Add me! What are you doing in preparation?

Helloooooo,
I am scheduled for surgery on 1/12. I am soooo excited! I have been posting on this site for several months but never in this forum. I usually hit the main, the RNY, the NY state and the lightweights. Not a lot of action in NY. I would like to frequent one so that I can actually get to know some people.
So what is everyone doing in preparation for their January dates?

I have been reading, collecting info and recipes and trying to be conscious of what I am at least eating now.
How about you???

Lisa

Hi Lisa, glad you joined our board. That is exciting that your date is coming up. I am still hopeful to have surgery in January, but I had to push some appointments back so it may actually be in February now, but I hope not. I have bought all the chewable vitamins...multi, calcium, b-12, and iron. I have also bought protein powder. I got the Nectar brand in fuzzy navel and unflavored. I am also trying to remember to eat small bites and chew more. Another thing I have done in preparation is to give up carbonated drinks. I did that about 6 months ago. I haven't been able to give up caffeine though. I got to have my green tea. I drink the lipton diet green tea with citrus...it is so yummy. I am also working on getting in more water, but to be honest I hate water....YUCK. I have to really work on that one.
Post often and keep us updated.
Emily

HI Lisa,

I am scheduled for Jan 19Th.

I have gotten all my vitamins and supplements. I have started to stock up on the things i need for my clear liquid diet. ( 2 weeks b4 my surgery and i think for 3 weeks after surgery)

I have gotten some baby spoons/forks, small plates and bowls, small cups, a new water bottle to carry around with me and some storage containers to make and store my new meals in. Portion control is the key!

I have also picked up a pill crusher/splitter combo.

I gave up soda a few months ago and have tried to stay away from  Ibuprofen and the other over the counter products that i wont be able to have after surgery. I figure i better start looking into alternative meds since I am allergic to tylenol and that's all you can take after RNY.

I have become more aware of my emotional eating and what triggers it. I have tried really hard to not give into "head hunger". I have not really been successful at that one and that will be a real challenge for me after surgery.

I have stared to find things to do with my time instead of eating when i am board.  My daughters are needing to do volunteer work to earn their their silver award for girl scouts and my other daughter for her president award in Jr. ROTC We have found places that they can help out at. Because of their young age i have to be present for most places. Getting involved and being busy means less time for me to think about food!! 

I too have read and researched and have written down recipes from websites. There are 2 books at Barnes-Noble that are post WLS recipe books. I cant wait to see if "Santa" brings them for me

I am trying to be a "water lover". Its was easy over the summer when our air conditioner was broke but now that it is in the low 30's here i would rather not down gallons of cold water! I have discovered that i DO like ice tea now. I have found that i enjoy crystal light a lot!! 
(I'm pretty sure that counts towards your water intake?)

I have days where its all i can think about then i have other days where i don't think about it at all. Its overwhelming ,exciting and scary all at once. Some days its just too much to think about.  On one hand i want it to hurry up and be over with and on the other hand i am scared and wonder if i will ever be ready for this life change. I have found that staying focused on being healthy and not focusing on the eating part is helpful.  I deserve to be healthy and happy. Its OK for me to make this change in my life. I CAN do it. I deserve to do this for myself. Its OK to take such an extreme measure to become who i know i have always been.  Does that make any sense??  I have started to avoid the WLS topic with people the closer i get to my surgery date. I just don't want to hear their opinion and feel like they are trying to talk me out of it. GRRRRRRR!  Sometimes i wish i had not told anyone and just started to lose weight and have people wonder how i am doing it.  LOL

Well...that's enough of me babbling. 
(This is by far the best place for that i must say!)

Love you guys!!!
~AMANDA~

Hi Amanda, Lisa and Emily

I am Yoly and I was Dec 1 but due to a setback with my endoscopy, I am now Jan 13th i was bummed at first but now excited again.

Hey that is a great idea about the baby spoons, forks, I did not think about that, question regarding the pill crusher, do you think we will have issues swallowing pills, pain pills etc??

Didn't think about that.  I don't know how I will give up coffee.. I need 1 cup every morning or i am a mess.. i will try decafe but have failed at it before.. just got some b-12 vitamins what others should i start on?

Thanks for the feed back and lets keep in touch

Yoly

You will need a good chewable multivitamin. My surgeon suggests Centrum. Also you will want Calcium Citrate and Iron. I take Calcium and multi vits now, but haven't started anything else yet. Dec 1 is just a week away. I am excited for you.
Emily

Hi Emily

I am making my shopping list from everyones input.. I wish I was still Dec 1 but now i am Jan 13 due to a test I have to redo..

it gives me time to prepare.. will buy the centrum chewables.

thanks for the tip

Yoly

Howdy chic!!

I posted most of the stuff i bought on my post "went shopping"
When you get a chance...go check it out!
Didn't your surgeon give you a list of what to get??

Will you have to do a liquid diet b4 your surgery?
I am counting the days down until i have to give up food....22 more to be exact!
( and 46 days until my WLS )

We can all be hungry together if we are all going to be on a liquid diet together!!!

(((HUGS)))

Hi Lisa, I too have a surgery date of 1/12/09. I have changed my lifestyle for the better. Exercising, trying to eat right, and of course cooking at home more.I've found lots of recipes on this site. And I'm trying some of them out. I love this site. Good luck on everything.

January 14th here.  I am trying to read s much as possible and also to stock up on some vitamins etc.  i know i will be too busy right before surgery.  We go to Disney from DEc.24 til Jan 4th, then back to work for a week to tie up loose ends then off to surgery!

I also am ordering a sample kit from Bariatric Advantage of some diff. liquid and chewable vitamins and protien supplements.  I have also cut out carbonation totally!

I am trying to cut way back on caffeine too.  One cup of java per day.  NOW- while in Disney- I will have a glass of champagne on New Year's, but other than that, really want to stick to this.  i am also cutting out all sugar as of December 1st.  Will cheat a little in Disney of course, but for the most part want to prepare my body  as much as possible.

My surgeon only does full liquid diet for two ays pre op.  I am also realy trying to get used to daily vitamins.

The other thing i am doing is cardio.  My surgeon said the more cardio i can get in daily pre-op, the easier my recovery will be.

Good luck to all of us New Year's Losers!!!!

Yall all add me if you haven't yet and we can support each other!

hi, all!  i am just now finding my way into to the forums.  it is such a relief to see this one! 

over the weekend i began fretting over this exact issue.  preparation.  yikes.  thank you for posting this.  it helps so much to hear it from other people who are at the same stage i am - easier than just skimming over pages in a workbook!