Yea!!!!!! It feels like progress, I have made it through the 6 months of mandatory classes, psych eval etc.......before i could see the surgeon. He said I am a candidate for the sleeve.

I need my labs, chest xray, ekg and ultrasound. All of these have to be done through my pcp. I have an appointment with him friday, The surgeon said maybe 6 weeks, or beginning of Nov. I told him I have to have surgery in Oct because of my work schedule. He said maybe end of OCT depends on how quickly I can get everything else done so they can submit to insurance and then wait..

The biggie, I can gain no weight before surgery. I know that should not be an issue, but every since I started this process, with the classes 6 months ago, I have had tons of stress at work, life etc...and I have gained 25 lbs. It seems like every week I gain a pound or two, lose it the next week and then regain it. MY body is playing tricks on me, it does not handle stress well and I am an emotional eater.This concept is new to me as I just always thought I was overweight because I loved food. I am so worried that I or my body will sabotage the process, especially since when I started this process I was convinced I would not have surgery, now after learning all about it I am convinced this is the tool I need to finally be successful.

So please wish me strength, as today I start watching my carbs, eating Protein and exercising..........I have not come this far to blow it.......

You can do it! You want this- so put your mind to it, and commit above all else )

Luckily you don't have to do a diet and lose weight. I know that you have the strength- you will be successful.

Saying a prayer for you LadiJ.

You have no choice but to let go of the emotional eating now. You went through six months of mandatory classes, did he give you a guideline to follow during that time?

If I was you I would work on charting your food, sign up for myfitnesspal.com if you haven't, start having a Protein Shake (gnc sells them, Target, walmart) make sure they 100% whey Protein, eat your protein first, get rid of the carbs now.

If you wait until you are to the pre-op shake (if you have to do this) you will have a hard time because you are probably on carb overload right now. It's time now to wean from the carbs, wean from the caffeine, wean from the carbonation.

Waiting until surgery to work on your issues, is not beneficial because you will have a new host of challenges and the emotional eating is something you need to work on now.

Starting a walking regemine now to release your stress.

On my fitness pal try getting your calories down to 800-900 - get 80 grams of protein and lower your carbs between 30-70 and you should be able to lose 10 BEFORE surgery. Drink your 64 ounces of Water and try to get 1/2 hour exercise a day.

I followed this plan during the 6 months pre-approval phase and lost 10 pounds each month and then lost 10 pounds during the 2 week shake pre-op.

During the psych eval they should have gone over the issues you have with emotional eating. If you think you are still having issues maybe you can get into someone and speak with them about those issues.

Having the surgery brings a host of new things and if you can start working on these things prior to surgery it will definitely help. Imagine the stress if you gain weight and the doctor then denies you.

I promise you, if you work on this stuff now and for those that are just reading, if you are just starting out, use the six months wisely because in the end it's definitely worth it!

Best of luck to you. If you need any support or help with myfitnesspal.com or meal ideas, please don't hesitate to ask.

I hear you on the worries about gaining while waiting. I have 10 pounds to go until I am approved for surgery, which won't be hard to achieve, but in order for me to have my desired surgery date (June), I have to maintain that weight loss until then. I am also an emotional eater, so I'm worried.

I had to lose 10 lbs for my PCP before he would give me a referral. I'm hypothyroid so it is especially hard for me to loose weight but I did it by eating 1/4 cup oatmeal in the morning and 1 cup of chicken broth in the afternoon. I also drank water, lots of water. It helped to keep my hunger pangs in check.

I'm still worried I'll gain weight and be denied. I was denied once before. I also smoke so I'm looking at quitting along with everything else. Smoking has helped keep my weight in check so I'm not quitting until the last minute.

You have no choice but to let go of the emotional eating now. You went through six months of mandatory classes, did he give you a guideline to follow during that time?

If I was you I would work on charting your food, sign up for myfitnesspal.com if you haven't, start having a Protein shake (gnc sells them, Target, walmart) make sure they 100% Whey Protein, eat your protein first, get rid of the carbs now.

If you wait until you are to the pre-op shake (if you have to do this) you will have a hard time because you are probably on carb overload right now. It's time now to wean from the carbs, wean from the caffeine, wean from the carbonation.

Waiting until surgery to work on your issues, is not beneficial because you will have a new host of challenges and the emotional eating is something you need to work on now.

Starting a walking regemine now to release your stress.

On my fitness pal try getting your calories down to 800-900 - get 80 grams of protein and lower your carbs between 30-70 and you should be able to lose 10 BEFORE surgery. Drink your 64 ounces of Water and try to get 1/2 hour exercise a day.

I followed this plan during the 6 months pre-approval phase and lost 10 pounds each month and then lost 10 pounds during the 2 week shake pre-op.

During the psych eval they should have gone over the issues you have with emotional eating. If you think you are still having issues maybe you can get into someone and speak with them about those issues.

Having the surgery brings a host of new things and if you can start working on these things prior to surgery it will definitely help. Imagine the stress if you gain weight and the doctor then denies you.

I promise you, if you work on this stuff now and for those that are just reading, if you are just starting out, use the six months wisely because in the end it's definitely worth it!

Best of luck to you. If you need any support or help with myfitnesspal.com or meal ideas, please don't hesitate to ask.

I agree with starting the pre-op diet NOW. I'm 2 months from my surgery date but I am mostly having 2 Protein Shakes a day and dinner ( Lean Cuisine, chicken breats & Veggie, etc) I stay around 1000-1200 calories a day and have barely lost a couple pounds in 1 month. I've been staying on about 1200-1400 calories a day for the last year and kept gaining a pound here a pound there. I do not want to take any chances --- I don't want my insurance company to deny me because I gained weight. Start now!!

thanks for the support and advice all! I started today, I am tracking my food, goal is 1000 calories a day, less than 70 grams of carbs and no junk food. Soda is not an issue. I switched my green tea to decaf, I am giving up my night time coffee (I usually drink 20 oz in am and 20 oz in the eve) going to wait a week and then start weaning myself off the morning coffee..sheesh I have drank that for over 30 years..i am sure just switching the tea and giving up the night time fix is going to mean headaches for a few days...i am so glad I already stopped smoking a few

years ago.

I can do this, I must do this, I will do this!

Look here you can do it!!!!!! Lord know it was'nt easy but focus on what is important to you when your stressing pray and ask The Lord to help you through it.

well I made it through day one..ate more calories than I wanted, 1400 and too high in fat grams but stayed below 50 carb grams. I am

going to get the hang of this.