FitandFreeEmily

Sounds like you need to get in touch with the dietitian on staff at your doctors office. Most of the time they can provide you with a list of foods and quantities. If you already have a nutritionist don't hesitate to call them that's what they're there for. None of us are perfect and they don't expect us to be. Good Luck!

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​I AM SO EMBARRASSED TO CALL THEM CAUSE THIS IS MY FAULT I WAS NEGLECTFUL AND WANTED TO TEST MY SLEEVE.

Don't be embarrassed! You'll be SO glad you took care of it right away in the long run. They're used to seeing ALL kinds of people at all different stages. Many of them probably wait until it's too late. You can do this!

Hey there! I'll throw my two-cents in, although I might be echoing what most people have already replied. I'm 4 months out from RNY....

Hi everyone I have a couple questions and concerns I wanted to share with you guys in hope of some clarity and answers

questions:

1. did you guys feel any sort of depression? or more sensitive than before?

I'm a pretty emotional person (with a past of depression), so this was something I tried to prepare myself for. It's definitely 100% normal to feel emotional and confused at times -- we just had major surgery! More recently it's hit me, now that my body has changed quite a bit (down 85lbs). It feels like coming out of a 20-year high/addiction for me. Everything is more quiet and calm, now that I don't think about food as much. It's making me more emotional, because I can't run to food for comfort. Now all those feelings have to be FELT, which can be a rough transition. Hang in there! And if you need to talk to someone -- DO IT. I think seeing a therapist is the #1 thing that has helped me, besides surgery.

2. how do you deal with hunger pains? i think mine are stronger than before.

I don't feel hunger pains from my stomach, but I find myself saying "OMG I'm STARVING" and then realizing .. .wait, no I'm not. It's a weird game my head plays. Are you sure you're having real hunger pains? Could it be "head hunger" from past habits? Just something to think about!

Concerns:

I am able to drink 4 oz of Water with out (Choking) lol is that normal? and if im not paying attention I can eat and drink at the same time yesterday i drank a regular cup of Water with no problems and i got soo scared

Totally normal. Sip sip sip. You're only two weeks post surgery! I think it took me close to a month or more before I could drink more than 8oz in an hour. But I also had RNY, so that could be very different. I wouldn't push it too much, otherwise you may stretch out your stomach over time and reverse all the work you're doing now.

I can actually eat SOME solids yes I tried..

( i had a cheese stick day 5 I was having a bad day and day on Halloween i had a small chicken tender)

i did feel stuffed after and was good for the rest of the night but it doesn't seem right, like i shouldn't be able to eat this.

and lastly i cant find anything that tells me exactly what i should be eating in amounts i know puree and broths and soft stuff but how much of it?..

I cannot stress enough how important it is to stick to your doctor's / nutritionsists recommendations. And without sounding too harsh -- you'll only fail at this if you let yourself fail! YOU GOT THIS! Try to stick to the program, and you'll be just fine. Trust the process. For my particular plan, at two weeks out, I was lucky to get more than 2oz down in 30 minutes. Just go slow, eat SOFT foods, and focus on that Protein. I promise everything else will fall into place! I've seen many friends fail because they weren't ready to comitt to the process and tried to skirt around the rules. Don't give up already! <3

Just popping in to see if there's anyone around the Iowa City area! I would love to connect.

But my boyfriend is a little less so for reasons he can't seem to articulate. He just doesn't want me to do it.

This happened between my husband and I, at first. I went through a laundry list of reasons with my therapist as to why he might be hesitant: maybe he's afraid I'll outgrow him with my changes, he's threatened by such a change, he's worried about what people might think, etc. Turns out he finally just admitted that he was afraid of seeing me try something and not succeed and how that might effect my mental state. Maybe your boyfriend feels the same way!

Good luck with your surgery -- only a little more than one week out!

I just turned 30 in October. I started this journey in August.

I literally just put it on my Facebook and I started a blog.

This is how I knew that like 5 people care about my posts on Facebook.

I think it's easier that people know. I get a lot of questions, but I also get support and people always ask what I need to eat and drink, etc.

I think you're right -- it'll be a lot easier to get get it out in the open. I just noticed you're 5 days post-op! How are you feeling??

I'm 34, about to turn 35, and I completely emphasize with feeling like you're in an "in-between" stage in life. I continue to wonder when I'll feel like I'm truly a "real" grownup!

A lot of people on both sides of my family struggle with their weight, and I lost an aunt almost exactly a year ago to complications from diabetes and morbid obesity, so talking about surgery to my family wasn't an issue. My mom was the one who brought up the idea to me in the first place (which, yeah, I didn't take well initially).

As far as friends, though... my husband and my circle of friends mainly consist of super-healthy people who do triathlons and ultra marathons and stuff. I felt weird about telling them because, like your dad, I felt like they just wouldn't get where I was coming from. But honestly, they surprised me by being very supportive (we went to the shore with them a couple weeks after my surgery, when I had just started puréed/soft foods, and I couldn't get my incisions wet in the ocean yet, so obviously something was up). So, the people in your life may surprise you--and if not, keep reminding yourself that you are indeed a "grown-ass woman" and don't need anyone's permission to do what's best for you! Good luck!

Yes! that "in-between" stage is exactly what I'm feeling. I think you're right, people might surprise me. And if they don't -- o well, right? Thank you for your insight!

Hi, everyone!

I'm just starting this whole journey, currently awaiting my first big seminar (six-hours long!) newbie at my bariatric center. I'm 31, married, one kiddo, and live in Iowa City. Without going into my big long backstory (you can see that on my profile), I need to jump right into my question:

How did you break the news to your family / friends / co-workers?

Pretty much no one in my life is overweight, and if they are -- they definitely aren't dealing with their issues. My father especially is a very fit man (always has been), and it's hard for him to understand my issues. We don't talk too much about it. I've brought up from time to time that I'm in therapy, that I'm addressing my eating disorder, but even that... he just can't really relate. I don't blame him for this, but I'm worried about trying to get him to understand my decision for surgery.

Now, I know that I'm a grown-ass woman (ha!) who doesn't NEED approval from others. This is why I posted in the age-group thread. I'm at that weird place in life where I still feel like I kind of need to tell my family before making any big decisions. Thankfully my husband and close friends are 100% supportive and that really IS enough. But I have a long and public history with my weight loss journey. I used to write a fairly successful blog and have a public IG (@FitandFreeEmily) where I plan to update my followers with this decision. I'm bracing myself for the "you're taking the easy way out" from followers, but I'd like to know an eloquent way to address these comments head-on.

Any suggestions? How did you tell people in your life? Did you have to deal with any negative comments?

ANY help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I'm so beyond ready for this.

Thank you!!

- Emily

(PS - I haven't had any coffee and my 5yo is being a small tornado around me... so I apologize for any typos or incomplete thoughts. )

Hey everyone - total newbie, here.

I just started the preliminary paperwork at the University of Iowa Bariatric Center. I see a few of you have had your surgeries there!

Could someone give me an idea of what to expect? How long it might take for appointments to start happening? Can you tell I'm in that phase of "I've finally decided to get this done and now I can't wait" ?

Hope all is well!