CubsWinCubsWin

I just had lunch, probably one of the last before I start pre-op later this week. I went to McDonalds, to be more specific I went to the 1,000th McDonalds in the chain. I wanted to try to enjoy this meal by eating slow and thinking about what I was eating. I was very disappointed in the results. The only thing that gave me a taste sensation was the salt on the fries. In reality, fast food is tasteless. Why did I eat it for so many meals for so long? I added up the calories for a Number 1 with an apple pie, 1,300 calories!!! It would have been even more if I didn't get the diet Coke. I can't wait to actually taste food and not just inhale it because I have to get back to work.

I am less than 3 weeks from my surgery date, I start on the 15 day liquid diet on Friday. Over the past couple days I have been going on a farewell tour of my favorite foods I am saying goodbye to after our long and intimate time together. Yesterday I used the Cheesecake Factory gift card I got for Christmas and tomorrow my mom is taking me to my favorite pizza joint for one last Chicago style thin crust sausage pizza. She is a little happy she no longer has to share pizza with me, she hasn't had a middle square in decades (Chicago thin crust is cut into squares, known as a party cut). My weekday lunch time routine of going out to a local fast food joint will soon be replaced with a brisk walk at the gym or outside around my workplace. If I get really industrious I will go down to the nearby ice rink and skate through my lunch period. Change has come to my life. Welcome change, very necessary change. Change to bigger things with a smaller waistline.

Call Donna on Monday and discuss it with her. She may have some tricks for you. I am starting my shakes on Thursday so now I am eating like a man on death row. I'd imagine the diarrhea and nausea may be normal when you dramatically change your diet, I've had that problem in the past on the start of other diets I have had in the past. Your body is compensating for the change in what it is consuming. Once it adjusts it should improve. Again, there is an end-game here and once you have surgery it will be a whole new set of challenges. How are you preparing the shakes? A shaker, blender? Are you adding any fruit? What flavors do you have?

I just got my two bags of Bariatric Advantage from the Kane Center this past Friday. I am going to assume you may be seeing the same folks since you are in Palatine and I am in Arlington Heights. It's hard to think if these do not taste well and you can't get them down that you paid over $140 for them. I'm drinking them come hell of high Water just on the principle that I paid so much for them. If you are going through the Kane Center, they gave me a really good print out on making it in various ways using different ingredients. What are you using as your base ingredient, water, soy or skim milk? If you are tying one, try the others and see what happens. Remember, it's only 15 days. Good luck.

I got my surgery date, I'm going in on February 28th. I pick up my Bariatric Advantage pre-surgery shakes tomorrow and start them next Thursday. I got a couple gift cards to The Cheesecake Factory, better use them now while I can . I am of course nervous but very excited. It's been a rough couple years for me health wise, I'm hoping this will help get things back on track.

At dinner tonight at home I realized I was pulling out my last Diet Pepsi out of the fridge. That's it, my costco stockpile I bought several months ago is finally gone. I am not exactly kicking my "Coke" habit just yet but it is finally out of my home. I do not drink coffee so giving up caffeine will be tough once I finally give it up since it my only vice. Good luck to you, it will suck at first but bubble are overrated, keep them for the bubble bath.

I am going through Suburban Surgical Center aka The Kane Center in Hoffman Estates. Their hospital affiliation is Alexian Brothers and St Alexus in Elk Grove Village and Hoffman Estates.

I was more asking about ripping stitches and staples but I did not consider the hydration. I did Bikram Yoga for several years until I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The cancer and its treatment is one of the main reasons I gained so much weight so quickly and it won't come off. I'm also hoping to get back into marathon running and hockey, all things I had to quit as I battled this weird fatigue issue that ultimately turned out to be cancer. I'm all better now but the weight is like an anchor I cannot cast away. I'm looking forward to practicing again once my doctor gives me the ok. Thanks

Good luck buddy, I'm excited for you!!!

Way to go Hoosier girl!!! Sincerely, Illini boy

Let out a good primal scream at the box of pre-op diet shakes and give it a stern look . That should do the trick.

So at what point after surgery can you do things like Yoga again, particularly hot yoga? One of the only reasons I did the Bikram Yoga was because the hot room was the only way I could truly stretch. I don't want to tear out any stitches going into a full locust pose.

I saw that costco had a giant container of fish oil gummies a week or so ago for nothing. The idea of that sounds vile but I may consider it after surgery.

Woo Hoo!!!

Well, that didn't work. I was trying to post an animated gif on that last one.

If your insurance company covers therapy, It never hurts to add a shrink to your team. I have a high deductible plan that I meet by January every year with co-insurance of $0 after I meet the deductible so that is nice perk of my job.

This person at work may be manifesting their own issues on you by making comments about your appearance. Of course this person may not know they are saying something that offends you or makes you feel uncomfortable. I have been unknowingly guilty of saying stupid things. This person may need to be told to cool it on the comments and that it may be inappropriate for the workplace. This is something you can do yourself or bring it up to your direct supervisor and they can advise you on the proper way to handle the situation at your office. I have learned a long time ago the mistake of running up to HR to report abuse by a co-worker. If you can, try to talk to the co-worker to diffuse the situation, they may not know they are being a jerk.

Chuck and Nissa was a great episode. There was a lot of drama in this one with the divorce half way through, the thought that Chuck wasn't going to lose the weight and reconciliation and redemption by the end. It was good television.

Got the call this morning from the surgeons office telling me I have been cleared by the insurance company (BCBSIL) to have surgery. All that is left is the clearance from Pulmonology, who is waiting for clearance from my PCP and my Oncologist (Non-Hodgkins lymphoma 2 years ago). I see the two doctors over the next two Tuesdays and I should be all set to go. A 15 day Protein liver shrinking diet and then they staple away. Yikes, this sh*t just got real.

I tried to look up the shrinking liver on you tube I can't find it. :-( Here's a shrinking liver video, it's just a looping animation and it's quite tame.

I should have clarified that, my sister said that to me but I think she made it with a bunch of bad junk in it. It was pretty amazing. I think there was sour cream and butter or something. I like your guacamole recipe.

I've been told guacamole is out but avocado is Kosher but of course less of it.

In general, it is the surgeon who would make that determination not the shrink. The cynical part of me thinks they want to push folks into bypass perhaps because there are better margins for their medical practice. They can demand more from your insurance company. I'd hope that is not the case but it does seem strange that the psychologist, not the nutritionist or the surgeon is making that determination. I'd ask for a second opinion.

I am still in the preliminary stages of getting approval but my biggest fear is the ore-op liver shrinking diet. I know how I have been in some of my previous diets. I am likely to rip someone's head off by the end of the first week but perhaps because I know there is an "end game" in sight I'll be able to get through. I'm excited for you, keep up the good work.