KarenLR75

What does your Optifast diet consist of? I just bought a ton of different Protein Shakes from Bariatric Pal and a variety pack of broths and those broth sticks then some calcium citrate. I swear I can't find citrate Calcium in stores its always the other one (I cant think of the name off the top of my head). I grabbed some Protein shakes from the store the other day to try them. Premier Protein everyone talks about them. I liked the Akins ones but they only have 15g of protein rather then the Premier it has 30g so that's a no brainer. My surgeon didn't tell me to start anything yet, but I wanted to have it all ready for the 2wk pre surgery diet. I see him the 12th of July I assume that's when he will tell me to start it.

Just tell yourself in your mind " They are all just going on holiday! When they return, our relationship will be different, just on an More Adult Basis!" And it is amazing how much better it is and how little of anything it takes to fill YOU up!!!

OP, we are surgery twins! I am starting my pre-op Optifast diet today but I already cut out everything except caffeine in my coffee. But I got low acid coffee so it won't affect my tummy anyway. I've even been quit smoking for over two months now after smoking since like middle school!

Once you stop the sugar, it will take a few days for the cravings to pass. Once they do, it will be much easier. But never go back. Even just one sugary bite can trigger all the cravings to start again. It has to do with the brain chemistry and pleasure receptors. It also has to do with insulin spikes that drop the blood sugar and make you want more. Just let it go and be done with it. Once I stopped sugar and caffeine, my energy levels soared! I am even keeled throughout the whole day with no afternoon slump. When 3:00 rolls around, my co-workers are starting to reach for coffee and energy drinks. I used to do the same, but just don't need it anymore.

We're almost surgery buddies...mine is July 22nd. I've been wondering about the same things.

Good to know! I will start cutting everything out. I only have a few soda's left so once they are done that's it and I'll switch to my unsweetened tea to curb the headaches then Decaf unsweetened tea if I want something other then Water. I know sugar is going to be hard to cut out, but I know it's just something I have to do.

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I just got my surgery date today and I’m scheduled the same day as you! While I’ve been going through the approval process I started to cut back and will start cutting it out altogether when I start my month long pre op diet.

As soon as I knew I was having surgery. I cut out all sugar, soda, and caffeine. I did not want to go through withdrawal of any addictive substances after surgery, and it was a great decision! Soda was hard. Caffeine was not so bad - just switched gradually to Decaf and then lost my taste for coffee after surgery. Sugar was hard. Cutting this stuff out was good for the pre-op weight loss and boosted my confidence. It was good to have fought these battles ahead of time.

I started a year before.

And if you want even more encouragement, at just under 10 months I am 31.1 and I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT! This means after starting at 52 BMI the first time I went to OSU, I have gone from Morbid Obesity, through Straight Obesity and am ready to soon topple over into Overweight and I did it all in my 70s,now 73, my body looked a deflated wreck in places, too too many years a BIG GIRL,but at my age. few men except doctors request me naked, so I'll continue to cover with clothing. Spent this weekend running elastic through my 20/22 jeans and slacks to get a little more wear there. A little scared to try on 18s for fear they will miss-fit somewhere, but I shall, fear should no longer be in my Clothing life, should it?

5 years ago today was my VSG. What a journey. I'd do it again in a blink. I'm forever grateful. I had regain, had a health scare and got back on track. Lost my regain. Even though I have about 25 lbs to go until my plastics, I KNOW I would have never done this on my own. I am almost without the words of gratitude to my surgeon and team. Although my insurance changed and I can't see him anymore, I think about my experience all the time. It seems like yesterday. So much has happened since then, but WOW what an incredible time I've had.

In Australia we have best before and use by dates.
Best before is usually on dry goods and the items are generally safe to eat after the date( even years after the date) but may overtime not taste exactly the same as if they were fresh.
Use by applies to items such as meat and dairy and eggs and these are not safe to eat after the date.
Since the introduction of the dating system millions of tons of food are wasted every year UNNECESSARILY. There is usually no scientific process used to work out the dates , instead the manufacturers put on a date to cover their a@ses as these days people like to sue for anything.
The best way to proceed is to open your powder look at it and smell it. If it looks the way it should and doesn’t smell funny than it is probably fine to consume.
Interestingly in the news recently they have been taking about expiry dates on medications and how even these aren’t accurate and that most meds are generally fine long after their expiry date!

Thanks so much!

I absolutely adore all of the wonderful people here and the good vibes and support we get.

Okay so I’m late to the party, but here is my $0.02.

10 years ago I lost ALL of my hair when I was on chemo for TNBC.
The single biggest risk factor for any kind of cancer is obesity.

Eventually chemo ended, the hair came back (it was really weird hair for the first year— it was frizzy and a bit orange) and by 12-18 months post-Chemo, nobody would’ve known I was bald as an egg previously.

I’m 4.5 months post sleeve, and I’ve noticed some thinning— especially around my temples and on the top of my scalp and it’s slightly annoying because I’d rather not cut my hair until I hit goal and don’t feel like emphasizing my face until then. If it thins much more I might have to cut it.

Another side effect from having breast cancer is 2 reconstructive surgeries and scarring, etc.
the side that got the radiation is much firmer than the unaffected breast and at the end of the day there’s only so much plastic surgeons can do. 🤷‍♀️

I’ve also got stretch marks in various places across my thighs, abdomen, and upper arms from rapid weight gain and pregnancy. My skin prior to surgery totally was a wreck to start with.

I wanted to go into this detail because I’ve already experienced all of these things you’re worried about, and I was morbidly obese!

How I look at it now is I can have all these issues and be fat, unhealthy, unhappy, and at continued high risk for cancer recurrence, or I can be fit, fabulous, and happy and decide later if I want/need plastics for excess skin.

Honestly the plastic that I want most of all will be Lipo on my thighs.
Even when I was in my 20’s and weighed at or under 135, I HATED my thunder thighs and I had massive cellulite even when I was a size 4/6. *sigh


Edited to add...
I’ve lost 61 pounds and have gone from a size 22 to a size 14 since February 6th.  

Somewhat akin to me going into Wally World or another department store and not taking the largest size on display. I am having some fun going from 20 to 18, BIG BIG SELECTION- and another good point- I originally had targeted size 15 Junior, at 18 it truly is Just Over The Horizon! And Sniff Sniff💦 I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD GET CLOSE, really was something I told PCP and surgeon to take them off my Trail! Now it could and probably Will Happen!

I wish I could tell you the amazing sense of "normal" I now have when I see that I am NOT the biggest person in the room and that I look average. I can wear medium size scrubs now - not tight 2XX. It is a real mind trip - I don't recognize my own body........but it FEELS GOOD! I don't judge anyone for their weight or how they look, but it just blows me away that I can walk through a store or go to a family gathering and I don't feel eyes following me. I look at old pictures and can't believe I looked so big - always trying to hide behind someone else in a family photo. I don't stand out - I just blend in and that feels great. It makes me realize how dysfunctional and paranoid my thinking was, and I am now discovering how to just "BE ME" and be Ok with that. A huge weight has been lifted in more ways than one! Go for it, girl friend!

I had a DVT after surgery, with no prior history. With your background, I am sure you will be on Lovenox or some other blood thinner after surgery. That is definitely a risk you must consider, but you already know that, so preventative measures can be taken. Immobility is horrible. Once you get some weight off and are feeling better, you will be moving more and more. That will help so much in preventing future DVT/PE issues, which I am sure you know are continual risks for you if you stay how you are.

And I concur with my Bari- Bud AZhiker above. Almost identical except for being 10 years older and retaining my uterus, not that it did me THAT MUCH GOOD! Have had a couple surgeon's incredulous acts. One told his understudy doctor" I can't believe she is this obese and still gynecologically intact!" made me feel Dirty for retaining my innards. Needless to say I did not elect him Surgeon of the Year nor did I allow HIM to operate on ME! Stupid Excuse for a Doctor, let alone a surgeon. Didn't have to love him. but I couldn't even respect him or his advice!
So I had the same pre- problems as AZ with a slight helping of people telling me YOU'RE GOUNG TO DIE ON THE TABLE, obviously I didn't, lived to be 99% happy with my surgery. Would be 100% but I have some issues, even after 9 months, that have not resolved. Would I do it again, knowing that I would not heal quickly and perfectly, Oh Yeah! Even with the blips, twists and turns, and all , it is More Than Worth It. Beats being crippled, sad, short of breath and defeated every day from continuing to live when I would be better off dead and only in people's memory. Now I do have a chance to live, to have a future even if I don't know daily how each day will be, I'm still going to find out, put a positive spin on it and LIVE BABY LIVE! And if I encourage others to stick it out until things get better, then I AM IF VALUE and I'll be encouraged too!

I delayed my process twice. The first time for 6 months, the second time for 2 months. I just wasn't ready at the time. When I finally committed to go ahead with it, I never looked back. Best decision ever. Sorta wish I never delayed it those times, but like I said, I just wasn't ready yet.
Sometimes the thought of something new/different keeps us staying put, sometimes the thought of things staying the same makes us move in a direction . Weigh your options and do what is best for you. More of the same, or a stab at something else?
Good luck!

You are getting surgery for all the right reasons - you see your quality of life shrinking and you don't want to go any further down that road. Let me tell you what "further down the road" looks like. I got my surgery (bypass) at age 63. I already have had one total knee replacement and the other one was getting so bad I had pain and limped with every step. My ortho said he really didn't want to operate again unless I lost weight. I had a hysterectomy at age 37 due to precancerous hyperplasia related to my weight. My GERD and asthma were horrible - the asthma in the last 2 years was the worse it had ever been (asthma can be related to GERD.) I developed sleep apnea (extreme with over 60 apneic episodes per hour.) I couldn't hike any more. I was too heavy to ride my mule. Climbing a flight of stairs was getting hard (my house has stairs.) I couldn't get off the floor by myself. I couldn't keep up with my grand kids. Gardening was losing it's pleasure for me. I had always been very active, and my increasing immobility resulted in depression and further immobility. I got fungal infections under my breasts and pannis every summer. I developed fatty liver disease which can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. My lipid profile was not great, my sugars were creeping up, as was my blood pressure. I dodged the diabetes bullet - barely. All the things I enjoyed in life were slipping away - quickly.
Younger people don't always realize what 40 or 50 decades of obesity does to the body (and soul)! I was a wreck and now I feel like I have a whole new life ahead of me. I can ride, hike, climb stairs, and get off the floor, My knees DO NOT HURT!!!!! My sleep apnea is nearly resolved and no more GERD or asthma. I feel 20 years younger!!!!!! I was scared to death before surgery - thought about walking out when I was lying there on the pre-op bed, crying my eyes out from anxiety. But.... I walked through that door and discovered a whole new world waiting for me on the other side. I did have some complications, but it was soooooo worth it. Do not let your fear prevent you from getting your life back. Don't wait until you are 63 and have more issues than you have now, Your future is not pretty if you continue down the obesity road. Like my PCP told me, "If you could have done it on your own, you would have by now. Let this tool help you."

I've gone from being excited about my surgery date of July 1st, to realizing the liver shrink diet for the number of days my dr requires means I need to start this Sunday (and a panic went through me as I've been so inundated with work that I am going to scramble to stock up on things that are permitted for the different 'day countdown).
I then started feeling overwhelmed as I feel like the date suddenly snuck up on me. I had a fleeting thought of postponing so am not sure what that is all about. Then my mind started thinking about all of the things that freaked me out when I first found out that a gastric sleeve did NOT mean that your stomach had a sleeve wrapped around it which constricted things, instead it meant that you had 85% of your stomach removed and a little pouch left. I stupidly thought 'sleeve' originally meant your intestines would be compressed so that the amount of volume you could take in would be = to about what the true 'pouch' will have left.
I've been asked if I'm sure I want to mutilate my body this way. I've been looking into this for 4..maybe 5 years and I knew in all these years that until this PAST YEAR, I was not ready to make this decision. This past 1.5 yrs I had issues come up with my knees and back to such a point that I've been in chronic pain. I started my own internal checks to see what I felt was best to do to give myself a chance at "life" since I'm turning 50 and am not getting any younger.
The entire past year, I reached a certainty and a level of conviction AND enthusiasm as I decided that instead of being trapped by chronic pain (even though first MRI scans of knees was done right before I turned 50, 2 diff knee ortho's said I have so much arthritis in knees that I need full knee replacements. I have been sailing through this past year with a level of acceptance and happiness at decided that the sleeve was the right decision..the best decision to give me back my quality of life.
Then I got my surgery date...was actually SO HAPPY....then husband had poor reaction..and the fact that I realized my pre-op diet starts this sunday...just hit me all at once (and I've been doing low carb for past year so it's not like I haven't had to go through some rough times in my food/WOL decisions).
Is this just a case or normal pre-op nerves/cold feet? Did anyone ever postpone (and either regret or appreciate it)? I've come so far like all of us and this past year has been good and bad in my efforts to lose weight on my own to make sure I was ready to embrace a WOL and not a 'diet'. Maybe I'm self sabotaging ? I don't think we ever get completely past that...have to guard against it.....

OMG - those cracked me up! I watch him all the time on TV. I always grin when they tell him...but I'm sticking to the diet (which is somewhere between 1000-1200 calories) and I have no idea why I gained 20 lbs. in 4 weeks...then he goes into a breakdown of the HUGE number of calories they had to be eating to gain that much in such a short time.

YAY! Another July 1st-er!

Awwww...that is sweet...how neat it will be to do that together!

Same day surgeries although I'm doing the sleeve..or rather..having it 'done to me'...SO NERVOUS all of a sudden