Every day I think about my surgery and alternate between relief that it is almost here and doubt that I'm doing the right thing. I tell myself that cutting away most of a perfectly normal organ is no big deal and the surgery is pretty routine by now. Then I wonder what my new normal will feel like once I get through my recovery period. I think that is the part that causes the most anxiety for me; who will I be once the majority of the weight loss is past and the novelty has worn off? Will I have some kind of normal life or will I never feel like myself again? Does anyone else feel like this?

Then I kick myself because I've been working towards this surgery since last Nov so I'm going to make it work and try not to worry about possible future anxiety. I dont know if anyone else did this, but during my 6 months of supervised weight loss, I didn't take it seriously at first, and considered it just part of the hoops I had to jump through for insurance. I gained a few pounds here and there and got a serious warning after the surgery class at the hospital where they told us that weight gain at this time could be grounds for a denial. I began my diet and managed to drop 10 pounds by my final doctor appt but I was worried before that weigh-in.

Now I'm 3 days in to my pre-surgery diet and I got a bit of a late start due to work travel. I missed the first 3 days of my diet but have been determined to make it up since the goal is to have a less fatty liver so no cheating during these 7 days. I thought this would be harder but I'm doing pretty well I think. I can't take some of my Vitamins but I'm not as hungry as I thought I'd be. I think I've sort of psyched myself into this liquids and one small meal zone so that food isn't really an issue for now. Feels like that could change any time but I'll take my victories where I find them. Went to dinner with my family last night, an italian place, but I was up to the challenge. I would rather get creative with menu choices than tell my husband no dinners out. We all needed this time to hang out together. I ordered a half-size spinach salad with grilled chicken and skipped the bread and I felt great and salad was good. After surgery I'm taking two weeks off from eating out at restaurants but pre-surgery I have more menu options.

I think this is the point where some might be tempted to cancel surgery because weight loss is going well. Did anyone cancel their surgery less than a week out? This must be diet amnesia because I'm sure we've all been on diets where we lost and gained it back. I know that I couldn't sustain this forever on my own and would invent a reason not to continue with a diet (vacation, stress at work, travel, family issues, etc) I think the success of this surgery is that we don't have to worry about weak willpower and failure. I'm lucky that I don't really have a sweet tooth but I'll probably have a pizza or burrito attack at some point. Right now, I'm living on every type of low or no sugar drinks and Atkins shakes. I like the Atkins shakes but I need to remember to order the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein for after surgery...

What sustains me are the success stories here where so many have lost weight and feel great. All of the medical statistics in the world can't compete with these real-life stories and I thank you all for sharing. I'm trying to keep up with this tradition and promise full disclosure along the way. My pre-op appt. is this Wed and surgery Thurs. Strangly, after reading other stories, I'm most worried about the gas pains! I wonder how soon after surgery I can drive and will feel like going out. I haven't seen many details so would love to hear what I might expect.

I'm hoping for another significant weight loss this Wed and will share my experience. To those just starting out, hang on, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster!

You gotta stop worrying about being constipated. Lol. The every other day thing counts when you are on a solid and eating normal. Not when you are on soft and mushy food and not eating very much to begin with. Think about it, it takes a lot of food for things to get for your system before it's going to come out. It needs to be a decent quantity. if you're eating 1/10th of what you ate before surgey that will take a while. So unless you're going 5-6 days, I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy your savings in toilet paper. Lol

I can't wait to discuss my constipation with my doc during 2 week check tomorrow!

Diet going well. Visited the "world according to eggface" and can't stop reading tips and recipes. I need to buy some sugar free torani syrup and pudding mix to start making some rocking Protein shakes. Just got my powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury delivery today; chicken, chocolate and strawberry.

dinner tonight was some unjury chicken Protein powder mixed with refried Beans and heated with some cheese melted on top and a dollop of salsa. I stuck to my recommended 2 Tbsp per meal and felt great afterwards and not too full. My lunch was a Tbsp of applesauce and a Tbsp of mix of Peanut Butter and mashed banana. Yum and no gurgles or too-full feeling.

I'm drinking, drinking, drinking Water and love the Crystal Light Pure flavor packets that sweeten with Truvia. I like kiwi strawberry and lemonade but they have grape too. I'm not fond of sweets so inonly use half a flavor tube per 16 ounces of water.

I'm bored with walking and want to ride my beach bike. I'll ask if it's ok to start riding. Today I was working from home but took some time out to rest and watch a Harry Potter movie. I decided to work my way through the series during my surgery recovery.

Can't wait to check in tomorrow. I'll let him know that I'm already down a size. I won't be buying any more size 20!

Not sure why my posts sometimes duplicate themselves!

Edited June 11, 201412 yr by hrhlaurie

Rode my bike today, so much fun and great exercise!

Went to lunch at Noodles and ordered a side of pork loin, could have also chosen chicken or shrimp. Took it home and wrapped some in a piece of swiss cheese but could only eat three quarters of it. My dog appreciates my new small tummy!

Going to dinner tonight with friends at a mexican rest. I know there will be a side of something I can eat. Feelin good!

Sounds like things are going really well for you! I'm still having a tough time. I get a very uncomfortable cramp when I eat solids. So I'm still sticking to semi soft. Can't wait until I get there!

I can't wait to discuss my constipation with my doc during 2 week check tomorrow! <br><br> Diet going well. Visited the "world according to eggface" and can't stop reading tips and recipes. I need to buy some sugar free torani syrup and pudding mix to start making some rocking Protein shakes. Just got my powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury delivery today; chicken, chocolate and strawberry. <br><br> dinner tonight was some unjury chicken Protein powder mixed with refried Beans and heated with some cheese melted on top and a dollop of salsa. I stuck to my recommended 2 Tbsp per meal and felt great afterwards and not too full. My lunch was a Tbsp of applesauce and a Tbsp of mix of Peanut Butter and mashed banana. Yum and no gurgles or too-full feeling.<br><br> I'm drinking, drinking, drinking Water and love the Crystal Light Pure flavor packets that sweeten with Truvia. I like kiwi strawberry and lemonade but they have grape too. I'm not fond of sweets so inonly use half a flavor tube per 16 ounces of water.<br><br> I'm bored with walking and want to ride my beach bike. I'll ask if it's ok to start riding. Today I was working from home but took some time out to rest and watch a Harry Potter movie. I decided to work my way through the series during my surgery recovery.<br><br> Can't wait to check in tomorrow. I'll let him know that I'm already down a size. I won't be buying any more size 20!

Regarding the constipation....since you enjoy flavored water, try looking for aloe water! I just tried a brand called aloe gloe....very lightly sweetened...15 calories for 8 oz...tastes yummy and aloe does awesome things for your body...it helps with constipation AND diarrhea. Must be magic! Give it a try! Even if you don't get relief you will at least get some yummy hydration!!

Thanks, I'm going out to pick up a few things tomorrow so I'll look for some. My Nut recommended a probiotic also, which I can take more safely than mirilax. Whole Foods, here I come!

@@hrhlaurie, how are you doing?

Hi, great overall. No matter how much I prepared, I discover new things every day... I've made a few mistakes where I've eaten too much or too fast and this is usually because I let too much time go by between meals. If I have a little Protein snack around 4 then I'm not starving at 6 or 7 when I eat dinner.

I'm having a Protein shake for Breakfast and I mix them with an atkins shake and a scoop of unjury protein powder to double up on the protein, , almond milk, ice and a sugar free flavored torani syrup for a flavor twist.

Im sticking with protein for my meals. My post- surgery diet called for about 7 days on liquids, add in mushy foods week 2 and at my 2 week check, doc said eat what im comfortable eating, 2 - 4 Tbsp per meal. I'm still working with Nut on nutrition and have been getting in all of my Water and Vitamins but was low on protein so now thats what I eat. I love Whole Foods fajita chicken, I eat pork, lunch meat and the onlyveggies are cooked with the meat. To get diet variety, I use all kinds of low carb and sugar sauces and spices and I add a bit of low cal dairy, like shaved parmesan cheese, to my meat. I mix up meatdipping sauces using greek yogurt and I dont feel deprived. The family had pizza last night and high fat foods don't appeal to me now. I do get chocolate every day since my Calcium citrate chews are chocolate flavored!

Im losing slowly, 3 weeks since surgery and down17 pounds since surgery. Im going to identify some quick and easy exercises anddo a sitcom exercise schedule. What can I do while watching a 30 minute show in addition to my daily walk or bike ride. Ineed to burn more calories.

So, far feeling great and im out of plus sizes! Im a total carnivore now, though andi never used to eatmuch meat. I was a carbavore, instead!

Hrhlaurie, too funny about your dog. Mine immediately sits beside me at dinner (or any meal for that matter) knowing that she will get some of the left overs the cat expects a bite too. As soon as I start cutting the left overs smaller she starts in. Hopefully she doesn't gain weight...so I get my exercise walking her more now too!