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How do you define "senior?" I'm a young 70, and hopelessly, happily immature!

How do you define "senior?" I'm a young 70, and hopelessly, happily immature!

Wow, good for you. Do you have all the supplies you need lined up on the counter?! GoBag packed for hospital? I'm getting excited FOR you.

I got some Unjury Chicken Flavor protein powder. If protein is heated above about 130º it can curdle and be yuck. An instant thermometer will make sure the water isn't too hot when I make chicken broth. It will be a welcome change from all the sweet tasting stuff.

Did your doctor recommend, or did you get it on your own? I used a binder after robotic surgery for endometrial cancer and found myself holding my abdomen whenever I had to move. A binder helped a lot, but I wonder this time if a binder would interfere with the staples and healing...

Silly rabbit - I HOPE not! :-)

Congrats Drea!! I picture an ever-growing exodus of the masses, making their way to hospitals across America by land and sea, on foot, by buckboard, mule and horse, auto, train, helicopter -- whatever it takes. July seems to be a full month!

Your dad is a wise man. Congratulations!!

O yeah, the money savings adds up fast. In 1980, I had vowed to quit when the cost rose over 50¢ per pack. Other factors were present, too, but it was a total alignment of the planets for me on that one. And I saved $250/year!!

I use Unjury unflavored whey, but also use Great Lakes Protein (green canister). It is not a complete protein, lacking the tryptophan, but you can add that separately. It can be used in very hot liquids/soups/etc without curdling. It is good to thicken soups. dressings and such. I also use Great Lakes Gelatin protein (orange canister) as that will congeal for jello-type stuff, dissolving in boiling water like other gelatins. Both are Kosher, too.

No tips or tricks as I quit cold turkey in 1980. I washed the ash trays or tossed them out, with matches and lighters, too. One week later I had a craving, found a cig I'd forgotten about, took one drag and it tasted yuck. I put it out with dripping faucet and it looked so GROSS. That was it. And I avoided being downwind of smokers in social settings, too. It makes me gag today. But wanted to say Congratulations on being smoke-free! Are there other smokers in your home? Don't fear cravings. You can deal with issues as they come up, so don't waste energy fearing the What Ifs. You sound motivated. Give yourself a hug and just keep going forward.

Very wise, Tropi. Weaning bit by bit away from stuff is the best plan, gives your system time to adjust and do some healing even before surgery. I won't have a Final Meal either, or I'll feel I dramatically fell off a cliff and my entire system - mind, body, spirit will be in chaos and turmoil. I want smooth sailing on this journey.

Ohhh, congratulations! So happy for you. Another one joins the Grand Adventure!

Yes, I love this non-interest in food these days. Unless I miss a mealtime and get really hungry. Then all bets are off and I seek out anything that requires no prep - all things I shouldn't have anyway. So, planning ahead will be critical for me, and eating whether hungry or not. They caution against buying lots of clothes as you keep going down. I bought just one top in the next size down, and one 2 sizes down, and one 3 sizes down. Sale items I really really loved. Hang them over the door for viewing and inspiration. At this point I cannot imagine fitting into any of them. After July 17 I may imagine differently.

Good to meet you Frustr8. You seem to have acquired high rank and are a veteran on this site. You must have gathered a lot of wisdom on these topics over the last 3 years. Does your new way of living become second-nature at some point?

Maybe you have lots of project ideas (like I do) that have never gotten off the ground. Those will occupy my time to an extent. But I realize it will take a lot of think time just doing what I have to be doing with pills, food, exercise, hydration, and keeping the stats for followup visits. This program is going to track me for 5 years, so new habits and ways of living will be embedded in my DNA. They are trying to make this program bullet proof, but I have to meet them halfway. I'm cool with that. Still, yes, get books or google topics that match your hobbies and interests and get lost in them. I mute food commercials and turn away or change the channel for a minute. Fie to evil commercials!

Yeah, it's amazing! For me, based on 65 years of past efforts with different food plans, I know I couldn't keep it up on my own. I'd fall off the conveyor and then, game over.

Wow! I wish I was at the point where I didn’t crave some of my favorite foods. It sounds like you will have a lot of success. I teach English Special Education. I’ve taught large and small classes mostly high school. I love my students and I’m finally at a great school that doesn’t add to life stress (much). So this is the school year to start focusing on me. I’m a little bummed because I just started exercising and now I need to not exercise for 6 weeks. I guess I’ll be walking a lot. Did your doctor give you recommendations about exercise? Oh, I will miss certain foods BIG TIME. But it's temporary, like moving to another country that doesn't have my favs so I just endure til I get back home. And this attitude could backfire on me at any time! The nutritionist says "There is no cheating - only choices." That's on several post-its! We are to use a Theraband during TV time, and exercise (walk) 10 min at a time 3x day and increase from there. Slow and steady. Also, they keep telling our tastes for things can change a lot. A coffee lover I know of couldn't STAND coffee after bypass. Five months later she likes ice coffee, but not hot coffee. Go figure.

Hi JJ, good for you getting ahead of the game - your system will thank you. I quit soda 7 mos ago and really don't miss it. The sooner we start "workin; the program" the better our chances for great outcomes. Welcome aboard the July Train!

Those food apps never worked well for me because I don't eat processed foods - food sensitivities. I made my own food database. Paper is good. :-) I've lost 8-10# lbs with more activity since the end of snow. It's weird, but I have no taste for some foods since beginning this and don't have the same interest in food in general. New attitudes, perhaps. I wasn't ready for this surgery 5 yrs ago. Control issues and anger about being surgically "forced" into new eating habits. Now I realize I was not in control - food was in control and I was the slave - the moth to the flame. New day, new attitude. I was a librarian, and in social work before that. What do you teach, and what level?

Hi Dee, July 17 will be here for us fast. My pre-op is 6/28, then begin pre-op food plan July 7. I quit caffeine 3 days ago and it seems hardly worth it to make coffee anymore - so bland without the kick! But it's fun to play in the kitchen and try various concoctions of protein shakes, etc. Gave up on soda last January and quit alcohol last month. "It's just temporary," I tell myself!

I have a red notebook - 5x8 - fits in my bag, and I jot down thoughts and concerns and changing attitudes about this since January. Not a daily thing. I also started great quotes or mantras on post-its to put in kitchen, bathroom, anywhere - reminders and inspiration. I then set up a daily food journal -- my hospital has us track protein, carbs and hydration. Forget calories and fat for now. Their philosophy is if you get adequate protein, the rest will fall into place. I also got a 24 month calendar. This adventure requires jotting too many details to keep it all straight on my phone calendar. Guess I'm old school but life is now filled with one appt after another and seeing it all on one sheet of paper works best for me. I am impressed by you and others going through this while working. You are smart to do this before having children, just from an energy perspective. It's hard to carve out time to focus on yourself juggling the demands of family and work.

Whew, that was a relief, I'm sure. It sure is interesting to see the many pre-op food approaches hospitals use -- regular diets, liquid diets, no diets. Maybe it's different for sleevers and bypassers. I am most concerned about hair loss so I started the vitamin and biotin regimen 2 months ago, and adding protein shakes to give my system a head start. This whole journey started in January for me with a seminar about it. When did yours begin? Are you keeping a journal to chart moods, pain, and foods?

Yes, Ma'am!! Got it. So... how do you adapt and work around it? Did you LIKE chocolate before you knew it was toxic for you? I got some Lorann flavors to experiment with for shakes and homemade jello. They even have flavors like butterscotch, caramel, toffee, grape and and and... I wonder if you can use vanilla and add other flavors to it...

Yay, Laura! My pre-op is in 2 days. Nervous and excited. Excited and nervous. How are you feeling?