McButterpants

April, I'm smiling as I write this - GOOD FOR YOU! Live it up, girl!

April, I'm smiling as I write this - GOOD FOR YOU! Live it up, girl!

Hi guys. Thought I would start a thread to see what you all are doing to prepare for your November dates. My tentative date is 11/14/13 and I'm hoping to lock that in this week. I am traveling from the Northwest to Las Vegas. Here are some of the things I'm doing - would love to hear from other November sleevers on their prep for the bid day: 1. I'm incorporating one Protein shake a day (usually in the afternoon). 2. I'm saying goodbye to some foods and restaurants. I have had a few occasions where I've said, "This probably won't be on my post-op diet." The chicken Ranch Club sammy, husband's chicken wings (a favorite, but this last attempt wasn't so great - we may have to try again in the next week or so) 3. I am doing my on-line classes required by my doc in Vegas. 3 down, 5 more to go. 4. Slowing cutting down on my caffeine consumption. I'm down to two cups of coffee in the morning and will start incorporating half caff/half decaff next week. (I posted regarding my attempt at going directly down to one cup and boy did I suffer) 5. I am trying to reflect a lot on a) how I got here and what am I going to do to make things different, so I don't return to this dark and dreary place. 6. This week I am going to do more exercise and perhaps visit the gym for the first time in months. My goal is by surgery date, I'm working out at the gym on a regular basis. I believe going into this surgery is like any other - be in the best physical shape you can be in and recovery might be a little easier.

Congratulations!!!!!!! You must feel great. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations!!!!!!! You must feel great. Thanks for sharing.

Truly inspiring. I'm a similar height and weight. You give this pre-opper hope. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you continued success!

Truly inspiring. I'm a similar height and weight. You give this pre-opper hope. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you continued success!

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow! (By the way, I'm 5 weeks away and I am having a hard time sleeping already! I wonder what the day before will be like! Yikes!)

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow! (By the way, I'm 5 weeks away and I am having a hard time sleeping already! I wonder what the day before will be like! Yikes!)

What a wonderful story! And you ARE beautiful!!! Wishing you continued success.

What a wonderful story! And you ARE beautiful!!! Wishing you continued success.

I'm in the "not yet, but plotting" phase. Oh, yeah...I'm gonna bring it!!!!!

I'm in the "not yet, but plotting" phase. Oh, yeah...I'm gonna bring it!!!!!

I won't miss... 1. The panicky feeling as I am struggling to fasten my seatbelt on an airplane. 2. Walking down the isle of that airplane and slapping everyone in the face with my ass as I walk by. 3. The aches and pains in my joints after a walk. 4. Naps because I'm exhausted. (Naps because you stayed up way to late the night before are perfectly acceptable.) 5. The isolation I have allowed to happen because I'm ashamed. 6. The medication I have to take every morning. 7. Buying LARGER sizes every time I buy clothes (buying SMALLER sizes every time is acceptable) 8. Feeling self conscious when I eat out. 9. Buying pretty clothes in pretty colors - not that crap in the Plus Size department at Dillards or Macy's. Seriously, where do those prints come from? And the fabric sucks, too. 10. Sweating. A lot.

Welcome to the forum. Wishing you success in your journey.

November 14th in Las Vegas!!!!

Thanks so much for sharing your story! As a pre-sleeved I appreciate your perspective. You look fantastic and congrats on your little jelly bean. I wish you continued success!

Sending prayers and ((hugs)) your way.

Pre-opper here...prepping for post-op and trying different foods. I have been doing cottage cheese with sugar free Torani Raspberry syrup. It's good. It's a nice sweet treat without the sugar.

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck to you on the 22nd - that's 2 1/2 weeks away! Yay you!!!!

Congrats! You look wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

When I first started down this path and talked to my husband about my inability to lose weight, he made some statements about just going to the gym and pushing yourself away from the table. One day we were walking and he said, "You know you never see a fat roofer." I was like, "Yep, I've never seen a fat window washer or rodeo clown either, what's your point?" After many discussions and his own research, he now understands that it's more than just going to the gym and pushing myself away from the table. I can't diet and go to the gym enough to lose this weight and if I did, it would not be unsustainable. I think it's a lot of about education...

Lots of life changes and self-discovery! Congrats. Wishing you continued success.

Hi there. Welcome to the November group! I'm a little older than you...turned 44 last month. I'm penciled in for 11/14/13 in Las Vegas. I have a countdown ticker on my phone...6 weeks from today. Where are you getting yours done? I, too, saw a path in front of me that was a bit scary - watching my mom inject herself with insulin, see her difficulty getting around, not able to do things because of her weight, etc. When I told her about my surgery she said apologized for not being a better mom (like she was the one forcing me to Dairy Queen to get an Oreo Blizzard with extra Oreo) and said if surgery would have been an option when she was my age, she would have done it. Sounds like you have a great support person in your boyfriend since he's already been thru this. Again, welcome and I look forward to hearing your success stories in the future!

I love before and after pics! It is inspiring and gives this pre-sleever motivation. Thanks for sharing. I wish you both continued success!