Chrysalis77

Love this!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today is my re-birthday too! Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today is the day! Who else is joining the losers bench today? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Day 20 1 Day pre-op Sooooo tomorrow is the big day! I am finally starting to get a little nervous- thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Praying I am a person that is grateful I made this decision and not one who regrets it. Praying I don't have any complications. Praying the pain is bearable. Praying I lose weight steadily and am not a slow loser. Praying- just praying. This time tomorrow I will be on the other side. Anyone reading this please say a prayer for me too! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What are the foamies? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 13 5 days pre-op Was in the HBO store today and bought a tshirt. Naturally I picked up the XXXL. It occurred to me that maybe I should buy I smaller shirt since I will legitimately be losing weight soon but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't think I really believe this is about to happen!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 14 6 Days pre-op Sooooo I had both a NSV and a stark reminder of why I am on this journey today. First I put on some pants I haven't worn since I started my pre-op diet and they were really loose. Like- probably should have them taken in soon loose. I am also starting to notice a difference in my face which is exciting. Now on to the bad- beyond having to buy two airplane seats in Southwest and then explain to everyone who wanted to sit next to me that the seat was "reserved" and beyond having to ask for a seatbelt extender... Today I had to call down to the front desk a request a change of hotel rooms for a handicap room. The toilet in the bathroom of my very nice hotel was wedged tightly between the sink and the shower, with not more than an inch on each side. My hips could not comfortably fit and since I am staying for three days I had to ask for a new room. I would be completely demoralized except I know I am doing everything I can to change my future. Next time I am in town I will not need special accommodations! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had a series of straws. It started when I realized that I don't think I have ever seen a 70 year old who was my size. Because people my size don't often live that long. Then after gaining back 40 pounds I spent 9 months losing I signed up for a surgery orientation class last October. Two days before it, I cancelled. I wasn't ready to take such a drastic step. I wanted to give myself one more year- one more chance to lose it on my own. Then my bloodwork came back pre-diabetic. Then my blood pressure was borderline hypertensive on multiple occasions. Then I was told my back issues would not resolve without weight loss. Finally I spent a week on a cruise with my best friend who had VGS surgery 2 years ago. She looked amazing. And we talked. And when I returned at the end of January I signed back up for the orientation class. Scheduled for surgery July 18 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you @@Inner Surfer Girl Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 12 9 days pre-op CW: 339 Feeling kind of down today. Less motivated and excited about the surgery. For the past few weeks I have been in a state of heightened anticipation waiting for the surgery and suddenly I just feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what I am about to do- and more importantly the unknown. I am a super control freak and a planner by nature. Not having any guarantees is upsetting. I am not feeling confident in my ability to make a lifetime commitment to healthy eating and exercise. I am so tired of fighting with my bad habits and desires. The reality that I am taking such a drastic step, such risk and that fight still won't end is depressing. I just finished the Emotional First Aid Kit: A practical Guide to life after Bariatric surgery. It was an excellent book. Very insightful and a little tough love-y in a good way. But it did outline all of the challenges people face after surgery. The head, heart challenges. And so much of it was hitting home. It just kind of freaked me out. On top of that, i have an enormous load on my plate at work. I am on a trip all next week. I am trying to prep for two weeks off. Plus prepare my family, my house, my self. Ugh. Very overwhelmed. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

thank you! Is your pre-op diet all liquid? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 10 11 days pre-op CW: ??? 11 days out and today is my birthday! I am officially on the one year count down to 40 where I give myself the best gift of all- a new body. Had a great day. Went to dinner with my husband and youngest son, where I took advantage of the lean meat and veggie option my surgeon allows. I try to stick to liquid most days but if a girl can't have a grilled pork chop on her birthday, when can she have one? I don't know how much I weigh today. I decided to only weigh in Wednedays and Saturdays because I was starting to get obsessive with the scale. You guys know how it goes- weigh in the morning. Then again that night. Maybe step on the scale a couple more times just to make sure the scale is working right and you haven't lost more weight than you originally thought. Feelings of elation if it is lower than expected. Sadness if it is higher. Spending time retracing your actions the day before making sure you didn't mess up... It is exhausting just writing about it. I have found that weighing in everyday is great when I am trying to maintain, but terrible when I am trying to lose. Apparently that hasn't changed for me in the past two years. Anywho. In a great head space. Very ready for my turn to join the losers bench... "Red rover, red rover let ME come over!!!" Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 7 14 days pre-op One week down, two to go. Doing okay so far. Just impatient for surgery day. And I have a lot of fears that something will happen to postpone or prevent my surgery. I am obsessively reading the posts on this site, starting to get all my post-op items together. Even though it feels like it will take forever for the 18th to come, I know it will be here sooner than it seems. Oh! I found some Swanson Thai infused broth that was delicious. I added a scoop of

My surgery is 7/18 also! I am July 18 also. The anticipation is brutal! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 4 17 days pre-op CW: 346 I am entering the zone now. Hunger has seriously decreased and my energy level is starting to rise. My body is adjusting to being on shakes 24/7 and with 11 pounds of Water weight gone (WTF!), I feel slimmer already. This is all becoming more real to me with each passing day. I had a bit of analysis paralysis last night trying to plan for post-op. Of course I went to my crazy place and got completely overwhelmed. I am feeling a little better now, but it is overwhelming. Taking things one day at a time has never been my strong suit. So a little about me- I am 38 yo, wife, mother of 3 boys (toddler to teenager) and business exec. I work about 60 hours a week and travel several times a month. My life is nuts and it is REALLY hard to prioritize me. For example, today, I got up to walk on the treadmill, but then a colleague called and asked to meet before our team meeting and yada yada yada, I am still sitting here in front of the computer. No ones fault but my own, but I have to really get some discipline if I want to be successful. Another revelation I had yesterday is how much I want to change my life and not just my weight. It is a chicken/egg scenario- I need to change my lifestyle to change my weight and I need to change my weight to change my lifestyle. Lately, I feel like I have been too focused on the weight piece of my journey and not the other aspects that need to change. I am thinking about putting up the scale and focusing my energy on the other activities I want to work on. If I am eating, drinking, and active the way I am supposed to be, the weight will come off. And how much or how fast is not in my control outside of those inputs. So maybe I should just skip the scale. I don't know. Lots to think about. This is such a major life change I want to make sure I approach it the right way to be successful!

@@Shrinkinqtpi please please please check with your doctor and NUT to see if that may be a good idea for you. I can only speak to what I was told :-) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@bini120 good point. I do need a plan B Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for your feedback. In talking with my NUT she said the key to this is A: using prescribed Meal Replacement shakes- not just any Protein shake so I can get all my nutritional needs met and B: I will still have to follow the same reintroduction to food - purée, soft, full diet. I would just start that on week 12 instead of week 2. Good point around using more of the honeymoon period to develop better eating habits though. Perhaps mentally I am still stuck in what has worked for me in the past. I am great at losing weigh. My plan was to use the WLS tool to help keep it off. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi! I am scheduled for surgery on July 18 and I am planning to stay on a liquid / Protein shake diet for several weeks if not months after surgery. I have cleared this with my doctors and NUT. My thinking is the more time, space, changes I can put between me and my old relationship with food, the better. I want to take full advantage of the honeymoon period and since I have done a medically supervised liquid diet for several months before I know I can handle it. Has anyone else tried this? What was your experience? Not looking for naysayers, just wondering how many people have tried staying liquid for longer than usual. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

DAY 2 19 days Pre-op CW: 351 Good news this morning! I am 6 lbs down after one day of shakes and 120 oz of Water. Thank goodness the unexpected water weight left as quickly as it came. Today is still hard to be on liquids. I walked a bit on the treadmill, but I am pooped right now and I really want a cheeseburger. I always crave meat when I am on shakes. Technically I can have 300 calories of lean meat and veggies everyday, but I have found it easier to go hard or go home. I typically don't do well with wiggle room. We will see. I have a couple of client dinners next week and I will probably have to compromise for those. Anywho. Another day closer. I cannot wait to get this show on the road!

@@Cluelesswinner I think that is a great idea. I have been replacing 1-2 meals with shakes for the past couple of months. It does help the transition.

DAY 1 20 days pre-op... HW: 374 CW: 357 Day one is almost in the books. I am doing a full liquid diet (New Direction shakes and Soup). This is not too bad for me. I have done several juice fasts and participated in a medically supervised liquid diet for 4 months before (lost 100 pounds but it ended prematurely because I got pregnant). Since then I have regularly used Meal Replacement shakes, gone on short fasts etc. to try and manage my weight. I feel like I am an old pro at the liquid thing. The first 3 days are the worse- waiting for your body to kick into ketosis, tap into your energy stores and for the hunger to go away. Right now I am exhausted mentally and physically. Trying to psyche myself up for a short walk in the treadmill. Might have to prioritize that for the am. Today started off a bit demoralizing. My last two days of food funerals included lots of carbs and sodium so my weight was up 5 pounds! I know it is Water weight (every gram of excess carbohydrate binds with 3.5 grams of water), but it is still feels bad to be starting off further from the finished line than you planned. Le sigh At least the day is almost over. And I know every day forward will bring me a little closer mentally, emotionally and physically to my goals. Journey of 1000 miles... Step one complete. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you @@chrisredjeep! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

T-minus 1 hour. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life. I guess that is true for everyone, but for me tomorrow is my first day 100% focused on my gastric sleeve journey. Tomorrow I am starting my pre-op diet, 20 days before my surgery date. My doctor only requires a two week diet, but I am tired of waiting. I am ready to get started now. The sooner I start, the more weight I will lose, the sooner I will hit my milestones. Besides, there is something powerful about not waiting until I am forced to go all in. By starting early, I feel more in control. I am hoping to use this journal to chronicle my experience. To keep me accountable. To share my feelings and to get support. Generally I am much more of a browser than a contributor in forums like this, but this time I decided to put myself out there. So here goes. One year. My journey. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App