Kay07

Thanks! I am really really hoping I don't need one, because they I can proceed directly to insurance approval/setting a date! The potential endoscopy (surgeon req), plus a chest x-ray (surgeon req) and sign off physical from PCP to clear for surgery (Insurance req) are the only remaining obstacles!

Hi everyone! So I've been doing LOTs of lurking through the forums, and I noticed there were tons of recipes and food encourangements for POST-Op, but was wondering what you are all doing PRE-Op? I know many of us are required to lose a little bit of weight prior to the big Surg day, so was hoping to stir up some converation on how you are starting your life-changing diets. Not so much the 2 week pre-op liquid, because @FluffyChixhas a fabulous recipe selection for that, but more the diet you enact from your first day up until then! (I must admit guiltily that my surgeon doesn't require a 2 week liquid diet... only a 48 hour one) So some of the drastic changes I have made over the last month: Gave up caffeinated coffee. DAMN did this hurt. I am fairly certain my blood is 60% coffee. Many people mention that food is their go-to comfort source, coffee is mine. I switched to decaf cold turkey, and lord do I NOT recommend that. The headaches were a real PITA. Started focusing my food intake on protein: So my thought process behind this was to start learning what types of foods I would incorporate into my new life and start experimenting. I LOVE cooking, and the thought of challenging myself to find healthier versions of my favorite foods was exhilarating. For example: I am Italian, pasta is a major major (and did I say major?) part of my genetic makeup. I make homemade pasta with my kids once a month that we use for the rest of the month and its literally one of my favorite things to do. However, apparently I have a gluten sensitivity so I was pretty devastated. And it's like solid carbs so it'd have to go anyways. So I sought out ways to keep a pasta substitute, but bring on the health benefits. That's where my new spiralizer comes in! I made a zucchini pesto "pasta" yesterday that was pretty orgasmic (you know, for a veggie that is). AND super super healthy. If you cook the zucchini a bit longer than you ought to, it does become slightly mushy, making it a GREAT post-op meal too. (Nutritionist approved! Or at least mine did and she's pretty fabulous). I made butternut squash spaghetti for today's lunch to mix with a low-sodium beef soup punched up with super tender beef and a half scoop of Isopure unflavored protein powder that you can't taste which is a serious win in my book Gave up carbonated beverages. So in all honesty, this was easy peasy. Mainly because I haven't really drank them in a YEAR in hopes of losing a bit of weight. Because you know the hubby gave up soda for 6 weeks and lost 18lbs. Bastard. I gave it up for a year and lost... nothing. NOTHING! But anyways I gave up seltzer water too, which I did drink more often. Switched out high fat/high calorie things for substitutes. So this one sounds easy, but it kind of isn't. It required a ton of research. Some of them are a bit easier, like say for chicken salad swapping out the mayo (yikes I NEVER realized how fattening it was but damn it makes amazing chicken salad) and replacing with Greek Yogurt. This was difficult for me since I am kind of awkwardly texture sensitive. I also up the quality of meat I buy. With a family of 4, it was just more economic to purchase say 85/15 meat and simply strain the grease. But I've splurged on the super lean 93/7 much to my hubby's dismay (he can be a bit of a cheapo) and it has made a difference. To my wallet but more importantly to my intake counts! Non-Food Stuff My Fitness Pal. This app is amazeballs. Honestly. I realized that prior to implementing said changes, I was eating an average of 800-1000 calories a day. I would love to say this is because I was super health conscious, but that would be a total lie. It's because I didn't make myself a priority. I work in an extremely fast paced job and would end up not eating ANYTHING except for a banana here and there (they are free at my work), an obscene amount of coffee, and then go home and stuff my ever loving face with dinner. Now I am consuming anywhere between 1500-1800 calories a day, and f me sideways I've lost 9lbs! Fitbit. I totally thought I walked a bajillion miles a day because I am literally always on the go go go. But my bajillion miles is actually like 8-12k steps a day depending on how busy it is. Which to some people is GREAT. But my body is just apparently used to it and it doesn't really do anything for me. So I bought a fitbit (totally wanted an apple watch, but then I wouldn't be able to lie and say I didn't see that text message...) Not going to lie, the fitbit kind of turns it into a competition. My goal: Start walking before it beeps at me. Some days I win, some days I don't. But I like being able to see. If I notice I am say 1k shy of my goal, I will take the long way to my next meeting instead of the easy way. I know its not MUCH, but it has made a difference. I am down 9lbs since March 15th, and feeling really excited without feeling like I'm giving up the world. My next task: Find a protein shake that I can drink without all of the fancy crap I put in them now because that's not allowed. THAT will be a difficult challenge... HOW can you possibly hide that chalky taste? I tried the PBFit, but even that doesn't hide it! Anyways, I hope you all will share your pre-op diet and recipes!

I have to have a chest x-ray, and I hope to take care of that this week so they have the results prior to meeting with the surgeon. It was my hope to have EVERYTHING taken care of prior to the surgeon visit, but my PCP isn't too keep on the Endoscopy because she says I have no symptoms and insurance may not cover. So I am really hoping they waive it. As mentioned, I've never had any issues with heartburn/reflux or anything like that outside of pregnancy so I hope it might help. However if they require it, it can only benefit me in the long rung (I just hope it doesn't take too long to get!). The more I think about it, the more attached to a potential surgery date in May I become...

So my appointment with the surgeon has been moved up! I now meet with her next week, and I've already been given the green light by the nutritionist. My main concern is that I have not had the Endoscopy. However there is a possibility I won't need it? They use it to check for Barrett's Esophagus, but since I have NO issues with acid reflux/heartburn or anything like that, my nutritionist said they may most likely waive it. Has anyone proceeded without the endoscopy?

Hello! I am (hopefully) going to be set up for surgery the same time! I would love to go back to work after a few days, but I need to take a realistic approach. Even if we are able to walk, it’s still major abdominal surgery that will leave you in pain and tired. I don’t think2-3 days is going to be feasible but maybe 1 week? I figure my surgery will be on a Monday, so it gives me the entire week plus a weekend to recover. Here’s to hoping because my boss might cry if I request 2 weeks haha.

This comment made me smile. And laugh. Lots of laughter...

@James Marusek super informative post! Thank you!

I wish you all the best in getting there!!!

Thanks @Creekimp13! I did not learn about what BMI was until I first researched this surgery perhaps 2 or so years ago, so I have no idea what it really means. Numbers are finite. Thank you all for your input, I've been stressing over this number of 135 all day and I am glad that it isn't as big a deal as my nutritionist made it out to be!

Let us know how they taste!

Hope I can do the same! I am mildly obsessed with goals, which is great for work! Nooot so great for this I think?

Yeah, I basically live in my blanket at home. It's great, it has a pocket for my feet I am thankful that I will go through the losing process during the summer. I am told that the rapid weightloss can throw your body's temperature control out of wack, and as it settles then that balances. Not sure how true that is, but one can hope!

Thanks everyone for your feedback! @336Mike I was about 140 in High School, but not sure if its really feasible to get back to that after having 2 kids. To think I thought I was fat THEN... @Mattymatt That's kind of what I was thinking, that even my first assumed goal of 160 felt so very far away. Then to make it 135 felt almost impossible. I'd rather set an achievable goal, as I am very much a goal oriented person. Did you feel at all overwhelmed by the goal of 190? @newmebithebypass See I think I might just do the same, and work towards a goal that makes sense. I just know that if I go with the goal of 135, and I don't meet it, I will feel like I failed. @Jenn1 I think I look at the numbers because its easier to track. I want to be healthy. I want to not have to dread going to the doctors and get the "so about your weight..." conversations. If I say I want to get to 160, I know what that looks like because I was it once. If I say I want to get to a bmi of 22, I've no idea what that is. I feel like the only reason I know what a bmi is, is because mine is bad! Perhaps I just need to adjust my way of thinking to make this seem less overwhelming.

I've been there! Great place! Well the food was meh, but you don't go there for the food lol. And yes, time DOES fly. I feel as though I've been having those moments a lot lately. I had a memory float across my facebook, only to realize it was 10 years ago and promptly felt like I had half a foot in the grave. I am only 30, but I live the life of a 50year old because of this weight.

Congratulations! That is super exciting. Now you just have to survive the WAIT!

I heard that was common. They did an entire discussion on it in my support group. I am already always cold... I may not survive having 100+ less pounds of insulation! LOL. If I wasn't such a diehard Bostonian, I would consider moving to the warmer part of the country.

Hi there! So I met with my nutritionist, and we got to talking about my goal weight. I am 5'6, and currently at 284lbs. She mentioned that my range should be 114 (I am 100% this is unachievable for me!) up to 147. She suggested a goal weight of 135. However I can't help but think that's kind of low? I guess I kind of expected 160 or around there, shows what I know. My question to you is how did you calculate your goal weights? Did you pick the highest, which in my case would be say 145, or did you go towards the lower, or perhaps the middle? I don't want to risk setting an unrealistic expectation for myself. Or perhaps your doctors picked your goal weight? Any advice would be appreciated! Kind regards, Kay

Cold. Very cold. And I am supposed to get up to 10inches of snow tomorrow, so I am grumpy!

Hope your day today was superb!

Can I keep you? You are GREAT for confidence

I am sorry you had a frustrating day Hopefully the remainder goes smoother, and tomorrow is fantastic

The mashed cauliflower is great! It IS a bit of a jarring difference to be honest. What I did is slowly replaced the potatoes with the cauliflower since I tend to go into texture shock. It helped me, and honestly I love love love 1/2 potato 1/2 cauliflower mashed with a bit of garlic. Yumm.

Massachusetts. It's freezing right now. Actually it's colder than freezing. And wind is evil. The air hurts your face, and no matter how much insulation (both weight AND clothing haha) you can never stay warm!

It's never to late to take a new lease on life I will cheer you on! Has your surgery been scheduled yet?

Can. Not. Wait! In all seriousness, I can't wait to not have knee pain going up the stairs, or to not avoid taking vacations that involve planes because I hate having to stretch the seat belt out all the way in order to fit. And can't wait to shop in regular stores instead of taking a gamble at online plus size retailers.