PorkChopExpress

In my opinion, I can't resent anyone or anything when I'm the one that is abnormal and needs to be corrected. The world is not designed for the obese. I can't rage against the size of the seats in an airplane or in an arena, because they aren't made for me. They're made for the "normal" person. Obviously with obesity becoming an epidemic in the US, the definition of "normal" is kind of changing...but I don't think that's really a healthy or good thing.
I cannot expect other people to modify their behavior to suit me, when it's ME that needs to modify his behavior. So I will do what I need to do in order to achieve my weight loss goals, and I won't expect anyone else to cater to me. I can control myself...especially now that I'm post-surgery and I have no real choice in the matter, and I'm not dominated by hunger.
The diet you're on now pales in comparison to the two week, all-liquid pre-op diet most of us went through (some went even three weeks on it). Nothing but liquid or semi-liquid (sugar-free)...it's brutal, because you still have the hunger. Just soldier through it, because once you've had the surgery, none of it will matter anymore. You won't have hunger (only head hunger, which you can deal with) and you'll have to start focusing on re-training your brain to accommodate the new stomach. Nobody can really do any of that for you, it's all going to be on you. You're responsible for yourself, don't expect anyone else to change.

I'm fortunate in that I had my gall bladder out years ago, so it's just one less thing to worry about.

Well, my plan is to get as lean as I can before I do anything, because I know that the thinner your skin is, the better your cosmetic result and the quicker the recovery. So I've got a ways to go before I have to worry about it Then I'll have to hope I can get insurance to cover some of it.

This one, you did for you...and it's your journey. Embrace it...even the ups and downs. This is something that you're doing totally for yourself, so keep your chin up and your eyes on the prize. I am two weeks post-op now...I went through the emotional swings, mourning food, and now I'm finally starting to get used to the new normal. It'll come, just give it time and go through your process, and really do some soul-searching about what you're thinking, and what you've done, and how you're going to attack this in the months to come. Your life has just changed, massively...but for the better. Now, just follow the rules, discipline yourself to stick with your program, and think about what you're going to be able to do and how you're going to feel, six months and a year or two from now.
You're on your way. Nobody can take this from you.

Well, part of the process is to get your mind right, and that's just dedicating yourself to the process. If you're still afraid you won't be able to "stick to it," then you need to really make sure you're committed to this...because it's not something you can take back. That said, the surgery enforces the new behavior...you simply won't be ABLE to eat the way you used to, in any way. Your new stomach won't let you. You can either embrace that and be happy about it (because that's why you're doing the surgery) or you'll just be frustrated all the time and regret the decision.
I'm just over two weeks out and I'm developing new, good habits with my eating...reversing the bad habits that made me obese, in the first place. Changing my mindset, and working through my mental issues with food. It's a lot of change, and a lot to work through. But the proof is in peoples' results, so that's what I keep in mind. It's not a question of IF I will lose the weight, it's a matter of how fast

Congratulations! My surgeon advanced me to mushy after just under two weeks, and that was such a relief. I was so tired of the liquid diet

Yeah, while I was on my pre-op diet, I had many challenges...especially at work. I'd go in one day and there was a big box of donuts on the kitchen table for anyone to have. Another day it was pizza night. Every time, I just gritted my teeth, hustled by and reminded myself that I really wanted the best result out of my surgery and that meant I had to follow the rules. But man, when your stomach's growling and you're missing real food, it's brutal

In my opinion, I can't resent anyone or anything when I'm the one that is abnormal and needs to be corrected. The world is not designed for the obese. I can't rage against the size of the seats in an airplane or in an arena, because they aren't made for me. They're made for the "normal" person. Obviously with obesity becoming an epidemic in the US, the definition of "normal" is kind of changing...but I don't think that's really a healthy or good thing.
I cannot expect other people to modify their behavior to suit me, when it's ME that needs to modify his behavior. So I will do what I need to do in order to achieve my weight loss goals, and I won't expect anyone else to cater to me. I can control myself...especially now that I'm post-surgery and I have no real choice in the matter, and I'm not dominated by hunger.
The diet you're on now pales in comparison to the two week, all-liquid pre-op diet most of us went through (some went even three weeks on it). Nothing but liquid or semi-liquid (sugar-free)...it's brutal, because you still have the hunger. Just soldier through it, because once you've had the surgery, none of it will matter anymore. You won't have hunger (only head hunger, which you can deal with) and you'll have to start focusing on re-training your brain to accommodate the new stomach. Nobody can really do any of that for you, it's all going to be on you. You're responsible for yourself, don't expect anyone else to change.

Congratulations! My surgeon advanced me to mushy after just under two weeks, and that was such a relief. I was so tired of the liquid diet

Congratulations! My surgeon advanced me to mushy after just under two weeks, and that was such a relief. I was so tired of the liquid diet

I bought all of mine from Bariatric Advantage. They have chewables that work pretty well, and don't take up space in the stomach once you let them dissolve in your mouth. The Multivitamin chewable is pretty metallic and I'm not super keen on it, but it's not candy The Iron chew is not great either. But the Calcium chew (caramel) is like a piece of candy three times a day, so that's nice.
Basically, I take the Multivitamin twice a day (morning and evening), the Calcium three times a day, the Iron once, and I also take Vitamin D because my levels were low. I have a sub-lingual B-12 that I take once a week (melts under your tongue). Lotta Vitamins. I think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 for three months supply, and after that's all gone I can go with normal over-the-counter Vitamins that you swallow. But while I'm healing, I'm going to use these.

How big are your bites, and are you giving yourself 30 minutes with no drinking, before you start eating? I'm just over two weeks out (9/23 surgery) and I'm on mushy foods, I can eat meatballs, eggs, and chili with no problem...but my bites are very, very small and I make sure they are pureed consistency before I swallow them. Then I wait a minute or so before I take another bite. I'd say my bites are around the size of a pencil's eraser, or just a little bit bigger. You gotta remember, your stomach is now basically the size of an egg or so and it's still probably inflamed from the surgery, still healing. You can also cause it to swell by stressing the staple line, so you may have some more swelling that is causing it trouble. My surgeon suggests that if you have trouble like this when you haven't been before, to go back to a clear liquid diet for a day or two and see if that helps. It may allow the inflammation to subside. Grab some of the clear Protein drinks like Isopure (40g Protein per bottle) and drink two of those a day, plus another 25-30 oz of Water. You'll have met both your protein and your Water requirements on those days.
More important, don't FORCE anything. If you're not able to do three meals, do two meals and focus on Protein Drinks the rest of the time. It's just a process and you don't have to be perfect, but you DO want to make sure you get your protein and water needs met. If that means holding off on mushy foods a bit while you heal, then do that. It takes about six weeks for your stomach to heal up, so we are still in the middle of that. Right now, eating stuff is basically just to train your stomach and get it processing food again, it's not really for nutrition - you still have to get most of the Proteins from drinks. So if your stomach is just not dealing with it right now, don't try to make it. Give it a break.

Congratulations! My surgeon advanced me to mushy after just under two weeks, and that was such a relief. I was so tired of the liquid diet

How big are your bites, and are you giving yourself 30 minutes with no drinking, before you start eating? I'm just over two weeks out (9/23 surgery) and I'm on mushy foods, I can eat meatballs, eggs, and chili with no problem...but my bites are very, very small and I make sure they are pureed consistency before I swallow them. Then I wait a minute or so before I take another bite. I'd say my bites are around the size of a pencil's eraser, or just a little bit bigger. You gotta remember, your stomach is now basically the size of an egg or so and it's still probably inflamed from the surgery, still healing. You can also cause it to swell by stressing the staple line, so you may have some more swelling that is causing it trouble. My surgeon suggests that if you have trouble like this when you haven't been before, to go back to a clear liquid diet for a day or two and see if that helps. It may allow the inflammation to subside. Grab some of the clear Protein drinks like Isopure (40g Protein per bottle) and drink two of those a day, plus another 25-30 oz of Water. You'll have met both your protein and your Water requirements on those days.
More important, don't FORCE anything. If you're not able to do three meals, do two meals and focus on Protein Drinks the rest of the time. It's just a process and you don't have to be perfect, but you DO want to make sure you get your protein and water needs met. If that means holding off on mushy foods a bit while you heal, then do that. It takes about six weeks for your stomach to heal up, so we are still in the middle of that. Right now, eating stuff is basically just to train your stomach and get it processing food again, it's not really for nutrition - you still have to get most of the Proteins from drinks. So if your stomach is just not dealing with it right now, don't try to make it. Give it a break.

Congratulations! My surgeon advanced me to mushy after just under two weeks, and that was such a relief. I was so tired of the liquid diet

Not thinking about my weight and size.

Not thinking about my weight and size.

Yeah, while I was on my pre-op diet, I had many challenges...especially at work. I'd go in one day and there was a big box of donuts on the kitchen table for anyone to have. Another day it was pizza night. Every time, I just gritted my teeth, hustled by and reminded myself that I really wanted the best result out of my surgery and that meant I had to follow the rules. But man, when your stomach's growling and you're missing real food, it's brutal

I wish your wife the best. It's sad we have to find ways to beat the system, often to our own detriment. She's gonna get there. Tell her to keep her chin up.

My wife's in the same boat you are. She has had to wait to get hers until the summer (she's a teacher) and she has a break with enough time for recovery...she's very jealous of me. But she gained enough to meet the 40 BMI requirement and she's been maintaining at that weight so that when she weighs in at the doctor's office, she has a history of being at 40 BMI. It sucks to have to do, but in this case you have to game the system to get what you need. Insurance companies are the worst.

In my opinion, I can't resent anyone or anything when I'm the one that is abnormal and needs to be corrected. The world is not designed for the obese. I can't rage against the size of the seats in an airplane or in an arena, because they aren't made for me. They're made for the "normal" person. Obviously with obesity becoming an epidemic in the US, the definition of "normal" is kind of changing...but I don't think that's really a healthy or good thing.
I cannot expect other people to modify their behavior to suit me, when it's ME that needs to modify his behavior. So I will do what I need to do in order to achieve my weight loss goals, and I won't expect anyone else to cater to me. I can control myself...especially now that I'm post-surgery and I have no real choice in the matter, and I'm not dominated by hunger.
The diet you're on now pales in comparison to the two week, all-liquid pre-op diet most of us went through (some went even three weeks on it). Nothing but liquid or semi-liquid (sugar-free)...it's brutal, because you still have the hunger. Just soldier through it, because once you've had the surgery, none of it will matter anymore. You won't have hunger (only head hunger, which you can deal with) and you'll have to start focusing on re-training your brain to accommodate the new stomach. Nobody can really do any of that for you, it's all going to be on you. You're responsible for yourself, don't expect anyone else to change.

In my opinion, I can't resent anyone or anything when I'm the one that is abnormal and needs to be corrected. The world is not designed for the obese. I can't rage against the size of the seats in an airplane or in an arena, because they aren't made for me. They're made for the "normal" person. Obviously with obesity becoming an epidemic in the US, the definition of "normal" is kind of changing...but I don't think that's really a healthy or good thing.
I cannot expect other people to modify their behavior to suit me, when it's ME that needs to modify his behavior. So I will do what I need to do in order to achieve my weight loss goals, and I won't expect anyone else to cater to me. I can control myself...especially now that I'm post-surgery and I have no real choice in the matter, and I'm not dominated by hunger.
The diet you're on now pales in comparison to the two week, all-liquid pre-op diet most of us went through (some went even three weeks on it). Nothing but liquid or semi-liquid (sugar-free)...it's brutal, because you still have the hunger. Just soldier through it, because once you've had the surgery, none of it will matter anymore. You won't have hunger (only head hunger, which you can deal with) and you'll have to start focusing on re-training your brain to accommodate the new stomach. Nobody can really do any of that for you, it's all going to be on you. You're responsible for yourself, don't expect anyone else to change.

Also, the reason the doctor wouldn't give meds for gas is, the gas isn't in your digestive tract or stomach...it's in your abdominal cavity. So meds won't do anything for it. The surgical CO2 passes through into your organs via osmosis, and that's how it escapes...but if you don't move, the gas will just sit there like a giant bubble in your abdomen. That's why walking and moving is so important.

Not thinking about my weight and size.

Not thinking about my weight and size.