Questions answered

 I know it's been way go long! There is a lot to my story since the last post, but here is a recap. Spoiler alert I survived the two week liquid stage without too much difficulty. 

What was your life like prior to deciding to have surgery?

   Life in general was good, but I was beyond frustrated with following all the diet and exercise rules and it never being enough. 

How long ago was your surgery?

   October 8th, 2021 will be my 2 year anniversary 

Which surgery did you have?

    I had the gastric sleeve

What made you consider surgery?

    My regular doctor, whom I had been working with for over 5 years, spoke to me quite frankly. She told me that we had tried everything she had to offer and that I needed to look into weight loss surgery. 

How did you find out about this?

    My doctor recommended Dr. Allison and the Newfield program specifically. 

What was your heaviest recorded weight? 

   360

Denial about your weight?

   I wasn't in denial about my weight, but I was in denial about all the programs I tried not working. I was sure the next thing would be the right formula. I was even able to talk to other people about the right things to do and watch it work for them and not me.   

Anything specific that pushed you to finally decide to have surgery? 

    My husband and I did a lot of research and after what my doctor said I just felt like I had no other choice. Up until then I had no other "bad" health numbers besides the number on the scale.  However after my son was born my blood pressure wouldn't go back to normal.  

When your doctor recommended it, what were your thoughts?

    I was really hesitant.  Though I knew it wouldn't be easy, I didn't want to been seen as taking the easy way out.  

Dieting and losing the required 20lbs - thoughts? 

    I think this was the part I was most afraid of. I was already trying to loose weight and had very small successes,  but 20lbs seemed almost unattainable.  I felt this so much I started moving myself to the liquid very shortly after making the decision.  I started slow, just making breakfast a protein drink. I did that for a week, then went to breakfast and lunch as protein drinks. By the time it was time for the two week liquid stage I was down to only one snack and dinner that need to go to liquid.

How was the 2 week liquliquid.

    Because of how I eased into it I didn't find it very difficult.  Also I decided that if I was really in this for the long haul my eating habits would always be different and I would need to be ok being around others no matter what they were eating and not change my eating habits. So during the liquid phase I still made dinner for my family and I sat down at the dinner table with them to eat ( drink). 

Personality traits prior to/after surgery 

   I struggle with being a little more quickly irritated than before, but the farther out I get the more I seem to be pulling that back. 

Did your taste change?

   I got lucky on this on. My only taste change is that regular water taste almost chalky to me. If I just add a little flavor to it it's all good.