Hi! I finally figured out how to start a thread of my own. I just wanted to post a little introduction of myself.

I was a pretty average sized child. Around the start of my puberty years is when my relationship with food changed. I had a bit of a tumultuous home life and the only thing I had control over was what and how much I ate. After a while I became a "foodie", not just enjoying the taste of food but the culture of chef life and cooking competitions.

It never really bothered me to be overweight until I went to the doctor for a routine physical and tipped the scales at 297. I decided then and there that I was done being a fat girl. I had a consultation with Dr. Medvetz at Lourdes Medical Center and she was absolutely amazing. I started the journey toward getting sleeved and it's been a long one. I think hardest of all was learning to appreciate the artistry of cooking without needing to consume the product of it.

I'm having my surgery on February 9th and I'm both nervous and excited. I cannot wait to change my life, especially since I will be starting nursing school in the fall. This pre-op liquid diet is killing me though!! So far I have lost about 15lbs but it hasn't come without suffering. I don't feel hungry exactly, but weak and dizzy are a more accurate description. The shakes are hard to digest. Hoping the next four days fly by! I look forward to getting to know you all and sharing our journeys.

Welcome. I have to say I was sleeved 3 months ago and the hardest part was the pre-diet. Good luck-

LA

Thank you seahawksfan! I'm finding it very hard to focus my thoughts at work with the lightheadedness.

Welcome Geminisleever... Wow you are just few days away from your D-day... Prayers and best wishes for you.

This forum is so amazing and the tremendous support we give each other... I just love it!

Keep us posted about your each and every experience ????

Thank you B, I absolutely will be giving continued updates! I'm so happy to have found this community of others having similar experiences. There are very few people in my life I can't relate to on this. And all of my friends are thin so they don't know what it's like to struggle with weight, and struggle with confidence as a result.

Gemini,

Good Luck to you, I am scheduled for 2/17... and like you are nervous and excited. I am on day 3 of the pre op diet, so far so good. Don't know what protein you are using but I am using "Premier" pre made, they actually taste pretty good, you can get them at Costco or Sams Club. You may wanna give them a try.

Thanks for the suggestion Mike. I will be looking out for those. I'm using bariatric advantage. I think my taste buds have changed, or maybe I'm just over them, but they are suddenly disgusting to me.

And good luck to you too Mike!!!

Prayers for a safe surgery and a quick recovery. I agree that the pre-op is the most difficult part of the process! Second hardest thing for me was making myself eat after the surgery. I forget to eat sometimes and then spend time playing catch up :/ After a life of eating too much, it is hard to grasp the concept of only being able to eat a tiny bit but you get used to it soon enough.

Also, best of luck with nursing school! I'm an RN so I have been there, done that. You will be happy to be lighter going through it. I had to renew my BLS a week ago and I did the compressions without being out of breath! What a difference this surgery makes in your life

Thank you wantingabetterlife! A huge part of the reason I wanted this surgery is so that I'll have the stamina to get through an accelerated BSN program. Congratulations on your weight loss success!!!

Thanks! And trust me, this surgery is a breeze compared to nursing school