& i don't feel too well now, to top it off I had it with a tea. It was a sponge type so not to heavy. Or at least that's what I thought its just so hard having big family gatherings and a table full of yummy food and dessert, and not having anything!!! I am just always failing with this post op liquid stage. What else can I have apart from soup, actually I think I'm failing in that too because the soup I have is like a thicker purée type. Not like a broth. I had a small bowl of ice cream too, earlier on the day. Am I going to get a leak or damage my sleeve?? Please any advice?

Hi my name is Kelly, and I am a food addict...

I might have a bite of cake on my birthday in October - but I might just have a popsicle instead I think Catracks brings up a really good point - what would your surgeon say? I think I will keep the idea of that humiliation in mind when I am tempted by something I know that is not part of my losing plan.

This board is for support, the truth is most of use ARE ADDICTED TO FOOD - that is why we needed the procedure. The simple truth is that we need to follow our doctors and nutritionists guidelines for this whole deal to work - see we have to do the work - I am going to have to do this work today, tomorrow, 5, 10, 20 years from now if I want to achieve and maintain my goal of a healthy weight - I can try to lie to myself that "this little bite of pastry wont matter" - I might as well be putting a needle in my arm. I've been lieing to myself for years.

Wake up. Be mindful, Take care of yourself.

Find ways to comfort yourself that do not involve food. Our entire society, no matter the culture revolves around eating too much - we are inundated with these messages everywhere we turn.

Be a warrior - for yourself.

I worry about this myself. I hope to be sleeved next month and know that I'm going to need extra help. None of us get to morbidly obese without having issues with food. The management company for my office building bakes Cookies every afternoon. Even though I know I need to cut out carbs and sugars, I'll still have at least one cookie nearly every day. The smell gets to me and I cave. So I'm already lining up a counselor to deal with my food issues. I'm not about to go through major surgery and fail because I can't control myself.

Good luck, OP. Don't beat yourself up too much but resolve to not give in again. Your life really may depend on it.

Kczar, and anyone else who has yet to have surgery - be very careful to stick to your pre-op liver shrinking diet. My surgeon is firm in that if he goes in and sees a liver that has not shrunk with high Protein, low carb/sugar eating he will either cancel surgery or convert to an open sugery (yikes!)

The doctors also said that if you have higher sugars at the time of surgery you heal extremely poorly - she compared it to trying to stitch wet toilet paper together - the tissues are spongier and there is a much higher change of infection as well.

The key to kicking sugar is to not eat it. I think most folks go through the carb sickness if really addicted. It sucks that first week, but it gets easier. Pre-surgery I quit a 28 year 2 pack a day smoking habit, gave up processed carbs (for the most part), sugar, and a 3 pot a day coffee addiction - did it suck - oh indeed it did.

Life is going to be a thousand times easier after surgery if you stop eating it now, trust me. Plus you feel a lot better

Kczar' date=' and anyone else who has yet to have surgery - be very careful to stick to your pre-op liver shrinking diet. My surgeon is firm in that if he goes in and sees a liver that has not shrunk with high Protein, low carb/sugar eating he will either cancel surgery or convert to an open sugery (yikes!)

The doctors also said that if you have higher sugars at the time of surgery you heal extremely poorly - she compared it to trying to stitch wet toilet paper together - the tissues are spongier and there is a much higher change of infection as well.

The key to kicking sugar is to not eat it. I think most folks go through the carb sickness if really addicted. It sucks that first week, but it gets easier. Pre-surgery I quit a 28 year 2 pack a day smoking habit, gave up processed carbs (for the most part), sugar, and a 3 pot a day coffee addiction - did it suck - oh indeed it did.

Life is going to be a thousand times easier after surgery if you stop eating it now, trust me. Plus you feel a lot better [/quote']

Not every doctor puts patients on a pre-op diet. When I asked my doctor about it, he rolled his eyes - and he's at a practice noted as a "Bariatric Center of Excellence." Just as it seems every practice has a different post-op diet, they have different or nonexistent pre-op diets as well.

This is true - when my surgeon came in to the final meeting prior to my groups surgery and explained why the need to the liver shrinking diet, about how easy it is to nick it, how what he needs to get at is directly below it - (that incision high on the chest at bra line is for the liver retractor, which is slimmer than a pencil).

If your surgeon rolls his eyes and says there is no need - and he was my doc I would follow his orders. My surgeon emphatically told us how important it was that we follow the instructions for a successful procedure. Indeed every doctor is different, just as everyone's experience varies as well.

Mishy, I think that sometimes people should come off the liquid diet sooner than recommended. I'm not saying you should do this, but maybe talk to your doctor. I very slowly went into purees after 9 days on liquids, because I felt starving and sick all the time on liquids. When I added in small amounts of purees I felt so much better and started going 3 hours without feeling the need to eat. Everyone does heal differently, and I think we need to listen to our bodies. I remember craving so much during the liquid phase, but as I advanced through the diet the cravings have lessened because I am more satisfied with what I eat! Having some very thin mashed potatoes at 8 days out will surely be better for you (if your doctor approves) than cake and ice cream and will leave you feeling satisfied, not scared and guilty!

This is true - when my surgeon came in to the final meeting prior to my groups surgery and explained why the need to the liver shrinking diet' date=' about how easy it is to nick it, how what he needs to get at is directly below it - (that incision high on the chest at bra line is for the liver retractor, which is slimmer than a pencil).[/quote']

And the tools they use are different, too. There are different sizes of laparoscopic tools.

life is a journey, not a destination; so, stop running -H.D. THEROUX

No need to make someone who struggles feel even more ashamed than they already are. Its one think to give advice and another to judge. just because it was so easy for you to follow doesn't mean it is for everyone else. I was eating things I shouldn't on my liquid diet and I don't feel guilty. Your body will tell you what you need to know when you eat something you're not suppose to and you will go through the discomforts and learn what you can and cannot eat. I recommend staying with your diet and not cheat but I bet we are not the only ones who have cheated. Not many people will admit when they have cheated. But reading some of theses responses tick me off cuz it always turns in to omg I can't believe you would risk your life or omg you need counseling. Just cuz you had the sleeve does not make you an expert! Just sayin!

Yes yes yes..... Love your quote!

**READY 4 A CHANGE**

I also felt the need to chew something. And I was only a week out from surgery and I ate 1/2 a biscuit. Yes, I know it was wrong. Yes, it hurt like Hell. And no - I won't do that again for a very long time. I did not do any permanent damage but it did scare me enough to put me back on the straight and narrow. I just keep reminding myself that I have been heavy almost my entire life and I must re-teach myself how to be healthy. I have 2 little ones at home who depend on me and I want to see them grow up, graduate, get married (if that is what they choose), and whatever else their lives hold for them. So listen to your body and I promise, it does get a little easier. I am 4 weeks post-op today and have 2 more weeks left of my soft/full liquid diet. I have just filled the time I used to spend eating with walking, or research and my work, which I love. It also helps to have someone to turn to when you get these urges. Your support team is super important. My doctors office nurses all gave me their cell phone numbers that I can use if needed and that has done wonders to relax my fears.

I wish you the best and hope your cravings get easier. Good luck!

I am kinda shocked that people would reply to someone's admission of failure with curse words and attitude. I'm sure that being cursed at and berated has helped no one lose weight. I for one don't come to this board for all sunshine and sparkles. We all need tough love occasionally but there is a time, a place, and an appropriate manner. There is only one thing that bothers me more than a thin person reacting so harshly and that's a former fat person reacting in such a way. SMH

To the OP good luck, search deep inside and outside of yourself for the help that you need to get where we are all trying to go and trying to stay. None of us are better than you.

No need to make someone who struggles feel even more ashamed than they already are. Its one think to give advice and another to judge. just because it was so easy for you to follow doesn't mean it is for everyone else. I was eating things I shouldn't on my liquid diet and I don't feel guilty. Your body will tell you what you need to know when you eat something you're not suppose to and you will go through the discomforts and learn what you can and cannot eat. I recommend staying with your diet and not cheat but I bet we are not the only ones who have cheated. Not many people will admit when they have cheated. But reading some of theses responses tick me off cuz it always turns in to omg I can't believe you would risk your life or omg you need counseling. Just cuz you had the sleeve does not make you an expert! Just sayin!

I'm not an expert at being sleeved but since I'm 1 in a thousand for a leak,,I kinda consider myself an expert in that area. Even though my leak was not due to overeating or eating the wrong thing..it CAN happen and I for one don't want to see any of you have any complications. I don't think anyone is trying to judge, I just think some of those who have been sleeved for a while feel obligated to tell the OP how important it is to try and stay on track and where so many are coming out and saying "they ate cake" or whatever..it's like OMG,,don't do that! We get scared for that person and it would make anyone more passionate about stressing an opinion. And there is nothing wrong with suggesting counselling,,I think if we are all food addicts it doesn't hurt to have a little therapy. These forums are for helping one another,,I've seen much harsher comments in other posts. I think some people try to keep it real.... I, on the other hand am a mother hubbard and always try to give advice in a nurturing way with pats on the back...though my way may not always be right.

@niahri, I've read this thread and I really don't recall anyone cursing at all. Tough words? Yes. But not really berating. When you're in such a delicate state with a stomach that's just been cut up and stitched back together, bad food choices can definitely kill or injure you. It's extremely serious. And unfortunately, the OP didn't have to go through the usual insurance requirements so it sounds like she didn't get a lot of good information beforehand so she could transition into a successful post-op program. As soon as she shared that, posters gave her a lot of great information and encouragement.

It's kind of like an intervention. Yes, you need compassion. But you also need to hear the truth. It doesn't sound like the OP took offense, so it shouldn't matter to anyone else.

@niahri, I've read this thread and I really don't recall anyone cursing at all. Tough words? Yes. But not really berating. When you're in such a delicate state with a stomach that's just been cut up and stitched back together, bad food choices can definitely kill or injure you. It's extremely serious. And unfortunately, the OP didn't have to go through the usual insurance requirements so it sounds like she didn't get a lot of good information beforehand so she could transition into a successful post-op program. As soon as she shared that, posters gave her a lot of great information and encouragement.

It's kind of like an intervention. Yes, you need compassion. But you also need to hear the truth. It doesn't sound like the OP took offense, so it shouldn't matter to anyone else.

"I really don't recall anyone cursing at all" I think she's referring to msdw59 Who seems to be very experienced and knowledgeable..btw.

@niahri' date=' I've read this thread and I really don't recall anyone cursing at all. Tough words? Yes. But not really berating. When you're in such a delicate state with a stomach that's just been cut up and stitched back together, bad food choices can definitely kill or injure you. It's extremely serious. And unfortunately, the OP didn't have to go through the usual insurance requirements so it sounds like she didn't get a lot of good information beforehand so she could transition into a successful post-op program. As soon as she shared that, posters gave her a lot of great information and encouragement.

It's kind of like an intervention. Yes, you need compassion. But you also need to hear the truth. It doesn't sound like the OP took offense, so it shouldn't matter to anyone else.[/quote']

I definitely saw curse words. Also, I am definitely for interventions but even in an intervention with a licensed medical provider giving advice I discourage the use of curse words. If it's friends and family great curse away. And, it's great if the OP didn't take offense to some of the things shared. We all have to have thick skin to survive years of being over weight and the occasional abuse it sometimes brings. I didn't take offense, just stated my opinion like everyone else did on this post. It's all for growth! Happy growing!

Please remember to use proper language on this topic . According to the forum rules,inappropriate language is not permitted on this forum. Thanks.