SueM165

My best friend had the surgery in Feb. We visited in July and she literally looks half her size! I was shocked when she said she had only lost 45 pounds!!! That is only 9 pounds a MONTH, so just a bit over 2 a week. The scale is NOT the only measure! You are only 2 weeks out of surgery. I can only hope to be half as active as you 2 weeks after mine! Toss your scale out the window!
Besides, if you lose it all too fast, look at the other side of that coin... your skin won't even have a hope of keeping up, and then you will have that issue to deal with!

I started eating healthy a few years ago. Just discovered some food triggers on this journey! Fixed what I can, and working on the rest! I haven't shared the fact that I am having surgery with many people. I just don't want to hear all the horror stories, or be belittled for "failing" to do this on my own, and taking the "easy" way out! This past 6 months just getting TO the surgery has been no picnic! LOL And I know easy street doesn't start on 24 September! This is a life long commitment now!
I know people like the above. Complain about their weight, aches, pains, medical issues, all while pounding down a Big Mac and fries, snack cakes, candy, chips, etc! My tongue bleeds now, from biting it. I am going to need some real control later on! You can't help those who don't want it!

I started eating healthy a few years ago. Just discovered some food triggers on this journey! Fixed what I can, and working on the rest! I haven't shared the fact that I am having surgery with many people. I just don't want to hear all the horror stories, or be belittled for "failing" to do this on my own, and taking the "easy" way out! This past 6 months just getting TO the surgery has been no picnic! LOL And I know easy street doesn't start on 24 September! This is a life long commitment now!
I know people like the above. Complain about their weight, aches, pains, medical issues, all while pounding down a Big Mac and fries, snack cakes, candy, chips, etc! My tongue bleeds now, from biting it. I am going to need some real control later on! You can't help those who don't want it!

I started eating healthy a few years ago. Just discovered some food triggers on this journey! Fixed what I can, and working on the rest! I haven't shared the fact that I am having surgery with many people. I just don't want to hear all the horror stories, or be belittled for "failing" to do this on my own, and taking the "easy" way out! This past 6 months just getting TO the surgery has been no picnic! LOL And I know easy street doesn't start on 24 September! This is a life long commitment now!
I know people like the above. Complain about their weight, aches, pains, medical issues, all while pounding down a Big Mac and fries, snack cakes, candy, chips, etc! My tongue bleeds now, from biting it. I am going to need some real control later on! You can't help those who don't want it!

You know what to watch for, from other's bad experiences. The lifestyle changes aren't going to be as hard as you think! My best friend had the surgery in Feb. When I was out visiting this summer, she gave me tons of tips and tricks. I gave up all carbonated beverages, have been practicing smaller bites and eating slower. I already did 2 protein shakes a day, with one high protein/ low carb dinner, and healthy snacks here and there. 40+ years of soda addiction (in the last 3 I changed to carbonated waters), and I gave up carbonation overnight! Didn't hurt that we were in Vegas, in June! LOL
You've put in the time, the waiting, and all the steps, don't let fear stop you now. Don't try to look so far ahead! One day at a time!! You are 2 months out; make some small changes here and there. You have time. As ANewStart4Me said, things that you felt you couldn't live without before, will just be nasty after surgery. My BF said the same.
Maybe your surgery will help your husband! You can support each other. It might be worth it to find a local, in person support group. My surgeon actually made me go before surgery, as well as going after. Support for what you are going through, and to help you through your tough times is going to be critical!! My family is super supportive, and we have been trying new recipes that we all can eat eventually. We have found many that are really good, and good for you. I LOVE knowing I won't eat nearly as much of them after surgery, as I do now!

My 24yo daughter was just diagnosed with BED. I probably do fall into that category, after being with her at the Drs., but when I started seeing a nutritionist at the beginning of my journey (Surgery is in 20 days!), I actually set alarms to make sure I ate at reasonable intervals. I could never choke down anything for breakfast, but she approved a protein shake replacement meal, and I have been religious with that. That cut down the binges to almost nothing! I figure out my days meal, put them in the Baritastic App (MUCH better than My Fitness Pal!), follow my alarms, and the only time I slipped up, I missed a lunch, because we were away from home longer than I thought we would be, and didn't want fast food. In hindsight, it probably would have been better grab a salad or something from a fast food joint!
Growing up, I had a step-parent who used food as reward/punishment, so I know I have food issues, but being aware of them is half the battle. My daughter probably just picked up my (bad) eating habits, and after talking, she realizes that she uses take out food as "treats." So not getting whatever she wants, whenever she wants makes triggers her eating way more than she should, after trying to be "good" and restricting her eating. I will tell her about that book as well. It doesn't help she is short and round and her brothers are all tall and thin! My husband & I are both short and round; the runts of our litters!
I also had a boredom snacking issue, but I started crocheting again. It is definitely a widespread problem! I don't allow my husband to eat snacks or anything just out of the bag. I make him put a portion in a dish. That way he is more mindful of what he is shoveling in, since he has to think about it & get up if he wants more. Now that my arthritis is acting up, I play Sims 4, and World of Warcraft, which take concentration. If I am focusing on something else, I don't think about eating until the alarm goes off! LOL And I don't eat at the computer. I also have severe back pain, and discovered a bad day was a trigger. If I am in a lot of pain, I want ALL the comfort food! Now, I just remind myself, the alarm hasn't gone off yet, and I am "eating to live, NOT living to eat!"
So, my journey along this path is helping her, and my husband! I tell them we are all going to get healthy if it kills us! LOL I can't wait to be "not hungry." I sort of joke about the grehlin monster who is going to be evicted soon. I can finish a fantastic meal, and be seriously hungry an hour later, with stomach pains, gurgling, the whole nine yards! Even long before starting to eat healthy, I was always hungry and not satisfied for long. I was terrified of the 2-week pre-op diet! I started a week early, but have 3 protein shakes, a meal, and a celery, carrots or dill pickles as snacks. It has been kind of hard, but I just distract myself until it is time to eat again. Knowing "relief" is a few, short weeks away helps. That and knowing how much better the surgery will be if I do the right things! Glad you are doing well after yours!

Congrats to everyone doing so well with weight loss & becoming healthy! That’s so amazing & I can’t wait to be healthy again. You know what I don’t get? Why anyone feels that they need to offer their option unless it’s asked for. I think other people have entirely too much to say & they should mind their own business

Devils advocate here... I know when my co-worker dropped really low too fast (or it appeared to be too fast to me), she DID look sickly. She had the sleeve done and while she would periodically look awful for a week or two while her body was adjusting. Then she would look healthy. Then it would happen again. It is possible that you are just in one of those phases where you don't look as healthy to others, but that doesn't mean you will stay looking that way. My friend overall did look great most of the time, and she looks great now that she is at her maintenance healthy weight. But that doesn't mean she always looked healthy in the eyes of others while the weight loss was happening. Anyhow, after watching my friend... I am gearing up to have others see in me what I saw in my friend. Personally, I kept my mouth shut and remained supportive during her entire weight loss. I asked her how she was doing and listened when she needed to vent. But I was careful not to say anything that could be construed as criticism. I am hoping others will do the same with me. But I also know that some people (probably my husband) will make rude comments when I am looking not so great. Even if I think I look fine.
Anyhow, ignore your mom. Or if you want to, let her know that it bothers you when she makes those comments. Also re-assure her that your doctor is monitoring you and everything is going very well. Let her know where you are in your goals. She might be afraid you are just going to keep losing until it is too much weight loss. Or she just might not be used to seeing you at your current size. What is important is how you feel and how you think you look.

And it's 1*8*8 not 2*8*8, been in Onederland such a Small Time even I can't believe it's TRUE!

Well I am 288 ( I think) at a week short of 1 year and a Joyful Size 17/18 and diminishing Every Day. I started at 365+ so at 5ft8in I'm starting to look like a Firecracker instead of a Full keg of Dynamite! And my PCP, yep same dude that danced around singing " You're Obese and you're GONN DIE!" now has started a Slender-Shaming Tirade. Thinks I've lost TOO MUCH and TOO FAST,told me I could stop ALREADY. Am I Gonna? Nope no Way, not when I can SEE my goal of 175 shining ahead for ME! But some people are so Contrary they' d argue with a tack about not being Sharp enough. There is an River in the Canadian Maritimes so affected by the tides it flows backwards. Wonder if they would like to go live there????

I think when people get used to seeing you thinner the comments will stop. At least that's what I'm hoping for too. I know a girl I work with had surgery 2 yrs ago and people used to say that about her all the time. Now I rarely hear anything...maybe because they are now saying it about me, behind my back! I hear those comments too and I think it's because the wt came off so fast. I just hit my "normal" BMI wt this morning so now when they comment at least I can say I'm where I want to be...and don't plan to lose more! Congratulations on your weight loss!

I feel the same way. But hardly anyone really wants to make the lifestyle changes. Before surgery, my grocery cart was filled with veggies and healthy foods. I really did not eat junk or processed foods. I was trying to make the positive changes - I just couldn't stop eating and ate from emotional origins.
But look at the carts from so many MO folks - soda, beer, chips, donuts, sugary cereals. Surgery is not going to fix that. My heart goes out to them, it truly does, but at some point folks have to start helping themselves by education, first of all. The saddest ones are the kids. LIttle fat kids who don't have a chance.

I know the feeling. The first 2 months were the worst and i regretted my surgery every second of everyday and everytime id go to someone to complain about my decision like my husband would say" this is what you wanted you did this to your self." It made me soo mad. My hubby the first 2months got in the habit of eatting tv dinners or going to get food for him and the kids. I was ok with sitting at the table while they ate there hapoy meals and i ate some grilled fish it sucked but at the same time smells change after surgery i wasnt tempted by alot of food till the second month. Anyways its hard what were going through and you gotta stay strong and focus on ur weight loss. It was amazing the energy i got back and everything is getting better with no more regret.
I hope ur husband learns that the first 2months u need his love and support and him saying ur being selfish he can go kiss it! This surgery was not the easy way out it take alot of patients and the will to keep goingneeds to be strong. U deserve to focus on u right now .. best of luck!

Easier? There is nothing easy about bariatric weight loss. This takes work.
Breathe, relax, and take this one day at a time. You didn’t gain weight overnight. You won’t lose weigh over night. Some lose slow some lose fast. Either way you are getting to your goal and healthy.
Don’t compare your loss to anyone else it will make you crazy. This is your journey. Work your plan and envision where you will be in a year,

1. Give it time. You're only 2 weeks out. Also, there's a chance you'll lose no weight at all for a few weeks (search 3 week stall). Mentally prep for it, because if slow loss is bothering you now, the stall will be a mind ****.
2. You started at a lower BMI, so naturally, your weight lost will be slower than someone who weighs more than you.
3. Search the board for people who started out at a similar weight. Your experience is likely more normal than you think. You may need to reset your expectations about the process.

Good luck on your journey.

Hello everyone. Had surgery on the 30th, feels good to be on the other side of things. I was so afraid of surgery. It wasn’t without pain or discomfort, but all in all it hasn’t been that bad. I’m relieved to have gotten the hardest part over with. My stomach feels like I’ve done a thousand sit ups. I have absolutely no pain where they removed my stomach, and I’m even lying on my left side at night when I sleep. Really, everyone is so different. I didn’t have major gas pain, but the inflation of my stomach caused pretty bad left shoulder pain which fortunately only lasted about a day. I feel hungry, but I’m not starving. I have to take my sips slowly because if I sip to quickly and too much I start to feel nauseous. I think once the pain is gone and my energy levels are back up I will feel more excited about having the procedure done. For now, I’m just taking it one day at a time. If any of you have any questions please feel free to ask. Wishing you all the best.

Hi Linda . I was dreading the pre-op diet too. I couldn’t see any way on earth how i was going to do it , but was amazed how easy I found it ! I think because we have a focus and know if we don’t do it, we don’t get the surgery . I had to do it for 4 weeks instead of 2, because my surgery was cancelled at the last minute and the surgeon wanted me to
stay on it . I was also worried my liver hadn’t shrunk enough because my paper work was out of date by the time I had to do it , and they’d changed so I was doing it slightly wrong it. but He told me it was the smallest liver he’d ever operated with , and it made it so easy !you do get used to it . I did the version which was 4 protein shakes and 2 cups of vegetables a day . Your programme may be different . Good luck . please keep me posted ?

You know what to watch for, from other's bad experiences. The lifestyle changes aren't going to be as hard as you think! My best friend had the surgery in Feb. When I was out visiting this summer, she gave me tons of tips and tricks. I gave up all carbonated beverages, have been practicing smaller bites and eating slower. I already did 2 protein shakes a day, with one high protein/ low carb dinner, and healthy snacks here and there. 40+ years of soda addiction (in the last 3 I changed to carbonated waters), and I gave up carbonation overnight! Didn't hurt that we were in Vegas, in June! LOL
You've put in the time, the waiting, and all the steps, don't let fear stop you now. Don't try to look so far ahead! One day at a time!! You are 2 months out; make some small changes here and there. You have time. As ANewStart4Me said, things that you felt you couldn't live without before, will just be nasty after surgery. My BF said the same.
Maybe your surgery will help your husband! You can support each other. It might be worth it to find a local, in person support group. My surgeon actually made me go before surgery, as well as going after. Support for what you are going through, and to help you through your tough times is going to be critical!! My family is super supportive, and we have been trying new recipes that we all can eat eventually. We have found many that are really good, and good for you. I LOVE knowing I won't eat nearly as much of them after surgery, as I do now!

You know what to watch for, from other's bad experiences. The lifestyle changes aren't going to be as hard as you think! My best friend had the surgery in Feb. When I was out visiting this summer, she gave me tons of tips and tricks. I gave up all carbonated beverages, have been practicing smaller bites and eating slower. I already did 2 protein shakes a day, with one high protein/ low carb dinner, and healthy snacks here and there. 40+ years of soda addiction (in the last 3 I changed to carbonated waters), and I gave up carbonation overnight! Didn't hurt that we were in Vegas, in June! LOL
You've put in the time, the waiting, and all the steps, don't let fear stop you now. Don't try to look so far ahead! One day at a time!! You are 2 months out; make some small changes here and there. You have time. As ANewStart4Me said, things that you felt you couldn't live without before, will just be nasty after surgery. My BF said the same.
Maybe your surgery will help your husband! You can support each other. It might be worth it to find a local, in person support group. My surgeon actually made me go before surgery, as well as going after. Support for what you are going through, and to help you through your tough times is going to be critical!! My family is super supportive, and we have been trying new recipes that we all can eat eventually. We have found many that are really good, and good for you. I LOVE knowing I won't eat nearly as much of them after surgery, as I do now!

I stop before I feel full because the sensation of full is different now and I don't want to stretch out my pouch. Here is my portion control guidelines. Hope this helps ?

I'm a Kaiser patient also, September 17th makes a year since I started this process. My GP referred me to the Bariatric program and I was offended, embarrassed, sad, relieved (I was finally going to get real answers and help), I was tired of fighting obesity without having the proper education to understand why I'm obese, I felt judged, I judged myself, I cried and then I got into action. Obesity is a complex disease, everyone doesn't have an issue of getting up from the table or overeating and some of us do. We all have our own struggles and pathes that have brought us here, the person inside of you has brought you here to this victory, do you chose to be victorious? Having the surgery is like the Matrix, red or blue pill? Be Neo, be the one who kicks obesity in the a**!!!! FEAR = Face Everything And Rise or Fear Everything And Run... I believe you've got this and you have support on this site, it helps me... I'm tired of being unhealthy due to something that now has a solution.

Many of us had the same feelings. I cried all the way through pre-op, wondering if I should get off the stretcher and leave the hospital! This decision is huge and definitely takes courage, but for me, one the best I've ever made. I have a brand new body and I am loving it every single day, with all the things I can do now.
OK, so you have to commit to a new, healthy lifestyle! For sure! No shortcuts there. You have to reframe your thinking so that you see the new changes as part of your new, healthy life - not as deprivation.Yes, you have to give up the crap - but you get so much more in return. I started making these changes long before surgery, but have solidified them since surgery. I think a great motivator is starting to get the weight off and once you can start enjoying new things (like smaller clothing sizes, activities that you couldn't do before, etc.) it becomes easier and easier to embrace the healthy changes, because the payoff is so great. For me, those changes are: no wheat (I have been gluten free for years already), but now do not eat refined grains - only whole cooked grains. No sugar and no soda of any kind. No juice. These were biggies, but I feel SOOOOOO much better without sugar. It's not even a temptation anymore. No coffee or alcohol because I don't want to risk any irritation (I already have Barrett's esophagus with a pre-cancerous polyp removed, and as a GI nurse, I've seen the really ugly side of WLS patients who start drinking again.) No processed foods, period. If it comes in a box, it's not for me. Lots more veggies, low carbs, higher protein. Intermittant fasting is a very powerful weight loss and maintenance tool to use later on in the journey, Lots of exercise. For me this started out by getting 10,000 steps a day. (My step tracker never leaves my wrist and is my best little buddy.) Gradually, I've added a lot of other exercise components, and they get more fun and more motivating as I see strength and muscle definition increasing.
This is a journey. You start out with baby steps and commit to follow the plan. Do not cheat. Don't let your mind even go there. Some people look for ways to flirt with forbidden foods or ways to game the system. This is a recipe for failure. Your determination to be successful is the greatest predictor of ultimate success in this venture. Develop some mantras to get you through the temptations.: "I AM NEVER GOING BACK!" "IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT!" "I CAN'T HAVE THAT NOW, BUT I WILL HAVE IT LATER, DOWN THE ROAD."
You can do this. Learn from the mistakes of others and be motivated to avoid their pit falls. The fact that your mom lost weight successfully is a good predictor of success for you. You just have to make sure you take your vitamins and keep on top of the nutrition.

Chapstick, a nail file, hand or face lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste. I didn't bring a mini mouthwash but wish I had. I wasn't allowed any liquids till the following day & my mouth felt DISGUSTING. I probably brushed my teeth 4x that first night. A small zip bag to put that stuff in so it's an easy reach on the bedside table & not rolling around.

I didn't care so much about the pillow, but I wish I'd had a pillow case from home. The hospital pillow case barely stayed on the pillow. A pillow case wouldn't have been hard to bring & would have added comfort. I didnt miss having a pillow for the ride home, but I'm probably 20 min from the hospital.

I brought a pair of comfy sweatpant/pajama pants to wear under the hospital gown & I'm so glad I had them. I would not have been comfortable walking around in that gown or even laying in my room in just that.

phone, reading device or book, chargers.

photo id, credit card.

I brought some biotene mouth spray.. Was a life saver!!! Drinking water hurt initially and my mouth was sooooo dry. I am soooooo glad my friend recommended it!! Also.. Some eos chapstick. Again with the dryness lol. I also brought some hydrating spray for my face but I didn't need that. I brought my pillow but i slept and sat with the bed raised because my large incision site would cramp like crazy when I was flat. I mostly slept when I wasn't walking... But everyone is different. May want to bring somwthing to occupy your mind.

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