Hello all! I am soooo excited, will have surgery next Monday, April 11, here in Houston. Summary:

5'2"

54 amazing years "old" (!)

HW - 249lb

CW - 247lb

Happily married for the last 25 years, and two beloved single sons

Cancer survivor (breast, 2010)

Dieting for the most part of my life (and relapsing every single time shortly after...)

I was born in Brazil, from an Italian family. A work opportunity brought me and my boys (three, including hubby :-) to this country that I very quickly learned to call MY country.... And now, we are a proud American family! Long story short....... Surgery is scheduled to next Monday, April 11th. I am not following any diet at this point, and in fact have been having a couple of "food funerals" so I can say good bye to some of my old carb and wine companions..... Tomorrow I'll see my surgeon and will also go to the hospital for my pre-op. I have been reading so much about the surgery, pain, gases, constipation...... But I am very optimistic that all of that would be gone in one or two weeks..... Here is my question for you vets: what's the best piece of advice you could share with me, at this moment? I would very much appreciate it!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read, my dear fellow losers!

Welcome!!!

@@mid - Welcome!

FOLLOW your DOCTORS orders first and foremost.

We here, your new brothers and sisters, are a sounding board. We disagree/agree on some issues. Don't take offense if you are told to stay off the scale, embrace a 2 month stall or stop drinking your diet Pepsi. We are family and we tend to reply what we think without a buffer. Ex: your Mom/sister/BFF who always asks how much more weight have you put on.

The sleeve is a tool. You work the tool (sleeve). If you don't use it (sleeve) properly, the job (weight loss) won't get done the RIGHT way.

Welcome and best of luck with your surgery.

Some things that helped me:

Weaning myself off of carbonation pre-op.

Weaning myself off of caffeine pre-op.

Following my surgeon's and NUTs instructions. If you are not sure about something or don't understand, ask questions until you do understand.

Being rigorously honest with myself and my medical team.

Doing everything I was asked to do even if I thought I couldn't.

This was my first surgery and had no idea what to expect. I couldn't' be happier with my experience, my recovery, and my results so far.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I also wanted to add --- for me, the biggest success factors are:

Following my program.

Tracking, weighing, and measuring my food.

Getting in all of my Protein every day. For me that is at least 100 grams.

Getting AT LEAST 64 oz of Fluid every day.

Avoiding starches, added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), fried foods, carbonation, and caffeine.

Taking my Vitamins and supplements as directed.

Exercising regularly.

Weighing infrequently.

And, learning to embrace the inevitable stalls. http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

You won't be able to do everything easily when you first get out of surgery so your primary focus will be getting in all of your protein and fluids. That is why you will need to sip, sip, sip. In addition, getting up and walking right away will help you with the gas and with your recovery.

Welcome to our little protein cult[emoji4]

@@mid - Welcome!

FOLLOW your DOCTORS orders first and foremost.

We here, your new brothers and sisters, are a sounding board. We disagree/agree on some issues. Don't take offense if you are told to stay off the scale, embrace a 2 month stall or stop drinking your diet Pepsi. We are family and we tend to reply what we think without a buffer. Ex: your Mom/sister/BFF who always asks how much more weight have you put on.

The sleeve is a tool. You work the tool (sleeve). If you don't use it (sleeve) properly, the job (weight loss) won't get done the RIGHT way.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jane13 - thank you so much! I don't take offense easily and I feel that I am among sisters and brothers here!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I also wanted to add --- for me, the biggest success factors are:

Following my program.

Tracking, weighing, and measuring my food.

Getting in all of my Protein every day. For me that is at least 100 grams.

Getting AT LEAST 64 oz of Fluid every day.

Avoiding starches, added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), fried foods, carbonation, and caffeine.

Taking my Vitamins and supplements as directed.

Exercising regularly.

Weighing infrequently.

And, learning to embrace the inevitable stalls. http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

You won't be able to do everything easily when you first get out of surgery so your primary focus will be getting in all of your protein and fluids. That is why you will need to sip, sip, sip. In addition, getting up and walking right away will help you with the gas and with your recovery.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you so much @innersurfergirl! I hope everything is going to be fine!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Welcome to our little Protein cult

I am looking forward to be a protein role model!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you all!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App