Pardon my bluntness...

[GeauxForIt 659]

Well I'll tell you' date=' I was strict about my diet after my 1st surgery, my second one, then the 2 months of liquids that I was on, then I may have stumbled after my 3rd surgery but it was ok'd by my dr. first (as some of my friendly nazis would remind me not to do x, y, or z according to their dr's) and now I am trying to be as good as possible after my 4th surgery. But I finally closed my food journals on MFP because I got tired of anyone asking me why I was eating what I was eating. I am doing what my dr. has said I can do. I am limited in so much due to the stage of foods that I am in and trying to keep my calories up to STOP losing weight due to a persistent leak that I had contracted through no fault of my own. My carb rate stinks and I hate it, but I'm struggling with where I'm at in my 4 surgeries of my journey and trying to battle it out amongst my own food addict demons. But after 9 months of dealing with this, jeeeshus, anyone cracks. I especially understand whomever posted about the effect of a freaking McDonald's commercial after being on liquids since 9/4/12. Try being on liquids since then and see how you respond. I can totally empathize; however, I'm doing it. So when I stumble... does that mean I lack "common sense"? I don't think so, and I defer to my physician who has to remind me how strong I have been in the 9 months of holy hell that I've had in what should have been an "easy surgery"... but pls note that question is a rhetorical one and I don't need you to answer me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

The most I can say is I've seen it all here on this site and one thing I feel like I have to say is this: don't let anyone run you off from being here. I've seen people who jump on others, people who support others, some who are dependent on many things and seemingly have changed it from food to other means, those that are enablers, those that are co-dependent, you name it, the flavor is here. And it can get ugly here. But please don't let that run you off, which slowly throughout time, it's been doing to me. However, I still venture out to read some threads and this one, IDK why I'm responding to but I am.

The point to remember here is this:

It's the net ppl, anyone can be anyone and do you trust anyone to tell you what to do instead of the surgeon that you PAID good money for (or your insurance did) to cut out 80-85% of your internal organ that helps you sustain your life? If you have questions, proceed with caution on the advices you receive here please. Serious questions, defer to your physician or nutritionist. Remember every person's journey IS different as are their chances for different things to happen (like my body rejecting a staple which caused my leak; once a leak starts, it can be a bear to repair depending on the aggression of the tactics taken, the time in which it is found and the damage thus done to your body and other internal organs and how they react... albeit why you need to refer to your surgeon who has gone to school to understand how the body functions, knows which tests to do to determine the damage and then can determine the response).

But this site should be a place anyone can come and pose a question to. On the flip side, to the newer persons here... once you have been here a while, you get pretty irritated with questions like "Can I eat a hamburger a week out from surgery?" It's best to be kind when possible, but the world isn't kind is it? I saw someone last week eating a hamburger 10 days out from their surgery. The way I responded whenever they complained of being "stalled"... is how far out are you again? And you are eating hamburgers? (as well as where's your Water intake and exercise, but I digress)

We all have our moments and we all remain to lurk the boards in our different places in our journey to learn. We all want to be a part of the 80% that are success rate sleevers.... All I can say is stick around, ignore some of the posts (I mean are they really worth it?), defer to your doctor or nutritionist on more important health/nutrition questions ... and I wish the best of luck for you in your journey to success.[/quote']

9 months on a restricted diet and slipping up versus 5 days out and eating Cookies and popcorn is not a fair comparison.

[No game 14,436]

I remember when checking into the hospital looking at my paper work and seeing " morbidly obese" my doctor had been trying to get me to eat right for years.. As far as I'm concerned common sense has nothing to do with it. Where was your common sense when you were chowing down on a KFC drumstick!

We were killing ourselves with EVERY BITE we took..

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Iggy, I know we don't always agree on how to support someone but I don't direct my comments towards you because I 100% agree that you are entitled to say it how it is. You've been through it.

Laura, exactly! It's BASIC common sense that over eating makes you fat! I guess we ALL lack basic common sense, including the OP.

[LezzieLez 180]

O_o

I can't even..

[iggychic 1,405]

And today another thread pops up with someone eating a week ahead of their doctors schedule (two weeks out...chicken sounds great!) Gad what makes these people smarter than their doctors????? Argh...time to clean house LOL

[Stef 264]

And today another thread pops up with someone eating a week ahead of their doctors schedule (two weeks out...chicken sounds great!) Gad what makes these people smarter than their doctors????? Argh...time to clean house LOL

Thankfully you said this because according to some self-appointed forum nazis, I heven't yet earned the right to an opinion on such matters. Maybe they should post the "Approved Forum Topic Posting Schedule" for all to see. It would certainly spare a lot of grief.

[iggychic 1,405]

Just to keep you on schedule Steph...you are allowed to post as to the size of your thighs, what kind of sexual positions you desire in the future, and what size underwear you wish to buy. All other posting is not allowed until you get closer to your date.

Heh heh Though cuz you're smart I'll give you a special waiver to say "what the hell" on occasion when you read stupid thoughts

[Stef 264]

Thanks Iggy, I'll try and keep all of that in mind

It's nice to see someone who dosen't equate coddling/enabling to support. Please feel free to smack me upside the head if I ever do something like ask "hey, I'm 3 days out of surgery, is it ok if I have pork chops and a vodka martini yet?" because I will definitely deserve it.

Happy New Year!

[Catracks 865]

I agree with the OP too. Seriously, how hard is it to stick to a surgical diet after you've just had you stomach sliced in half. The post-surgical diet is not a suggestion, but a prescription to be followed or else unpleasant things can happen.

I'll say it yet again: The "stop judging me" thing gets old. The OP has a valid opinion.

We all know how difficult it is, but it's not impossible for people with frontal lobes. These first weeks are for healing and training yourself for a life-long new approach to eating. When I was on two weeks of clear liquid, I hated the fruit-flavored Isopure stuff. The guy at the GNC store told me: "You just do what you gotta do. Period."

It's actually empowering to know that you can take firm control over your own future. The VSG is a tool, nothing more. It is up to you.

[delta_girl 931]

"You just do what you gotta do. Period."

Exactly.

[Catracks 865]

RIGHT!! I'm hoping y'all will tell me if I'm being stupid - I know popcorn is a thing of the past -- if it was more important than my health if be in the kitchen making some now!

The education from this site is worth far more than popcorn!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

You can have popcorn again, but it is a snack for much later on. It's got good Fiber and can be low calorie when you do it right. There are ways to make it healthy.

The sentiment is correct though. A food is not more important than your health, but you can still learn to eat right and enjoy food like normal healthy people do.

[Catracks 865]

If I had "self control" or was able to "get my addictions under control prior to surgery", then I wouldn't have needed the surgery. The sleeve is a tool, our brain wasn't sleeved, just our tummy. Everyone is different, everyone has different levels of willpower and self control. We cannot help the cravings we have, we try hard to fight the temptations, but sometimes we just need support from others who are going through what we are going through and advice on how they handled it, not a condemning lecture, just support.

Sent from my iPad using VST

Susan, we cannot help the cravings, but we can be in control as to how we respond to them. Sorry, but if a life can be saved, I'm not going to say that ignoring your surgeon's advice is okay and try again tomorrow.

The proper response is: You did a bonehead thing. Don't do it again.

Why is that so hard for people to take?

[4ALongerLife 329]

Ahem, vodka martinis ARE a clear liquid. You CAN have those directly after surgery. If you are in full liquids, even add a bit of Protein powder, you'll be fineeeeeee.

(WARNING for those that question it.... said in total sarcasm, please do not proceed with this advice)

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Thankfully you said this because according to some self-appointed forum nazis' date=' I heven't yet earned the right to an opinion on such matters. Maybe they should post the "Approved Forum Topic Posting Schedule" for all to see. It would certainly spare a lot of grief. [/quote']

Post away Stef. We all have equal voice here. Just remember, this forum is full of addicts. Some are right in the middle of facing down their worst demons. They can react unpredictably. I know I had a window there of about 4 weeks (2 weeks before and 2 after surgery) where I was not in the best frame of mind, and would have done anything for a cheeseburger.

[iggychic 1,405]

Ahem' date=' vodka martinis ARE a clear liquid. You CAN have those directly after surgery. If you are in full liquids, even add a bit of Protein powder, you'll be fineeeeeee.

(WARNING for those that question it.... said in total sarcasm, please do not proceed with this advice) [/quote']

I tried to explain this in the hospital. They wanted me to walk. I said I'd walk to the end of the hall if there was a wine bar there...clear liquids are a great motivator for me