Congratulations Katie!  Can't wait to join you.  My surgery is coming up Oct 17.  We are supposed to be on liquids for 4 weeks after surgery then go to mushies for 4 weeks.  I know its hard but try to keep to that as much as you can.  The earlier you start eating solids the faster you stomach will stretch and the less benefit you will get out of it.  Have you tried sugar-free popcicles or sugar free Jello?  At least then you can get the sensation of biting something.  We are from the same town and I was not able to find sugar-free popcicles here but Chapman's has their own suger free version.  You can get them at Dominion. 

 

Hi, I am in Newfoundland, Canada,, and had my VS done on Sept 12 and todate I have lost 34 pounds but its from my pre-opt getting ready ,,,, its almost three weeks now and from my surgery date I have lost 12 pounds and very happy with my results.  I went thru all my pre-opt dieting and my surgery with a breeze, never had one compllication (thank god) and going into my third week ,, I am so so sick of the shakes and I urge now when I have to take them,, I have been on this a week prior to my surgery so this is like Day 21 with liquids,,, this past week I am eating puddings which is a bout the heaviest but I am longing so much for food,,,,  my sugars are up and down,,, so, just how long do you have to wait before you can take in food,, if you are feeling good and no complications??   I would love to have a mashed boiled egg.. any suggestions,, and so happy for all those with such sucess stories,,, I can't wait from week to week to weigh myself and see the weight going,,, I was wearing a size 18 but now can fit into a 16 and at first my goal was to fit into a 14, but now I may change it and go to at 11-12 .... I just love how it makes me feel and to get compliments already from family and friends and really it has not even started,,,,, thanks so much for all the post.. I love reading them,,,

I love the first few days on a low carb diet.  6 pounds of the 8 I had gained back are GONE!!!  If only I could keep losing at that rate but I'll take it while it lasts.

Thanks DeeDee. Hey Tina, You surprised me with that last comment about not
chewing gum or using straws??? I chew sugarless gum and I drink my shakes
with a straw....give me the scoop on that... Thanks. Terrie

Hello Ladies,
  As a Newfoundlander I was intrigued to read this forum even though I have been living in Alberta for over 15 years.  Can take the girl out of the island but not the island out of the girl...lol  The struggles you talk about are not uncommon and we all have our demons.  In Alberta we have a program called Weight Wise that is very comprehensive in nature.  We are assigned a nurse *****ally is the lead for our program while we see dietitians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists (if necessary), sleep doctors, and other professionals as required.  We are not to meet the surgeon until each member of our team signs off on their part of the program.  The clinic requires that you begin losing weight immediately while following some guidelines set by your team.  Each person is given a different 'magic' number before surgery will be considered and they use this time to ensure that you are not only showing effort but that you are adressing some of the issues that have brought you to this place. 
I bet you are thinking wow that's incredible...and yes it is but again there are wait times, like everything else in our healthcare system.  I was referred to the program in 2008 and didn't get in until November 2010.  From there things moved what I think is quickly in healthcare standards.  For me, the nearly 3 year wait seemed to last forever...I frequently thought why are they making me wait when things are only getting worse...Really and truly I am now glad for the wait.  I was not ready to make the necessary changes to sustain what is now my new relationship with food. 
Last week I had a my sleeve surgery.  In advance of the surgery I lost 100lbs.  Many people said wow, if you can lose that much without surgery then why do you even need it.  The surgery for me is a 'tool' to keep the weight off and help me lose the rest of what I want to lose.  The reality of any bariatric surgery is that you can 'fool' it.  If I was the same self sabotaging me I would find a way to get a chocolate bar down my new tummy, perhaps even chasing it with an ice cream.  I'm not saying that there won't always be a temptation out there but I do feel more equipped now to resist that temptation.  We are all human and will make mistakes so we have to be prepared for that.  My fear is that people think that bariatric surgery is their 'miracle'.  Sure not feeling hungry is helpful, but that hunger is only physical, our head hunger is often much stronger.   Start making some of those changes now, reach out to various other practioners to see how they can help, address why you eat what you eat....These will all be great steps that will make your surgery that much more successful. 

I hope this doesn't sound lecture like because it is not what is intended...I want to support if I can and please feel free to ask questions.

D.