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40's have been a blast so far, I'm only half way through them... It's great to be financially stable it give you freedom to do something that money just didn't allow in the 30's... I think 40's teach you not to sweat the small stuff... The only downside has been the ever changing hormones... Life can only get better after surgery when I'll have a toll that will help me fight the weight and will become more active etc...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

Being skinny isn't solving all anyone's problems... No one walks through life problem free... Going from obese to skinny is more like trading problems... You still going to have to cope with life... The good news is you will be doing it in a more healthy more Moblie body...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

The surgery is about improving your quality of life... If having a social beer is your thing, when the time is right why not see if your sleeve can tolerate it... We all want to follow the rules but we need to adapt them to our lifestyle... If we feel deprived of everything we not going to have life long success.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

I'm pre-op too, I've been doing Protein no carbs... Got to say trader joe's is my go to place to get easy things to make... For lunch I do grilled chicken, tuna or chicken sausage... I'll cute them up add cheese, black olives, spinach etc... I work so I tend to learn towards things that travel easy... I'm trying to drop a few pounds before surgery... Down 7 since May 25th, it's a struggle... I think your lunch choices would depend on what you like... A Greek yogurt with fruits and hemp seed is another I have for lunch...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

Thanks for sharing, another reminder our mind is our most powerful tool... The world see us as we portray ourselves to them... Happy dating
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

The lighting isnt so great in this picture. The 1st picture in the black pants was last night. The other one was from the day of my surgery.
I now wear skinny jeans.... I still have 50 to 55 lbs to go but I know I will hit my goal weight by my surgiversary!
I can see the skinny woman inside. Soon... very soon!

I'm pre-op too... I don't think I've been having food funerals in that I'm pigging out on certain things but I've become more aware of food... Yes I'm obese so I haven't just discovered food lol... I've already started on a high Protein diet since May 25 when I met with the surgeon.. The other night I was wanting some ice cream, I got it but I found after a few licks I decided I just didn't need anymore... I feel like I'm more conscious about the fact bad food choices combined with overeating has gotten me to where I need surgery... I do plan at some point after surgery to have foods that are ice cream Cookies etc... But in moderation... Cookies are a trigger for me so those I may not have for a long while out from surgery...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

The surgery is about improving your quality of life... If having a social beer is your thing, when the time is right why not see if your sleeve can tolerate it... We all want to follow the rules but we need to adapt them to our lifestyle... If we feel deprived of everything we not going to have life long success.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

@@Jcfresh if your here in the US, the is no letting you see the doctor, you have a right to see the doctor when you request to see the doctor... Don't be passive about this, it may not be in your personality but you need to be assertive on this one... Good luck
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

I would not worry about liver shrinking... My surgeon as well as others surgeon don't require the two week liquid diet... Different surgeon are adhering to pre op diet practice based on the research provided to them.
On advice I'm adding a disclaimer to my statement.
I'm not a doctor nor is the information I shared intended for anyone to take as a reason to skip their pre-op diet.
Please follow your specific directions to the best of your ability.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

Agreed... My bmi is 40.4 with no health issues, these are my guidelines... I do appreciate your taking time out to drive home the importance of listening to the surgeon, it's very supportive of you
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

If you want beer then have some beer once you are healed up inside

Thanks for sharing, another reminder our mind is our most powerful tool... The world see us as we portray ourselves to them... Happy dating
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

The surgery is about improving your quality of life... If having a social beer is your thing, when the time is right why not see if your sleeve can tolerate it... We all want to follow the rules but we need to adapt them to our lifestyle... If we feel deprived of everything we not going to have life long success.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

I'm pre-op too... I don't think I've been having food funerals in that I'm pigging out on certain things but I've become more aware of food... Yes I'm obese so I haven't just discovered food lol... I've already started on a high Protein diet since May 25 when I met with the surgeon.. The other night I was wanting some ice cream, I got it but I found after a few licks I decided I just didn't need anymore... I feel like I'm more conscious about the fact bad food choices combined with overeating has gotten me to where I need surgery... I do plan at some point after surgery to have foods that are ice cream Cookies etc... But in moderation... Cookies are a trigger for me so those I may not have for a long while out from surgery...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

I'm in NY, have had psych consult, nut visit, some blood work and consult with the surgeon... Now it's a matter of getting paperwork in order to submit to insurance... I'm scheduled for an upper GI X-ray series and hoping for July surgery.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The surgery is about improving your quality of life... If having a social beer is your thing, when the time is right why not see if your sleeve can tolerate it... We all want to follow the rules but we need to adapt them to our lifestyle... If we feel deprived of everything we not going to have life long success.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

My nut said in the first week or two, you drink 4oz of the Protein shake within a 30 minute time frame...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

First, I am not a shrink.
Second, I've lost 100 pounds -- from 235 to 135. I've maintained for over a year now.
I think all these so-called perceptions (or misperceptions, if you will) are pretty common. The advice I'd give you is to just relax and keep losing weight. It takes a while for our minds and feelings to catch up with our body's rapid changes. And believe you me -- no matter how slowly you may think this is all happening it is happening FAST.
Interestingly, my *misperceptions* went like this:
1. I am fat, and I look fat to myself.
2. I am losing weight, and I see the weight loss.
3. I am still losing weight, and I think I'm losing weight too fast. (This is when I was losing 6-8 pounds/month -- ha!)
4. I have definitely lost too much weight. I look weird to myself.
5. I'm still losing weight -- I'm a skeleton (I was 145 pounds and 5'5" about this point -- ha!)
6. I'm down to 135 pounds -- this is cray-cray. I don't look like myself. I should gain 5 pounds and see how I look then.
7. Many months later I still weigh 135 pounds. I think now that I look a little plump. I don't -- ha!
Honestly, I think most of this is just us trying to reconcile all this disparate information (mirror reflections, selfies, other photographs) with our memories of ourselves fat.
BTW, I've been seeing a shrink for 2 years now about bariatric, self-care, self-image and identity issues -- he's very helpful. And believe me, he's never expressed any concerns about my misperceptions as I've lost and then maintained weight.
In other words, I think everything I've gone through around this old/new body reconciliation process is pretty normal for WLS patients.
tl;dr We're not crazy. Our bodies are just changing a lot in a short period of time. It's no wonder we are having a hard time recognizing / understanding what's going on and seeing ourselves in this new light.

This is absolutely just me saying this, and I'm definitely some random stranger on the interwebs, but what I was told and my research has born out is that the whole "if I do X, I could stretch my sleeve" stuff is complete BS.
My doctor is a nationally certified training doctor for bariatric surgery. He said that many doctors use scare tactics on their patients that they feel won't listen to actual logic/facts like "your stomach will not stretch out if you overeat/drink soda/whatever, but you shouldn't do it" because all most people hear is that it is okay to do whatever (it's not, but mostly folks don't listen or they don't take to heart what the doc is actually saying most of the time).
So they say things like "you'll stretch your stomach or cause a leak or kill yourself if you do X!!" hoping that the patient actually listens to them and doesn't do things that are discouraged. Scare tactics work, because most people unfortunately do not listen to doctors' advice unless they think it will seriously harm or kill them. All you have to do to prove that point is check out the numerous threads on here about never drinking with a straw because according to my doctor it can cause a leak/blow up your stomach/you will DIE...AAAAAAHHHHH! panic crap. A straw. Seriously. (granted, this is anecdotal evidence, but still)
Carbonation is just gas. Gas can cause discomfort. If the gas gets bad enough, it can cause you pain and you'll probably feel bad and want to burp or take some gas pills and feel bad for a while. But it is biologically impossible once you are healed for it to stretch out your stomach from drinking a few sodas of beers.
Which is not to say you should do this, just pointing out the logic fail there.
What will likely happen is a person develops a tolerance for the carbonation and starts drinking regularly again? They'll be introducing lots of carbs, sugar, high calories, and caffeine in the case of sodas, and a fast ticket to dehydration (since both alcohol and soda can dehydrate a person easily). And you're wasting precious stomach space on empty, addictive junk basically. So yes, you shouldn't drink them, but not because you will cause serious damage; because they are not good for you. And if the doctor just told you that, it would be much easier for a person to ignore their "advice." Which is why some resort to scare tactics.
So totally understand if you steer clear of them based off of what your doctor told you, but other doctors do actually say differently regarding the reasoning behind avoiding things like carbonation... and often differ on other hot button issues as well. And it never hurts to be aware of some doctors using scare tactics to keep their patients in line one way or another.

strawberry, apple slices, peach, raspberries, dried cherries, blueberries. banana. Can't think of anything else.
of course, not much of it! and always with a Protein. usually cottage cheese.
having been diabetic and really fruit was rough on my blood sugar it is a special delight to have a wee bit of fruit and have normal blood sugar. really makes me happy.

I would also add, if there *was* an easy way out, and if I could cheat my way to not being obese, I'd be at the front of the line.
while this is easier than doing it without the WLS, but it ain't easy to change your life - and it sure isn't cheating to have surgery when you need it.

Are you sure the plan doesn't say 6 months weight management in the past two years? There's lots of stories on here but this is the first I'm hearing of having a 2 year medically supervised diet, 24 months of visiting the doctor seems extreme.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

There are not free samples HOWEVER places like Vitamin Shoppe sell single serve packets of a lot of different Protein Shakes. I bought one of each and tried them all before committing to a whole container.