mousecat88

Yeah, I'm going to get my act together today. I've decided to start the pre-op diet 6 days early, just to help maybe counter a bit of the damage I've done over the last 3 weeks. A lot of people (pretty much everyone) said they had food funerals.. some more extreme than others... and they all regret doing so, even though it didn't affect their outcome. But just because ... what's the point? I think I've gotten a good grip on things now so I feel like I got it out of my system.

I am so excited - I found a really tasty soy protein on Amazon. It's called 365 Everyday in Unsweetened Vanilla. I mixed it with a banana this a.m. and it is so good I would have ordered something like it at a Tropical Smoothie. Heading to the store today with my grocery list for the pre-op and post-op puree phase (since most won't go bad): Unsweetened applesauce, various meat baby food, canned peaches/pears, sugar free pudding, about 60+ AdvantEdge and Atkins shakes, and 15 Healthy Choice meals for pre-op. Going to grab some cottage cheese and 1% milk as it gets closer. I'm not a huge fan of yogurt. Anything you guys particularly enjoyed during the pureed stage? I figured meat baby food would be best for me as far as the meat goes, because blending chicken/beef into a puree myself just sounds gross. =p What are some good veggie puree options? I figured maybe mashed cauliflower?

I'm having bypass, but I can tell you a friend of mine had the sleeve 3 months ago and has already lost 50lbs. He hasn't had any issues and is extremely happy with it. My surgeon recommended bypass for me because I already have pretty bad acid reflux. I heard that GERD can get worse if you already have it - but if your surgeon doesn't seem that concerned as to make a recommendation one way or the other, I wouldn't stress.

I think that's why I've been so lackadaisical about sticking to a good diet beforehand. My ultrasound showed my liver had no fatty deposits on it at all and was completely normal-sized. So I've been like "haha whatever! eating junk isn't going to suddenly make my liver fat in 3 weeks." I'm 7 days now from the pre-op diet and just want one more thing and then I'm done indulging.

I had my birthday party on September 1st! lol! Went out to my favorite restaurant which is an upscale all-you-can eat brazilian steakhouse, went out for drinks two nights, and ate plenty of junky bar food. No regrets there!

Oh my gosh - did you not get this guidance from your surgeon? Mine gave me a massive like 200 page manual with grocery lists for each phase, meal plans, and nutritional facts and everything. Get whey protein isolate shakes. My surgeon said less than 10g carbs, no more than 3g fat, under 200 calories. Syntrax, Unjury, Quest, Bariatric Advantage, Pure Protein all work. I can't drink whey so I get soy shakes... AdvantEdge, 365 Everyday, and Atkins (half soy). You should definitely talk to your surgeon about what vitamins you'll need. Mine had me buy mine straight from them. I am taking supposed to take Celebrate vitamins twice daily and iron. Unjury also sells good bariatric vitamins on their website, but you really need to know from your doctor what YOU need to be taking since it's surgery and individual specific!

I'm going to try. Monday is my big trip to buy a ton of shakes and puree baby foods. I've already gained 10 or 15lbs since my first appointment. I am scared of when I go back, which is the day before my surgery, and I will have gained even more. Hopefully if I can stick to the preop, I can get closer to my starting weight. [emoji53]

Ever since I was approved for surgery about 3 weeks ago, I have been eating so poorly. I have been eating every single thing I have convinced myself I will "never have again"... to the point of absurdity. Like a bucket list. I am eating worse than I ever have in my entire life, probably. I am really struggling to get on track. I had no weight loss requirement before surgery or anything, and my doctor knows I've gained weight but said it was okay at my last appointment with him. Because he said it was okay, my brain gave me a free leash to just go and eat whatever junk I can find. I'm struggling to stop. My lunch today was just a huge plate of potato and macaroni salad... followed, ironically, by an Atkins bar. My breakfast was brownies and Doritos. And I don't even LIKE sweets. I have to start the pre-op liquid (I get one meal a day) diet on the 16th. Did anyone struggle with this coming up to their surgery? I saw some people in Reddit refer to it as their food funerals.

Can we just start a thread for us November bypassers? Mine is November 1st! Please feel free to spill your guts over your fears and excitements! I'd love to have the support knowing we're doing this together, even if we are physically far away. I have 150lbs to lose and I am anxious to see those pounds go! My goal is to reach my goal weight within 24 months. I know it can happen much sooner than that, but I want to give myself a far out goal-date so I don't get too upset if it doesn't come off as fast as I hope. I hope to spend my 32nd birthday at 140lbs! My birthday is November 24th, so this is the best 30th birthday present I could give myself.

Did your surgeon not make any recommendations? My surgeon advised against the sleeve because it can exacerbate or cause acid reflux. I already have some, so I certainly don't want to make it worse. And I wouldn't want to cause it - knowing myself how bad it can be sometimes. I'm pre-op, too, but I've talked to a LOOTTTTTT of patients and families of patients and it is SO variable who has dumping and who doesn't. And everyone has said, it only happens if they do not stick to their diet. Bypass was a no-brainer for me.

Woke up this morning feelings the complete opposite - super positive and motivated again. I think it's just going to be a crazy ride over the next 3 weeks of wishy-washiness.

My surgeon told me only 1% of people with 100+ lbs to lose can keep it off long-term without weight loss surgery. I certainly believe him after how much I've tried. Even if you can lose it all without the surgery, chances are you'd gain most back. The surgery actually changes your metabolism to that of a skinny person... dieting and exercise.... you still have a fat person's metabolism, which is why it is SO hard to lose and maintain. That's another thing I need to remember!

I know it's a long-shot... but anyone here go to Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, VA? Would love to find a local buddy to keep my butt in check. And also to see what your experience was like in the hospital! I am scheduled for 11/1/18! I was scheduled with Dr. Wiedower, but he semi-retired/switched to another function at the hospital. Now I am scheduled with Dr. Oviedo, who practiced in both Miami and Texas.

I actually JUST got fantastic news - my dietitian is letting me continue with Atkins shakes. They are *slightly* over the fat content, but are half soy/half whey and they DO NOT make me nauseous. WOOHOO!!! You have NO CLUE how much better I feel about this!

I am 3 weeks from surgery and losing my once enthusiastic willpower; some of it is fear of failure and some of it is simply a lack of motivation in general. Every day for the next 3 weeks I need to just keep reminding myself all of the reasons I am doing this. Make a list of all the awesome things you can't wait to do once you're fit. I try to talk about it on FB with my friends a lot... making plans for all the hikes we will do and places we will go that I haven't been able to do in so long. I think everything we are feeling is totally normal.

Hahaha that's awesome. They didn't ask me to do an upper GI test. Nothing like pooping in a plastic hat, though. Fun times.

Nice! I'm going to Wal-Mart on the 8th to stock up on all my puree baby food stash for the second week post-op, and to grab a ton of AdvantEdge. I'll see if they have that in stock!

I'm going to look back at this in 6 months and wonder why I was stressing myself out so much.

I can't have whey concentrate OR whey isolates. I am looking for GOOD tasting plant-based shakes. My dietitian says it has to be under 200 calories, 10g carbs or less and 3g of fat or less, so I am really struggling to find ones that meet the criteria with ONE exception of Planted by Unjury which is super gross! That is the only one she knew of to recommend. I tried egg protein, too, and it may be worse than the Unjury. What are some decent soy, pea, or rice protein shakes that aren't high in carbs?? I found AdvantEdge... but is there anything else to compliment it? For reals stressing over this, lol.

Honestly, and this sounds really stupid... but I am really, really upset at the protein shake issue I am having. lol. I LOVED the Syntrax Nectar shakes so much but have constant nausea. Now since I am drinking the most horrible shakes ever, in my head I am telling myself this is all I will be able to ingest. I think if I could have some tasty shakes, this wouldn't seem so daunting. I honestly may just say whatever and drink the whey isolates and feel nauseous all the time simply so I don't have to have the horrible pea or egg protein. I don't know. It's frustrating.

Yes, I am completely cleared for surgery from all parties. I have clearance from both my personal psychiatrist and the psychiatrist from the hospital. I WANT to be 140lbs again. I just worry that something will go wrong and it will be another case of "bad liposuction"... where I didn't follow through with what I was supposed to and gained a ton of weight. Or, something goes horribly wrong... which no one can predict. I like to think I have it in me to commit to the lifestyle change... but I also know my own history and I don't know where my "rock bottom" is to give me that genuine motivation to succeed. I, like probably everyone else, have had so many failures in the past with weight loss that I worry this will be another one. Or maybe not. Maybe it will all be fantastic and I won't have cravings or feelings of constant hunger and food will be just another thing I need to live and nothing more.

I am intolerant to both the concentrate and the isolates. I can't have either. It's the actual protein itself. Nectar, Bariatric Advantage, Pure Protein, Quest, etc, are all isolates and I can't have them. Sometimes I think I want surgery simply because I think it will be a "quick fix" and solve my issues without me having to work at overcoming my mentality. I was 140lbs just 9 years ago. I still haven't even gotten used to the idea of me being fat.. when I think of myself in my head, I still see 140lb me. When I was 140lbs, I had very, very low self-esteem and had MASSIVE liposuction done. I did not have any dietitian, therapy, or trainer support. I became addicted to protein shakes (which, oddly, didn't bother me at all back then) and gained 30lbs within 4 months of surgery. I got really depressed and gained 150lbs over the last decade. At first it was emotional eating... now I eat because I always feel hungry and have severe cravings. The liposuction was the worst mistake I ever made... thinking it would be a quick fix for my self-esteem. I worry I am thinking along the same lines again for this surgery. I sometimes wonder if I could just lose the weight by myself if I just stuck to the diet change. I lost 60lbs by myself within 5 months last year, but got tired of eating healthy and started eating garbage again. If I just kept to my healthy eating, I probably WOULD be down 100lbs by now. I question if I am doing this for the right reasons. I don't have kids, and I just broke up with my bf of 5 years for several reasons... one being that he was insecure about the prospect of me losing weight and assumed I would leave him once I was thin. My mother considers this elective surgery and tells me I am mutilating myself. She recently has stopped berating my choice, but she is not actually supportive. My friends seem indifferent. I am pretty much alone.

Having gastric bypass on 11/1/2018. I got approved for my surgery within 3 months and NO weight loss prior to was required. I've actually gained 10 lbs because I've been eating "all the things I won't be able to have" over the last month. My surgeon doesn't seem to care, though, and says I'll lose it in the 2 weeks leading up to surgery on the pre-op diet. I start the pre-op semi-liquid diet on October 16th. I am 29 yrs old, 5'3" and 280lbs. I don't have any comorbidities except a questionable diagnosis of pseudotumor. I am worrying for a few reasons... My biggest worry at the moment is the shakes. I LOVED the whey shakes, especially Nectar. But, turns out, I am highly intolerant to whey - it makes me want to vomit. I have been desperately searching for a tolerable substitute. I like AdvantEdge, but that is the only one I've found so it's limiting. I tried egg protein and it tastes like raw egg and tootsie rolls and I tried pea protein and it tastes like Bailey's with sand in it (lol). I need GOOD soy options aside from AdvantEdge and I am really struggling. Now it's beginning to REALLY hit me how much food plays a role in every day life. Not just for overweight/obese people, but in society in general. I never really considered it until now... 11 days from never being able to truly enjoy the foods I do now. I am scared that I will have the surgery, won't get to the weight I hope to get to, and will have rearranged my intestines to the point where I am still fat and now I can't even enjoy my favorite foods. I keep thinking that if I fail, this is irreversible, and I've done something traumatic to my body and potentially be setting myself up to being sick constantly. I think that if I'm going to unsuccessful, I may as well have left myself alone so I can be fat and still stuff my face. lol. I was also told I won't have an issue with sagging skin. I don't see how that is even possible. When I was 140lbs I had saggy skin and I've had stretch marks since I was 10 years old. I've started squirreling away money for cosmetic surgery in two years. That's my least concern, though. I guess I am just worried about failure. To take such a drastic step and it still not work out the way I had hoped, or some horrible complication occur.... I don't know how I could cope. Rant over now... lol.