DaphneMom

Thank you! You're sweet :-) This IS your time! Not drinking with meals is hard to get used to, but after a while it's just second nature. I was a HUGE iced tea drinker....like all the time, every meal and in between too. I haven't had anything except for Water and coffee in over a year and to be honest, I really don't miss it. :-)

I don't have my surgery until Nov. 10th but one of the things I worry about (in addition to gaining the weight back) is not drinking anything 30 min. before, during or 30 min. after a meal. It's just so natural for me to have a glass of tea or Water when I eat. That's going to be a hard habit to break.
Livsmum--you're my new idol! You look great. I'm about 40 years older than you but I want to be slim again! This will be my time to succeed!

@@bikrchk, thank you, thank you, thank you! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I appreciate that you tell it like it is, and that it's normal for me to eat two spoonfuls of yogurt and be full! LoL!

No question, this is a crazy journey you are about to embark on. That said, I have a 90% sleeve. They tell me my doc does a smaller than average pouch and I. Am. Fine. You'll find your "new normal" post-op. The first month was hard while my stomach was swollen. I ate with a baby spoon and struggled to get my fluids and Protein in, but worked my way up to 75+g per day and 64oz of Water. At 3 months I could eat about 2 oz of moist meat. At 6 months no more than 4oz. Today, I'm satisfied on 4oz of most food... 1/2 cup of chili, 1 Chipolte taco, 1 egg with a slice of cheese on it.
I used to struggle with "dieting". Today, I eat what I like how I like it in very small quantities. I cannot over eat because it makes me physically ill. I choose Protein first 95% of the time. I eat carbs. :-o, yes, CARBS! I exercise 5 days per week, (yes, this is a new habit for me) and an active body needs carbs to function. I work the things I want, (chocolate) into my day around the things I need, (protein). For me, the key has been to move my body, get my protein and never, ever over eat. The rest has kind of taken care of its self. This has been the best gift EVER, to be free from an obsession with food!

Okay, I'm having your recovery. I would like a "no big deal" with a side of Protein Shake, please. Lol

I didn't think recovery was bad at all. I don't have a particularly high tolerance for pain, but I left the hospital the day after surgery, went home and was out shopping the next day.
I was tired, nauseated, and a bit sore, but I was fine.
I had to take anti nausea meds for about three months and I had (have) a slight stricture, so I stayed on liquids/purées for about 2 months. That sucked, but I had no desire to eat much so it was no big deal. I was seriously fine. Absolute truth.
I think the worst part was the nausea whenever I ate but the meds took care of that, and the fatigue. The fatigue left at three weeks so, again, no big deal.

Thank you cowgirl for calling it like it is. recovery is going to suck. I need that! If everyone tells me it's not so bad, or that it's only a couple days, I'm going to think I'm the only one having it hard and that will make me depressed. I have to get mentally ready and expectations are such an important component of this. A boxer has to get mentally prepared for a fight, not that I enjoy boxing, quite the contrary.

Think of getting your sleeve as starting over as a baby. You start off with just liquids, then progress to soft puréed foods, then a little more solid foods, and finally you start seeing what you can tolerate. This all takes months. But once you get through the "stages" of post op you will be able to eat like you did before, just a lot less!

Yes, I am going in with eyes wide open and it is very scary.
I draw a parallel on this to childbirth. I remember as an expectant mother that other mothers, including recent ones all came up roses as well. When asked "how your delivery went?" Every single person said it went really well. For me it was the most horrible gruesome thing I had ever gone through and mine was a fairly normal delivery. Really well, is not what I would describe childbirth as. Yet, I would do it again. But I felt lied to by everyone, even my own mother, who probably was the most honest of the bunch. Everyone seems to think everything is wonderful and rosie. It is odd to me, as I am not wired that way. If you ask me I will tell you the truth. It will be a balance answer about pros, cons, and what the expect. After that experience I tend not to trust others assessments. I read between the lines and have to dig a hole to China for the truth.
I fear I may not be able to cope and that I will be miserable all the time more then anything else. But the alternative is just as bad. Obesity kills and robs you of the chance of having a normal life. So, I have to give it my best shot. It is a leap of faith into the great unknown but it is also a leap of HOPE, one that I do not possess in my current situation. I hope things will workout in the end just like having a baby. Mothers do die in childbirth, some have horrible complications but we all know it's worth it. Many before me had WLS and they ended up okay. Look at everyone on this site post surgery. They are real and their stories inform our futures. You can't grow (in our case shrink) unless you try.