N0VA

Oh, I LOVE the taste of food now, I really DO enjoy my meals. I didn't mean everything had to taste like cardboard.
What I meant was the difference with preop. Before, if I liked the food, it was always a call to have seconds. It didn't matter that I was no longer hungry! It was good, so I always wanted to continue experiencing that goodness.
Now you've discovered the secret. Slow down, savor every bite. You'll get to experience the goodness for as long as you like (taking your time with every bite), but only consume a couple ounces.
A recommendation I read is to cut food up into pencil eraser sized pieces (those ones attached to pencils). 2oz of food cut up that small can last quite a while! Lol.

I suppose I should just focus on tracking my food intake.. that should probably get rid of the guilt. I definitely still have the diet mentality. I can't even imagine not having that. I feel like I've been dieting most of my life. There is work to be done there, for sure. I appreciate the perspective!
However, I'm not sure that I agree that food isn't supposed to be enjoyable. I just want to be thin, not miserable! That doesn't mean we should engorge ourselves.. but even animals enjoy their food and have preferences (at least, higher intelligence animals do). I have no desire to binge eat or anything, I never really had that type of relationship with food, fortunately. At this point, it's just frustrating when I want something (let's say Salmon) and I'm super excited to finally get what I wanted... but then I'm full before I really got the chance to enjoy the fact that I just had Salmon.
Having said that.. I think I figured out what my issue was today. I think I was eating too quickly. I slowed down, even more, today at lunch and actually got to savor each bite. I was even able to eat more than a few bites!

You're only a month out. In a couple more months you'll be eating a bit more and a wider variety and should be enjoying the process more.
As for the guilt.. that is a symptom if having the wrong mindset/focus. You are still in the "diet" mentality, where you have to minimize your consumption to lose weight.
At least for the first 6 months postop, you get to lose weight WITHOUT this mindset. You get the freedom of HAVING to eat ENOUGH to meet your goals.
This is an important breakthrough for most of us. To REALLY understand that food isn't an enemy! Instead, it is a necessary fuel that we require just the right amount of to function properly.
We get a precious few months to be required to eat as much as we can to meet our goals. This is something most of us have never experienced before!
It's important that we're specifically eating only to meet goals, because that is what puts our minds in the right place. Food isn't SUPPOSED to be comfort or sport.. you're not snuggling or playing with gasoline are you?
Sure, it's fine to ENJOY food, but liking it doesn't mean you'll automatically eat more than required. Overeating is caused by other things (if I had the exact answer to what those "other things" are... I'd be a very wealthy person ).

Thanks for the info! I wasn't trying to sound bitchy, I was dead serious. I am looking for understanding, compassion, empathy and yes, honesty -- BUT NEVER HOSTILITY!

I also have hypothyroidism. Because of that, I opted for a procedure that also uses mal-absorption to kind of help with the "handicap" we have with our metabolism in the hopes that when I'm maintaining my weight, it will come in handy. I also wanted dumping syndrome as a reminder to stay on track.
However, I know people who are in our situation have had success with the sleeve... my point is, it really is just a personal choice. They can all work if we use it as a tool and put the work in. What may be a negative to one person, may be a positive for someone else.

You look great! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

I also have hypothyroidism. Because of that, I opted for a procedure that also uses mal-absorption to kind of help with the "handicap" we have with our metabolism in the hopes that when I'm maintaining my weight, it will come in handy. I also wanted dumping syndrome as a reminder to stay on track.
However, I know people who are in our situation have had success with the sleeve... my point is, it really is just a personal choice. They can all work if we use it as a tool and put the work in. What may be a negative to one person, may be a positive for someone else.

Luckily, I have the best bestie in the world! Crisis averted!

Intrinsic, I think that's exactly where I am at this point. I'm going to stick with what I have scheduled.. its only 1 week away!! (August 12th - yes, a Saturday) I think my biggest issue with rescheduling is the fact that I'd have to go alone.

Berry, that definitely would have made it easier but, sadly, since I want it done asap I'm in a ''beggars can't be choosers'' situation.

If you reschedule, straddling the weekend, (particularly if there is a 3 day weekend).. then that might help..

Hi.my surgery date Aug 28.i also thought about putting my date off but the next available would be Oct 13th.so,I'll go ahead with my Aug date.i don't wanna wait an get discouraged an not do it at all.

I'm steady w/ losing, but the closer I am to my goal, I'm incorporating a few new foods. The Dr. removed 85% of my stomach and he also removed the hormone that makes me crave, sometimes, I even forget to eat. Knock on wood, I've stalled in the past, but never have I gained any weight.

No, I didn't have success with the pre-op diet and I was miserable and starving the whole time. All it did was convince me I needed surgery. Losing weight without being hungry is amazing.

Diane... exactly. I had three c-sections, so laparoscopy is practically a walk in the park. lol
I have four kiddos 8 and under, so I don't know what rest is anymore LOL

I mean it was vacation at my parents house, but it was still a ten hour drive!

I had the sleeve 2.5 weeks ago and I feel awesome. I actually had surgery on Monday and left for vacation on Friday!

Thank you, Diane!

Good luck. I had the sleeve and I was terrified until the day of the surgery. My doctor was great, very calming and things went off without a hitch. I'm 7 weeks post op and feeling great. 40 pounds down. Hang in there. Surgery is always a risk and scary, but 99.5% of them go off without a hitch. It's worth it. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

This is normal. Same thing happened to me. I'm 4 weeks out, and just now feeling like myself. Everyone is different in how their body recovers from surgery. I had the Rouen Y bypass. I spoke to some people who had the sleeve. My recovery seemed much slower than most. Either way, as the other poster pointed out. Stick to your plan, and be patient. Also to ease the anxiety as my surgery date approached. I got out some clothes that i couldn't fit before, and put them back into the closet. Donated some other clothes I wasn't going to fit anymore( from being skinny of course) . Good luck!

How could you NOT be scared of surgery, having your very stomach operated on?! You're smart enough to have that very normal fear. I kept myself somewhat distracted before surgery. Had a very special fun adventure day the day before with two of my kids. Then surgery day, you only have to be scared for a bit because soon you will get that shot that calms you down. Then you will wake up after surgery properly drugged. For two days or more you will be taking pain meds as needed, and the fear will not be there. You will be working to get your walking and your sipping in. So already, right after surgery, you are protected from pain and you are already working on your journey. No time or need to fear: surgery is BEHIND YOU! You have work to do! Sip your water! Walk!
Fear is normal before surgery. Just distract yourself and move through time. I think back to two weeks ago today when I had my surgery and how I was just moving forward toward surgery, how it helped at my clinic to see the others like me there, and how after surgery there was no more fear. I'm very glad I did it. That is the opposite of fear.