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starting adventure

Court

New Member
I am just starting this new adventure. It is exciting and a little scary at the same time. Forums are another first for me but I think it will be helpful to talk with so many going down this same path. I am currently in my 90 days preop. Two protein shakes a day and one meal. Surprisingly the shakes are filling and I do well throughout the day. The problem is when I get home. I'm hungry and not cutting back. The positive is that I rarely eat out anymore and cut out soda. I'm down 10lbs but should be doing better. Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
 
Hi Court. Welcome to the group. Congrats on your weight loss so far. When I was pre op, I found slow and steady won the race. Take it a step at a time as far as cutting things out of your life. That way you don’t relapse. Which surgery are you having? I had Bypass 10 months ago. Look forward to getting to know you. :)
 
I am just starting this new adventure. It is exciting and a little scary at the same time. Forums are another first for me but I think it will be helpful to talk with so many going down this same path. I am currently in my 90 days preop. Two protein shakes a day and one meal. Surprisingly the shakes are filling and I do well throughout the day. The problem is when I get home. I'm hungry and not cutting back. The positive is that I rarely eat out anymore and cut out soda. I'm down 10lbs but should be doing better. Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
I found the prep time was the hardest. I made a rule for myself not to eat after 7 pm. It depends what your allowed for the meal. Filling up on low calorie foods. No matter what it is worth all the effort.
 
Hi. This is my first time joining this group. I just started my journey, too! I just began a 6-month pre-operative program. For each month, there are certain tasks you need to complete to get a "green light" to move ahead to the next month. Well, the first month was the easiest! I essentially just had to go to my first appointment. I already feel a little overwhelmed because overall, I need to lose 26 lbs on my own by the 6th month. The only problem is that in all the diets in my life, I never was able to lose more than 15 lbs and was never able to keep it off! I feel like I'm such a newbie in this process when I read about others who are so far ahead in their journeys . . .
 
Welcome! Oh and have no fear, if your in a program where you'll have a 2 week liquid diet, it will help you lose the weight. You'll feel like your starving...but it will help things along. I lost 13lbs in my one week liquid diet, and there are so many here that lost quite a bit when they were on 2 weeks of liquids only. It's hard, but it is worth it. I imagine if you lose 15 lbs. before that point, you'll reach goal before the end. :) Anyway, welcome to the group, and best of luck on your new journey! There are some awesome people here that are super supportive and willing to help if you need it. :)
 
I appreciate the warm welcome. I'm also thrilled that I already received helpful advice that calms my anxiety about this whole process that is just starting!
 
Hi. This is my first time joining this group. I just started my journey, too! I just began a 6-month pre-operative program. For each month, there are certain tasks you need to complete to get a "green light" to move ahead to the next month. Well, the first month was the easiest! I essentially just had to go to my first appointment. I already feel a little overwhelmed because overall, I need to lose 26 lbs on my own by the 6th month. The only problem is that in all the diets in my life, I never was able to lose more than 15 lbs and was never able to keep it off! I feel like I'm such a newbie in this process when I read about others who are so far ahead in their journeys . . .
You can do it! We will help you stay positive. Keep checking in. :)
 
This newbie has finally returned to the forum. I have my 3rd of 6 months appointment today. In the program I am in, this is pretty much one of the decision points along the way. And that is whether you are really ready to commit to having weight loss surgery and do all the pre-operative prerequisites such as blood tests, basal metabolic rate, determining your goal weight, being scheduled for the behavior interview, etc. Due to crazy appointment scheduling, I had about 6 weeks between my appointments for months 1 and 2, but only 3 weeks between months 2 and 3. And Christmas and New Year's fell during this time. I think I have lost at least half the weight they want me to lose, which is on schedule, although I slipped up a bit around the holidays. I have been kind of isolating myself during this time to figure out whether I am ready to make this life-long commitment. Has anyone else struggled a lot with this decision? I keep flip flopping and I don't feel as confident about making this decision as I usually do when I make decisions. What was other people's experience like when they were making this decision? :(
 
I wish I could tell you everything about the decision is skittles and rainbows and cute puppies and easy. I can't, because it isn't. I agree with you, it is a life-long commitment and a very hard decision for most people. I personally didn't struggle with the decision myself. I had the surgery for medical necessity and preventative care. What you need to really focus on is your life-long commitment to obesity. Are you at a point in your life where you are ready to change that status and work towards a new and healthy you? If you choose not to have the surgery, is that because you are going to commit to getting healthy, eating the right foods, losing the weight, working out and reaching your goal weight naturally over time? If so, I commend you on that and I wish you total success! If you choose to have the surgery, you still have to commit to getting healthy, eating the right foods, losing the weight, working out and reaching your goal weight, you just do it a little differently and you use the tool given to you to help you be successful in your efforts to achieve a new and healthy you. It is completely worth the effort to either get fit naturally or have the surgery. You are worth it either way you choose to go. The big question is, can you do it on your own if you don't have the surgery? Only you know that answer. So, yes, it is a lifestyle change in the way you eat and maintain your health and wellness. Yes, the surgery is hard and recovery as well. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In my opinion anyway. I'm only 6 months out from bypass surgery. It's been rough. There have been times I have thought 'What was I thinking?' and adjusting to the new lifestyle beyond recovery takes time and there are many bumps along the way. At the heart of everything though, when asked, I absolutely do not regret the surgery. I am 6 months out, I've lost 100 lbs. so far. I'm working out 5-6 days a week, (yes, that's right, someone who never exercised a day in her life is at a gym nearly every day of the week, crazy right?) and I can do things I could never do before. My quality of life has improved so much in such a short period of time, that I just feel blessed and am so much happier. Makes all of those rough bumps easier to handle because I know I'm working towards a new and improved healthy life. I hope you make the right decision for yourself. Everyone is different. I think you can do this and be successful!
 
Pixx, you are amazing! I arrived at my appointment a little early this morning and saw your reply. It couldn't have come at a better time. Your wisdom can only have come through the experience you have been through and your incredible self-awareness. I truly admire those traits of yours. Your reply has really helped me focus on the essence of the decision which is deciding whether I am finally ready to truly commit myself to losing weight and living a different, more healthy lifestyle. Like you said, the decision to have the surgery, as a tool to achieve the healthy lifestyle, is important, but secondary to the commitment to losing weight and living in a more healthy way. The fact that I don't know yet if I will be deemed a surgical candidate doesn't matter as much as making that initial commitment to improving my health. Pixx, I think a lightbulb just went on in my brain. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and wisdom. My path and goals are a lot clearer now because of this. :)
 
I began my Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program in October 2017 . High protein low carb. I joined the gym in mid November 2017 and I am consistently going 3-4 times a week with 30-45 minutes of cardio and 20-30 minutes of weights. As of mid December I am only down 13 pounds. Seems like I should be down more than that by now.
 
I had started in May 2017 on high protein low carbs diet and I only loss 10 lbs. I am now on my liquid diet for 2 weeks because I am having the by-pass surgery on Jan. 29. I am a diabetic on a lot of insulin so losing weight is very hard for me. It is because of my diabetes that I am going with the bypass. It should help with my diabetes I am told. I sure hope so. I am tired of shots (5 per day).
 
I began my Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program in October 2017 . High protein low carb. I joined the gym in mid November 2017 and I am consistently going 3-4 times a week with 30-45 minutes of cardio and 20-30 minutes of weights. As of mid December I am only down 13 pounds. Seems like I should be down more than that by now.

13lbs in 2 months isn't so bad! Have you compared your current diet to the new lifestyle eating habits you'll be changing with the surgery? I don't know the requirements for sleeve patients, but if it isn't that much different from bypass, it would be 90-120 grams of protein, 64+ oz water daily with exercise. I'm just not sure what your 'high protein, low carb' numbers look like in comparison? Also, I think your workout schedule is great, I would keep with it throughout everything as much as you can!
 
I had started in May 2017 on high protein low carbs diet and I only loss 10 lbs. I am now on my liquid diet for 2 weeks because I am having the by-pass surgery on Jan. 29. I am a diabetic on a lot of insulin so losing weight is very hard for me. It is because of my diabetes that I am going with the bypass. It should help with my diabetes I am told. I sure hope so. I am tired of shots (5 per day).

Getting closer for you! I hope the surgery goes well! I think your diabetes will be greatly helped as you recover and heal. Best wishes!
 
13lbs in 2 months isn't so bad! Have you compared your current diet to the new lifestyle eating habits you'll be changing with the surgery? I don't know the requirements for sleeve patients, but if it isn't that much different from bypass, it would be 90-120 grams of protein, 64+ oz water daily with exercise. I'm just not sure what your 'high protein, low carb' numbers look like in comparison? Also, I think your workout schedule is great, I would keep with it throughout everything as much as you can!

Thank you for the encouraging words.
 
I'm a week out new gastric bypass patient, I'm in a little pain and I got to get past the pain of the stomach ache and the wombs,, but I believe this is going, to be a fantastic decision no pain no gain, so continue to pray for me and I already have lost from 230 down 217 now so 13lbs, pretty good for a week,
 
I'm a week out new gastric bypass patient, I'm in a little pain and I got to get past the pain of the stomach ache and the wombs,, but I believe this is going, to be a fantastic decision no pain no gain, so continue to pray for me and I already have lost from 230 down 217 now so 13lbs, pretty good for a week,

Congrats on the start of your journey and loss so far! Hope the pain goes away for you soon! :)
 
Pixx, you are amazing! I arrived at my appointment a little early this morning and saw your reply. It couldn't have come at a better time. Your wisdom can only have come through the experience you have been through and your incredible self-awareness. I truly admire those traits of yours. Your reply has really helped me focus on the essence of the decision which is deciding whether I am finally ready to truly commit myself to losing weight and living a different, more healthy lifestyle. Like you said, the decision to have the surgery, as a tool to achieve the healthy lifestyle, is important, but secondary to the commitment to losing weight and living in a more healthy way. The fact that I don't know yet if I will be deemed a surgical candidate doesn't matter as much as making that initial commitment to improving my health. Pixx, I think a lightbulb just went on in my brain. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and wisdom. My path and goals are a lot clearer now because of this. :)
I agree with you completely HoJo. I am just starting out on this journey as well and the answer Pixx gave you was SPOT ON!! Totally cleared up any doubt I have had.
 
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