We need some chatter around here!

I'm falling asleep here. Anybody got any questions, comments, concerns, goodies or gripes?

I'll start...ok, I'm thinking....................................


What scared you the most about having WLS?  I was afraid my metabolism was so burned out that I'd fail at this too. So, I really low carbed until I flew by 24.9BMI and was afraid I wouldn't stop. My surgeon and Vitalady told me to chill. lol

How did your family and closest friends react when you told them? Mine were concerned, doubted I needed it and had questions but I've gotten pretty great support once they understood I was serious and insurance and the surgeon agreed with me. My mom has been one of my best supporters.

--g

Good evening Gina.  I'm griping tonight.  I've started presurgery diet of Optifast.  I'm having a hard time maintaing good energy, but this is only day 3 on it.  I'm hoping it gets better in the next few days.  I need to work the day before surgery, and that's a clear liquid diet day.  I really don't know how I'll do it.

What scares me the most about having WLS:  That I'll hate it once I have it.  I'm afraid I'll go around not feeling good for some reason.  I have low blood sugar issues, and hope I don't have a lot of problems with that post-op.

How did your family and closest friends react when told:  Husband was/is totally against it, but is trying to be supportive as best as he knows how.  Mom didn't take much convincing.  Friends varied in reactions, but nothing real negative.

I used New Whey protein bullets on my clear fluids day. I didn't have to do a pre-op diet.

Good hint on using the protein bullets.  I've already bought some, and it didn't even occur to me to use some on the day before surgery.

I've got a goodie!

I was craving hot chocolate but didn't have any in the house.  I did have a carton of unsweetened chocolate almond milk that was soon to expire.  I filled up a mug and added a couple shots of Torani SF Almond Roca and heated it up in the microwave.  OMG it was delish!  And the stats are better than Swiss Miss SF too!

I can't wait to try it with the Coconut and Peanut Butter syrups.  :0)

Yasmeen

Sounds good! Cinnamon or mint is good in hot chocolate too. I think I'll look for SF choc almond milk next trip to the store.

What scared you the most about having WLS?   The pain! I hate pain and just knew it was going to be bad, also the idea of rearranging my insides. I will be honest though, I was afraid I would bleed profusely and not stop. I have a history of bleeding disorder in the family and I have it slightly, I was deeply afraid of this. The pain I experienced was a direct result of the bleeding disorder though.

How did your family and closest friends react when you told them?
The only family I told was my DH and he has been extremely supportive from the beginning, told maybe 2 friends and only because I knew they had the same type of surgery and wanted advice. Other than that I just told everyone else about 2 weeks ago and really did not care what they had to say. There was a reason I did not tell them in the first place and felt they did not need any explanations.

I was terrified that this too would not work, that I'd messed up my metabolism by yo-yo dieting and exercise bulimia so badly that even WLS wouldn't help. And the corollary - my brother was firmly against my having the surgery, and if this DIDN'T work, I really didn't want to hear about it from him!

Other than brother (who is now firmly on board that I made a good decision), most of family and friends asked first if I really needed surgery, and then if I needed it, why not a band as it's less invasive. Once I explained that yes, medically I DID need it, and that the band was no less invasive than the RNY, everyone got on board.

Some non-close people at work have been snarky, but them I don't care about.

Ummmmm... DH made chicken tacos for dinner tonight... delish!

 Hi Gina,

I hit my 9 month mark yesterday.  Today i wore my new roomy size 12 coat to walk to work and saw my reflection in a storefront window.  I had my first sense that maybe this will work for me.  I've never taken off weight and kept it off, never.  I've never been successful at a diet except in OA and when i quit the food plan, the weight came back.  I was so afraid of failing yet again, but this time after altering my body.   As you're all probably sick of hearing, my metabolism is so screwed up that even after surgery i struggle for 1 pound a week, but at least they're staying off.

I didn't tell many people about my surgery.  My son encouraged me to do it as did a few friends.  Only one person tried to talk me out of it.  My brother said that he knew I'd done enough research and trusted me when I said this was the end of the line.

My concern now is getting to goal.  I want to prove that even metabolically challenged, older women can do it!

Last night we had a plastic surgeon do a presentation at support group.  I loved seeing the transformations, but have to admit that those big incisions really scare me.  I'm just not good with pain.

I was supposed to have a friend here for the weekend, but he had a medical issue come up so suddenly my weekend was wide open.  I've scheduled a few walks and two movie dates with girlfriends to occupy myself.  *sigh*

Well since I wasn't successful with the band, I was terrified of failure-even more than the thought of dying on the table!  No worry-I've already lost more in 2 months than I ever did on any diet and that includes the band.  Lucky for me, my husband has been really supportive.

I didn't keep it a secret at all.  Many people knew I had been having problems with the band.  Plus the assistant principal where I worked had RNY and looked fabulous.  Her starting stats were identical to mine so I got to see what could happen.