Hi everyone!

Well I'm finally out of the 180s!

Next goal is 174, which will take me out of the obese category for the first time in my life!

stats:

HW: 378

LW: 180.8

TW: 177

goals: 174, overweight BMI !

Hope everyone had a good week!

Wow, Diane! Welcome! You are killing it as a pre-op and your dedication (and good sense) will help you immensely as a post-op. If you can eat 600-800 calories now, then I see major successes in your future. I remember right before surgery (I had surgery almost 4 years ago, as a 36 year old female who was 5'4" and 351 lbs) I also dreamt of being comfortable in an airplane seat and being comfortable in restaurant booths. I didn't even realize the hundreds of other NSVs (non scale victories) I would have - crossing my legs, wrapping the standard size gym towel around my body, shopping in any store, walking up a bazillion flights of stairs and not dying, not sweating from just walking outside for 3 minutes in the summer...the list goes on and on! You're in for a great ride!

And I am with you - spice it up! Unjury chicken flavor protein shakes may help you a lot when you are on liquids, or Isopure unflavored protein powder added to broth. I also loved part-skim ricotta cheese warmed up with Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. If you're a coffee gal, try the Chike iced coffee protein powder from amazon as well.

And re: kill for a pork chop, there are many ways of eating post-WLS but most of us here eat all cuts of meat (some may agree with you early on, some not until later) but eating pork, beef, bacon etc can totally fit into your macros. A bit of fat keeps you full and as long as you focus on protein, specifically dense protein, you can totally have a pork chop! Just not a pork chop, a pound of mashed potatoes, a side Caesar salad AND two bread baskets ;) (what many of us had as a pre-op lol).

Welcome and good luck!

Amazing loss. You are on your way. Enjoy the ride. The scale will move again. You may just be in the infamous three week stall -- right on time.

Hi all,

I am 20 days post op today. I moved into puréed foods this week!

The scale hasn't moved in several days, but I think that's because I am having bowel trouble. I got great advice on the Ontario board, and am hoping to have some painless movement, and regular movement again soon. That will also likely get the scale moving again.

Mall in all, I'm still thrilled with my overall loss to date. I never would have lost this on my own!

HW: 308

LW: 280

TW: 278

Wishing everyone a great week!

Good morning!

I wanted to introduce myself.

My name is Diane and I live in Jacksonville FL. My surgery is scheduled for 9/29. I hope to be a regular in this topic really soon.

HW: 565

SW:460

I started with a BMI of over 90 and a weight of 522. I was going for gall bladder removal surgery and the night before I was scheduled, I discovered that my health plan (for some unknown mystical, magical reason) began covering WLS. I didn't question it. I called the surgeon (who happens to specialize in bariatric surgery) and we did the happy dance together. This was July 13, 2017. I immediately started the prep work and managed to get through all the tests by Aug 13, 2017. I was approved for surgery on 9/12 by my insurance company.

I wasn't required to lose a particular amount of weight prior to surgery, but I was told I had be on the "phase two" plan for 4 weeks before surgery. Luckily for me, I started phase 2 the day I decided to do this. (July 13) and have lost 62 pounds in the last two months.

Now, I have always been the person who hated and refused to do artificial sweeteners and "diet" food. (No mystery as to how I got to over 500+ pounds, eh?) But, when the surgery became a possibility, I found something deep down inside that allowed me to begin the phase II diet immediately. I average 600-800 calories a day with less than 45 carbs. Chicken, lean fish, and turkey and vegetables ONLY (with protein shakes). No grains, no fruit, no dairy, no shellfish, no beef/pork/lamb, no starchy vegs (including peas) and no added fats. Of course, it helped when my surgeon told me that if I went into surgery with a fatty liver that it could crack in half when she lifted it. Scared the bejesus out of me!

But, please do not think that I am saying that this has been a cakewalk. Some days I could have killed for a pork chop. The protein shakes were unbearable (sicky sweet and literally made me nauseous!****il I discovered UNFLAVORED Isopure and combined it with no calorie drink enhancers (like the ones you get at Walmart - only 10 calories) or tomato juice or chicken broth. It made the drinks tolerable.

The worst part was/is the "head hunger". But I want this... I want this surgery soooo bad. Until I really wanted to quit, there was no way I was going to be successful. At least that is the way it works for me.

Thank goodness for cloud bread, turkey sausage and eggbeaters. Cod and nutritional yeast. Carbquik. Perky jerky. And Skinny Pasta/Rice, etc. And spices. Spice it up, roasted vegetables with olive oil spray and garlic.

I'm already getting saggy. But I'm ok with it. I will take every wrinkle, every sag and be joyful that I will someday walk under my own power again (I'm currently in a motorized chair). I want to ride a horse again and only take up one seat on an airplane. Fitting through standard doorways would also be a blessing. Not having to use an "extension" tool in the bathroom is another goal I look forward to. This is what I think about when the urge to eat that pork chop hits.

I hope you all have a happy and successful week and I promise I won't write chapters going forward. Thank you for putting up with me today and happy to meet you!