Thanks to all you great "Sleevers". I visited Dr. Alvarez Monday and confirmed my Sleeve date for February 1st. The thing I dread most is he requires me to be on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. I understand why, but for a food addict I think it is going to be tough.

Anyone have any suggestions what a food addict can do to make it through.

:001_tt1: :crying: :001_smile:

Congratulations on your date! Not a whole lot of advice here except to find things that keep you motivated. I found looking at before/after weight loss pictures really helped me stay on track (it didn't matter if they were sleeved people, rny, lapband, ds, or just plain dieters), but I didn't have to do liquid, I did low carb. Also know that the pre-op diet is the hardest part of most people's journey, so when it's over, it should be pretty smooth sailing.

Good luck! And come on here to get all the support you need.

Dr. Halmi will be performing my vertical sleeve on February 1st as well. I got a phone call today, to start my pre-op diet on Monday rather than on the 17th, so I am also doing pre-op for 3 weeks too

As advice goes, I told to power through it the end results are well worth it.

Good Luck

loser and gaffromva - we'll all be starting our pre-op next week...We can do it!!!! It will be great!!! We're on our way to dropping weight - we we'll keep each other motivated.....Let's get ready!!!!

DeeDee, thank you..

Congrats to Bambi and gafromva!!!

Soon we will be on the other side of the river with a new beginning. I have been thinking, this will be the first time in my life to diet knowing I will definately not gain the weight back. I find that pretty motivating and exciting. Plus I have never had surgery and know it will go better if I adhere to the diet..... :>)

Hey there, and welcome to VST. Congrats on getting your date.

I think the one thing that may help with the pre-op diet is to pick up another hobby, or distraction. Anything that will keep your mind, and hands occupied. . .

Hey Tiffkins and thank you... That is probably a good idea. My major weight gain started when I quit smoking, so I can't go back to that. Might try a quick home improvement project.

That would work great. . . I picked smoking back up after my revision. I'm back in the process of quitting. BLAH.

I have a April 1st scheduled date with Dr. Alverez and was wondering if you have visited his facility and confirm my choice of surgeon? I have alot of family that is concerned about me having my surgery in Mexico and I would love to have some information that I could share with them. BTW how is the liquid diet going? Your date is rapidly approaching

Thanks to all you great "Sleevers". I visited Dr. Alvarez Monday and confirmed my Sleeve date for February 1st. The thing I dread most is he requires me to be on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. I understand why, but for a food addict I think it is going to be tough.

Anyone have any suggestions what a food addict can do to make it through.

:biggrin0: :lol0: :blushing:

Do the best you can. . . that is the best i can tell you . . . we can tell you this and that, but just do what you can without going absolutely nutty. . . good luck~ and congratulations on your sleeve date!

Thank you ThinOneDay!

Katldy, Congrats on getting your date with Dr. Alvarez. Yes I did go to Piedros Neigras to meet him and visit the facility prior to giving my down payment. After meeting Dr. Alvarez and touring the facility I am very comfortable with having him do my surgery. All that others have said about him appears to be true. The hospital is older, but looked clean to me. If anything is not, I will make a point to post it on this board so you will know. The 3 week strict diet he put me on is very hard. This being the last week I plan to be a little tighter on it, not going over about 800 cal/day, and keep carbs to less than 80. I will PM you my phone number if you want it, and you can call me on the 2nd if you like. I don't plan on taking my laptop to Mexico, and don't want to access my email on a public computer. The only concerns I have had about Dr. Alvarez is he doesn't use much pain medication. When I questioned this, he said most of his patients don't ask for anything more, but if they feel they need it he would give it to them. He said on the second day it should feel about like the day after giving your abs a good workout, and be feeling the burn and sore.... Other patients of his have said pretty much the same thing,,, we will see.. I am a wimp to pain, never had an operation in my life, so this will be totally new to me.

Hey Loser!

So our sleeve date is almost here! Sounds like you're doing great on your pre-op diet! I start my "week-o-hell" tomorrow morning. Today was my last day of food-sin. I ate whatever the heck I wanted. It wasn't much, but those tater-tots were tasty. At any rate, I have been thinking about you, and will keep you in my thoughts as our shared sleeve date gets closer. I'm heading down to MX on Sunday, Jan 31, and surgery Feb 1. Do you know if you'll have a phone that works down with you? If so, perhaps I can give you a call and check in?

Anyways, here's to being sleeve-twins! We're both going to do great, and I'll see you on the sleeved side, brother! :smile: :thumbup1: :biggrin0:

TATOR TOTS,,, that sounds heavenly.. LOL.. I sure do miss those..

What does your diet consist of? I notice some get to eat a small amount of veggies, that would be nice as well. I did cheat this weekend and ate 3 asparagas spears that were steamed.. I think it figured about 1 calorie. I was allowed 98%fat free cream soup, but found Campbells chicken noodle has .5 calories less and the same amount of carbs as the cream of mushroom soup. I have had a couple cans of that last week. I don't think that is cheating since the cals and carbs are in line with what he recommended.. may be wrong.. This week I am going to be very strict. I have lost 18lbs, 14lbs I think it was the first week. Not sure what happened after that.

I am ready to be sliced and diced and get on the sleeved side of life.

I am sure you will do well on your preop diet, if you find yourself craving "real" food, try and get your mind on something else, like go for a walk and fantasize about what it is going to be like to be thinner.. The visualization has helped me I think.. I also have brushed my teeth when I start craving, worked out, taken dogs for a walk, sand and refinished a door.. lol..

Thank you ThinOneDay!

Katldy, Congrats on getting your date with Dr. Alvarez. Yes I did go to Piedros Neigras to meet him and visit the facility prior to giving my down payment. After meeting Dr. Alvarez and touring the facility I am very comfortable with having him do my surgery. All that others have said about him appears to be true. The hospital is older, but looked clean to me. If anything is not, I will make a point to post it on this board so you will know. The 3 week strict diet he put me on is very hard. This being the last week I plan to be a little tighter on it, not going over about 800 cal/day, and keep carbs to less than 80. I will PM you my phone number if you want it, and you can call me on the 2nd if you like. I don't plan on taking my laptop to Mexico, and don't want to access my email on a public computer. The only concerns I have had about Dr. Alvarez is he doesn't use much pain medication. When I questioned this, he said most of his patients don't ask for anything more, but if they feel they need it he would give it to them. He said on the second day it should feel about like the day after giving your abs a good workout, and be feeling the burn and sore.... Other patients of his have said pretty much the same thing,,, we will see.. I am a wimp to pain, never had an operation in my life, so this will be totally new to me.

Loser I am a wimp to pain also and am less likely to get up and walk when I'm in pain. Dr. Aceves gave us Superdol for pain if we felt we needed it, desolves under your tongue, they are non-narcotic. If someone is going with you they could pick some up at the Phamacia. In Mecicali there was several very near the hospital. Good luck on your up coming surgery.

TATOR TOTS,,, that sounds heavenly.. LOL.. I sure do miss those..

What does your diet consist of? I notice some get to eat a small amount of veggies, that would be nice as well. I did cheat this weekend and ate 3 asparagas spears that were steamed.. I think it figured about 1 calorie. I was allowed 98%fat free cream soup, but found Campbells chicken noodle has .5 calories less and the same amount of carbs as the cream of mushroom soup. I have had a couple cans of that last week. I don't think that is cheating since the cals and carbs are in line with what he recommended.. may be wrong.. This week I am going to be very strict. I have lost 18lbs, 14lbs I think it was the first week. Not sure what happened after that.

I am ready to be sliced and diced and get on the sleeved side of life.

I am sure you will do well on your preop diet, if you find yourself craving "real" food, try and get your mind on something else, like go for a walk and fantasize about what it is going to be like to be thinner.. The visualization has helped me I think.. I also have brushed my teeth when I start craving, worked out, taken dogs for a walk, sand and refinished a door.. lol..

Hi Loser... I was told to eat high protein, low fat, low carb. As much as I want, but LOW or no carbs. So, it's not like what you're doing, and I'm sorry you're stuck doing such a strict diet. My BMI is below 40, but barely... and the doc just wanted to be as safe as possible. Even though I know I can "eat" I am still having mental anguish over this stuff... I know, what a wimp I am! I'm buckling down hard-core tomorrow through the weekend. I must say, my current approach is to try to sleep as much as possible this week... can't eat when I'm sleepin! :001_tongue:

Anyways, here's to both of us makin it through this week! We can do it, buddy!! :confused1::biggrin0:

My date with Dr. Alvarez is April 9th. I only live about 200 miles away and wish I would have gone for a visit. Even though I didn't visit, I am very comfortable with my decision to use Dr. Alvarez for my procedure. I have spent many hours researching and look forward to meeting Dr. Alvarez.