My surgery is 36 hours away!!!! Any and every emotion that you can imagine is how I'm feeling. My only fear is the actual procedure, which seems to be most folks fear. But, I know this opportunity is a gift from God and I refuse to allow fear to steal from me! That has happened long enough. Because of my size, my life has been filled with challenges! I started at 269 and am down to 245. Once, a few years ago, my son and I were talking about amusement park rides and he asked, with such surprise, "you can get on rides?" I WASNT EXPECTING THAT!!! I said, "yeah....why did you ask that?", and he replied, "I didn't know you could get on the rides." He instantly realized what he said and kept saying, "never mind!" I asked him if he thought I was fat....he was silent! I said, "it's okay....I think I am too!" We never talked about it again and I haven't been to an amusement since. Tomorrow, I will be rewriting my future!!! Not only will I be on the rides next summer, but I'm getting a seasons pass!!!!! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ON THIS RIDE FOREVER!!!! This is hubby and I in August, 2013

Edited December 17, 201312 yr by Lainey3074

Thicvick, you'll do fine! I'm not going to lie and say its easy because it isn't! But I will say you will do fine! I'm at day 3. I got up, dressed and headed out with hubby. I even made the bed! After his appointment, we're gonna run by Target and Redbox and it's back to bed for me. You have to take it easy!

Good luck thicvic, you'll do great!

After getting sick time after time, I now realize that I can't eat chicken! Can't imagine my life without chicken but that's the way it's gonna be! But, I am down 22lbs post-op and 40lbs overall!!!

Ok....it may not be the chicken....it's probably my swollen tummy. I'll give it a couple weeks then try the chicken again.

You were sleeved day before me. It will be a while yet before I can eat chicken. So I'd say wait a few weeks and try again.

My advice to you is to stay away from the chicken for now. Let your sleeve heal, it needs time. I know all surgeons have different rules but mine said not to start chicken or meat until the 5th week post op. Before that it was liquids, soft foods, mushy foods, stuff like that. That being said, even at 5 weeks out, chicken was hard. I'm 2.5 years out now and chicken still fills me up quickly.

I would suggest waiting a while and when you are ready for solids then start with softer proteins like tilapia or tuna. Chicken and steak are very dense and are hard on the sleeve. It could be a few months before you are comfortable with them.

I sincerely appreciate the advice. The meal plan for this stage from my NUT includes soft, juicy meats (chicken salad, egg salad, juicy lean meats, moist fish, etc.). I don't know how things are going to go from meal to meal. Last night, I had baked Swai and it went down fine. I had the exact same fish for lunch and it wasn't so good. It's all definitely a learning experience!

Yup, welcome to the life of a sleever. There are still days that I can eat one thing and the next day it makes me feel gross.

All diet plans are so different. Just remember to give yourself time. If it doesn't feel right, don't eat it again for a while. Eventually, you really will be able to eat most things again. I know it seems like forever from now but it will happen.

Edited January 9, 201412 yr by sarsar

Lainey so glad all went well and your coming along just fine. Are you on YouTube or planning to document your journey in a similar fashion? My 21 year old daughter is being sleeved in March as well my poor hubby will be pulling his hair out caring for us both lol but she's planning to do the YouTube thing. I love watching everyone else's progress but not sure about doing one myself.

Lainey so glad all went well and your coming along just fine. Are you on YouTube or planning to document your journey in a similar fashion? My 21 year old daughter is being sleeved in March as well my poor hubby will be pulling his hair out caring for us both lol but she's planning to do the YouTube thing. I love watching everyone else's progress but not sure about doing one myself.

Hi Curvy! I think I'm gonna keep journaling here! There's a bit of comfort amongst a like-minded community. YT would be too much of an audience for me.

I hear that! Not sure what I will do just yet I don't even have Facebook but I enjoy the forums and watching the videos on YouTube. seeing others transformations right before my eyes is so motivating just not sure I can do them.

Just do what's comfortable. One thing I'm doing is logging my measurements. I stay away from the scale!!! LOL!!!

Post op day 5 and I am doing great.. Im still on my full liquid diet so today I made a Lima bean & corn Soup took the broth of that and stored it away for me later. It was really good. I am 13lb down pre op and 4lb post op.. I cant wait to get these staples out they are a little irritating.

Girl I was a slave to the scale and it controlled if I would have a good day or would I be depressed seeing a higher number.

Hey thicvic ur post prior to surgery u were concerned about the pain so go ahead run it down please. How bad was it, what have u found helpful so far, and was there anything u didn't take to the hospital u wished u did???