Lissa_S

Hi there. I think that the best thign to remember is that the sleeve is a tool, a great one but it's only a tool - we are responsible for the outcome. So if you want to lose more and are dedicated to change, then you will achieve it. The way I look at it (and I wanna lose around 200 pounds) is that the sleeve just gives me the chance to make the changes I've tried to make in the past but were impossible to maintain without the tool. Good luck and it's always nice to be the "outlier" when presented with the "statistics" of our weight loss capacity...

Hello sleevers So at the beginning of the week, things got pretty rough. The first four days of my pre-op diet were beyond horrible. As so many of you commented, it was probably the Carb flu - detoxing is never a pleasant process. Many warned me before-hand, but I truly had no idea how bloody awful it was going to be. For those of you reading this and are just about to start, if I had some advice it would be: Be prepared - for how regularly you will need to eat, for how your tolerances for behaviours changes, how smells really effect you and how crappy you will feel. Be kind to yourself - I work long hours, am on call and had no support (work wise) planned. If I'd known what I was in for, I would have made adjustments to my work schedule, to have someone relieve me over this period. Keep your friends/family close - their support is vital but also watch that they don't inadvertently make things harder from their concern. Take things one day at a time - try not to get too focused on how much longer you have to go, just try to get through today. Go with it - I've had some pretty significant mood shifts this week, as the toxins were being expelled from my system, so just go with it. Apologise when you need to and do your very best to remind yourself of why you are doing this. I found the first few days, I almost didn't care anymore but that too passes So where am I at now? I am feeling pretty good - I got through my son's 7th birthday party without even licking the icing off my fingers lol. I am able to focus on what I will achieve from this surgery again and to feel the anticipation and excitement for my new life. I won't lie - I am glad I only have a week to go on this but I anticipate that the next week will go so very fast that I will have a much easier time of it this week. Pre-op diet, you are my Everest Hope you all are going well! The count-down has begun!! Cheers, Lila

Wow you poor thing! It sounds like you're having a really tough time of it. With regards to medication, as long as you speak to your pharmacist, they'll let you know if it's too much or not a good combination. Or if you can see your Doc you can run it by them too. I just wish you well and hope that you feel better soon!

I am on Day 3 (of 14) of my pre-op diet too I really hear you about the headaches etc. I feel a tiny bit better today (yesterday was terrible) so I am feeling a little more positive! Good luck for the rest of your pre-op diet!

Thanks - I think you're right. It probably is just the rubbish being flushed out of my system. I am feeling a little better today so hopefully it willget a bit easier from here!

I think you're right! Thank you so much! I only have to do this pre-op diet for two weeks so I know intellectually I can do it, but wow it's hard Feel a little better today though so hopefully things will get easier Thanks for your kind response!

Thank you so much! I was having a bit of a meltdown last night lol. I am already feeling a little better today so hope that things have turned around

Day two of the pre-op diet is drawing to a close and I'm miserable. I have a nasty headache, I've eaten dinner and I am still hungry, I feel kind of nauseated and I am grumpy. Not good. I had to do a pizza run for the volunteers painting the church and it was HELL. Ordering all that pizza and picking it up...not a good feeling. I am trying to put it into perspective...it's just food, you control it blah blah blah...but for some reason I think i am wallowing in my misery. I have to snap out of it...but am not sure how. I am extraordinarily tired too which I attribute to coming off the sugar. Can I ask anyone out there already sleeved - is this is what life is like forever? Do you get the headaches, nausea and grumpiness forever? Starting to have second thoughts...which surprises the hell outta me. I've been so confident - but if this is the reality I am not sure I am ready

It's September 3 Can't wait...the countdown is definitely on now!

Oh my gosh, good luck on Wednesday! And a 30 day pre-op diet - you're a champion!! You'll be in my thoughts on Wednesday - be sure to let us know how you go!!

LOL thanks My surgery is on Monday 3 September - two weeks from today! I can't wait and thanks for your response!

Dear food, You have been a source of refuge and comfort for a long time, something to warm me on cold winter nights and to celebrate life's milestones. But sadly, our relationship is no longer working for me. You've become an obsession, an unhealthy and unproductive millstone. So I've decided that it's time to say goodbye. There are some special mentions I'd like to make...good bye massive bowls of spaghetti, blocks of chocolate, cheesy pizza and my old friend, coke. Though over the coming days our parting will be difficult, and I will no doubt long for the days when I would indulge in you with impunity, I am excited to let you go. I will get an opportunity to explore life beyond this obsession. So with sadness but absolute determination, fare thee well, old friends. With no regrets, Lila (I start my pre-op diet in the morning And I am actually feeling excited about it! Wish me luck!!)

I start my pre=op diet on Sunday and my surgery is on the 3rd September. So I wish you all the very best and know that there are plenty of us right there with you!!

Thanks Scotty - will do They were great at WLSA and I am sure you'll have a great experience! Will definitely keep updating !

LOL I LOVE your entry You sound very happy and very lucky in your choice of husband. Me and all my friends are role players, we gather together for hours on end fighting imaginary hordes and we LOVE it. I love the celebration of your inner nerd! BTW - if you're looking for good Sci-Fi from the Star Trek era, I strongly recommend Babylon 5 I much prefer it to Star Trek (although do have an ongoing love of Captain Picard hehehehe even though he's old enough to be my grandfather!!)... Viva le nerd!

OMG I can't believe how quickly the time is going! With all of the functional stuff done (running around getting all my paperwork sorted for the approvals etc), I kind of expected things to slow down a little, to catch my breath but if anything, it's worse lol. I am now three weeks away from my surgery (well, I leave on the Saturday and the surgery's on the Monday) and one week off starting my pre-op diet. I almost hesitate to say anything about the pre-op diet in this blog after reading the responses some people have posted about people voicing their concerns and fears. So this is what I will say - yes I am nervous, yes I am sure it is going to be really hard and yes I am sure that I can do it. The thing I am worried about is not giving up the food as much as exercising control without the physiological strategies in place (i.e. surgery) to do it. I am committed to this process but still worry about the pre-op diet. Please don't jump down my throat I don't think this indicates a lack of committment on my behalf, just a general worry about how hard it is going to be and how it is going to make me feel. I work long hours, have very little down time and in a profession where you have to (as much as possible) tune out whatever is going on for you and focus on others. I worry about how much harder this is going to be on the pre-op diet. I've considered taking time off pre-surgery (god knows I have the leave accrued) but want to keep the leave reserved in case I need extra time post-surgery. I am already taking three weeks off but you never know... Wow, got off topic lol. So, the upshot kiddies is that it feels that I am experiencing the effects of time dilation and am looking for the black hole - should be easy to identify huh I hope that post-surgery things slow down a little and I can take stock. Wishing you all the best out there, sleevers Cheers, Lila

Thank you so much!! That makes sense!!

Sorry to ask such a noob question, but what does ONEDERLAND refer to? I assumed it was 100 pounds lost but given the context I've seen this appear, I think I might be wrong I am also sure that when I first started on this site, there was a post about the use of acronyms but I couldn't find it again lol. Anyhoo, I'd appreciate it if you'd edify me Thanks, Lila

Wow you look fantastic! Congratulations! It's an amazing transformation!!

COngrats and good luck!

Thanks Joe and congratulations on your amazing success! It's inspiring and you're right - if we aren't prepared to do things differently we aren't ready for this! I am going to be "sleeved" in September and I feel I am ready for this change! I have already given up several things that got me here (coke, chocolate) and already feel better for just doing that. So thanks for your advice - it helps me to feel like I am on the right track!

Hope all goes well for you! Let us know how you got on!!

Hahahaha - me too although a friend of mine who was sleeved about 18 months ago told me that she had a nasty comment the other day - her beautician (nasty person anyway) told her to eat something "BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE A CANCER PATIENT"... gee people are mean! She looks amazing - I told her (1) not to go back and (2) to tell her to suck it So I guess we also have to watch out for people who want to put us down for losing weight as well as mock us for being overweight!

Congratulations !!! Glad you're doing well!