Alright people, help!

My goal was to lose 100 pounds before surgery. So far, I have lost 70 pounds, but I seem so unmotivated to lose the other 30 pounds. I have started Optifast, and it just isn't easy to drink every meal. I have a month and one week to go before my surgery. My date is tentatively set for December 22, 2011. All of my paper work is in and  I am presently waiting on insurance approval.

I seriously need some candid and frank words to push me to the next level on this long journey to healthy living and a better quality of life. I have to do my part. I am so close to meeting my first established goal.

Hi D,

You have done a fantastic job so far.  Seventy pounds is huge to do on your own.

The lack of motivation you're feeling right now, in my opinion, is exactly why this surgery is necessary for many of us...

Diets just don't work.  I cannot tell you the number of times I would psyche myself up, lose some weight, up to 80 pounds on one diet, only to turn back around and put the weight I'd lost, and a few extra pounds for good measure, back on.

As far as the Optifast, to me it makes sense that you're sick of it.  I love a lot of different foods, but to eat a single food, even if I loved it, day in and day out would be terrible.  Is there possibly something you could swap the Optifast out for?  Maybe mix up what you're eating/drinking?

I seriously believe that you're in the "hard part" of your journey right now because you're already doing so much without the tools.  Once you have your tool, I suspect you're going to soar.

Wishing you much success!!! 

Is this a requirement or just something you want to do?  If you aren't required to then I agree that it's time to switch it up and try different things, maybe just have it once a day for breakfast if you can.  Then stick with lean meats, fruits and vegetables, kind of practice how you will be eating after surgery.
For motivation remember that every pound you lose now is a pound you won't have to worry about after surgery.  They say there is a weight lose window up about 1 1/2 to 2 years where you lose the maximum amount of weight following WLS.  The less you have to lose to start with the more likely you will be to reach your weight loss goal.  Don't worry about being perfect.  No one is able to stick to a diet, pre op or post op, perfectly.  Just do the best you can and you will be surprised at how far it takes you.

Both of the other posters have said alot of what I would say to you as well.  If you are required to lose the 100 lbs., just keep reminding yourself that the optifast is temporary and that losing those extra 29 lbs will go a long way in making you a much healthier candidate for the surgery.  Remind yourself that you are shrinking your liver and keeping the odds in your favor of having the surgery done laparascopically vs. open incision.

Keep reminding yourself that this will be the best Christmas present you ever give yourself.  The gift of health and longevity.

Keep up the great work.  You can do it!

Paula

You have done great and I applaude you. 

We had to do 4 weeks of Optifast and it was doable but boring.  We could have one meal a day of 3 oz lean protein, 1/2c veggies, 1 fruit.  We could eat all the cucumbers and celery we wanted.  I used the celery in the chicken soup and that was yummy plus made me feel like I was eating more.  We could eat our meal any time of day which gave us a little more control.  So you could have an egg for breakfast instead of having a shake that day if you wanted.  Maybe having one food meal a day would help.

My perspective is that of someone who did what everyone said before surgery- I focused on exercise and only eating appropriate foods.  However since surgery, I have had 3 months of very little other than protein shakes because of an inability to tolerate solid food.  It is boring, and I can't stand the taste of protein shakes, but I have to do it, so I do.  You will have many dietary restrictions and need to change your entire eating habits, so this is the time to do it. 

I never believed that I could go 4 months on protein shakes and a bite here or there of cheese or egg whites, but I look back, and I did it (AMAZING!!!).  I'm sure in a couple of years, it will just be a small memory, and I'll have greater memories, like hiking to the top of a mountain, or fitting on a ski lift with 3 other people.

Good luck to you.

I think you have done an amazing job losing weight pre surgery. I had real difficulty losing weight prior to surgery.

I discussed this with my surgeon because my PCP was very negative toward me about "non compliance." My surgeon told me that most individuals have trouble staying on a regimen for more than 3 months. Statistically, you probably have been more successful than the average population. You should be proud of yourself for that. If you still want RNY, I think it would help you reach your goal. It is your decision to continue on this path or to not continue on this path. I don't know why you are so discourage except that it is extremely hard to lose the amount of weight you need to by diet and exercise. Good luck in your final decision.

You've lost 70 pounds so far!  Wow, that's amazing!  Way to go!

Of course it isn't easy to drink every meal.  Liquid diets are hard.  And no fun.  But you know what?  You can do hard things.  Know how I know?  You lost 70 freakin' pounds already!

What's the lack of motivation about?  Is it fear of surgery?  Fear of not being able to eat good food ever again?  If that's it, I promise, you'll eat lots of yummy food after surgery.  Is if fear of losing the rest of the weight, of being thin some day?  Fear of failure?  You know, like if you don't try, you can't fail, right?

Thank you everyone for the requested words of encouragement. My family is extremely supportive, but they don't quite understand what exactly I am going through physically, psychologically, or emotionally. One of my family members just doesn't understand why I can't stick to the regimen and get the extra weight off of me. I told her to imagine 200 extra pounds on her body and how depressing and tiring it is to deal with that reality. I am afraid of what life will be like after surgery. I am a teacher, full time student pursuing my PhD, in the process of moving, and scheduled to have a life changing surgery in a month. I'm a little edgy to say the least. LOL!

Congratulations on the 70 lb loss!! I've never been able to lose that amount before. I also see you've gotten a lot of stressors going on in your life too. You may not realize, but I think the pressure of your weight loss goal is another one.
Did your surgeon also make that goal? If not, maybe you should not focus so much on the number, but lose what you can before surgery. If it's 15 lbs or even 30 lbs, you have  been successful in making yourself healthier before surgery.
I also agree with the other posts. You may need to switch out some of the liquid diet meals with healthy food meals.   I dieted 6 weeks before surgery to help shrink my liver. I substituted a diet liquid drink for one of my meals for 4 weeks, increased to 2 diet liquid/one meal for 1.5 weeks and all diet liquid for half week. I lost 26 lbs, which was enough for my surgeon to do my surgery safely.