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I started off thinking I was going to use my insurance.....6 month pre-op supervised diet and the works....I wound up deciding to self fund about 3 months into it and had my surgery a few weeks later. I still wound up going through all the classes....some of them twice and I'm grateful for them....the material presented was very helpful but even more were the other participants and the discussions that came about. Good stuff to galvanize me to make the effort and change the mindset.

It was a complete non-event for me. I'd schedule mine for the first available slot....6:00am. Exactly one week prior to the surgery date. Wife drove us there and I was suited up in my ridiculous looking hospital gown and grippy socks in no time.....in the hospital bed.....and being wheeled into the room in short order. IV went in easily because I'd been staying very well hydrated. Bright lights.....several medical staff members suited up.....very much reminiscent of an operating room. They turned me over on my left side and slightly elevated. Was a bit awkward due to ongoing back trouble (much better now after my sleeve surgery). A sweet little lady (looked EXACTLY like the medium from The Poltergeist )......came in real close and put a fixture in my mouth and ensure it was comfortable. She then placed a mask over my nose & mouth and ask me to take several deep breaths.....very calming. Instantly relaxed and at peace with everything. They explained that the next step was going to be a sedative administered via my IV and for me to continue breathing nice and deep and enjoy my great nap that would take place. That was it. Over. I woke up in the room I'd started off in. Head was clear. Body was relaxed. No hangover. There had never been any pain whatsoever. My surgeon (he'd done the endoscopy, too) came in and explained what he'd seen and that everything was a go for sleeve surgery in a few days. I felt great. Wife drove me home. I did sleep great for a few hours in my recliner and woke up feeling better than I have in ages. Heck.....I'd go back today and do another endoscopy if they'd let me. Best sleep ever. Enjoy yourself and relax. It'll all go well. It's a big non-event. Same thing can be said about the sleeve surgery, too. Nothing to it but to do it.

I'll simply get mine done when it's due. It'll be funny to laugh at one day. You can always go back when you are at goal and tell them you need a replacement and they'll retake your photo and give you a new one.

Good deal. It's always great to find new sources of Protein that you like. I've been very fortunate in that I've had great results with a dozen different protein powders and pre-mixed drinks that I've tried. There has only been one that I never, ever want to taste again and it is unjury strawberry flavor. Never again. Tossed a brand new can in the garbage. I really like their chocolate and their unflavored.....but never again on the strawberry.

Thank you ! You know what the best thing about it is ? My non-interest in food feels very natural. I'm not having to fight urges or force myself to do anything. It's like it's magically been removed from my thought process. I now park at the farthest parking spots at work and when out running errands. I think more about finding ways to get in more walking than I do food. I just want to evolve back into the hunter-gatherer I was genetically programed to be. A simple creature with simple functions. No more having to go see doctors.....specialists.....to correct the evils of me eating refined sugars and processed junk food. I was living in a horrible cycle of idiocy. It 100% my own fault. I was too stupid to see the direct correlation between my own eating habits and my failing health. The one thing that the good Lord ensured I had full control of, what went into my mouth, was something that I lacked any control of. I was an idiot. I am so very grateful to have woken up and experienced a better way. I knew it existed.....I'd tried to live it and failed before....for stupid reasons. Now, though, the hunger is gone thanks to the sleeve surgery.....with the lack of hunger comes and easy ability to eat nutritious offerings and completely avoid the trash foods that were most certainly killing me. Life is good. I am so grateful. The only craving I have is some help with knee arthritis so I can do more.....lose more......

I've been on some car lots recently car shopping for a new car for my teenage son. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I've got an interest in a sporty car for myself once I reach my goal weight. It'll be a good motivator to keep me pushing in the right direction.

I can tell you this from my own experience. Oct 13 sleeve surgery. Was on Protein shakes only for 3 weeks post op and sick of them by then. Allowed to eat foods again by surgeon on beginning of 4th week. Found that it was not what I thought it'd be after a few days of the small meals he suggested. The scale stopped moving and I was pissed off. Stalled for another week. I went back to starting the day with a Premier Protein shake (30 grams of protein) and then some tuna or grilled chicken later on. Scale started moving again. I have zero desire to eat all the foods I enjoyed before. There's simply no interest anymore. food is simply a staple that must be had to live, but something that i don't "enjoy" like I did before. I still have preferences for certain things and they taste good.....but I don't think about them. I don't think about food anymore. I see posts on here where people are chomping at the bit to cook this and cook that.....when can I eat these? I just don't get it. It's like they are obsessing over food. I'm grateful that I'm beyond it and food is simply an afterthought. Even the HD TV commercials for restaurants don't have any effect on me anymore. I'll be visiting with my Mom & Dad this next week and I'm sure Mom will be cooking feasts every day. I hope she's not offended too badly when still stick to my normal routine. When I was 2 weeks out.....I also wondered when I'd want pizza again (Pizza was my number one favorite food before).....now, I simply don't even think about it. Life is good. Leaner life is better.

No such thing as a last supper with a sleeve surgery. You'll be able to eat the same foods again at some point.......only you'll most likely be craving healthy foods and be able to see the sugar-poison for what it truly is. You are right on target about moving on to a healthier and happier life. Stick to the pre-op plan and profit from it. Best wishes for you.

Nearing the end of my 4th week post-op. I've had pickles the last two days and they were great. They were the dill version that doesn't have sugar.

yeah sh'e not the best person, my husband is friends with her and sometimes in order to spend time wiht my husband I have to put up with her tagging along. at the restaurant she takes the wrapper off her straw and tosses the paper into my husband's glass of Water and thinks it's just the funniest thing ever. Sounds like shenanigans that a teenager would engage in. I'm not understanding why you let her ignore your request for the table. There's a lot that I don't get about this situation. As far as booths go....I hate them now.....and probably will continue to hate them after losing a bunch of weight.....they are usually too low and give my knees a fit.

Dr. Glass was awesome for me. I have nothing but the highest recommendations for him. I self funded with them due to insurance issues. http://www.livehealthymd.com Part of the expense when you self-fund will be for B.L.I.S.S. insurance. This covers complications form the wls and beyond for the next 8 months or so. I'm very, very grateful and glad that I did this.

I can understand what you mean. Certain stuff is easy.....while other Proteins are not. No problems here with chicken. I'm fortunate that I enjoy the pouches of tuna and salmon. Broiled fish is great. My son and I were out all afternoon and he stated that he was starving. I'd only eaten earlier this morning. He wanted a burger. I ordered a small cheeseburger and ate the patty & pickles. Even though I took my time and chewed carefully.....it wasn't very pleasant. Ingestion and burping and an overall bad experience. I set my cellphone alarm for an hour to remind me to drink afterwards. I'll get 60oz more Water down after that meal today. It's going to be a while before I fool around with a burger. I didn't enjoy that experience at all.

Listerene breath strips in the pocket at all times. Ketosis breath sucks.

I guess at some point bread will be something that I look at and say....."Okay....let's try and see". Whenever that point is....I'm going to have to watch it like a hawk. Bread and Pasta are usually not good for me and weight stability. I've been thinking about getting one of those vegetable spiralizer deals to make substitute pasta. pizza crust is normally my downfall, too. Of course, I'll be fortunate in that a single piece of thin crust will probably be more than a meal. Another monster for me is sodium. All the pouches of flavored tuna and salmon are loaded with it. So is the beef & turkey Jerky I've had. Heck....even the frozen non-breaded flounder fillets I'm broiling for breakfast-lunch have a lot in it (some type of nitrate preservative).....the hot sauce I doused on them prior to going in the broiling pan has lots of sodium. So many considerations to take into account. In many ways the tried & true Protein shake diet was so much easier.

Northeast Georgia......sorry.

I'm trying to work my way up to 10,000 steps on the fitbit. Dang knees are just not cooperating this weekend......still working at it. Between your walking and the pool you are really setting yourself up nicely. Great job. Your boyfriend is really going to scratch his head when he sees you at future buffet restaurants.....you'll walk around a lot and look at the variety and return to the table with some wide ranging samples....just not much of any of it. It's going to be funny.

Cool. You've checked that hurdle off the list. January will be here before you know it.

Sounds like you are off to a really good start. Great advice from BLERDgirl and InnerSurferGirl. I'd listen to everything they have to say now and in the future as you move along through the stages. They are clearly successful and making awesome progress. Every bit of advice I've received from them has been spot on and helpful. Not much I can add other than a couple "don't do's" : Don't worry with "last meals" of your favorite foods. You'll see posts where folks get all wrapped up with having pizza, cake and whatever for the last time before surgery. All this does is lead to one garbage meal after another....days and weeks of continued poor eating. You are having sleeve surgery. You have to say goodbye to nothing. You can still eat the favorite treat foods later once you reach your goal weight. Stay the course with your low carb, high Protein plan and go ahead and start losing now. You'll thank yourself later. Losing weight is the goal....no matter if it's before or after surgery.....it's all about the losing. Don't let yourself get stress out about this thing. Keep with your plan you've established.....add/delete/modify as needed when your NUT gives you further guidance. Keep on working at it every day.....let it be natural and have fun adding flavors to your eats.......Mrs Dash has a dozen flavors now, hot sauces, Italian herbs and other non calorie flavors. Have fun and enjoy the variety. Don't get burned out on Protein shakes right now. Do find some that you like....at least 2-3 different ones and then put 'em up until your pre-op & immediate post-op diets come into play. You'll have some you enjoy that you can transition to. You are going to do great !!!!!

That needs to be remedied. I saw your before/after pics. You have sculpted a body that's screaming for the beach life. Inspiring results. Inspiring hard work and motivation.

So your husband knows you are 3 weeks out from VSG surgery.....throwing up once a day.......and takes you to a brewery and gets you a beer to "sit there" with ???????? Oh yeah.....you should flip the script on him and pull some type of ghost pepper chili stunt and sneak it into his food. Once he recovers from the heat/pain/gastric torment.......tell him that was thanks for dragging you through the same.

I like that idea !!!!!! Cool car. Don't think I'd stand a chance in one at my height but a convertible sporty car is an interest.

That is a very liberal pre-op diet compared to mine, which was only Protein shakes and broth. I'd have loved to have been permitted chicken and eggs.

Thanks, man. I had a great doctor's visit with my primary doc yesterday. It's easy to be upbeat after such a visit. He's a very positive person and helps get his patients enthused about getting healthy. His nurse is super....really personable and a real sweetheart. She's always fun to talk to. Months ago, she introduced me to an office staff member......a sleeved office staff member. A very helpful conversation followed. It was cool when I checked out yesterday and scheduled my next appointment......my sleeved buddy was the one who assisted me. Another great conversation about sleeved life. My doc was really happy with the weight loss over the last 6 months. He shook his head and grinned when we both agreed that it has occurred while doing zero exercise and minimal walking for work. Low activity weight loss.......not at all how I want to approach it. Back and knees are getting better every week, though.....and the treadmills and elliptical machines await. Ordered some new superbadass running shoes and have been loading my iPod with pumping tunes. The groundwork is laid for the gym sessions.......very soon. Then, I'm thinking this plane will get off the ground and go places.....

Great post. Hugely insightful and informative. Thanks & best wishes to you and you future.