niassy151

I'm posting in post-op because I want to know what people REALLY use to be successful. Did anyone buy anything (measuring cups/special sized containers/etc) that they really like/find useful to staying on track? Does anyone journal their food/keep a food/activity log? Does anyone use the Fitbook? It's kind of expensive but seems like it would be a really consistant way to track everything daily.

Well I got some games... I'll post some updates once I give it a whirl. It seems like this may be a really viable exercise option for me. Fingers crossed!

Premier Protein is RTD liquid. It's pretty cheap at Sams Club - just under $19 for a pack of 12 17oz boxes.

I love that you call it the "during" shot. Congrats!

I like Premier Protein. I like the cholocate as is. I thought the vanilla was gross until I added 2 tables spoons of light canned coconut cream and 2 tables spoons of pinapple juice. It tastes exactly like a pina colada to me. It's so good.

Seeing my collarbones is actually on my list of one of the things I am most excited about in regards to losing weight & they way I look. I'm glad to see I'm not alone in the thrill!

Does anyone do their exercise at home with Xbox Kinect? What are your favorite games? I've heard Zumba is fun (challenging to learn at first, but effective.)

My sleeve surgery requires a 2 night hospital stay (March 5th is the big day!)

I've heard people say that they regret not doing it sooner in the forums, but does anyone ever wish they didn't do it? Do you ever feel like you're missing out on something? I imagine Thankgiving is radically different, which I don't necessarily thing is a bad thing... I'm just wondering what things change that I haven't thought about. In place of eating, has anyone picked up any new hobbies? Is there anything that you wish you would have been better prepared for? Did anything change post-op that you didn't think about before doing the surgery?

Mine is March 5th, so I'm right behind you. Doesn't it feel so far away right now? It does to me!

Will I be able to put one on afterward? As in, will I be able to move enough to stretch and put one on or will I be in too much pain? I feel really uncomfortable without a bra in public. Thanks for giving me a heads up!

I have my pre-op scheduled for Feburary 19th. I'm supposed to start my liquid diet on Feb 17 though. I've started to transition now to liquid to find things I like and so I knew I would really be able to do it. I know I need to lose weight prior to shrink my liver and lower the risk of surgery. I'm going to go to the support group at the hospital on February 12th. I'm really hoping to meet someone that I click with that I can talk to about whatever that's already been through it. I'm a self pay, so I still have to get my financing worked out. That's by far the most stressful part, knowing there's a possibility that maybe it won't happen. It seems so far away right now. In addition to starting my diet, I'm trying to get into an exercise routine. I haven't be as successful with that. I thought about joining a gym - but I don't think I'll go. I paid for a membership for YEARS! Or buying a treadmill... but honestly... I have an xbox and dance games, a bosu ball, a balance ball and a groupon to a dance studio. I feel like I should be able to exercise at home. Has anyone been successful exercising at home? Or losing weight before surgery?

My surgery isn't until March and I haven't done my pre-op meeting yet (it's February 19th). Can I wear a bra during surgery? I just don't know if you can only just wear a gown.

I have two that I like. Malibu Hemp Self Tanning/Firming Lotion - http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/63/51/11/0007635111260_500X500.jpg It tans you very slowly and it's one of the better smelling self tanners, in my opinion. When I don't want something that smells a lot, I use Jergens Firming Lotion http://www.jergens.com/products/daily-moisturizers/skin-firming-daily-toning-moisturizer.aspx During the shower, I exfoliate with a sugar scrub and gloves. After the shower I use shea butter baby oil (or aloe baby oil gel) a few times a week or just use the Jergens. I don't know if it really does firm my skin, but I do know it keeps it soft. Plus these lotions aren't expensive and it sure can't hurt!

I had an allergic reaction to the "hypoallergenic" glue. Apparently it only affects like 1% of the population. Not to mention I had food posioning - they should have sent me home. I had HORRIBLE, embarrassing gas. It was so loud I kept waking myself up. Lol. Worst. Night. Ever!

I actually was thinking about this today too! I was thinking since Dallas is big metro area and has a lot of bariatric patients, I wondered if there was anyone that would want to swap if they had a bulk purchase or if a group could form to pool money and buy many products and distribute them among the group so people could get some variety but not spend a bunch of money on just one item they may or may not like. I was going to ask if there was something like that at the support group I'm going to for the first time in Feburary (my surgery is scheduled in March) but I bet there's probably other people on this site that might be interested in doing that.

I agree with Seela though, the RTD (ready to drink) Preimer Protein shakes (I've only tried chocolate) are by far my favorite. Isolyze tastes pretty good. I've tried the chocolate Milk and Choclate Peanut Butter. http://www.speciesnutrition.com/index.php/store#!/~/product/id=20099369 I'd like to know if anyone has tried these: http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2612796 Natures Best Isopure Zero Carb - they look like Gatoraide not like a shake.

Today I told two of my friends that are roommates that I was having my gall bladder removed and asked if they could watch my dogs, pick me up from the hospital and check in on me for a few days. They said it shouldn't be a problem between the two of them, but want to go out to dinner Sunday for me to tell them more about it. I've read so many stories on here about people having gall bladders removed that it seemed like the incisions would be close enough to what will really happen that it should be fairly easy to pass off. I don't know why I'm so worried about being judged - the majority of the people I know are heavy. I think it's more like I have this opportunity and I have guilt about taking it - I'll be paying it for a very long time - but I think the investment on feeling better about myself and being healthier is just so worth it, I'd be an idiot not to do it. At work tomorrow I'm going to transition to a liquid lunch. I think the longer I do it, and if I cn lose some weight now (surgery is in March) it will be less of a shock to people after surgery happens. I feel like this final piece is coming together - but I feel like a total jerk for lying to my friends' faces. I don't know if they would be supportive or not - I just don't want something else to deal with and there's always this back thought - what if I don't lose a lot of weight? There's so many what ifs and if this happens then this will happen scenrious I think of, I swear I'm going to drive myself insane. I have a month until my pre-op and I want to try to lose as much weight as I can.... I want to start finding hobbies and other stress relivers to try and take the place of food now, or at least have a list of things to do when I feel "hungry" (really the stress or bordom eating that got me to where I'm at now). I didn't have to have the psychological ealuation - are there any must read books anyone can recommend? I expect I'll be using this site a lot more after surgery happens. I'm definitily going to look into support groups in my area. I know so many other people have gone through this already so I don't really feel "alone" I just wonder if my feelings are normal - I feel like I'm more of a liar than most people seem to be. I guess everyone has to do what will work for them. Lately I've been looking at scar photos online. Do the scars look really bad? I'm worried about skin flaps too. I didn't realize how many "weird" thoughts I'd have. It all seems to random - I guess that's just how I think through things.

I have my pre-op scheduled for February 19 and my surgery scheduled for March 5. I'm self pay for the sleeve, and am waiting for all of my funding to come together. I'm nervous because I really haven't told anyone in my life about what's going on. I live out of state from my family. Originally I told my sister because I wanted her to come out to help me, but now she seems pretty judgemental (mostly about the money aspect of it because I would have to finance it) so it hardly seems worth it just to avoid questions about money. I don't really have anyone to take me to to the hospital. Honestly I was thinking about taking a cab (I have to be there at 5:30am) - I think getting a ride back home might be easier. I've told one person I work with - so she could probably pick me up after work. The facility is 4 miles from where I live. I'd like to take a cab home, but I don't know if that's allowed. I also don't really have anyone to stay with me after surgery, so I'm kind of freaked out about that as well. I've started transitioning to the liquid diet now so it would be easier as I have to switch completely over two weeks before. I'm also thinking about buying a treadmill so I can walk at home. I just feel kind of all over the place right now. I don't know how hard coming home after surgery really is going to be and how much help I'll really need. Do I need to tell someone close to me, or will I be able to do this alone? My family for the most part has been really unsupportive when I first said I was interested in doing this because they don't think I am "big enough" or should be able to lose weight on my own. And I don't realy have a lot of friends, and the ones that I do work a lot and I don't really want anyone knowing my private business anyway. Am I being crazy?