Thinthoughts

Good work! You look awesome and what I loved the most was that as your body got smaller your smile got bigger!!!

Frozen Greek yogurt. Feels like ice cream but 1/2 c is 6 grams of protein and it replaces ice cream.

Just stop discussing it with her. Once you've lost 50 pounds and more, she'll get it. If she's a true friend, then once she sees your new happiness and health she'll totally get it. Good luck!

I weighed 228 at my heaviest before surgery on Aug 19th 2014. My girlfriend did the 2 week per-op diet with me to be supportive. The morning of my surgery I was on the table with tears streaming down my face in doubt. I had the surgery! 5 months later, I've lost 75 pounds. My girlfriend, the one who has been trying to lose weight, walks with me at work every day, is doing her own version of a low fat, low carb diet... Has lost a total of 5 pounds. She has yo-yo'd up and down about 10 pounds. HAVE THE SURGERY! It'll be the best thing you've ever done for yourself! Good luck! You can do it!

Congratulations! You look great!

Yes! Hang in there. Your emotions are totally normal. It gets much easier and more normal. You will love your new life!

It's funny that you talked about wanting to feel invisible because I've always felt the same way. I'm a mom of two daughters 8 and 2 with a step daughter too. I never wanted to be some hot mama, just an average woman that didn't stick out in a crowd. I had my surgery on Aug 19th. I've lost 62 pounds since I started my 2 week preop diet at 228 pounds. Now I weigh 166 and I look NORMAL! I wasn't invisible before, I stuck out in a crowd because of my size. Now I'm just NORMAL! And it feels great! When I go out I just look like a well dressed, put together woman and mother. I actually blend in so much better now! Lol! I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am that I had the surgery and I was CRYING on the surgery table about to walk out while they were putting me under! You will be so happy too! Good luck!

I was afraid of the same thing. Afraid of everything really. I was crying on the operating table and nearly told them to stop when I felt my eyes roll back in my head and I fell asleep. Thank god they were so quick about it or I may have run out of there and I'm glad I didn't. I had my surgery on Tuesday the 19th. Good luck to you! The being put to sleep part is the easiest. It feels like you fall asleep for a nap and wake up and it's over.

First night home from my surgery yesterday. My surgery went well but I had a Hernia repair as well. I was able to get one 17oz bottle of water down yesterday while at the surgical center but have drank much more today. I've been having warm tea and chicken broth as well as water and a sugar free Popsicle. I had some pretty fierce gas pain earlier today up in my left shoulder but I kept walking on my treadmill and using a heating pad and it's gone now, thank God! I have some wicked acid reflux and pain under my sternum but was told it's just because of the hernia repair and my swollen tissues and that it should go away. For now I'm just trying to keep sipping and getting liquids in and not worrying at all about protein and calories or anything like that yet. My doctors and nurses said not to worry about anything but staying hydrated for now. I feel a lot of bloating in my abdomen and have been "working" it out slowly which is making me feel better. I was crying on the operating table and nearly told them to stop when they were putting me under! But I glad I fell asleep fast because so far, I'm so glad I did it!

Hi everyone! We'll today's the day! I'm at the surgery center right now waiting to go back. I'm doing it!!! I'm terrified but I'm also eager to start a life I've always dreamed of. Cross your fingers for me and thanks for all the support and helpful information along the way!

Thank you! Such helpful info! I appreciate it.

How r ya? Ull do fine! My emotions an nerves were all over the place..by the time I was in preop I was taking happy pics an doin happy dance in bed! Headed to surgery room! Had a great team! Ull b fine. If ur having hernia repair also don't b surprised if u have esophagus spasms...mine lasted a wk an I stayed 2 days for iv Fluid I couldn't drink..it hurt to bad first day, by second day I was sipping tiny an tolerating. ..keep us posted! I'm 5 wks out 42 down! Worth every bit!! Thanks! And congratulations on your amazing loss! Do you think it matters that the Soups I bought for postoperative full liquids aren't low or fat free. They range from 2-5 grams of fat per 1/2 c of Soup.

I had my surgery on Wednesday and went back to work the following Tuesday without any problems. Assuming no complications, you should be fine. Good luck on your surgery! Thanks! I'm crossing my fingers.

Hi Kindle, I have a question. Surgery's in two days. I bought broths and cream soups for my next two weeks but the only thing that was low fat was the broth. The other soups range from 2-5 grams of fat per half cup. Should I get all low fat or nonfat versions instead or does it matter the first two weeks. You seem pretty knowledgeable about all this stuff.

My surgery is on the 19th and I'm going crazy with worry and emotions! I went out today to get ready for next week and bought chicken broth and sugar free Popsicles as well as some apple juice and crystal light. But after day 3, I can move to full liquids and I bought a lot of soups: cream of chicken of course, and cream of mushroom but I also got butternut squash and tomato bisque and cashew carrot ginger, and sweet potato pumpkin! I also got plain nonfat Greek yogurt that I plan to add some Splenda and cinnamon to and blend it with nonfat milk. I bought some Isopure protein powder that I plan to blend into everything because it's totally unflavored. I know I'll be itching to chew something by day 14 but I plan to keep the variety in my new diet as much as I can. I have been on Premier Protein shakes for two weeks and am looking forward to some things that aren't so sweet. Good luck everyone!

I have told some close friends, my family and 3 coworkers but not my bosses and the only thing I'm worried about is that I've only taken one week off work and if I have complications I don't know what I'll do. I'm working on Monday next week and my surgery's on Tuesday so I'm debating on telling them just in case.

Thanks for posting! Sums things up perfectly.

Yes I will definitely keep you updated.

I have been all over the internet researching both success stories and regrets, have read about countless simple surgery experiences and just as many complications! I want this so much but I am still really scared. When I think about the seamless surgeries and post op recovery that people have had, I feel gung-ho but when I think that I COULD be one of the 10% who have complications, then I get worried. I have scheduled only one week off work and when I hear about people going back to the ER several times or being hospitalized, it scares me. Also, it seems like those who've had the surgery are thinking, planning, and strategizing constantly over eating and drinking. That's how I have been for as long as I can remember! I was hoping that surgery would help to QUIET the voice in my head that agonizes over food. Is this constant fretting over liquid intake and Protein consumption just in the beginning or will I have to count and weigh and measure and stress about it forever? Will it ever feel normal and natural.

Thank you Doodle Girl! I too have tried all my life to lose weight. I have lost hundreds of pounds over my lifetime and have gained it all back and then some. I know how great it feels to be on the losing streak but I have always been so hungry on the journey that I could only hold on for so long without bingeing it all back on again. I guess it's just so hard to imagine feeling full on a half cup of food that it's hard to wrap my brain around. My surgery is in 4 days and my emotions are in overdrive. Thanks for your support!

Hi All! I'm being sleeved on Tuesday next week (August 19th). I'm excited but also terrified! It's confusing that everyone has such different pre-op and post-op diets. Does anyone else feel the same way? Why such a huge difference if it's the same medical procedure?

Also! And so very important... Run out and get some Benefiber or Citrucil to get some fiber in your belly because the constipation, if you haven't experienced it yet, is HORRENDOUS if you're drinking a bunch of protein.

Day 5 was horrible for me too and day 6 was awful as we'll but I'm on day 10 now and it's not too bad. I only got through days 5-6 by staying busy and away from food. Even if that meant my family too.

I'm starting to get scared about my surgery on Tuesday Aug 19th! I'm starting to wonder if I should go through with it or not. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just try to lose weight again on my own. I was at my surgery refresher consultation today and the nurse said that if I ever eat more than a half cup of food that I'll stretch my sleeve. Even at the year post surgery mark! I thought about the holidays and if we served a traditional thanksgiving dinner then a half cup wouldn't even 1 bite of each dish. I actually scooped my lean cuisine meal into a half cup measuring cup tonight and it wasn't even half of a lean cuisine! My question to all of you who have been successful is: How much can you eat at a time without feeling stuffed? And how far out are you from surgery?