macadamia

Hang in there, you're doing great! This too shall pass. As for ever feeling normal again... Well, you have had your body surgically altered to be different. You may never feel "normal" again, but you will get better, you will heal, you will lose weight, you will overcome, and you will succeed! IMHO, "normal" is way overrated. I have had four major abdominal surgeries over the past 23 years, with two of them last year. I have had major organs removed during the surgeries. My abdomen is scarred, misshaped, and fat. I will never be "normal" again - ever. I'm okay with that, because I am me. I like me... I'm glad I'll be seeing less and less of me over the rest of my life.

Are you asking about pre-made shakes or about the protein powder? I have not tried any protein powder yet, but I really like and can recommend the Premier Protein chocolate pre-made shakes. I've tried Atkins (both regular and with fiber) and find the Premier are better. As for other flavors of the Premier, I've tried the stawberries and cream (tolerable but just okay...) and the banana cream, which I use in my morning smoothies. It is pretty good mixed with the other flavors, but not as good as the chocolate. As a matter of fact, I'm having my lunchtime shake right now. Yummy!

Got it. I work for a government contractor and every meeting I have been to in the past four years has had people bring water or some other beverage (tea, coffee, juice, etc). Just a different culture, I suppose. I'd still bring it, but I'm a rebel...

Thank you very much! Us guys have to stick together. I can be a listener for women as well...

I'm so very sorry that you are having to deal with this too. Good luck with everything and if you need someone to talk to on the phone, message me and I'll give you my phone number. I'm a great listener and it sounds like you need to vent.

I've watched as many as I can find. The staple tool varies from surgeon to surgeon, some with the steri-tape, most without. Some surgeons suture along the staple line, some only in certain places, some not at all. It is amazing that all of that can be done from outside the body laparoscopically. My surgery will be open due to the four other abdominal surgeries I've had over the past 23 years. I will have to ask my surgeon if it is actually easier to do it open or laparoscopically. I know open takes longer because of the incision closure at the end.

I do not understand why you cannot bring water to a customer meeting? I do not see that as being unprofessional at all.

You look far from hideous! Congrats on your progress so far. Her emotions are wrecked because she sees you as successfully dealing with your weight and she is not (my opinion). It is not cool to destroy the family finances by throwing a tantrum (my opinion). I know from my experience with my weight over the years, emotion plays heavy on me and I've been known to react badly to things around me. I now know that part of it is my use of sugar over the years - yes, I'm a sugar addict. I've been in counseling off and on to learn to cope better with the mood swings I experience from sugar. I'm confident that along with the counseling, the new diet lifestyle will be effective. Was it at least a cool game?

Good luck! I'm about four months into my journey, but I had to change surgeons so I really started with the current surgeon on June 29th and I'm down 25.2 pounds as of last Friday. I've been able to follow what the nutritionist is saying, cutting out fried foods, starchy veggies, fast food, and alcohol. It has been a major adjustment but I'm finally ready for the change.

I have only told one trusted friend. I'm down 25.2 pounds so far, so in reality I do not think anyone has noticed. We do not normally eat together (we have to eat in shifts) so even my eating habits are still pretty much secret. Once it is noticeable, I'll just say I have been seeing a nutritionist and exercising more.

All great advice... Here is what I would like to add - ask the anesthesiologist all of your questions, tell them about what you are afraid of, and listen to what they say. The medicines they use today are so much better than they were 20 years ago - much safer, less risk, and even less pain. I've had four major abdominal surgeries since 1995, including two last year. All of them were general anesthesia. The two surgeries I had last year were much easier to "wake" up from than the earlier ones. It is safe, but it is not risk-free. Good luck! and don't be ashamed about being afraid... everyone is afraid of something...

Thank you! I am planning to do awesome!

YMMV - your mileage may vary Thank you for putting the list together. Ty!

I've told very few people and only one person from work, whom I can trust to not say anything about it. My supervisor only knows that I'll be having surgery, and he thinks it's for a revision for the major abdominal surgery I had last August. This is partially true because I'll be having the verticle sleeve gastrectomy and the revision surgery at the same time. I was out for six months last year after surgery so he's not expecting me to come back quickly. When I do return, I know people will have questions about my weight loss. I'll just say I got with a nutritionist and a personal trainer and starting eating much better and exercising more. None of these statements is a lie (except for the trainer, since I have not hired one yet...) It is your business. It is up to you to tell people or not, not up to them. Don't ever let anyone pressure you into telling them more than you want to say. Good luck!

My new Instant Pot came today so I'll be trying it out later this week. Thanks for the tip!

A little high as in my math is off or it is too much? My math is correct...

There is another possibility: maybe he said it to motivate you to actually succeed. Maybe this was exactly what you needed to hear to get over any doubt for you that this is your path forward? Yes, it was a douchy comment but I’ve been motivated in similar fashion. One that comes to mind is when a boss of mine said that if I don’t stop eating, I’ll need bell-bottom shirts. That really stung, but it kicked my butt in the right direction. If I’m way off base here, I apologize, and suggest you fine a different surgical team...

I started with this surgical team on June 29, 2018. I met with the nutritionist again today and am down 25.2 pounds so far! No surgery date yet, but I'm scheduled (tentatively) on August 3, 2018, for the final consultation. And, the other surgeon gave me great news today that I promise I will elaborate on once I get a firm surgery date.

The nutritionist today said that fruits with no added sugar are allowed, but to try to keep to the ones with less carbs total, like berries. And she also said that she wished that the nutrition labels split out the natural sugars with the added sugars.

Nicely done! Keep it going!

Nice job! Keep it up!

Ignorance is bliss, eh... (-: