It’s been a WEEK, y’all!
Last weekend, I read ahead in my Bariatric Surgery Program Manual (yes, I’m that person) and saw the words, “The first 2 days on a liquid diet are the hardest. You are likely to feel very hungry until your body starts using protein and fat for energy instead of the usual carbohydrates (a process called ‘ketosis’).”
I thought, what if I were closer to ketosis before I went off food I can chew? What if I do a couple of days of high protein/low or no carb eating before I go on the liquid.
That’s what I did. After that last Sunday morning breakfast of Jack’s delicious biscuits and gravy, I dropped the carbs and over the next two-and-a-half days ate a lot of protein. My only carbs were green beans and carrots.
When Zero Day arrived, I drank my shakes and nibbled on raw veggies. I ate a sugar free Jell-o and a light yogurt. The eating with a utensil was a big deal. There’s something in my brain that tells me I’ve actually eaten if I use a spoon or fork to push food into my mouth. This helped me to not feel hungry
Even though in our kitchen bowls of fruit are out for easy access, I didn’t feel hungry. Even though there are peanut butter pretzel bites available, I wasn’t hungry.
Oh, yeah, seeing them was a temptation, but I would ask myself if I had room for them in my tummy, did I really want to put them in me and the answer has been NO!
Today will be a challenge as Jack and I head to a Tennessee Smokies baseball game. I’m not allowed to carry in food, but I know there are a couple restaurants that have salads, so if others go get nachos, I’ll have some raw vegetables with some lemon juice on them. I will have water to drink and I will ignore the popcorn because it’s not the best for me.
Tuesday will be a huge challenge. That’s the last day before surgery. My diet will change again: Clear liquids only. Thankfully, broth, sugar free Jell-O and sugar free Popsicle qualify! So do decaf coffee and tea.
Wednesday morning I’ll head to the hospital for my surgery and a couple hours of rest before I get up and start my walking regimen. Yep. They like for the bariatric patients to get up and walk every 2-4 hours. So, if you come to the hospital, look for me in the hallways. I’m going to be up and about as soon as they will hand me the keys to my IV pole.
Thursday, they’ll take me for a swallow study just to be sure I’m not leaky. Gotta have everything sewed up right!
I’m sure that the prayers of so many faithful and loving friends guided me to start on Sunday. I’m sure that those prayers have caused me to not be jittery or irritable, to have headaches or stomach aches. I’m absolutely certain that God Himself has touched me because my friends and family are praying for me and for that I am forever grateful.
This is going to be another exciting week. I’m sure there are those who, at this point, would be scared. I don’t. I don’t feel scared. I feel uplifted. I feel comforted. I feel encouraged. I feel excited.
See, here’s what I know. If I come out of this surgery, my life will change completely as far as my eating habits. It will also change from my normal of most recent years, because I’ll have energy and strength to life life to the fullest. If I don’t come through the surgery, my life will change completely as I change my address from Townsend to Heaven. I’m prepared either way.
Keep on praying, my friends. I know He is answering you!
