Lots of people post about the food plan aspect of having this surgery, but to me, 90% of the battle is in your head. Follow your doctors post-op diet/exercise plan, figure out what you’re going to pack and where you’re going to have surgery, but work on your attitude toward food as fuel, not as comfort. That is very important. Below are a few questions I asked myself before this surgery. Maybe you are asking yourself the same ones. Please see my answers to them from the perspective of 2.5 years out.
What the hell am I doing???? Well, you are doing what you need to do in order to get healthy. Nothing you’ve tried so far has worked and this looks like it might just be the ticket to reduce that hunger demon and keep portions under control once and for all.
Will I fail again???? Not if you are committed to making a permanent lifestyle change. You are about to permanently cut out 75-85% of your stomach and that is forever, my friends, so you better be ready to commit to this.
Can I lose 100% of my excess weight???? The doctors call 60% a success. Is 60% all you are looking for? Then, by all means, don’t follow your plan and that’s just what you’ll probably lose. If you want to lose it ALL, follow your doctors orders, but know that if something is not working, you can alter your plan to work for you and your individual body…BTW, that usually means restricting caloric intake to something lower than what your doctor may recommend.
Will I still be hungry???? Some people are and some people aren’t. I still have hunger, but it’s not the same as it used to be. It is much milder and just a way of telling me it’s time to eat. It doesn’t make me run to a drive-thru or raid the fridge for ANYTHING I CAN GET MY HANDS ON….Aaahhhhh! It’s not constant like it used to be and it’s much more manageable now.
Am I ready for this???? Were you really ready when you had your first child? You thought you were, but it was just a little different than what you imagined, wasn’t it? Well, this is like that too. Just be as ready as you can be through research and jump on the losers bench and do the best you can. That’s all you can ask of yourself.
Will I miss all the food???? Possibly you will. No more “pig out” sessions. We are used to that and you won’t be physically able to do that anymore. Do I miss it? Sometimes I wish I could eat more because it tastes so good, but then I remember that food is fuel for my body and not something to be used on an emotional level. Try to take the emotions out of the equation.
If you are interested in learning what it’s like to have this surgery (from a patient’s perspective) and become a successful Sleever, click on my website in my signature and check out my book. I wish you ALL health, happiness and a scale that reads the way you want it to read! Go For It! It’s the BEST thing I could have done for myself and I will never regret it.
Lots of people post about the food plan aspect of having this surgery, but to me, 90% of the battle is in your head. Follow your doctors post-op diet/exercise plan, figure out what you’re going to pack and where you’re going to have surgery, but work on your attitude toward food as fuel, not as comfort. That is very important. Below are a few questions I asked myself before this surgery. Maybe you are asking yourself the same ones. Please see my answers to them from the perspective of 2.5 years out.
What the hell am I doing???? Well, you are doing what you need to do in order to get healthy. Nothing you’ve tried so far has worked and this looks like it might just be the ticket to reduce that hunger demon and keep portions under control once and for all.
Will I fail again???? Not if you are committed to making a permanent lifestyle change. You are about to permanently cut out 75-85% of your stomach and that is forever, my friends, so you better be ready to commit to this.
Can I lose 100% of my excess weight???? The doctors call 60% a success. Is 60% all you are looking for? Then, by all means, don’t follow your plan and that’s just what you’ll probably lose. If you want to lose it ALL, follow your doctors orders, but know that if something is not working, you can alter your plan to work for you and your individual body…BTW, that usually means restricting caloric intake to something lower than what your doctor may recommend.
Will I still be hungry???? Some people are and some people aren’t. I still have hunger, but it’s not the same as it used to be. It is much milder and just a way of telling me it’s time to eat. It doesn’t make me run to a drive-thru or raid the fridge for ANYTHING I CAN GET MY HANDS ON….Aaahhhhh! It’s not constant like it used to be and it’s much more manageable now.
Am I ready for this???? Were you really ready when you had your first child? You thought you were, but it was just a little different than what you imagined, wasn’t it? Well, this is like that too. Just be as ready as you can be through research and jump on the losers bench and do the best you can. That’s all you can ask of yourself.
Will I miss all the food???? Possibly you will. No more “pig out” sessions. We are used to that and you won’t be physically able to do that anymore. Do I miss it? Sometimes I wish I could eat more because it tastes so good, but then I remember that food is fuel for my body and not something to be used on an emotional level. Try to take the emotions out of the equation.
If you are interested in learning what it’s like to have this surgery (from a patient’s perspective) and become a successful Sleever, click on my website in my signature and check out my book. I wish you ALL health, happiness and a scale that reads the way you want it to read! Go For It! It’s the BEST thing I could have done for myself and I will never regret it.
Deb