Scylla

So sorry this is so ruff. I understand as I'm struggling today myself. The struggle is REAL but for a life changing cause. Hang in there we got this.

I'm on day 2 of the 14 liquid diet. Woke up with my tummy grumbling. But, so far, so good!

My NUT gave me a whole binder full of information re the different stages of the post-op diet, how to get your Protein in, etc. It's surprising to me to see how many people on this forum don't seem to be receiving much information from their bariatric surgery teams.

I feel that the liquid diet is a great way to really see where your head is at. My surgery is Friday and I have had some internal battles these past 2 weeks. The head hunger is the worst especially at night so I just keep myself busy. This diet will be just a blur in time. After everything else that I have been through to get to this point, post-op living will be a breeze! I wish you luck with your surgery.

Finally after 6 months of crap I got a damn date for surgery!!! May 7th!!! I start my preop on April 24!! Im so excited an scared and I kinda feel juke crying!

Hi everyone! At long last, and after nearly 8 months of jumping through the required hoops and doing medically supervised weight loss I finally got my surgery date-- April 23! I will be having the sleeve and a lap chole (gall bladder removal) at the same time. Depending on what my surgeon says the day of surgery I might also be having my umbilical hernia repaired.

My hospital did not provide Bari-bears to its WLS patients, so I bought one of my own on-line. They are a good sized Teddy Bear with a hard back. It can be held against your belly when you cough or sneeze, and I also used mine for an arm rest for my IV arm. Really any teddy bear would do, or a firm small pillow.
For home, I bought a pair of white skinny jeans in size 14. There is a funny thread on this forum about the inherent naughtiness of white skinny jeans. I started out at 22/24 and am doing my second closet flush tomorrow to bring out my 16s. So my 14s are not too far in the future. The non-scale victories are coming along quicker now. It does get better,

At my bariatric surgeon's office they would measure me EVERY MONTH during my medically supervised weight loss. I thought this was weird, so I asked about it. Apparently, all that weight compresses your spine and can make you shorter. Sure enough, when I got my driver's license when I was 16 I was 5'6. Now I'm 5'4 1/2. It remains to be seen whether I will get my 1 1/2 inches back--I'm getting sleeved on 4/23.

At my bariatric surgeon's office they would measure me EVERY MONTH during my medically supervised weight loss. I thought this was weird, so I asked about it. Apparently, all that weight compresses your spine and can make you shorter. Sure enough, when I got my driver's license when I was 16 I was 5'6. Now I'm 5'4 1/2. It remains to be seen whether I will get my 1 1/2 inches back--I'm getting sleeved on 4/23.

Thank you all so much! I feel so much support. I took parts of all of you advice and am now lifting some weights and doing core work. Its not ideal but at least it keeps me off the couch. I also have started writing a letter once a week to someone who has influenced my life. I figure this will help me relieve some stress and also pass along the warm fuzzy feeling that you all gave me. I really appreciate it.

Two previously supportive coworkers tag-teamed me with their opinions today. Came out of nowhere. I figured it would happen at some point, but I'm still frustrated. Oh well - I was falling asleep and now I've been annoyed awake...at least I'll be productive the rest of the day.
This was all the usual stuff. Just eat 1500 - no, 1800 calories. Eat every 2 hours. Low carb. No, no carb. No carb is good. Don't waste the money on surgery. Eat broccoli and boiled chicken. After surgery you'll have to diet, why not do it now? Blah blah blah and some more blah.
One of them is my size, getting larger, and in denial about it. Stuffs herself into her clothes like a sausage in a casing and won't admit to being over 200 pounds. She goes through wild swings. One day you can offer her something and she goes off the deep end at you about how she's on a diet and isn't eating crap like that - the next day she's stuffing rolls and M&M's in her piehole hand over fist.
The other one, I'm very proud of - she's about a size 4 now and used to be >250 pounds, and did it via the "boiled chicken" method with boot camps twice per day. Good for her. But her way isn't the only way, and being on the other end of a lecture from a sanctimonious ex-fatty who thinks her answers are the only answers is not my idea of a fun way to spend the afternoon.
I'm having this surgery because I'm 36 and 300 pounds. I've been fat my entire life. My knees hurt. My feet hurt. My blood pressure is poorly controlled. I want babies before I'm too old to raise them. I. Don't. Want. To. Die. And anyone who thinks they're going to talk me out of doing something to save my life can kiss my fat a$$ for as long as I still have it.
Rant, over.

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Sounds like you are having "food funerals" for foods you think you won't ever get to have again. A lot of people do this!
You WILL get to have your favorite foods again--although it will take time and you will get to eat them in MUCH smaller portions. It helped me a lot to know this! Best of luck to you!

I was the same way. Glad to hear you're doing the diet. I am 12 day post op, and the people that had surgery the same day I did that didn't follow the diet had a much harder time with their surgery. Just keep following that diet and you'll be a great surgery patient with no problems. Good Luck!
Mississippi Girl

Make that best wishes for your important day

I'm on day three of my 5 day pre-op diet. It's Protein shakes and Clear liquids only. I really miss the morning coffee with cream and black Decaf just doesn't do the trick. I know it's the caffeine I miss. My surgery is Thursday and I am jazzed! The excitement is enough to lessen the head hunger and the shakes do help.
Best misses for your important day

I feel you should get back up dust off ya shoulders and finish strong.we all fall short sometimes! You can do this don't count yourself out !!

That's great! Congratulations, and good for you hanging in there with all of these interminable hoops we have to go through. YAY!
I"ve been approved since November but the backlogue at Group Health is so bad I'm not likely to get a surgery date until October. Groan. I"m fighting it though and trying to move things along as much as humanly possible. It give me good hope to hear you got a date now given how long you've been waiting.
I love your profile pic too Scylla. Nice -- or should I say, 'not nice' given the character?

Hooray for you!!! Just knowing serious help is on the way can do miracles. Wishing you great success! It looks like you have already been off to a great start! Keep up the hard work.

I finally got my insurance approval and surgery date! My surgery will be on April 23 at 10:30! *happy dance* I begin my 4 weeks of Liquid Protein and raw veggies on 3/24. Not so excited about THAT, but it's all part of the process.

I finally got my insurance approval and surgery date! My surgery will be on April 23 at 10:30! *happy dance* I begin my 4 weeks of Liquid Protein and raw veggies on 3/24. Not so excited about THAT, but it's all part of the process.

After jumping through insurance hoops since late August, I finally got surgical approval yesterday! My surgery date will be April 23 and I will begin my liquid Protein and raw vegetables diet on 3/24.

I am from Chicago.. I had VSG surgery 9/28/12, nearly ONE and a half years ago. Best thing I ever did!! No regrets or complaints, at all.
To everyone who is pre-surgery = GOOD LUCK!!!!! To all who are post-op = I hope you're staying on track!
For me personally, it's much harder nowadays. I've plateaued at a 'healthy' BMI of 24-point-something. Doc says I must switch up my workout routine in order to lose this last stubborn 10-15lbs, until I hit my final goal. Oh and I've been eating more carbs, no good!! Back to the basics now.

7 Bites Jen, I'm surprised that your daughter's pediatrician ordered a strict diet at such a young age!
I applaud what you are trying to do for your daughter and her health! Your mileage may vary, but I can tell you that from my experience with my own mom a restrictive diet and severe ground rules about food at such a young age had the opposite effect on me. It caused me to want to rebel against her restrictions and eat the forbidden foods whenever I could get away with it. And, boy, did I!