The Greater Fool

I think it would be prudent to call your Doc and express clearly the extent of your discomfort and work out a plan of action(s) to resolve it. Good luck, Tek

Honestly, there aren't a lot of folks 600+ pounds (comparatively) that are looking for surgery and a lot of surgeons out there now, so this isn't surprising to me. I was the largest my surgeon had done to that time. I had a rough beginning as my surgery was open (not laproscopic) and the staples and drain were extraordinarily painful. But once that stuff was removed I did and felt fine. My Docs plan was to teach me how to eat healthy and this started day 1 post-op. I still live this plan. By month 6 the plan became my new normal and I had hundreds of pounds of successful weight loss to reinforce that my plan was working. And the rest, as they say, is history. I went on to lose all my excess weight, weight I have not found again since. I had my acceptable goal weight and my goal weight and blew right past them to a weight of which I never dreamed in my wildest dreams. I've done so many things I never thought I would like running 5 marathons. I done so many things I never even thought about. It's been a great ride. If your surgeon, like mine, takes you on as a patient it means they are confident they can help you. Do your due diligence as you should for any Doc then move forward with a can-do attitude because there will be a bunch of hoops to jump through. You won't recognize your life in 3 years. Good luck, Tek

I probably ate fried foods at about 10 months post-op. Pasta maybe about the same time. What your saying is a doctor wouldn't give you a date. That's because he would rather you didn't do it at all, which is the prudent thing to (not) do. Eventually, you will need to come to peace with these things. Wait a few months longer if you can. Good luck, Tek

The Doc will smell it on your breath and cancel your surgery. It is really, really, really (3 reallys so you know it's really, really, really) important to follow your surgeons plan. I will tell you people, not known to me personally, have done as you wish to do and gotten away with the heinous crime. In fact, I can't recall a person caught out in such a nefarious deed. I don't actually think the surgeon could tell, to be honest. But, no, don't do it. You're building character here. Even though not a soul now living could tell. But, follow your surgeons instructions. Enjoy the chicken, Tek

@laurenantics, we need to call our marriage off. I usually do a couple paragraphs on the importance of communication, and more about relationships being about 100 commitment and more communication. Then a bit on the importance of variety in sexual positions and role play in public. You know, the obvious stuff. But I had to pretend to work for a while, so couldn't hit the usual high points, so I'm sorry to say I rushed it a bit. Trust me when I say the silent motto around here is "happy wife, happy life" and any man worth his salt has figured this about by year 20. 25 tops. So, I could reprise any of the parts I missed if anyone would like to read them. Good wishes and good luck, Tek

I can assure you I don't live on beige food. I wouldn't be surprised if most of your ready meals can be healthy enough for purpose. I do most of the cooking at Casa de Tek and I am a spicy and flavorful cook and so is the food. I do prepare larger than necessary batches and prepare them for eating over the next week or three. I can find healthy enough food anywhere and enjoy the little bit that I eat. You will do fine. Day at a time and all that. Tek

I believe all of us should know the "why" of things WLS. Most people don't want to know why, they just want a list of what to eat when, then get stuck when their life doesn't easily sync with the plan. Knowing "why" let's you understand how to make adjustments that aren't obvious but are still following the plan. Keep it up. I stopped going to (in person) support after the third meeting and left the online portion about the same time. The main topic was how to cheat, and the second was women stuff. Not my cup of tea. I never did protein drinks except when I was binge running and then it was more for the running than my plan. Even on puree I was at my appropriate protein level by about week 3-4. For RNY patients there is always the question of how much protein are we NOT absorbing because of our surgery. So popping in a protein drink can ensure enough is being absorbed. Or, like @catwoman7who have a specific need. My RNY had a small bypass so I don't malabsorb much. My doc was four square against protein drinks, he wanted us learning to eat correctly from the very beginning. My sense, though, is generally they are a meal replacement for the crash diet many surgeon's put their patients on so that they will lose weight faster. Keep on thinking and learning. Tek

I'm a guy. Everything your husband fears about surgery is true. Something COULD happen. You COULD change. You COULD find a better guy. He's seen the same WLS horror stories as you. He's had associates at work tell him all the things that he fears happened to a friend of a friend and it was horrible. Another true thing: WLS makes good relationships better and bad relationships worse. By having surgery you are changing the status quo in all your relationships. Relationships will necessarily change as you change when eventually a new status quo is established. Again, some relationships will be better, others worse, and others may not change much at all. So, you have a lot of talking to do. Talk to your husband about his fears and reassure him that nothing extremely bad will happen, that you will not change in any important way. That you love him and have no intention of leaving him. You will have to have this discussion every time his fear (and insecurity) come up because you love him. Tell him of all the things you can do with him when you lose weight. Express all the reasons you are having WLS and how those will impact him in a positive way. Open and honest, again and again. Then you will have to do similar in other relationships whether you tell them about surgery or not, because they have eyes and will notice you losing weight. We all get insecure about change sometimes when we perceive or imagine changes. We all have buttons. This may seem unfair and perhaps it is. But it's how loving, caring, giving relationships work. If you don't care about the relationship you don't need to take the time. "I'm doing this. Get on board or..." works if you don't care about the fallout. Your choice. Good luck, Tek

Sure... whatever you say. heh, "regular porn." Who's kidding whom? Averting my eyes... finally. Tek

I think I see what you mean. Good luck, Tek

It can be an obsession if you want it to be. There are many here that obsess about every calorie. It can also be a simple task that you handle like several other tasks you do every day. It's really up to you at least as much as you can control any of your obsessions. You manage to feed yourself now and your new diet plan need not be significantly more complicated, again, unless you want it to. For me, my plan didn't require counting calories or much else than "this much protein, this much veggies", done and done. To this day this continues to be my plan. Relax. Take the time to learn about your surgery and your plan. You will have plenty of time to learn what appeals to you. Good luck, Tek

Food porn. Carry on! Tek

Studies indicate that your thirst is a pretty good guide. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your success. You covered a lot of points that people really need to ponder. Our surgeries are always there. Continued success and good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your success. I would check in with a fleshy doc. Trust your health to the professionals. The only place that is possibly worse than Dr. Google is asking strangers on an internet message board. Good luck, Tek

Which is why I advocate following your surgeon's plan. Once you start choosing what part of your plan you will follow then you are on no plan at all. I only pointed out that I was on puree from day one to illustrate nothing life shattering will happen if you start it a day or two sooner. Other than it is the first step away from plan, of course. Good luck, Tek

No draconian liquid diets for me. My plan started with 6 weeks of puree, which were effectively my eating plan that would start after week 6 just pureed. I've basically been on the same plan day 1 through day 6,763. Good luck, Tek

"Eating until I am satisfied" is what got me to needing WLS in the first place. My plan is I eat 3 meals per day, each meal being 3oz protein + 1oz veggies. I eat until the meal is gone or when my surgery says I'm done ["When I am satisfied" could be an interpretation of this], whichever comes first. This long ago became my normal. Good luck, Tek

Well, when a man loves a woman... Tek

Accidentally swallowing gum can block your pouch which can result in a trip to the ER and a not fun procedure to remove the gum. Famous last words "I won't swallow my gum" Enjoy your gum. Tek

What does your medical team say? Tek

I started at over 700 pounds and have managed to achieve a normal BMI. Actually, for a short time I was below a normal BMI thanks to my binge-running but when then binge-running ended my weight bounced up to high end normal BMI. After 18+ years I am still high normal BMI. Theoretically any given WLS patent can achieve a normal BMI. However, the average overall weight loss is about 60%. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations! "Only" 33 pounds in the 3 weeks since surgery! How do you show your face? You must be so ashamed of yourself. 🤣 Be warned you are on the threshold of the infamous 3-week stall. Before you panic and post about your stall, search "3 week stall" then change nothing and keep doing what you are doing. Good luck, Tek

It is times like these that try our souls. Maybe getting the dogs some treats will help smooth over their trauma. If you handle things just so your relationship with your friend may not suffer over much, though the dogs may never forgive you. You mention calling your surgical center. The dogs will likely appreciate other sources of treats and affection. Remember, this is not about you. It's about the dogs. Good luck, Tek

3/8/2021 is sometimes confused with 3/8/2021 for people across an ocean. Tek