Presurgery Changes

I have been on a presurgery diet for 6 weeks now, 2 protien shakes a day followed by a lean cuisine or small meal for dinner.  I cut out coffee and soda two months ago when I received the approval letter for surgery from my insurance company.  I also quit smoking that day as well with the assistance of nicotine patches. Up until this week I have done well, no real cravings for coffee and after about 2 weeks I was over the soda withdrawal.  The smoking has been the biggest hurdle and it's even begun to look like a smaller mountain than when I first quit. I am doing all these things because I believe if I fought with the insurance company to cover the surgery, I should do my part as this is for me and for me to get my life back. I noticed that now that my surgery is in 5 days I'm battling the worst sweet tooth, a constant craving for soda and bad junk food, and my moods are terrible.  Is this normal? I am blessed to say smoking hasn't come back. I don't know if it's stress and all my old coping mechanisms are being taken away or if this is normal from the change in diet or a little of both? My poor husband has really been put through the wringer.  Any suggestions for coping with stress?

My God, six weeks of preop diet and you quit smoking?  You deserve a medal and a halo for not killing anyone yet, and I bet your husband does too.   

I'm sorry I don't have any practical advise for you; I haven't come to this bridge yet.  By the time I do, you'll be able to tell me how you survived!  But you ROCK and if anyone deserves this shot at a new life, YOU DO! 

 Thanks!!! Hit me up when you are here and I'll be more than happy to cheer you on!

I am sorry I don't have an answer for you, I am still over 8 weeks out.  I had a question, How much weight have you lost since you started diet change?

Again, sorry that I can not provide any insite.

 I haven't weighed myself in a couple days but I know my underwear are saggy!

I would say that I've lost about 17lbs since the diet change.

I'm about 3 wks from my surgery and I can totally relate to the cravings... For me it's been like my mind is panicking about what I'm not going to eat for a very long time!! I gave up soda's in December last year and I honestly haven't craved one for some time. And I'm not a smoker, but going out with friends and NOT drinking was hard! I'm not a heavy drinker but a little ****tail here and there to loosen up is nice!

My hubs has put up with allot of mood swings too... But I'm putting up with how he's coping with the financial strain of this surgery too so maybe were even there! Lol!

I find myself wanting to indulge on something like a big burger or bowl of pasta... I don't do it now that I'm so close but 3 weeks ago I would justify it somehow!

Just hang in there a little longer! You're almost there!

I started this process in March and the day I stepped on the scale and had to "offically" lose the required 10 pounds in April I gave up all the things you wrote about (coffee, sweets, fast food etc) I did GREAT lost 42 lbs by the time I met the surgeon in Aug.  When I got the phone call that insurance had approved the procedure and I had a date THIS MONDAY!!!!!...ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!!!  I could not stop thinking about all the food I was going to "never be able to eat again"  My head (and yours)  is playing games... the thing is I will be able to eat food again (and so will you). 
So what am I doing?  I am trying to keep busy, trying to not be a ***** sleeping, reading, took up knitting (keepings my hands busy) , take my dogs for a walk, journal, go on here, whine sometimes LOL, and pray that the next 5 days go by REALLY FAST.  Hope that helps, Tina

 Thanks! I have found that today I'm doing better and hoping to feel a bit more like myself! As soon as my daughter and her friends leave for school, it's off to the gym. Just 4 more days to go!!!

WOW you are inspiring me to get off my booty and do more for myself ahead of my surgery date!  You should be seriously proud of yourself.

I don't blame you at all for being moody and having the cravings.  Personally, I know that in times of high stress (such as an upcoming major surgery and life change), I'd crave food to help calm me down/blunt those feelings.  And now you are faced with confronting those feelings without the old crutch.

There is this workbook I found on amazon.com that might help you.  I feel like I"m advertising for it, because this is the second time I've mentioned it on OH, but I swear I'm not :).  It is called The Weight Loss Surgery Coping Companion by Tanie Miller Kabala.  It has helped me with exploring the reasons I was eating and it gives concrete strategies for dealing with them.

I just wanted to give you a heads up on the smoking/nic patches. My dr. wont do surgery even if I am using nic patches. Any kind of nicotine causes issues so he insists I quit all nicotine 8 weeks prior. I dont know if your doc does that but I dont want you to be disappointed so I wanted to share.