My surgery is on March 28th, and my number one fear is that I hate to cook I hate to plan meals. I am afraid that once I get the sleeve I won't be able to eat healthy or plan my meals, and I will not be able to lose the weight.

I know this is going to take time,I know I have to do this for myself and focus but I also know to break old habits it is going to take time.

I just don't want to fail. I don't want to do this for no reason.

What are or were your fears? And how did you over come them?

My fears were more about the surgery. I had a hysterectomy for uterine cancer this past summer (they got it all!), but I was afraid they would find something when they went in for my sleeve. I don't really have any fears now.

The good news about your fear is that there are many "non cook" options to get you through. You are going to eat so little, that you can get by with minimal cooking! Cook a big pot of turkey chili or grill some chicken and you'll be set for days and days!!

@@choicemun - what is your domestic situation? Support on the home front is important.

The next question how important is variety and flavor's to you? I have certain routine foods (esp. for breakfast), but I enjoy experimenting for dinner.

But I don't really plan meals. I just grab a Protein, and cook it. Occasionally I'll plan a roast or other crock pot meal. This system works well with my daughter who lives with me. All I use is my scale, cut off four ounces of meat and cook it. Then I throw some raw veggies in...tada dinner.

number one fear is that I hate to cook I hate to plan meals. I am afraid that once I get the sleeve I won't be able to eat healthy or plan my meals, and I will not be able to lose the weight.

I know this is going to take time,I know I have to do this for myself and focus but I also know to break old habits it is going to take time.

I just don't want to fail. I don't want to do this for no reason.

That's quite a lengthy string of negatives and, I suspect, a unique greatest fear.

Let's get the underlined part of your note out of the way. There is very little that anyone has to do. What matters is what one wants to do. It's the things we want rather than "must" that are what we take on.. Each of us has to determine what we want and put the attention there. This may not seem so, but it's great news. If you don't want to lose weight, you don't have to.

On to the food part. What if you think of cooking as a creative endeavor? It's creative whether one follows recipes or improvises. A huge industry has grown around it, hence all the books, restaurants, TV shows and magazines. Planning is part of the creative process. It's also very much the mark of a capable person.

The question is simple: What do you want and how far are you willing to go to get there? Yup, simple isn't the same as easy.

I like to cook, but I'm also on the go a lot. Try to figure out some go to foods/meals that don't take much effort so you always have something on hand. That's what I plan to do, anyway. I know I'll still struggle with the old, "I'm tired and/or need to be X in 5 sec and what am I going to eat" syndrome.

Thanks everyone for your advice and ideas, this is why I love this place so much support and understanding.

I know this is something I want n need is going to take sometime to get use to the changes, but I am so looking forward to the future and all the things I will be able to do that I can't do now. Am willing to put everything I have to better myself in every aspect of my life.