McButterpants

I had lots of food funerals before I started my 2 week pre-op diet. But as I got closer to the date, it just got old. I ended up starting my pre-op diet a day early because I felt doing otherwise was counterproductive. If I had it to do all over again, I'd limit the food funerals - pick maybe 2-4 things, then be done with it. Quite frankly there are foods that I mourned that I no longer want (specifically fast foods) and there are other foods that I have mourned that I have been able to have once my doc said I have no restrictions. The anxiety over I created for myself wasn't worth it. You're fast approaching your surgery date - take this time to prepare for your post-surgery life... Practice eating slower (I use an app called Eat Slower) Practice taking smaller bites (I used appetizer spoons and forks) Integrate a shake or two into your day - experiment with different flavors and textures Practice mindful eating techniques (eat meals at the table with the TV off) Start exercising - I walked a lot before surgery; walking helps you recover more quickly; be in the best shape you can. Best of luck to you!

Thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Wow - congrats! You look fantastic. What an inspiration!

Metamucil and a good quality pro-biotic worked for me. I also took some Colace when things were really difficult - that was the only thing that helped me when I wasn't eating veggies. Once I started eating more veggies, things got moving a little better and was able to stop the Colace. I still take the Metamucil and probiotic every day.

A B S O L U T E L Y W O R T H I T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm 11 weeks post op - it was worth every Protein shake I drank, every mile I walked, every tear I cried. I've had my ups and downs, but I'll tell you, for me, this was the best decision. I'm in San Francisco this week traveling with my husband for our yearly trip here. I used to dread all the walking you do in a city because, quite frankly, I was fat and out of shape. I've been able to walk up VERY steep hills and outlast my husband on our walks thru the city. It's fantastic. I feel great. The pre-op diet sucks. But, once you accept that fact and you start feeling better, you'll do fine. You are so close to your surgery date - how exciting! You got this!!!!!!

Everyone is different - I lost immediately, then stalled at 3 weeks. I know a couple of people that weighed more at the one week visit than they did right before surgery. Your body is going to do what it's going to do - just be kind and gentle to your body. Follow your plan. If I had to do it all over again, I'd lose the scale for the first few weeks after surgery. It saves your sanity. Just remember - you didn't get to 224 pounds over night, don't expect to lose it overnight! Best of luck to you.

My 14 year-old son stayed with his grandparents, so he was getting spoiled by them! :-) I found the biggest thing for him was he wanted to talk to me. He wanted to ask questions about the surgery, my recovery, other people that had surgery that day, the doctor. I was fascinated at the questions he asked. It's great you set up skype - they'll be able to see you and see that you're doing well.

Great story! We were at a great place last night for dinner and ordered the bruschetta...It tasted so good. I wasn't able to eat a lot, but I savored every bite, including the bread. My husband had to remind me to slow down - I'm glad he did!

At about a month out I decided to really limit my carbs - like down to 20. That was a mistake for me - low energy, lightheadedness, etc. I then talked to my NUT who said, 80 grams of Protein minimum and 50 grams of carbs would be OK, just watch what kinds of carbs. All carbs are not created equal Good carbs = Good. Bad carbs = Bad I stay away from processed foods - limited bread and sugars. These are your bad carbs. I also stay away from "carby" fruits and veggies - the ones that have a high glycemic value (potatoes, ripe bananas, carrots). The way I added more carbs in was - fat free refried Beans, 1/4 cup of berries in my shake, carb balance tortilla, etc. When I'm at 50 carbs, I feel good. YOu may have to play with the numbers a little to find your "sweet spot"...no pun intended! :-)

Yep - it's normal. Here's a great article from Butterthebeans signature - it's worth the read. http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html#.Uu1dZRaTNdg Just follow your plan - get your mins in regarding protein and fluids. Walk if you are able and approved. I also suggest not weighing every day. Weigh in once per week - longer if you can stand it. My husband hides the scale from me and it comes out on Thursdays. That saved my sanity.

Nice job, Reverie!!!!!!!! Congrats.

Awesomeness! What a great success. I just got my labs back and my cholesterol has been reduced by 30 points in 11 weeks. Unbesleevable!!!!!!!! Keep up the great work! Congrats.

Grrrrrrrr..... you look amazing! You are rockin' that mini, girl. Congrats.

I had a problem with plain Water after surgery (before surgery, plain water was great). I got dehydrated on Day 3 - it sucked, you don't want that to happen. I drank Vitamin Water Zero and Propel Zero - I could stomach that better than plain water. Doc also said Powerade Zero was good. The first few days I set the alarm on my phone to go off every 5 minutes - it would chime and I would take a sip. I hope things get better for you!

I agree with the statements above...do NOT compare yourself to others. When you do, someone is going to walk away from that conversation unhappy. With that said, to get back on track... Get back to basics. Get your Protein in. Get your fluids in. Log your foods so you can confirm you're getting your protein and liquids in. Exercise - it's not only good for your body, it's good for your mind. No snacking.

Hi there and welcome. I had my surgery done as an outpatient - I was in at 6:00 am and out by noon. I had no complications and very little pain. I took four pain pills, but mostly to sleep, not due to pain. My recovery was uneventful. As far as caregiving - I was self-sufficient on about day 2 (so if I would have had a hospital stay, that's about when I would be released). Caregiving could probably start around day 4 or so, but I wasn't cleared for lifting more than 10 pounds until about week 4, I think. Best of luck to you! This is a great forum to get information and network with people who are going thru the same thing you are!

I think I would have waited until about week 5 or 6 for a Disney trip, so I could enjoy it. I could probably have done it sooner, but not had as much fun. I tired easily thru week 4 - I needed a nap most days. I walked for exercise before surgery and was able to walk right after. I walked a lot - it's the best medicine for recovery. I was able to walk about a mile the week after surgery and went up from there. If you're going to wonder around Disney, you need to be in good shape! I'm at Week 11 right now and going to San Francisco next week - I'm planning on walking every where. I feel great. I feel like I can walk up and down those hills with ease. If you work at it, you'll increase your stamina pretty quickly.

Your mom's reaction was like my dad's...He just couldn't understand why I would want to do this to myself and was so concerned. Now, 11 weeks after surgery, he is so happy for me and asks questions about my diet and how I'm eating. He will ask me if something didn't agree with me because he can tell I'm uncomfortable - something he wouldn't have noticed before. He now calls it a necessary medical procedure - he didn't think of it that way before. As far as caregiving - I needed and wanted someone around me the first 4-5 days. Not to wait on me hand and foot, but offer support. While I recovered quickly and had no complications, it was nice to have my husband right by my side - he could make those quick trips to the store to get the different kind of Water or whatever I needed. If my caregiver was my mom, she would have driven me crazy, but I would have appreciated her there with me. Good luck!

I felt better at about day 4 - I felt human again at day 5. It's going to suck - keep your eye on the prize. Be as patient with people as you can be. It will be over soon and a distant memory. One thing that helped me was decaf green tea (I wasn't allowed caffeine). I drank a lot of green tea. Best of luck to you and hang in there! This is just one of the steps in a very long journey.

At week three my NUT told me not to worry about calories - focus on the Protein and fluids. What you list doesn't look like a lot - you'll be able to take in more soup and thinned oatmeal; it will pass thru fairly quickly. Once you move to a puree diet, you probably won't be able to take in 1/2 cup, more like 1/4 cup or something like that.

I ordered from Jimmy Johns last night and got an Unwich for the first time. Same sandwich, no bread, wrapped in lettuce...it was actually pretty good. I felt like a sap paying that much for the sandwich! LOL

The longest part of my surgery day was when they wheeled me into the staging room - I was the first patient of the day. I in there all by myself. There was a TV and I watched it a little, but not much. My patient coordinator sat down with me for a little bit. I actually took a little nap - the drugs must have caught up to me at that point. I remember them wheeling me into the OR and starting to get strapped in when a voice above me said, "Breath deep and count to 3" I remember counting to one. The next thing I knew I was awake and in a different room. I asked the nurse if he was done operating and she said "yes". I asked if she was sure - she offered to show me the incisions, but I declined.

You'll be fine - your body is going thru a lot...your time of the month and drastically cutting down on calories. Make sure you're drinking plenty of Water and following your plan. You're going to do great. Don't panic - that could lead to bad decisions or going off plan. You're body is going to lose at it's own pace - you can only control what you put in your mouth.

Congrats!!!!!! How exciting.

I did purchase Toppik and I love it. It will hide the thinning spots. If you go to their website and watch the videos, it works exactly like that - I was skeptical at first, but it really does work and I feel more comfortable. Even my hairdresser couldn't tell I had used it! I also went for a shorter, layered cut.