I am slacking and scared.

Well, I have orders to be on a 1200 calorie diet and should have been on it for about a month now. I haven't done it yet, I kept putting it off. I finally figured out why. I am scared. I don't want to fail yet again at another diet. I have cut back on my carbs like crazy and have upped my salads and switched to Italian dressing from Ranch. I have made changes. I haven't been putting anything in my food diary cause I know I am not doing what I should be. I have a month to get things back on track when I go back to see Liz. This scares me that if I can't do this will I be able to do what I should be doing after the surgery? I have been working on my post op behaviors. I chew my food to mush and I am working on cutting out the water at meals. I have gotten down to less than before so I am getting better. I did join a gym and I did work out for a week then stuff happened but I am planning on going back tonight. I am just scared that I won't be able to do this and I have done everything up until now that I have been asked to do. Sorry this is so random. I was just getting everything out.

Gosh Kath...you are one of the strongest people I know....especially considerring you have no support at home.....Keep up with the good work...you are doing fine....making the changes that you have been asked to do.......even if you're not following the 1200 calories....write EVERYTHING down anyway....then you can look at your journal and make the changes that need to be made.....you can make 'trade offs' with a more healthy food here and there....you can do it....YOU CAN DO IT!!   I know you can!!!   huggs and peace....laura

Hi, I know that Liz does the pre op diet a bit differently than the nutritionist did that worked for Dr A when I was going thru the pre op process...but, I can tell you that my hubby had her and she wanted him on the low calorie diet, yadda, yadda, yadda. Dr Aranow told me that doing South Beach plan really worked well for pre ops and it did work well for me.  I guess Liz wants you to have a better "well rounded" diet with all the food types, not just cutting out carbs. BUT, if you want to, go to: http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com It outlines the plan really well and I'll tell you, buy cutting out the carbs (which you really have to do after the surgery anyways) you lose weight. Write everything down.  Keep thouse journals...even if you eat bad foods.  Liz wants to see where your trouble spots are and the troublesome times for eating are.  Do be ashamed to go to her with your troubles.  She's there to help you through them.  To change them now is the key.  To get you ready for your new lifestyle and its changes.  To do it now will be SO much easier. I started my pre op losing eating plan in early July and had my surgery in late Sept.  I lost 18 lbs instead of 10 like he wanted me to do. I didn't do the gym thing.  Knew I wouldn't do it.  So, I walked.  Brisk walks.  It was very hard at first and my legs and bones hurt bad...but, after doing it over and over, it got better.  I invested in a really good pair of walking shoes (Merrells) and it made the world of difference to me. Hang in there.  Drink a lot of calorie free beverages in this hot weather and keep from knocking yourself down.  It's a hard enough journey, don't think of yourself as failing at yet another diet.  It's not a diet.  It's just getting yourself ready for a new chapter in your life! paula

It is scarey to restructure your entire way of eating , I started to do this cause the scale freaked me out and I want to show my Dr when I go to see him for my first visit how serious I am but I know what your going through its not easy I am starving right now my stomach is making so much noise and it hurts but I am afraid to eat this late I am trying not to eat after 7pm , try saying this it used to work for me and I started saying it again my Godmother taught it to me God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change the courage to change the things I CAN and the WISDOM to know the difference! I know its the AA saying but it works for any addiction even food! ***hugs*** Pam

HEy Pooh, Just by reading some of your postings you are doing the right thing. You have to continously remind yourself of how bad you want this surgery. I just had the band installed last week and I have to tell you I have prepared for 3 years for this. Let me tell you it is not easy even after you have your tool of choice put in place to follow the plan. It is there for your safety. It is so important to adhear for long term success of this system. You can do it! I have lost 15 pounds in the first week of having a band put in never mind RNY. If I can do it you can too! Congrats on your journey so far and keep up the good work! You can do it girl! Don't try to conquer Rome in a Day! Even a little bit of walking helps. get a pedometer and count your steps you will see the difference! I promise if you stick to the plan!

Hi Poohette, You will need to pull all of your will power resources together because the eating right part is still vital even though you've got the "lap band tool" to help you.  Actually, the suggested "diet" Liz gave me was quite good.  I usually had an English muffin for breakfast (both halves) smeared with 1 Tbs. of Peanut Butter or Lite Cream Cheese.  For lunch I had a sandwich with 2 oz. of lunchmeat on it or a combo of lunchmeat and cheese with (as Liz said) any kind of bread I wanted.  I used Lite Mayo or Dijon mustard and then piled it high with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, etc.  I had fruit - grapes and apples are my favorites for in between snacks.  For dinner, I went by the 3 oz. of meat, one small potato or one cup of pasta and lots of the vegetables or salad.  And there was still the sf, ff fudgicles for an after dinner snack.  If I stayed on track with this, if I did have a weak moment it was OK and I would just get back to the basics.  Practicing your chewing and slowing down to enjoy it really helps too. I know the amount of bread or any kind of carb like pasta I was eating on the pre-op diet won't happen now that I have the band.  It did however help me with the pre-op diet. I haven't had my first fill yet but I gather from the lap band board that this will help with my feeling fuller.   It took a lot of work to get this tool.  And it's going to take a lot of will power to use it to it's full potential. I can see how bad you want this.  Let that rule!  Let your stomach know who's boss now. I am down fifty pounds since my pre-op diet and surgery and I can walk a couple miles without being tired.  My arthritic knees have stopped their constant pain.  I'm off my meds for diabetes and high blood pressure.  And I no longer have acid reflux.  I'm working toward getting off my cpap machine for the sleep apnea.  I feel GREAT!  Give yourself the chance to get down that 10 lbs and see how much better you feel.  There is also the pride in doing it! Good Luck, Bev

Thanks guys. I am so close to giving up just cause I don't want to mess up but yet by giving up I fail. I know it doesn't make sense but it's easier to give up than fail. I am really frustrated now. Last night the monster in law got mad at me cause I didn't eat the corn she left me and made some califlower and ramen. I took some carbs with the ramen instead of the corn and I still needed vegis. She just doesn't understand how corn and peas are NOT vegis when it comes to a diet. I can do this and I will do this. Not sure how since the monster in law is cooking and gets pissy (can I say that here) if you cook something that she didn't when she made you something already. Oh and I even sat her down after my first meeting with Liz and told her that I needed vegis and NOT corn and peas. She just doesn't get it.  Kathy

Kathy, don't give up. You have the courage and the will power to succeed. We all mess up at times, the important thing is to forgive yourself and just pick up where you left off. As for your MIL, tune her out and keep to your plan. She will eventually get the message. Hang in  there, remember we are all only human and may not  make the best  choices at times. This journey to change how, when and what we eat is a continous work in progress.   Have you tried giving you MIL a list of the foods you should be eating? Does she do all the cooking and shopping.? If so, you need to make sure that you have what you need in the house  and tell her you will make it for yourself. All the best Sher

Poohette: Everybody has given you good sound advice. Not much I can add but a few thoughts. First from what I have seen of you so far... YOU ARE A WARRIOR WOMAN indeed. So consider taking some time to go within and have a talk with that part of you and ask for help right now. I do that all the time. (I have a gang within!)  I usually say... "Hey, I need  help doing this or that." Just the act of doing that kind of centers me and gets me in touch with what is important to me and my strength within. I know that your family is not supportive, so it makes perfect sense that as you get closer they will put up barriers in your way. This may not even be conscious on their parts. We all have a "dance" that we do with each other. My husband use to offer me food (before the surgery) because he wanted to eat it!  And it is scary to do this surgery.. so you may be falling back into patterns that you dont like. Be gentle yet with yourself, yet require what is asked of you right now, knowing that the outcome is your reward. and remember what Pooh said... It's so much more friendly with two. Winnie the Pooh Piglet, Pooh's Little Instruction Book Well you have more than two here. You have all of the CT board behind you. Hang in there. Listen to your wise self. And remember... YOU CAN DO THIS. I feel it in my gut.... rather... my pouch! T.

Kathy - I do not have any better advise then what was already given to you by these awesome people - but wanted to just let you know that I am rooting for you and have faith that you can get through this - this is a long, hard battle that I am still fighting even though I had my surgery over a year ago - I would still qualify for the surgery!  But, that's okay - as long as we keep trying we can not be considered failures - it's better to try then give up - giving up is a positive path to pain - keep up the good fight - you can do it!!  Just remember to be nice to yourself - you deserve it!