Here are some opinions and ramblings from a soon to be RNY'er..

I am scheduled for surgery on the 6th, and know how hard this journey has been so far.  I have had 3 final meals.. LOL Steak dinner with friends, Chinese with friends, and Olive Garden with Hubby and Kids..  Now I am going to try and eat things that are close to what we can have after surgery to help prepare me for what I am going to have to do..  But it hasn't been an easy thing.. I have been on a 1000 cal diet for 3 months now, and I will admit that I  have strayed from time to time.. I know that after my surgery I will not have that luxury, but for now, it works for me.. I don't go crazy eating all the things that I shouldn't, but have allowed myself to enjoy a few things that I know I am going to miss, and not have for a while, and maybe forever after my surgery... (depending on how my pouch reacts to what it is I tried)

A friend told me that you will  have to say good-bye to  foods, 
ONLY FOR A WHILE, and in time you may be able to eat them again, just in moderation...  If you deny yourself, you are setting yourself up for failer.. That doesn't mean eat everything and all at once.. But to have a small bite here a small bite there, to be able to at least TASTE what it is you are wanting/craving, as long as your pouch can handle it,  where is the harm in that.. (remember this is later not right away)  And remember that foods that you love NOW you may NOT like after, and foods that you HATED before you may LOVE after, so it will be interesting to see how we change...

I think for me, I may have some troubles with head hunger, especially with having little ones around, but hope that it won't be to bad. After all they do the surgery on our stomach's and not our heads, so I will just have to learn to overcome what my head *thinks* I need...  For the last 29 years I have ate the way I have, and now I am drastically changing, what I eat, how much  I eat, when I eat, remembering that vitamins and protein are a stable in my new diet...    It's kinda  like learning to ride a bike, once you got it, you got it,  and it is a piece of cake. (no pun in tented)

This is not like all the other "DIETS" we have tried many times, it is a TOOL to HELP us, it is not a free ride to do what ever we want to.  We have to learn discipline, and structure. We are learning to walk all over again, changing our lives for the better..   We may stumble a few times, but eventually we will get it.. 
It may not be easy, but it WILL be Worth it in the end...

The first few weeks/months will be rough, (the worst part is the liquids and pureed stages from what I hear) but with good recipes  you will find that there are a lot of tasty things that are WLS friendly..  Check out this website ---  http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/   this is Egg Face's Website, and she has all sorts of yummy protein shake recipes, Protein Ice Cream Recipes, And tons of other recipes..   I met her in San Ramon and got to sample a bunch of her creations.. YUMMY, I have to say the Egg Nog Protein Ice Cream was my FAVORITE Ice Cream I have tried so far, and I love her Quiche dishes too.. MMM MMM Good!   With trial and error, you/we will learn what we like, dislike, can handle, can NOT handle, and eventually will get to eat those things that we may have thought we lost forever, just in a different manner and amounts..

So keep your heads up, We can be nervous together, and go through our Journey and share experiences with one another, we can keep in touch, and if you are having a bad day and need to just have someone listen, I am here for you..   (That's my offer anyways, you don't have to of course) If you need or want my number or regular email, just PM me..

Good Luck to you all, I will be thinking of you and praying for an uneventful surgeries for you..

BIG HUGE HUGS,
     JENN

(I also would like to say that all of these things are MY OPINION only..)

This was very well put Jenn. thanks for sharing what was on your mind. I think it will help to put things in perspective for a lot of us.
Emily

Oh I am so glad you were able to get something out of it..  I hope it can help others too...

Thank you Jenn. I look forward to sharing my journey and experiences with everyone too.

Candie

No Problem Hun..

Hi Jenn, Thanks for taking the time and writing this, it helped alot. I got very sick the day after Christmas so the last few days I could eat solids were lost from being sick. Monday started my official liquid diet day (so far so good) just felt down because I did not get to eat a steak, chinese or seafood like I planned. After reading your post I feel so much better! no big deal...one day, in moderation and maybe I won't even want those things! Sending you a BIG{{{HUG}}} I will be thinking of you & Saying Prayers come Jan. 6th. Your Friend, Robin

Robin,

It was my pleasure to share.. Glad it helped you out..

I am sorry to hear you got so sick right after Christmas.. I am glad you are feeling better now..

Thanks for the Prayers and thoughts..

Your Friend,
Jenn