottles of water to make a tray of 6 Popsicles and the whole tray only totals 10-20 calories.

I just ordered that lotion, I'm curious to try it out. Thanks for the tip.
Jennifer

Well I did call and they don't have an answer yet. My paperwork was submitted on the 25th, not the 21st as I'd thought. But they did put down a tentative surgery date of April 4th, which would be perfect.

That is terrible. However, at some point not to long ago I would have been saying oh I have to have some. LOL It is terrible how many commercials on tv are for food. I guess I never watch that much tv like I have since being off for my surgery. It makes me want to record everything and then fast forward it so I won't have to sit her and watch it. Anyone else feel that way?

Oops, I forgot the link.
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2008/08/protein-ice-cream.html
She basically takes milk (soy, almond or regular) Protein powder and flavorings and then uses an electric milk foamer to get it frothy before putting it in the ice cream maker.
They look so good, I'm going to have to buy an ice cream maker!

OMG, I got my approval today! I finally got it. I am so excited. I go to see my surgeon on Monday and I will get my date then. I am hoping to have my surgery on April 17th, but we will see. What a happy Friday!

I own a nail salon and a lot of my clients complain of Fibro. My aunt and mom also suffer from Fibro. Here is some great lotion I've found and everyone I've reccomend it to loves it. It really works.

Funny you should ask that...I was just saying to someone today "the surgery was a piece of cake. When you live with pain you hardly notice the pain from surgery " I had a bit of a flareup but it was no worse than a rough day and totally worth it.
I am on the guaifensin Protocol to reverse fibro I did go off it for a couple of months after surgery. So happy to be back on it again.

My pre-op diet starts in like three weeks! Unbelievable. Just ordered my first trial-size Protein powders to get an idea of what I'll like before buying the big tubs of the stuff. It wasn't easy by any means. I have severe shellfish allergies, and most Protein powders are processed on equipment that also process/handle shellfish. I had to make phone calls for two days to find only two companies (Syntrax & About Time) that don't use iodine in their products or manufacture them on equipment that also processes my allergens.
So far I've ordered the sample packet of Matrix (flavors: bananas & cream, Cookies & cream, milk chocolate, mint cookie, orange cream, perfect chocolate, simply vanilla, and strawberry cream), a sample packet of nectar (flavors: apple ecstasy, Cappuccino, chocolate truffle, crystal sky, lemon tea, Roadside Lemonade, strawberry mousse, Twisted cherry, vanilla bean, double stuffed cookie, and caribbean cooler), and two packs from About Time Protein (flavors: banana, chocolate, strawberry, and mocha mint.)
I also ordered the vegetable Soup protein trial-size from Bariatric Advantage.
I'm curious to see how all these will taste. One step closer to the big day!
Have any of you ordered protein samples yet? If so, which ones have you liked?

Also if you have Netflix...watch Hungry for Change....it is a documentary about the diet industry and why diets fail and also talks about changing how we think.

I have the mirena IUD and i love it. i rarely have periods now