Starting week 2 of pre-op diet

Week one down, and beginning the second week of my pre-op diet (protein shakes 2-3 times per day and 1 reasonable meal consisting of  5 oz. of lean protein and 2 cups of non-starchy vegetables).  I lost 10 pounds on the first week which is probably mostly water, but always nice to get a big number like that when you begin.  :)  Not expecting a huge loss this week because that is how it normally goes for me (I've tried everything before WLS), but when I finish this week, I'll be having surgery!  

You know, probably not many people in this world are actually LOOKING FORWARD to surgery LOL, but here we are!  Of course, it's not the surgery I'm excited about -- it's the change in my life that I'm looking forward to.   I can't wait to be able to play with my kids on a different level, have the energy to climb the stairs without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack when I get to the top, ride roller coasters again, buy an airplane ticket without the risk of being humiliated by a flight attendant if the flight is full, feel comfortable in my clothes, the list goes on and on. 

Counting down the days ...

I know exactly how you feel. I had my surgery 8 weeks ago, and I am down a total of 40 pounds. I also was excited about my surgery, and every day that I was in recovery I did more and more, and my energy came back. I'm back to the gym now and even started running (something that was impossible before). I've also gone from a size 24 to an 18 in those 8 weeks. You are going to LOVE it. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

Wow your getting closer...yay! I am not even envying you right now with the liquid diet..and I am still pre op..lol.. but I am excited for you and cant wait til you are on the other side and I will be joining in few months..hopefully sooner... btw.. My surgeon has not required liquid prep..only nothing day before and light eating prior...wait a min.. shut my mouth.. does light eating mean liquid diet??? ok this is open mouth insert foot moment happening.. LOL... will find out..

Your right about the looking forward to surgery.. I never did..til now. Weird..others are not going to understand..but ohwell..
I have the same insight on my post op goals looking forward to being there to play with my kids and just have fun with my kids..no more mom can not do this due to pain and bad health and size...

Cant wait to see the new you..

huggs

Yeayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! you are half way through the liquid diet and doing awesome! Keep up the good work. My liquid diet was similar to yours except it was 3 oz of lean protein and 1 cup of non starchy veggies, and I only had to do it for 3 days. Then the 4th day was all clear liquids. Surgery the next am.

Your life is going to be so much more livable and enjoyable! Just wait and see. It is something else! The other day my son tod me they were looking thrugh old pics with my 4 year old granddaughter, She and I are so so so very close, but she was like who is that holding me? They told her it was Grammy. Then when I saw her she told me, grammy you used to be really big and kinda fat. I think you look precious now. LOL... Gotta love it.. straight from the mouth of babes! My son and his wife both said, they knew I was overweight, but until looking at those pictures, they never really realized how big i was. Son said "damn Mom...you look great!" lol

Awwwwww, I think my family would probably say the same thing.  They think I'm "overweight" but not obese.  I've explained that I'm not just obese, but I'm extremely morbidly obese.  I'm almost super obese!  I'm pretty tall so it's all spread over my body, but when your belly is bigger than your boobs, Houston, we have a problem!! 

I hope my friends, family and co-workers have a positive response to the change.  I had lunch with a friend yesterday who doesn't know I'm having the surgery.  She knows that I'm dieting as is she.  We've done other diet plans together before.  We discussed that a friend of ours is doing a diet that we both feel is dangerous and we're concerned about her.  That led to discussions about people she knows at her church that have had WLS and her remarks about that left me feeling like I did the right thing by not telling folks about my decision.  It wasn't her judgment that was concerning, but she was commenting about the judgment of other people towards these WLS patients.  She said that to their face, most folks were complimentary and praised them for their success and how good they look now.  However, she heard what they said when they weren't around too.  Comments like, "Yeah, but she didn't do it naturally," "He could have lost the same weight if he would have just worked out more and ate less," "Cutting into your body to lose weight is the ultimate display of vanity," and "Guess she won't be going to Golden Corral with us anymore" proved to my friend that folks are very judgmental about it.  She said that some of the folks lost friends because of it.  I'm worried that might happen to me -- especially because where I work is a very conservative competitive environment.

As I think more about it though, I think if you lose friends over your self improvement, maybe they weren't friends in the first place.  Real friends would want you to be healthy, happy and feel good about yourself.

As I think more about it though, I think if you lose friends over your self improvement, maybe they weren't friends in the first place.  Real friends would want you to be healthy, happy and feel good about yourself.

You got it dead on there lady! Usually when people lose friends over it, it is because the friends are jealous..and they will be very critical when jealous. Or because the basis of the friendship was social meet ups where it revolved around food, and that common interest is no longer a part of the relationship.

When I overhear some conversations such as the ones your friend youmentioned above mentioned to you, I just listen for a while. Thennnnnnnn I get my turn. This usually happens when the people talking doo doo don't know me well and have no clue i was ever obese. So before anything I give them a crash course in how"EASY" it isn't for these people. The fact that traditional weight loss attempts failed them, and that WLS is a last hope of sorts for them. Once I get them good and interested, I tell them "by the way...I had weight loss surgery". You should see the faces turn red and hear the excuses start flying out of them. It's actually rather entertaining at this pint...lol I'm mean in that way huh? hehehehe.

I do not walk around with a sign on my forehead that I had the surgery, but if it comes up I don't hesitate but to admit that I have. I am not ashamed in any way to admit that I did what I had to do for my health and my life and I let em all know that this is far from the easy way out they'd like to think it is.  ADVOCATE... thats me..lol

Over the years I have learned well.. people shun what they do not understand. They criticize it run it down... But you'd be suprised how many times after i get off my soapbox how many people start really asking questions because suddenly they have this interest in it.

I can imagine!!  Honestly, I'm not ashamed of my decision, but I recognize the social, emotional and potential work-related implications.  People can be cruel and jealous -- my work enviroment is especially tough, competitive and judgmental.  It's heartbreaking to see people behave that way!

Kim I am looking forward to seeing you on the losing side of surgery too.  One day at a time and zipppppp, the day will be here.  We all have the list of things we look forward to as our bodies adjust and life gets easier.  Hugssssss

Thanks very much, Kathy!  I'm counting down the hours!