McButterpants

Good for you!!!!!! Good luck at your appointment tomorrow.

coffee can irritate your new tiny tummy and it's a diuretic, which can push you towards dehydration when you're trying to get your fluids in. I didn't want to but I had to quit caffeine 4 weeks before surgery - that's what my surgeon's requirement was. I hated it because I love my coffee. My local doc said no caffeine when I arrived back home. I was bummed, but complied. Immediately after surgery it wasn't a big deal because I didn't have any room for another beverage. At my 6 week check up I asked my local doc about coffee - she approved one cup per day and I had to pinkie promise to not go back to my 3-5 cup a cay habit. I now enjoy one caffeinated coffee per day with coconut milk creamer and one teaspoon of honey. I log it so I count all those calories and carbs.

Bummer! Use this extra time to prepare yourself... Start incorporating a shake a day - experiment with shakes, different flavors and textures. Eat slower (I downloaded an app called Eat Slower - I set mine at one minute intervals) Practice mindful eating techniques - don't eat in front of the TV or while reading Start looking at your portion sizes Start taking smaller bites - I used appetizer spoon and forks Start walking or keep walking if you already are These are things I started to do 4 weeks before surgery - all helped me post-op. It's a great time to start developing good habits that will help in your recovery and speed it up.

You wrote: So somebody tell me to get off my keester and get busy. I say: get off your keester and get busy!!!!! You know what you need to do....

A couple of questions... Are you logging or tracking your intake? If you are, how much Protein are you getting and where are you getting it from (shakes, food, etc). What are you eating and drinking? Are you exercising? Are you getting in your Water minimum? How much water are you drinking? Have you contacted your doctor?

unjury - it's made with a Protein isolate, which is suggested by my doc. I think it's absorbed better, but don't quote me on that. You can order it on line at www.unjury.com I like the chocolate Splendor, Vanilla and strawberry.

What would you do if a friend told you this story? What advise would you give that friend? I'm sorry you're going thru this - you need to think about what's best for you and the kids.

It's all about choices no matter what you're eating and where you're eating it. The surgery didn't take away our ability to chose which foods we eat - there are temptations all around us. When driving down the road have I thought, "Wow, I want McDonalds fries"? Sure, but I now that I shouldn't have them. Will I eat a fry ever agin? I'm guessing I will. I just can't eat an entire large order of fries as I did in the past, my sleeve won't allow me to. I'm scared to death that I now have no restrictions on my diet. Doc says to eat what I want - keeping with my parameters of 80 grams of Protein and about 50 grams of carbs. I'm scared that my sleeve has accepted all the foods I've thrown at it - I'm scared because it opens up all kinds of possibilities for eating. I have to CHOSE to eat the things I know are good for me and CHOSE to not eat the stuff that got me to 256 pounds.

We had a busy weekend with a basketball tournament for my son. We had to eat out twice on Saturday. I got sick of ordering a full meal to only eat a few bites. I ended up sharing my husband's meal. It doesnt bither him any more because I eat so little. I had scrambled eggs with cheese and a sausage patty for breakfast. For dinner i had the insides of a French Dip sandwich (i admit to having a couple of bites of the bread as well). We have not been to a restraunt that has charged for the plate yet. Some will and we do not go back to those places. I just llan on leftovers if i order my own entree.

yeah, the taste sucks - but I have gotten used to them. I've been on them for 6 weeks now - they aren't as bad as when I originally started taking them. I was like you - I thought I was going to have to get something different, but I stuck with it and it got better. I take 2 per day and have one at breakfast and one at dinner, I can't stomach 2 at the same time. Hang in there, you'll get used to them.

I like Wendy's chili and have eaten it since about week 4 (after approved by doc). I can make 4 meals out of a large! That makes me laugh.

What kind of Vitamins are you taking? My vitamins really upset my stomach - I have to take with food. They are chewable vitamins, Bariatric Advantage. They taste horrible, but I think of them as my medicine that I have to take.

Love this!!!!!

You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story! Congrats on your success!

That's encouraging for me...I'm shedding big time!!!!!! Congrats on the new growth AND look at that weight loss. Great job!

Here are a couple of my staples: I always have ground turkey meat seasoned w/ taco seasoning and fat free refried Beans in my refrigerator. An ounce of each topped w/ some cheddar cheese and microwave, serve with 1/2 a Carb Balance tortilla. You can put in the freezer in zip locks for meal sized servings. I always have some turkey or chicken deli meat - I have a couple of ounces with some cheddar cheese. I make plenty of chicken salad in advance and have at the ready (canned chicken w/ low fat may and mustard). eggs and frozen turkey sausage patties are usually my breakfast. I purchased some Health Wise Peanut Butter bars that I keep with me on a busy weekend day, just in case I'm not able to get a shake or a meal. I always have Carb Balance Tortillas on hand - you can make a pizza (BBQ sauce w/ some shredded chicken topped with some mozzarella and you have a BBQ Chicken pizza). I always have Health Wise hot chocolate - it's a nice break from the cold shakes. 15 grams of Protein.

A couple of suggestions that may help weening yourself into the a pre-op diet... Start looking for a shake you like for your pre-op diet (your taste may change post-op, so don't over buy). Incorporate 1 shake a day and start playing with different flavors and textures - this will help you post-op. (Adding sugar free puddings, low-glycemic fruits, sugar free syrups, etc.) Practice mindful eating techniques now - taking smaller bites (I used appetizer forks and spoons); eat slower (I downloaded an app called Eat Slower and set it to one minute intervals); eat 1-2 meals without any distractions (no TV, magazines, books, etc. - allow yourself to be calm). Start walking if you're not working out - being in better physical shape prior to surgery will help with the recovery process. Doing all these things helped me feel like I was working towards something rather than dreading the inevitable two week pre-op diet. The next three weeks are going to fly by!!!! Best of luck to you!

Awesome! Look at you rockin' that sleeve! Congrats.

The sun will rise tomorrow and the earth will still spin on it's axis. You're fine! You got this.

The first 3-4 days are really hard, but it will get better. Just hang in there. Decaf green tea helped get me thru. And keep your eye on the prize...10 more days till you're on the losers' bench. You got this.

I knew you would be a person with soft eyes..and a warm face...i just knew it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhh, you made me smile!!!!! Thank you!

I FEEL younger! Almost immediately after surgery someone said I looked younger - that made me feel good. Once I started working out (not just walking, but working out), I feel so much better, not as fatigued. I've noticed a difference in my skin since surgery - especially my face. It looks so much healthier. I'm far from a beauty queen, but I see improvement - most of all, I smile more.

I start getting bored and antsy around the 20 minute mark.

Here's me...a couple of days before surgery (I don't look happy in that picture) and the other one was from last week...about 28 pounds difference between the two pics.

Interesting you posted this...I'm starting to shed as well. Doctor suggested taking Folate and Biotin along w/ making sure I get my Protein in. I didn't connect my face breaking out to the Biotin until you mentioned it. I have been experiencing some acne recently and now that I think of it, it's coincides with me starting the Biotin. Interesting. I started using a product called Toppik for the thinning in on top - another member here suggested it. I'm glad she did. It covers the thin spots well. My doc did say that anything you lose post-op will grow back in 6 months. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.