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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.

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

LA

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

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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 ????

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 :)

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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!!!

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

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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