Can I really do this?

 Hey Everyone! I am going into my last supervised weight loss visit on 3/28/12 with the potential of surgery on 4/20/12. I have always leaned toward the sleeve as my best option because I am always hungry and think I would do very well with strict requirements and forcing myself to make the best possible choices.

However, I went for my nutritionist visit yesterday and now I am terrified. She was basically like: you will NEVER be able to use straws, have carbonated beverages, any alcohol, sushi (undercooked meats or fish), no beef for 1 year and then discussing the pureed foods just confused the heck out of me. 

I felt I had done  a lot of research to this point but yesterday was overwhelming. I have been going through this forum but there is so much info so I am just sucking it all in. Can you please tell me how you have adapted your surgery to real life? I mean I am all about being healthy but it seems like some of these practices would alienate you in a social setting and I don't want to then get depressed because I sabotage myself of never go out. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!~

Great work everyone. Oh I'm 31, 5'2" and weigh 231. BMI is 41

 I am 5 months post op. I use straws every day and enjoy a mixed beverage every once in a blue moon. Can't comment on sushi because I hate fish. Carbonated beverages contain phosphoric acid which interferes with calcium absorption, which is why we are told we can't have them. Truthfully if you want one, you can have one once you are fully healed. It isn't going to hurt your sleeve (don't attempt it until a few months post-op, though). Beef can be tough to digest and it's recommended you not attempt it until about 3 months post-op. I eat it fairly regularly. You have to be choosey with what cuts of beef you get. If a steak, it needs to be cooked very lightly. Basically, soft. If you like medium-well sorts of beef... forget it. 

Nutritionists say those things because they DO have truth to them, but most of it applies to the first couple of months. It's not wise to use straws for a few months because you are not able to pass air very well in a new sleeve. It can be very uncomfortable trying to burp the first couple months. 

I suggest you lurk on these forums daily, you'll get a feel for what does and does not fly for every stage of this surgery. 

I'm not sure I agree with all that.  I drink out of a straw and my doctor is fine with it.  There are many folks that drink a glass of wine or three with dinner.  The thing about the carbonated beverages IS true.  You will need to give up sodas.  But from what I've been told, people who drank carbonated beverages really did not enjoy the after effects.  The bubbles really feel very uncomfortable in the new stomach. I was not told that I could not eat sushi.  In fact, the MAIN reason I chose the sleeve is because there were no food restictions.  As far as pureed foods, I went online to Blossom Foods and bought a bunch of frozen pureed meals.  They have a large relection.  The chili is my favorite, but they also have things like pot roast with mashed potatoes and french toast. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. I'm one month out and I have no regrets about my decision. 

 I have never heard of Blossom Foods? Are they good? I am a week and a half out and might order some for the mushy phase at three weeks! 

Are they good?  Well, it depends on what you like to eat.  I thought that the chili was the best thing they have but I also liked the cheese ravioli and pot roast with mashed potatoes.  The french toast tasted a lot like a cinimon roll -- not eggy enough for my taste.  The other stuff was ok for the two weeks that I was on mushy foods, but I probably wouldn't eat it all the time. They are SUPER convenient because they come in frozen 5 oz containers that take 3 min to microwave. It is a perfect size for our smaller stomachs.  I got the big eye and tried eating two at one sitting. I was not able to do it and I was miserable. 

Here is the web site http://www.blossomfoods.com/

 My surgery is this coming Friday and I too felt a bit overwhelmed at my last nutritionist appt.
There is so much info and things to remember. However, just take it one day at a time. We can do this!

I've been off sodas for months and don't miss them at all. I am getting used to no straws now. I never eat beef anyway so that doesn't phase me.

The way I look at it, is this is my chance at a new life, and the few things I have to give up is going to be worth it!

I am also sleeving on 03/23/12 will be checking with you soon.. wishing you well with your procedure. and a speedy recovery...

I use straws, eat sushi & beef, and am doing fine.  I have avoided carbonated beverages and no longer crave them.  I added back a small amount of alcohol at 6 months and then cut it out again recently until I get to goal.

I think your NUT is very conservative but you have to do what's right for you and your doc.

Is your NUT part of your surgeons office or separate and independent? I went to one that my first surgeon(ended up not having him do the surgery and crossed the border doing self pay) recommended and she told me stuff that went against what the surgeon said. She also told me that carbs were still okay. Well, I disagree with that now and I follow my NEW surgeons guidelines and what the old timers here say: Carbs under 40! I know that NUT had experience with weight loss patients but what she told me just didn't jive so I'm not going back to her.

I am almost 1 1/2 months out from surgery and I eat pretty much anything I want already, but I've never WANTED fish or any seafood so I don't know about that. I did give up soda because it's just bad all around, diet or not, and I want to be healthier. I actually did take one teeny tiny sip of my husbands because I ate something too spicy and didn't have any water and I didn't like the taste of the soda at ALL so I'm glad to not even desire it any more.

The reason for no straws, like others stated, is so you aren't sucking up a column of air and swallowing the air with the liquid. That can be uncomfortable but being just a month and a half out, I already do fine with air bubbles as in I get them out easily without pain. I did have a day a cpl weeks ago where I went to a public building that wouldn't allow water bottles but would allow cups with straws so I had to use the straw that afternoon and I did fine with no trouble at all. Everyone is different but I've had a very easy transition and can eat whatever I like, just in small amounts. And I track EVERYTHING on myfitnesspal so that even if I eat some sort of "treat" I track it and I stay within plan of low sugar, low carb, high protein. I'm also able to keep track of my water intake more carefully.

I would do this surgery again a 100 times over. It is amazing to eat one chicken leg and be FULL and satisfied for hours. I've lost a total of 26 lbs and already dropped 2 sizes! More importantly (to me), I'm not usually the biggest person in the room anymore and I feel good in my skin!

Disclaimer:  You should follow your own doctor's orders.

But.  I am two years out and I eat sushi, beef, and everything else.  I don't care for carbonated beverages but I have drunk a diet soda here and there with no ill effects, and more than a few glasses of champagne with no ill effects.  I drink wine weekly and mixed drinks fairly regularly, and the only issue there is that the alcohol affects me much more than it used to -- I can't hold my liquor at all any more!  LOL  I drink my protein shakes through a straw each and every day with no ill effects.

Indeed, the thing I love about my sleeve is that I feel totally and completely normal about food for the first time ever.  I have a smaller-than-normal appetite, but I eat and drink anything I want in small quantities and I am loving life.