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I used Premier Protein shakes which have 30 grams of protein. Get it at costco. Was suppose to have 5-7 per day the most that I was able to drink was 4 in a day. I also got To rank Syrup sugar free to add for different flavored drinks. This should fill you up. The other part you need is to wrap your mind around what you are doing. This is for only 2 weeks on your journey to a new and improved self.

I was Banded on 4-16-08. I was in pain (the port site mostly) and needed 2 weeks to recover --go back to work. I too had the same struggle in my mind,before AND after I already did it. The key is to stick to the regime. If you go off it then all the things the liturature says will happen WILL. I often said to myself I should of just went on a diet one more time ...then reminded myself I was on phen phen redux meridia weight watchers hypnosis jenny craig and all the tv and on line diets slim fast need I go on. I have lost 20 lbs in 4 weeks and have begun to fell it is worth it .. when you put on something that did not fit you will fell differently...and as a nurse I can tell IT WILL AFFECT EVERYONE DIFFERENTLY!:thumbs_up:

Ok so every time I stall, doesn't usually last too long but about a week or so with no loss, all of my saggy, baggy "stuff" tightens up really nice. At the rate I'm going I don't think I'll need plastics. When my body's in losing mode my stomach gets all gross then I plateau and it firms all up again. Nice! Two months ago I thought for sure I would need some stomach work done but now I'm not so sure. Yay me!

You can't hate yourself thin. Continue working on getting a therapist. In the meantime, if there is a face to face support group you can attend, go to it. Start weighing yourself at the same time of day, once per day, or once per week. Log your food and your Water. Try to get 64 oz. of fluids a day in non-calorie drinks. To do so, set a schedule, such as 1 cup before Breakfast, another 2 cups before lunch, 3 cups before dinner and 2 cups after dinner. Clear the crap food out of your house. Give it away or throw it away, just get rid of it. Stock up on healthy food you enjoy. Measure and weigh your food before eating. Buy yourself something fun. If you don't have much money, then go to the dollar store and buy something there. Write some notes to yourself about why you deserve to be healthy and fit. put them where you will see them often. Post here in the Veterans Group. You are not alone. Lynda

Feb 22nd! 4 weeks and 4 days from now. Can't wait to lose this weight.

Technically I don't have to start my preop diet until the 2nd, but since my bmi is so high (68) I decided to start cutting down on my portion sizes this week, and uping my protein intake as well. It's hard cuz i am never full, but I am trying my best. I eat about 2,200-2500 caloires a day-all from healthy foods-which is good for me cuz i usually eat like seriously 5,000-9,000 calories a day! i eat lots of sugar free popsicles to help get me through the cravings, also coffee w/splenda helps me feel full, as does adding spinach leaves to all my meals to turn it into a salad of sorts. Next week I will be replacing one meal a day with protein shakes, and the next week 2 meals a day and so forth. This has got to be the hardest part of this journey!

I am right there with you! I am almost 3 weeks post op and I feel weepy at random times. Our hormones are going crazy right now with the rapid weight loss. When I am feeling down I like to look at clothes online and think about my spring wardrobe and all the cute clothes I will fit into! Hang in there!

Im 6 weeks post op and down 40 pounds exactly! I lost some before surgery as well. So I am down a total of 63 pounds! it feels great. None of my clothes fit me though lol. I had a lot of struggles in the beginning few weeks but im starting to feel a lot better now. thanks for everyones support. *Jess*

I have struggled with my weight for over 20 years, yoyoing away. I heard about this surgery in April of 2011 at a seminar. I found out my insurance didnt cover it so I tried to put it out of my mind and keep trying on my own. Then, in July, my husband got a new job with new insurance. I started looking to see if they covered it. They did and I scheduled to attend a seminar with a different surgeon the next day (a saturday). They talked about all the different wls options and I knew then and there the sleeve was definately for me. I found out there that Humana, my new insurance, doesnt cover the sleeve unless your bmi is over 50. I was devastated until a nice guy who was there starting talking to my hubby. He said listen, forget the insurance, just self pay. they have financing with no interest for 18 months. Thats what I did. We talked about it and decided we could do it. I scheduled an appointment with the surgeon there for Monday, two days later. I went to see him and we talked for an hour. He said I was a perfect candidate and he thought I was ready. I had to have a psych eval but everything else was a go. I already see a therapist and she wrote a letter for me that week. My surgery was scheduled for the following MOnday!!! I had seven days until my date and so my preop liquid diet started that day. There was no time to think about it. From Seminar to surgery was 9 days. I had my EKG and bloodwork done during that 7 days and I reported for surgery at 6am Monday, aug 8, 2011. That was seven months and 73 pounds ago. I had 100 pounds to lose. I was 234 and I am 5'4". I was wearing a size 18-20, mostly 20's and 1x tops. I am now wearing mostly 10's some 12's and medium tops. I dont regret it at all. I am glad it went fast so I didnt have time to dwell on it. I had no complications with the surgery, recovery went smooth. I did have a kidney stone a few weeks later but it wasnt related to the sleeve. I have a long family history of them and I was a little dehydrated after the surgery so it happened. I am just telling you that I think I am the fastest person to ever get sleeved from seminar to surgery. Its the best decision I ever made. I was emotional the night before with the usual anxiety but I knew I needed to do this for me. I knew I would love being able to eat my favorite things and this time be able to control how much of those things I ate. Now, I just eat a few bites and I am so full and satisfied. You will love your sleeve and you will be happy you didnt have to wait forever to get it. Embrace your good luck! You will do great!

I went to the surgeon yesterday afternoon and they had all my paperwork. The coordinator said that they are ready to submit to the insurance and i should know my date of surgery within 2 weeks. I was floored when she said this. I am so excited and nervous. I have a million things running through my head. i think that i keep expecting something to stand in my way, so far everything has been smooth. Im usually a person that has the worst luck In the meantime they want me to start the preop diet right away. ill start either sunday or monday. The dr said i will def have a date sometime in October! eek!

I am about 3 months pre-op for my sleeve. The nut said my meds need to be crushed for a few weeks post-op. All of my pressure meds websites say do not crush. Some of them are big. Any advice is appreciated.

Seela great observation. I am currently in my first stall now I don't feel so bad about it.

I'm at 268, which is just over 80 pounds down from surgery. I feel fantastic and I am dropping pants sizes right now. The scale hasn't moved in a couple of weeks, but I'm still working my plan: water, protein, exercise. It WILL happen.

Congratulations! If you haven't already I would buy a bunch of samples of protein powder. There is a good variety at www.nashuanutrition.com. I wouldn't get a huge tub because your tastes will probably change. Also for the first week I loved crystal light, hello, broth and other soups, bottled water-I am picky and hate our tap water- popsicles, and pudding. And I definitely agree with the poster that said to walk- it really does help!

Boy oh boy did I really need to hear from you. I'm telling you I swear I have been having feelings of regret since about postop day three I can't believe that we have such a similar story ! I definitely will keep in contact with you and I hope your journey gets easier too!

Hi Lisa - not too many people know what that means! That was my family nickname since I was a baby but yes, I got that such a shayna punim but....The reason I use it here is because there is a woman from Australia who calls herself Shayna Punim and so I wrote to her about it. She allowed me to use Toronto Shayna Punim. Now you need to add it as well! About the BMs - watch it. I ended up in emerg at Mt. Sinai with severe abdominal pain. They found that I was completely "backed up" and it took about a week using laxatives and fibre powder to get me back to normal. So I would suggest the powder in your liquids now. Benefibre is very good and stirs up in Water even without any taste at all. Also, The doc I saw there was a bit of a jerk because he was very disdainful of my band! Ignorance!!!

Hey Chav1, Listen girly, you could be my surgery clone. I had my sleeve done 7/16 and also had the swelling. It hurt each time I took a sip of Water. I had go back on iv's and stayed 5 full days in the hospital hooked up to them. When I left it literally took me an entire day to drink a bottle of water 16oz. I am two weeks out today and can only get down 2 bottles of water. I know others who were drinking their 64oz and going back to work a week later. I still hurt and my doctor gave me an additional week off. Trust me it gets better. Really I would say it has only been about 4 days that I have felt somewhat human. I cannot even keep a multi Vitamin down but am able to eat soft foods. I have even lost 19 pounds. Still hoping to soon feel completely back to normal. Best of luck and hang in there. I didn't expect it to be this hard either.

Well, today I went in to get my IVC filter removed (it was placed a week prior to my surgery) and they found a gigantic blood clot "hanging on" to the IVC filter. Sooooooo...yikes. I'm back home and tomorrow I go in to see my surgeon. I guess we'll discuss what to do at that time. I've never had a blood clot so I'm not sure what the next steps will be. I do know that they scared the crap out of me when I asked if I could still do my walking (I was referring to my nightly "exercise" walk) and they told me that it "should" be okay for me to walk to the bathroom, but to try to avoid bending over because the clot could dislodge. *gulp* Yesterday I was zipping around like normal. I guess I'm happy I have the filter because it at least prevented the blood clot from heading to my heart or lungs. So...fingers crossed. I'm self-pay and this is going to cost me a fortune, but I'm still kicking.

Hey that's great I have three more days until surgery. The pre-op has been good and not looking forward to one day clear liquids(fearing dizziness, fatigue) but I can do this!! Hang in there it will be here before you know it. I booked surgery just three weeks in advance. I don't think that I could of handled a longer wait.

My surgeon told me half a cup three meals a day. However, even with good restriction, I find I need a very small snack twice a day. My calorie goal is 1300 which is perfectly achievable. I exercise daily and have lost 108lb. good luck.

I have exactly 4 weeks left to surgery and 2 weeks to start full liquids! WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!:roll: :high5: :bounce: :whoo:

That's what I was thinking too. Thank you for the input. Isn't the first year the most vital to weight loss for the sleeve? Obviously pregnancy is going to stall that weight loss. I'm trying to figure out if it will effect my long term weight loss goals. Hmmm.

Eating too much to quickly could be the culprit too. Slow down and listen to the signs your new tummy is giving you. You may find out that it's telling you that you are already full. One mouthful too much brings these symptoms on for me. I am 11 weeks out

Differs from surgeon to surgeon, you should follow your surgeons plan. For example; @liveaboard15 shares he was on soft foods, but at 14 days I was JUST starting pureed foods. My plan was 2 weeks liquids, 2 weeks pureed, 2 weeks soft foods and then gradually back to a normal healthy diet. I have seen so many different alternatives though, I know someone who had sleeve and was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks!! Talk about harsh.