Hello! I'm still working through my pre-op doctor visits and hope to have surgery in late February. It seems so far off, but I know it will be here in no time! I'm trying to develop the habits now that I will need post op. For example, I've started drinking protein shakes for breakfast and trying to cook/eat high protein and low carb meals. Trying to get out and walk 20 minutes a day. It's been very hard - I catch myself thinking "I should eat that because I might not like it after surgery" or "I'm not going to get this for a long time after surgery, I deserve it". And the worst one "I have 4 months till surgery so I can still eat that". Is anybody else struggling with this? What are you doing to continue to motivate yourself pre-op? I don't have to do a liquid diet before surgery (just a high protein/low carb) but I've also been told I'm not allowed to gain even a pound. So, what are you doing/did you do to build healthy habits before surgery? What else should I be doing? I don't want to fail before I even get started....

Exercise was a key for me. I ran 3 miles a day, biked as often as I could and did daily yoga. I had my procedure last week and my recovery has been fairly easy. My surgery was at 11;30 and by 4 I was walking laps around the nurses station. I really feel that regular exercise more than anything has helped me through this.

I also had those better eat it now food cravings a week before the liquid diet. It lasted a couple of days and I felt sick after doing it. If I had to do it again I wouldn't have eaten those farewell potato chips.

I did not consciously make an effort to prepare. My mind just took over and did it. I gradually began to eat less, eat right, and I "lived" the new life style in my mind. Kind of "seeing" myself succeed. This all happened even before I had outwardly committed to the surgery! It was very strange. My husband noticed and commented several times that I had already adopted the life style.

It sounds like you are doing a FANTASTIC job to prepare! You are doing way more than I did... the two things I REGRET not doing before surgery were to practice SIPPING water (I love water so I have no problem drinking it - I just needed to SIP it), and to practice taking SMALL BITES and chew chew chewing. Because I didn't practice that ahead of time, it was a BIG adjustment for me, and after surgery I continued to drink water from the 1oz cups they give you in the hospital, because I couldn't 'trust' myself to remember to take SMALL sips!

I did a lot of thinking about food and eating. I turned food into a woman in my mind and had a talk with it.

"Look, sweetheart, I have been way too into you and there's been way too much of you into me. That changes now. From now on you don't dictate, you WILL NOT be allowed unlimited access, you will be quality when you do come in. I know we can't split up altogether but you are going to have to take a back seat to many things and people that I love more than you. From now on you will give energy to my life, not destroy it.

Now give me a kiss, you tasty thing.

Awww,... don't cry!" (Oh, that was me )

I think you're doing great. I thought a lot about food too and worried that after surgery I wouldn't be able to eat it. I guess I went into a mourning so to speak on that one. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. Exercise is key. The fact that you are starting on that road now is fantastic. I would keep doing it daily if possible. Setting this pattern now is going to make a big difference in recovery as well.