New Group Member

Hello to everyone, I joined the group last week but due to some technical difficulties my post did not show right away.  Patrece suggested that I post again to introduce myself.  I am Norma and hope to have an RNY in July.  I started my liquid died today because I need to lose 60 pounds before my surgery.  There is a family cookout today and I was going to go but as soon as I turned on the television there was a commercial for food and I got so hungry that I knew there was no way I'd be able to be around food on the grill and stay strong (not my first day).  So I opted to stay home alone and now I'm sipping on some green tea.  I welcome any words of wisdom from those who have gone through the liquid diet phase.  I have a slight headache but I think I was more tired than anything else today. 

Hello from one Marylander to another...although I am in Western Maryland!  :)  I just want to wish you all the best in reaching your goals.  I wish I had some tips and strategies that would make it easier for you, but even though people often tell us that we took the easy way out, there is NOTHING easy about any of this.  That said, it is so worth it.  It was the best decision I ever made and I would do it again in a heart beat.  :)

The tool you will get in July will help with the physical hunger, but the head hunger and the mental stuff are the toughest to overcome.  Even after the surgery.  What are you doing for yourself to deal with the mental and emotional aspects of this??  Do you have a local support group that you can turn to?  Are you journaling and exploring in writing what your thoughts and feelings are as you go through this?  Are you writing down your goals and hopes for the future and letting them motivate you when your head starts to tell you you are hungry?  Have you had the conversations you need to with people close to you, friends as well as family, so they will understand and support you??  These are some of the things that come to mind.

Again, none of this is easy, but just hold on FIERCELY to the reasons why you decided to take this journey and where you hope to be in the future.  Hold on to anything that helps you get there...and let go of anything that keeps you stuck where you don't want to be.

We are here to help you!!!!  Wishing you all the best!  And please let me know if there is something I can do to be of assistance to you.


Guayas  

Welcome to the group Norma.  I had to avoid food when on the liquid part of the diet too.  Are you going to be on the liquids until July?  That is a long time, 8 plus weeks.  Are you working with a nutritionist?

What are you doing at this time for activity/exercise?  Activity will help with distraction from food and to help the pounds shed off.  Does your family know that you are planning surgery?  Are they supportive?

Things that help, having support, local and here online.  This is a great group for lending needed support.  I agree with Guayas on writing/journaling is a good way to explore feelings.  We feed lots of our feelings with food when these feelings actually need nourishment other than food.  This is the head part of this that we are all working on.

Let's loste weight together.  Hugs

Hey Norma! Glad that you held in there for when i was able to get your post approved, and so glad you reintroduced yourself. You have gotten great feedback.
I too need to ask, are you working with a doctor on the pre-op weight loss plan? From now until july is a very long time to try to do all liquids and could make you pretty ill.
What about surgar free carnation instant breakfast for breakfast and lucnch, then a sensible low carb low fat dinner?  It can be very hard and discouraging to try to go too hard on yourself too quickly.
I used a diet profram by Ann Louise gittleman. Called the fat flush diet. (during my 6 month pre-op diet) and I lost 34 lbs in 6 weeks. I could have probably kept losing, but I hit a plateau, and instead of sticking with it, I went back to my old ways, and gained every pound back. This is not the same as the fat smash diet thats out there now. But, just something to consider if you are not on a particular plan. It fits nicely with the low carb, lower fat lifestyle we need to live for our wls success. I can't promise it will result in losing 60 lbs by July, but it is a very effective weight loss plan, if you stick with it, even during the plateaus.

Ue the journal you down,loaded, and come here for support. Unless you are truly physically hungry, find something.. anything to do to stay distracted from food. Reading, crafting, sewing, researching wls, posting and replying here, a nice walk in nature..join a club of intrest... get as many things in line as you can to turn to when that "head hunger" starts pounding at your brain.

The tiredness and even headaches will occur eapecially for the first 3 days as you begin to de-carb. Hang in there, it will get better.

Can also try the Adkins protein drinks high,  seemed I started drinking these pre-op & my hunger wasn't there as much & I had more energy due to the high Protein content.  Keep up the good work you got this far you can do it !