MiLady Beth's Groupies

I've always been a Beth groupie, from the time I first went online. Beth was in my age range and my weight range... and I am hoping to duplicate her success.

I treasure your advice Beth, very much... Marella

One week from surgery and I am so exhausted from this preop diet, is this normal?

Nancy, you're right...one day at a time. You're doing fine, just do the best you can. That's all you can do. Just know you aren't doing this alone.

Suzie, my thoughts and prayers will be with you and Mia tomorrow. I hope you are getting a little bit of sleep tonight. I'll be looking for you when you get home and on the losing side. . Just to let you know I'm here to support you. It can be pretty rough, especially at the beginning but you don't have to do this alone. There are all kinds of wonderful people here to support you!

Hi Milady: Tomorrow's the big day. Mia is also having her surgery tomorrow as well. I am at peace and ready for my new adventure to begin. Thanks for all the encouraging words. Will chat again when I am home and drinking all those wonderful, delicious protein shakes! Ugh!!! Oh well, its worth it to achieve better health and a new look.
Thanks again, Sue

Well done MiladyB i will start doing that. I know i need to start drinking my protien. I know. BUt one day at a time. I hope you are having a great day. thank you so much for all the info you have for me. it means so much. Nancy

Hi Nancy,

No, you more than likely are not stretching out your pouch. The reason you feel like you can sip more is because it is liquids. Liquids tend to pretty much go right through your pouch. One of the reasons they don't want you to drink with your meals. The food will go through faster and you will get hungry sooner. It is pretty difficult to actually stretch out your pouch because of the way doctors make the pouch. They use the less stretchy side of your actual stomach, to make it. Your pouch will get a bit larger over time because it is a muscle and like any muscle it will get bigger. The greater danger is stretching out that connection between your pouch and sm. intestines. BUT that doesn't happen quickly. If over the years you tend to graze, drink with your meals and often over-fill your pouch then you may have that problem 2-3 years down the line. In regards to the food? You will really need to check with your doctor on that. Some docs are fine with you just chewing your food really well, others aren't. Mine wouldn't have been. My personal feeling? I would put it in the blender. Just decreases the chance that you may not be chewing well enough and you swallow something too big.

thank you so much for the advise. another question i have. is that i seem to be sipping on ice all day long. i mean i make sure that i dont have any 30mins before and 30 mins after. But believe me i time it. and as soon as i can there i am. I think i sip until my new pouch says enough and then it takes maybe like 10 mins and i want more. sometimes not even 10. Am i stretching my pouch. who knows. Another thing i wanted to know. is that i am on the 2nd stage which my dr says its suppose to be baby food and mushy stuff. Is it the same thing if i just chew my food real well to the texture of it being mushy or should i be put it in the blender.

Hi Nancy. Glad to hear that things are a bit better. In regards to your question? Yes, I did eat even though I wasn't hungry. Early out, if I had waited until I was hungry I wouldn't have eaten at all. For about the first 6 months I really didn't have much of an appetite and I actually didn't feel any hunger until I was more like 9 months out. I looked at eating as a job. Something I had to do to keep myself healthy. I would plan out my "meals" the day before. I figured out the proteins and what I needed to eat in order to get in my required protein. Sometimes I couldn't eat all that I had planned but that's when I would try to supplement with a protein drink. Try to make sure you listen to your body when you are eating though. Learn the cues that you've had enough to eat. I can tell you that the feeling of fullness is different than before and it isn't always easy to tell. For me? I hiccup a couple times. Or sometimes my nose runs. Also, I've kind of developed this instinct that if I eat one more bite it may not stay down.

You do need to eat though. You will see your weight loss slow down plus you will lose muscle vs fat if you aren't getting in your protein. I know its hard. Its a learning process and there is a HUGE learning curve. Just be patient with yourself.

Thanks MiladyB today was a better day. I am on the 2nd stage. I do have a question though. when its time to eat your meal and your not hungry do you eat?.