Shoelace

What a great idea doing the recipe blog! Please let us know if you do. I'm a lousy cook, still a few months out for surgery but any ideas and suggestions would be so appreciated! And the pictures are great!

I'm in Canada so didn't have to do the insurance loop but had very similar requirements pre surgery. We were told to expect 6 to 9 months before actual surgery and honestly, I needed that. They would have signed me off after 3 months as I was doing so well with the weight loss during that period but other things got in the way of that and really, I needed that time. There is a lot to learn as far as how you will have to eat after surgery so this pre time is a good time to educate and experiment and it will help you so much to really get into what you are going to be able to eat in the weeks after..it's very little so it really helps if you can make it interesting!!
The couple of weeks leading up to the surgery vary depending on the surgeon. I went with the Optifast as I simply didn't want to think about making the pre-op diet meals..so I did 4 of those a day plus 2 cups of non starch cooked vegetables and it really wasn't too bad. I ended up doing this for 4 weeks due to scheduling issues but the surgeon said my surgery was easy and I have had very little pain after. Returned to work after 3 weeks but could have gone back after 2 I'm sure. My work is not physical mind you.
There tends to be so much stress leading up to this..and it is not a small surgery by any means, but if you follow the directions as they are set out, it's not that bad either. Though each experience is different and there are those that have had a harder time and I sympathize with those...but be positive looking forward!
This is a life changer and a lifelong journey but I don't regret it for a minute.

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it!
Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I find this all quite interesting as I am 4 months out and am still focused on Protein and fibre and not calories. I'm losing 1.5 to 2 lbs per week with moderate exercise but then last week lost 4 lbs. Who knows why but I'll take it! I think I need to try and track it all again..I just haven't as the portions have been so small I've only focused on the other. Lolo 2020 - I'm impressed with your exercise routine! You go!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now.
The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have.
Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess Hair loss.
Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it!
Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it!
Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

I agree with the above..beans give you so much..protein, fibre and texture and bulk. That's a win/win as far as I'm concerned! Better than craving sweet!

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it!
Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it!
Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

And it's a really great feeling afterwards when your surgeon tells you the surgery was a breeze! That's what it's all about..shrink that liver!

I wore out what I wore in. Sweat pants and a loose top..t shirt type. No one cares what you look like and you go in, strip into hospital clothes until you go out. Sure, toothbrush, phone, brush, toothbrush and paste, slippers and i agree with the soft pillow for the seatbelt going home.
My other suggestions are: earplugs, eye mask for sleeping, you have to bring your CPAP if you use one and something like lavendar to put over your nose if need be. I found the smell in the wards could be quite overwhelming.
All you'll want to do that first bit is sleep. They'll get you up and walking but you won't go far..around the wards, that's it..everyone else will look just like you! Not likely you'll be able to read a book. Maybe do some social media on your phone but honestly, that gave me a headache in there! lol!

I wore out what I wore in. Sweat pants and a loose top..t shirt type. No one cares what you look like and you go in, strip into hospital clothes until you go out. Sure, toothbrush, phone, brush, toothbrush and paste, slippers and i agree with the soft pillow for the seatbelt going home.
My other suggestions are: earplugs, eye mask for sleeping, you have to bring your CPAP if you use one and something like lavendar to put over your nose if need be. I found the smell in the wards could be quite overwhelming.
All you'll want to do that first bit is sleep. They'll get you up and walking but you won't go far..around the wards, that's it..everyone else will look just like you! Not likely you'll be able to read a book. Maybe do some social media on your phone but honestly, that gave me a headache in there! lol!

OK, messed up on where to post yesterday! Thank you GreenTealael for catching that!
I'm joining you November 2018 sleevers rather than the 2017s! November 20th for surgery date so here we go I guess.
Excited and nervous at the same time. I've been on the Optifast for 1 week now, hoping for the week of November 13th but the docs on holidays that week so I guess that means one more week on the Optifast. Probably a better idea than stopping though, as I have the momentum with this stuff and still actually like it but we shall see how I feel at the 4 week mark..maybe not so content.
Not loosing a huge amount on the Optifast but I had already lost quite a bit leading up to this but down 5lbs in the first week on it..so I think that's average. The lower the better though before going in for surgery..that's the plan anyway!

Agreed! Don't look back! And throw yourself in front of anything that is going to help you keep eating healthy..cooking classes, support groups, outings that include exercise. My goal right now is to get my steps to over 8000/day (10 would be better but 8 works for me for now!). I don't make it everyday for sure, but I'm slowly progressing. So as said above, focus on the future!

Agreed! Don't look back! And throw yourself in front of anything that is going to help you keep eating healthy..cooking classes, support groups, outings that include exercise. My goal right now is to get my steps to over 8000/day (10 would be better but 8 works for me for now!). I don't make it everyday for sure, but I'm slowly progressing. So as said above, focus on the future!

Agreed! Don't look back! And throw yourself in front of anything that is going to help you keep eating healthy..cooking classes, support groups, outings that include exercise. My goal right now is to get my steps to over 8000/day (10 would be better but 8 works for me for now!). I don't make it everyday for sure, but I'm slowly progressing. So as said above, focus on the future!

I'm in Canada so didn't have to do the insurance loop but had very similar requirements pre surgery. We were told to expect 6 to 9 months before actual surgery and honestly, I needed that. They would have signed me off after 3 months as I was doing so well with the weight loss during that period but other things got in the way of that and really, I needed that time. There is a lot to learn as far as how you will have to eat after surgery so this pre time is a good time to educate and experiment and it will help you so much to really get into what you are going to be able to eat in the weeks after..it's very little so it really helps if you can make it interesting!!
The couple of weeks leading up to the surgery vary depending on the surgeon. I went with the Optifast as I simply didn't want to think about making the pre-op diet meals..so I did 4 of those a day plus 2 cups of non starch cooked vegetables and it really wasn't too bad. I ended up doing this for 4 weeks due to scheduling issues but the surgeon said my surgery was easy and I have had very little pain after. Returned to work after 3 weeks but could have gone back after 2 I'm sure. My work is not physical mind you.
There tends to be so much stress leading up to this..and it is not a small surgery by any means, but if you follow the directions as they are set out, it's not that bad either. Though each experience is different and there are those that have had a harder time and I sympathize with those...but be positive looking forward!
This is a life changer and a lifelong journey but I don't regret it for a minute.