Bypass2Freedom

Hey all, I had my dietician appointment last week, and I am due to have my pre-op assessment this week. Bit of a long one, apologies! Full disclosure - I have ADHD and I am also suspected Dyslexic, and both of these things are making it really hard to plan and to work with numbers etc. We went through all the info of the Liver Reduction Diet (LRD) - I am starting that on the 1st May, for 2 weeks. I've been given 800 calories a day max - already made a small blunder when ordering stuff from New You Plan https://www.thenewyouplan.com/ - I ordered x14 shakes, x14 soups, x14 meals & x14 snack bars. I added up what a typical day's calories would look like with these, and it only comes to about 555 calories - so I had to order some SlimFast meal replacement powder to buff it up for another 222-odd calories. 😰 I don't know why that stressed me out so much, but because my dietician gave me a meal plan template of only 4 items, I got it stuck in my head that I couldn't add an extra shake on top of that, rather than just thinking I am allowed 800 calories per day. I also got through the guidance for the vitamins and the food stages and god...with my neurodiverse brain it is just SO much to take in and try and organise. I am anxious about ordering the right vitamins, and then making sure I am eating the right things - my instinct is always to prep, prep, prep, but I think maybe that will be running before I can walk. Any advise at this stage? 💜

@NovelTee Of course It is definitely interesting to see how other people's Drs advise! I'll admit, it is a bit of strange one that you are on the liquid stage for 3 weeks, but then again they may just be over-cautious! Either way, I am sure they have their reasons haha. It seems like they are keeping up good communication though, which is always a plus I was looking to maybe try protein water for to hit those protein goals during my liquid phase...but we shall see! Thank you so much! How are you recovering?

Heya! I think every Dr/Surgeon must do things with a slight variation, but it is always best to follow the advice given by your own Dr/healthcare team - it is often tailored to you e.g., in terms of weight, health conditions etc. I had my dietician appointment today and we went through when I am starting the LRD, which will be for 2 weeks, and then went through the different food stages which for me are: Week 1 - Liquid Week 2 - Puree/slush Week 3 - Mush (thick/lumpy foods) Week 4 - Soft foods Week 5 - 'Normal' foods

Hey @jparadigm, I wanted to say I am sorry to hear that you are struggling. I do think however that these feelings are entirely normal, and from reading others who have posted in these forums, a lot of people do go through this. Dealing with our relationship with food is one of the hardest things to do, but as you know, is a key part of working with the tool of surgery. I think your idea of maybe seeking some help from a therapist/counsellor would be a good idea. I am pre-surgery, but I have therapy every week and my main focus at the moment is around my relationship to food. I would say however, try not to beat yourself up too much, as this can do the opposite and not motivate you at all. You're still healing, and that takes a toll on you mentally and physically. This is all new for you. Maybe start a journal and when you are feeling those cravings, write down what it is you want, and how you are feeling in that moment - try and pinpoint exactly what feeling is driving those cravings, sit with it, be interested in it. Hopefully that may start to give you that time to acknowledge how you are feeling before any incidents of deviating from your current food plan. Then think maybe about something else you can do that will give you that hit of dopamine! Either way, speaking to someone about how you are feeling and seeking to address your relationship with food will be key, and you have already taken that first step in admitting how you feel here and seeking help. Be kind to yourself x

As my surgery date creeps closer I am definitely feeling that anxiety of the surgery itself - I think it is the fear of the unknown and is entirely normal! One thing my psychologist said to me when I was speaking about these nerves, is that not only is the surgery itself quite safe and routine, but that there is more risk in staying obese and the long-term health implications of that, so I have to kind of self-soothe with this thought every time I feel myself slipping into anxious ways of thinking! Good luck with your surgery tomorrow, I hope it goes well for you. Looking forward to reading more

LRD is the liver reduction diet that most people are required to go on before surgery

Thank you!

After reading everyone's comments I have decided not to go too mad with it haha. I will be mildly restrained! I think the LRD is going to be helpful in weaning me off of sugar and other things that I tend to binge on, so I am just preparing for that!

I shall make sure to report back on my opinions of the pureed stage when I get there haha! I am definitely hearing that a lot of people have buyer's remorse initially! It is a big thing to go through! Thank you for sharing your experiences

I know I have been active on here for a while now, and probably made far too many posts for someone who hasn't even had surgery yet, but today I put down my deposit payment for my gastric bypass surgery with Spire Gatwick in the UK, for the 14/05/24. It officially feels real! Until now, I had so many anxieties as to whether or not it would happen in case I couldn't find the money, or get approved for a loan etc, so it just feels like so much relief now that it is all finalised and I know it is gonna happen. I have my 1st dietetic consultation & my pre-op assessment on 05/04/24, and then my 2nd lot of pre-op bloods on 13/05/24. I am trying to log it all in my bariatric surgery journal which I am finding really useful! I guess I just wanted to post to just express how happy I feel right now, to people who I know will understand ❤️

Magic! 😂

Thank you for sending this over! It actually looks really good!

This is such a useful reply thank you so much! Amazing that you have been with Spire and have had such a good experience, it is really nice to hear. So far my experience with them has been really good, so I am expecting greatness haha. I am curious to see what they will recommend for my LRD - I am not looking forward to it 🤣 Weird question here, but what are their hospital gowns like? I shall remember some lip balm! Puree sounds awful I can't lie! I also feel weird about broth or bovril and how they will taste...I need to trial. I have the coil and my surgeon said that is all good, so there will be no break (or risk) of pregnancy as I don't need that in my life right now! I have PCOS too so I am also intrigued to see how that may help it. Thank you so much for all of your advice x

@ShoppGirl Thank you for your reply I have therapy every week, but was going to start looking for more weight-related therapists in my area as I am extremely worried about coping with the emotional eating. I am sorry to hear about the struggles you have had, and I hope it all works out for you. Pureed food sounds like the worst stage! I, like you, feel that pureeing 'normal' foods probably is gross haha! Hospital bag is actually one of the things I do need to think about! I shall add those to my list, thank you

You look so happy - well done! So so happy for you ❤️

I am honestly probably one of the most impatient people ever haha - I had my first consultation with my surgeon in early Dec 2023 and decided to provisionally book it in then, with no money exchanged, and I have been obsessing with it ever since! I really do hope the time goes quick as you say!

I feel like I have asked so much, yet I still have things I want to know! Like: what kind of equipment did people order beforehand e.g. scales, blender etc Also, I have heard that women struggle in particular when it comes to the hormonal changes immediately post-surgery - how to prepare for that? It is daunting to think about how to deal with food cravings when I am an emotional eater, and I will need to find a different outlet! Thank you so much!

I genuinely think that you sometimes just have to be selfish and do what you need to do for yourself. This is still your weight loss journey, and you know what is right for you. Sounds like you do have support around you (even with the reservations), and you are a strong person! As it seems like you already have, just make sure you are informed with your decision, look at the pros and cons - maybe write out a physical list so you can visualise it? Either way, I really wish you the best of luck ❤️

Thank you!!

Hello and welcome! I don't even know if I am considered a young adult at 27, but I feel it sometimes! I will probably just echo what others have said - your reasons are your own, you don't have to feel that you need to share these with everyone. You are making the right choice for yourself. I am also pre-surgery so if you need to talk at all please feel free! This place has been amazing for me so far!

I think I will definitely have some tunnel vision when I have paid for my surgery (I plan to do that next week) as then it will feel extra real and I will need to get into my game face haha. It is interesting to see your perspective of it all, I completely get the whole wanting to prove it to yourself bit - I feel that the challenge is always there when it comes to wanting to prove it to ourselves that we are capable! I think I am just saying goodbye to my fave foods for now, temporarily, and definitely in the quantity I have been eating them! Then when I get to eat them again, I will hopefully have more control! Thank you for sharing your experience! ❤️

Oh really! That is so interesting to see the differences!

There are so many Fish & Chip shops here but that sometimes makes it hard to find somewhere that is decent! Nothing worse than a soggy chip 🤣 I bet that there is omggg

Oh my god @newbegining2024 all of that looks so good! I am sooo jealous just looking at all of that. I feel that the UK really doesn't have this amount of good food!!

Oooo I would definitely break protocol for B&J haha! I didn't even know they could do tours and that has got me thinking...