I am so addicted and I don't know what to do

Well, I am scheduled to have the VSG on 2/3/09.  I currently weight 530 pounds.  The last time I saw my surgeon was July 08.  It too****il the end of Nov 08 to get my surgery approved.  I was supposed to be trying to lose weight.  I haven't lost any.  I lose and gain, lose and gain.  I absolutely hate my life and have a wonderful opportunity for life to getting ready to slip out of my hands.  I have 2 1/2 weeks until my pre-op testing.  Can anyone help me know what to do or how to lose enough weight to make a difference before my weigh in?  I haven't been able to talk to anyone that has as much excess weight as I do.  I cannot breathe to hardly walk across the floor and the pain in absolutely horrible.  I cannot understand why this is even a problem for me to do, I should be jumping at the chance to lose this weight.  I am so unhappy and I don't want to be a failure, I just don't know how to stop eating.

Stop ALL carbs. Starches, fruits, sugar. It will come off fast. I can't believe they left you on your own to do this! I had a Nutritionist for ten months (I weighed 487 and had to lose 80lbs). It is super-important to shrink your liver pre op. There is still time if you start now. If your liver is too fatty they will have to close you up and not do the operation. That would suck! 2 weeks is plenty of time to make it happen though. Try eating fat free cottage cheese and fat free sugar free yogurt, lean meats, veggies (no potatoes or sweet poataoes, corn or carrots though...just green stuff mostly) I was on this diet pre op and it does work. It's pretty much what we are supposed to eat post op so it's like getting a head start. I had RNY though so your diet may be different.

You can do this...Hang in there

I know that if you stop carbs, you will lose faster.  Thanks for reminding me of that.  I have been so frustrated, I'm not even thinking straight.  Should they have been contacting me, do you think?  His office staff hasn't contacted me the first time, for anything.  I kinda wished they would have, being accountable does help sometimes, but I thought that was up to me.   Do you think if I stop soda's for 2 weeks?  I drink alot of Diet Coke but everybody keeps telling me to stop them.  Thanks for listening.

I lost a good bit of weight initially on my pre-op diet by drinking 2 or 3 Atkins Advantage shakes through the day and then having a small dinner of meat and veggies (no sauces, oils, dressings, frying, etc.) The dinner would be 3 ounces of meat (about the size of your palm or a deck of cards) plus a large plate of veggies in the form of salad or cooked veggies without butter or anything. Also, increase your water as much as possible (aim for 100oz per day) and cut all other beverages except the shakes. No soda, diet soda, coffee, milk, anything  like that. It won't' be forever, but those things increase your appetite and depending on what it is, add extra calories. 

I started at 440lbs and lost 20lbs in 2 weeks doing this - then the weight loss slowed. I started with a BMI of 83 (I am very short and small-framed so I was carrying a ton of weight for my size).

As far as exercise, do whatever you can, because it will increase the strength of your lungs and heart - even if that means short 5 min walks every hour instead of anything long in duration. Consider a pool if you have access, or an arm bike if you are completely sedentary.

I know this is hard, this is the hardest thing you will ever do for yourself. But its for you, its for your life and your health and its not about anyone but you. YOU must find the will power to be successful. Look deep inside yourself and decide if you are ready for 100% commitment to a new life. Other people can help you, encourage you, give you advice and understanding, but in the long run its up to you. Every day will be a battle (especially before surgery) but now is the time to decide if you are willing to put forth everything that you have.

You can do it!

OHHH YEES! PLease stop the diet pop. It can make you hungrier. You won't be allowed any post op so might as well get past that hurdle now. I feel so bad that they left you on your own...SOme programs are like that and some are more on your butt about things. mine was UP my butt. Lol. They monitored me every month for almost a year beforehand..I was forced to comply and that made me mad at the time but I am glad for it now. Tough love is what I needed. I know how hard it is to do this...it feels impossible but you can do it. Every little improvement you make now will increase your chances of having a safe and successful surgery. Just load up the fridge with low-fat high protein ready to eat foods so it won't be hard to make the right decision. Everyday it gets easier once you get going.

Picture how happy you will be when you can walk again (I couldn't really walk pre op either...before I lost that first big chunk of weight) and think of how awesome it will feel to have that freedom!

Nothing tastes that good This forum is so supportive...if you feel like your gonna "lose it" and screw up just come here and talk a while...we have all been there.

I would def cut out the pop ASAP, you dont want to be dealing with a caffeine withdrawal headache after surgery.

Will they have you on a liquid diet pre-op? Are they planning on doing your surgery laproscopically? I would contact your doctors office ASAP and find out what the pre-op diet will be and perhaps start it a week earlier.

if they dont do a pre-op diet, then I would cut out all carbs.

good luck!! You can do it!

Also a simple exercise that can help you burncalories without being able to walk is simply air boxing, my PT told me at our size anything we do is an aerobic exercise. You would be surprised at how quickly you can tire out just boxing air. LOL definately cut out the sodas even die****er water and more water Crystal light is good as well, go ahead and get you some protien drinks and strt upping that protien it helps burn fat as well. And we are here for you even if your doctor isnt.

Thanks so much for your replies.  You know, I really liked my doctor, I went to 4 different doctors to make sure I was at the right one.  But this one area now has me concerned, thinking did I pick the right person?  But in the end, it is up to me to be accountable.  Even if they did contact me, that doesn't mean I would have stayed with my program.  Well, I got up today and did a liquid supplement for breakfast and now I am drinking water.  So far, so good.

I am so afraid of this surgery but yet I know I have to have it.  I have such a hard time breathing, I don't know what to expect from that breathing tube.  I was told they put a shot in your stomach before the surgery.  The breathing tube thing is probably what I am most scared of.  Please say a prayer for me.  I appreciate you all so much.

They will put you out before they do your tube. I was scared of it too but I had some practice with a few smaller surgeries beforehand when I was very heavy and it was never a big deal. You will be given a relaxing type drug in your IV before you get into the OR and they will then put a mask on you and ask you to breathe deeply...then you wake up in your recovery room and it's done! That's it. It'll be OK.

PS~ the shot is just Heparin...so you won't get a clot. I got mine inn my side...it's just a little pinch. No biggie

the shot thing bothered me too as we ha dto bring our version home and do one a day for 10 days after coming home. I got over it quickly and it wasnt as bad as I thought. I never even knew if I had a tube, it was so not an issue as it is done while you are out. One thing they had us do is if you have a sleep apnea machine they wanted you to bring it with you to the hospil call and ask your doc if you have one if you nee dto bring it.

You will do fine and good luck on teh diet before hand.