Blessd1

12 hours ago, bigoverthinker said:

Lately I am realizing that the enemy of my progress is my sense of failure when I have a bite of something unapproved. Permission to throw away the rest once I taste it or have hit "full" is freeing. I am enjoying the sense power when I throw away the remainder and move on.

Thanks for sharing your experience so candidly! I know this feeling you're describing very well myself...there is a definite sense of freedom from, and authority over, food when we approach it this way. I know it's not realistic to think I will never have a craving or want to eat something not on my plan. But, breaking that cycle of eating, feeling guilty, failing is what I hope to do too. Keep up the great work!

19 minutes ago, Christi Hawkins said:

Day 6 Post-Op for me!! I had my sleeve surgery on March 7th.

I agree with most of what has been said so far but I had quite a lot of pain for the first 3 days. They ran some tests, which showed nothing, so I imagined it or have turned into a big baby! I thought days 1-3 were brutal but in hindsight, I probably should have done a few things better.

1. Do exactly what your nurses tell you to do as soon as they tell you to do it. No matter how you feel. If they don't get you up and walking, you ask. My first nurse had me up on the first day and we walked twice. The next day was his day off so no one offered after that. As I was laying in bed miserable every time I looked up there was a young lady with pink hair and a big smile on her face making lap after lap. So I got approval to do it on my own

2. Start drinking the moment they tell you. It will look gross but it will make you feel so much better and SIP DO NOT GULP!! I could only get down Water and didn't really even try to until the 3rd day

3. Have a game plan for recovery. I'm not sure why this happened but I woke up feeling very strange about what I'd done. Several moments of Buyer's Remorse and I remember just feeling sick about it. Almost like I hadn't expected it or the surgery happened by surprise. I can't really describe it but it was very strange and I didn't snap out of it for at least 2 days. So pull in your support group as quickly as you need.

So now it's Day 6 and I almost feel back to normal. Pain is gone, I'm having no trouble getting all my Protein and liquids in. I'm a little more tired than normal but that's it, really.

I think the rest is going to be mental, so I'm trying to get my expectations in a realistic position. Please don't doubt your decision, or feel alone. We're all in this together and we can lean on each other when we need

Thanks so much for your detailed account and honesty. I really need to hear what it's going to be like and how I might be feeling. My bypass is scheduled for 3/29, so my thoughts are definitely getting more serious. Lol

I wish you a complete and speedy recovery and that you move quickly to happier days. ❤️

On 3/1/2023 at 3:17 AM, NikkiRose89 said:

Normal? How do I fix my thoughts? I am a believer and I give God full control but anxiety is still creeping in.

I completely empathize with you! I would say we would have to be crazy if we weren't at least a little scared or apprehensive! I just had my preop consent visit, labwork, and preop diet products picked up on 3/8. The next stop is RNY bypass on 3/29. I'm excited and very nervous all at once. I keep saying to myself "Are you sure about this?" But, as soon as I remember for even a second my original WHY...that anxiety melts away, and I have a big smile dreaming about the ways my life and health will change for the better.

YOU GOT THIS! Take care of your mental health and do some things now to help you feel prepared. That helps a lot! I also believe God will walk us through this to the other side - stay strong!

1 hour ago, Krasavitza said:

I go in for surgery tomorrow. Haven’t been given a time yet.. nervous and excited! Still feels so surreal

Best of luck to you! You will do great!!

7 minutes ago, GeorgieLynn said:

bag is packed, ready to go. Check In at the hospital at 5:30 tomorrow morning. It is hard to believe that I have come this far already and the day is finally here. 

Best wishes for a smooth operation and recovery, so happy for you!

I had my pre-op consent visit today, surgery three weeks from now on 3/29. Praying for all of us who have committed ourselves to major life changes - we can do this!

9 minutes ago, Fred in Pa said:

Last day of full liquids.

Im first into surgery tomorrow. Have to be at hospital at 5:30am.

Whoo boy, anxiety is up...

Best wishes for a smooth operation and recovery! You will do great!

5 hours ago, noteasierstronger said:

I agree. I am 9 months PO, and had you told me that I would be able to reach the weight I currently am, I would not have believed you.
I didn't set a firm goal at the beginning, because I had no idea where I "should" end up. I did some math with weights around the top of the "normal" BMI numbers for my height, to see what the percentages were so I could have some idea of my progress at 3 and 6 months.
Then I ended up dropping weight faster than predicted. The only time I had an actual number in mind was after my 6 month appointment when the APRN told me what they had written down as my "ideal weight" in the computer. It messed with my head some, because I couldn't ever remember weighing that little, so when I got into the range with the same number in the tens place, I was psyching myself out. I had to work to get over that.
I still don't believe the number on my jeans (6 - I had to buy new ones because my saved clothes only went down to 10). It's insane to me that I can wear size small t-shirts. I can feel bones in all kinds of places that I never did before. I am still slowly losing, letting my body decide what it wants to do, but my brain is still catching up with what I see in the mirror.
I also agree with wearing things you have saved as soon as they fit and as often as possible. Sizes can go by quickly sometimes.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats on your amazing progress! And thanks for sharing your insights...this definitely helps.

2 hours ago, summerseeker said:

I had lots of mini goals, I didn't want to disappoint myself, go off track and sabotage myself like I always did. In reality, I am unable to sabotage myself unless I eat around my plan. I try not to.

My initial goal was to be healthier. Tick.

Then to pass in a crowd. Without stares. Tick

Next to go in any shop to buy clothes or shoes because I never have. Tick

My latest one is Onderland and its taking its time to get there.

I don't hold much store in comparing my former self with clothes sizes because they have changed to be bigger in my life time

Thanks so much for sharing your mini goals @summerseeker! I'm going to make a task for myself to list out some mini goals so that when the time comes I'm reminded that the NSVs are just as important. These will also serve as reminders of how I was feeling BEFORE surgery and the kinds of experiences I had been longing for. Love this idea! 😀

I'm so glad you posted this @mcipanda. I'm scheduled for gastric bypass on 3/29, and as it gets closer I try to visualize what is coming. Like you, I honestly can't wrap my head around nor visualize myself being significantly smaller. I'm also afraid of self sabotage and failing, you're not alone in that! I have struggled with weight since my teen years and am currently 46 years old. It's so hard to believe things could change for me and this is real! I keep reading posts on this forum and take comfort in knowing so many not only felt this same doubt, but they overcame it to reach their goals!

Thanks again for sharing this, and I wish you well in your journey!

6 hours ago, LilRed🔥Mama said:

October 2023 will mark my 10 years sleeve anniversary. 🙏🏻🙌🏻👏🏻
I am going to be 53 April 2023 and I’ve never felt or looked better in my life!!
This was ONE OF THE BEST decisions I ever made for ME!
I did my first fitness competition last year and took second place in the Transformations Category.
Nothing is “Impossible” the word itself tells you “I’m possible”!

Wow, congratulations!! My jaw dropped open when I saw your transformation!

On 2/10/2023 at 4:47 PM, Stacky said:

I am scheduled to have my surgery on the 20th and was hoping to get 2 or 3 surgery buddies to chat with a long the way. I have a very full house with 3 kids, a wife, and my elderly mother living with me so I'm thinking I might need some friends that are going through the same thing as me along the way.

Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

Welcome to the forum, and best wishes for your upcoming surgery. You will do great!

2 hours ago, BigSue said:

I'm 2.5 years post-op from gastric bypass. I think weight loss surgery can help make major changes to your relationship with food and eating, but it takes a lot of time and work to undo the habits and mindset you've developed throughout your life up to this point.

I had read that a lot of people experience changes in their tastes after surgery, and I hoped that would be the case for me but was not optimistic. I mentioned this hope to the psychiatrist during my psych eval for the surgery, and he kind of laughed at this idea and told me not to count on it. I've always been a picky eater with a long list of vegetables and cuisines that I wouldn't eat. Some people say that after surgery, food tastes different (e.g., anything sweet tastes too sweet), but that was not my experience, so I figured I wasn't one of the lucky ones whose tastes would change.

Well, fast-forward to now and my tastes have changed... sort of. It's hard to explain because foods taste the same now as they did before surgery, but my likes and dislikes have changed a lot. I used to hate seafood and now I love it. I eat all kinds of vegetables that I used to hate. I'm not sure if my tastes have changed or I just have more of an open mind, or maybe having to go through the pre-op liquid diet and post-op stages made me appreciate real food more when I reintroduced it. Either way, I'm eating healthy foods every day and loving them.

Before surgery, I loved watching cooking shows like Top Chef and Great British Baking Show. For the first several months after surgery, I couldn't bear to watch cooking shows. I hated even seeing food commercials on TV. It just made me sad and angry to see foods that I could no longer eat. But eventually, I got to a point where I could see food and cooking without the emotional attachment. I can watch Great British Baking Show and appreciate the cakes and Cookies they make without being sad that I can't eat them.

Once I got to the point of reintroducing solid food, I put a lot of effort into recreating "bariatric-friendly" versions of foods I used to eat -- especially pizza. pizza was my kryptonite, and before surgery, I could not get enough pizza. I could have eaten pizza every day and never gotten tired of it. After surgery, I tried chicken crust pizza, and making pizza with low-carb tortilla for the crust, topped with sugar-free marinara, low fat mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni. But I also started trying healthy recipes that I found on Pinterest, and eventually, I stopped craving pizza. I haven't had anything resembling pizza (even a healthy version) in well over a year and I don't care. If you put two plates in front of me, one with a slice of pizza and one with grilled salmon and roasted vegetables, I would go straight for the salmon and not even be tempted by the pizza. This is just wild to me because three years ago, I wouldn't have eaten salmon if it were the only food available, and I never could have passed up a slice of pizza.

Sometimes I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience because before surgery, I couldn't imagine being the health nut with a refrigerator full of fresh produce and no junk food in the house, eating grilled fish and cauliflower rice and salad with fat-free dressing, but here I am. I am constantly finding new, healthy, delicious recipes. Every single day, I eat healthy food and think, "Holy crap, this is delicious!" I honestly enjoy food more now than I did when I was eating whatever I wanted with wild abandon. It took me a long time to get here, and I can't promise that you or anyone else will have the same experiences after weight loss surgery, but my relationship with food has changed more than I could have imagined.

Thanks so much @BigSuefor this thoughtful and honest response. This is why I love this forum!

I'm six weeks out from a planned gastric bypass and really struggling to wrap my head around the fact that my relationship with food will change permanently. I'm sincerely hoping that it's for the better, much the way you have described. Thanks for sharing, it does bring some comfort. 🙂

4 hours ago, Alleycat20032003 said:

Just got booked today for March 15th. Very excited and also like someone said earlier, it is real now! I had a pre/ post op nutrition class. My last dr appt is 3/7 for a surgery physical. Best wishes everyone! May February go by really quick

Congratulations and best wishes for a smooth surgery and recovery! I'm sure the time will go by quickly. 😉

On 2/4/2023 at 1:12 PM, Jeanniebug said:

The way to combat the scary stories, is to also read the fixes. Are you scared of strictures? How do they fix them? Are you scared of bowel blockages? How do they fix them? Pretty much all the complications can be treated, if caught in time.

Every scary complication I read about, I also read about the treatment. That calmed me down. I also asked myself: If my doctor were to tell me that I would definitely have x, x, and x complications, would I still go through with it? The answer was always, "yes". I think that's where you need to get.

If you were told that you would definitely have ___(insert scary complication and its associated treatment)___, would you still have the surgery?

This is a great point! I made sure to tell my surgeon during the initial consult exactly what I'm afraid of happening, or what I have read could happen. He was able to explain, in detail, how each complication can be dealth with. Basically, there's a workaround for any complication. That really sealed the deal for me, and I'm moving forward with a lot more confidence.

9 hours ago, Ginnys Journey said:

I'm booked for the 13th March. Suddenly feels very real!

I know exactly how you feel! It's one thing when you're researching it and thinking about it - but actually taking steps to make it happen is exciting and scary all at once. Best of luck to you!

7 hours ago, Alex Brecher said:

Congratulations on your upcoming bariatric surgery! It's completely normal to have mixed emotions about the procedure, but it's important to remember that you are taking a positive step towards improving your health and reaching your goals.

It's great that you have done your research and found a supportive community to help you through this process. Remember to take things one day at a time, and don't hesitate to reach out for support from family, friends, and your bariatric team.

Be sure to follow your surgeon's pre-operative instructions carefully, and make sure to get plenty of rest and follow a balanced diet in the weeks leading up to your surgery. Taking care of yourself both physically and mentally will help ensure that you have the best outcome possible.

Good luck on your journey, and know that you are not alone in this. The support and encouragement from this community, as well as your bariatric team, will be with you every step of the way.

Thanks so much for your advice, @Alex Brecher. I can honestly say that my decision was helped in large part by the information in this forum and gave me the courage to take the plunge. Having heard from you and others only reinforces that this is the best decision I could make for me, my family and our future.

Thank you for providing a safe space for all of us to share our experiences, challenges and victories!

8 hours ago, NettyD said:

Good for you! I just started the process in January. When did you start the process?

Thank you @NettyD! I began the process in January as well. I had to wait until a new surgical benefit through my employer started on Jan. 1. Fortunately, i didn't have many requirements to meet for approval, so it has gone quickly.

I wish you well in your journey!

6 hours ago, bypass24jan2023 said:

Enjoy the next few weeks! Will all be worth it

Thank you @bypass24jan2023. I know these weeks will fly by. Trying to wrap my head around it, lol. Hope all is well with you!

7 hours ago, toodlerue said:

So happy for you! We will be here for you as you prepare & after the surgery too!

Thanks so much @toodlerue! I hope you're doing well. 😀

2 minutes ago, consuelo1957 said:

Im so readt to start my new journey and get my second chance in life

Sent from my SM-A516U using BariatricPal mobile app

Welcome to the forum! This is a great place for information and encouragement. You're right that it feels like a second chance at life - best of luck to you!

Just got my surgery date today - March 29th! It just got very real! I'm excited and slightly terrified. Lol. Overall, I feel ready after months of research and reading posts on this forum. I'm so grateful for the honesty, support and encouragement everyone here shares.

I have mixed emotions and almost can't believe that my life could actually change for good. I had honestly stopped feeling like I could ever hope to reach my goals after decades of failed attempts. I will be getting a gastric bypass due to longstanding GERD and hiatal hernia. So glad to know I have all of you to lean on. ❤️

Just got my surgery date today - March 29th! It just got very real! I'm excited and slightly terrified. Lol. Overall, I feel ready after months of research and reading posts on this forum. I'm so grateful for the honesty, support and encouragement everyone here shares. I have mixed emotions and almost can't believe that my life could actually change for good. I had honestly stopped feeling like I could ever hope to reach my goals after decades of failed attempts. Best of luck to all of you!

My bariatric center advises never to crush medications. It's best to check with your surgeon to find out what they advise in your situation. Best of luck!

On 1/12/2023 at 6:04 PM, The Greater Fool said:

The whole WLS experience is an experience in conditioning.

Our actual plans have sometimes vast differences yet no one seems to want to reconcile the differences. It seems the actual plan doesn't really matter but it's following a plan that seems to be the important element. We are learning a new way of eating, a healthier and sustainable way to eat and live. As a reward we consistently lose weight. What conditioning! We follow plan and lose weight.

The surgery helps us follow the plan the major part of which is not eating too much. In point of fact most people would lose weight for the first several months no matter what they eat. The surgery is doing the heavy lifting.

We all have read of people that eat what they want, pick and choose plan elements, and/or quickly return to their old habits, and yet early on they lose weight. Think of how they are being conditioned: Eat what you want and lose weight.

Eventually comes the point where the weight loss stops, or even reverses. It comes for us all. How have the two groups conditioned themselves?

Well, the group conditioned with following the plan continue to follow plan, perhaps tightening a little. It's the same thing they've been doing and continuing is just doing what you've been conditioned to do. This group continues doing well.

The second group that wasn't following a plan is stuck. Now they have to make a change to something they are unprepared for and unconditioned to do: They need to eat to plan. Except they have no positive conditioning related to plan. For these folks, they are back on the dieting circle. They are conditioned to eat what they want, so this is where their conditioning keeps wanting to take them. They are back between a rock and a hard place.

Eating to plan has more implications than simply losing weight fast. We are conditioning ourselves for long term success.

Sorry for the sermon, lecture, and longwindedness. Someone will be passing the contribution box.

Good luck,

Tek

Such a succinct explanation for this entire experience! This is oddly reassuring to me because I'm a rule follower who needs to trust in the process...I needed to hear that if I follow the plan, I won't fail. I have a consultation in one more week, so I'm trying to make sure my head is wrapped around the choice I'm making. Ha! Your explanation helps tremendously!

On 1/7/2023 at 12:20 AM, Smanky said:

100% the word "pouch". It's up there with "moist" for me.

I won't use it. "Smaller stomach" or just plain old "stomach" work fine for me, since I still actually have one despite it's reduced size.

Everything else I'm completely neutral on.

I thought I was the only one who cringes at the word "moist." 🤣