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Pre-Ops Listen Up! FAQ

debk21

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debk21    17

debk21
Posted

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

post-4396-13813665298749_thumb.jpg

tisha chapron, jensjoy28, MumtazG38 and 7 others reacted to this

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sixbuttons    102

sixbuttons
Posted

Thanks for this! I'm very nervous about surgery because food has ALWAYS been there for me when I needed it and I know I'm going to have to find new ways to work through my issues. The constant hunger being gone will be a HUGE help for me though! I LIKE healthy foods, but I STARVE to death when I eat them! I really think this will be my key to success! :D

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melodymouse    196

melodymouse
Posted

Nice post debk21! Great basic info for the pre-ops!!

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SerendipityHappens    1,594

SerendipityHappens
Posted

I wonder how much that book she's selling costs..

$13.95

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moonchild1968    102

moonchild1968
Posted

Being newly sleeved, I appreciate your post. Thanks.

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joatsaint    2,814

joatsaint
Posted

What a deal.

At that price, I bought 2. Just in case I want to read it more than once. B)

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joatsaint    2,814

joatsaint
Posted

Well shoot! I've written a couple of sleever books too! Check em out!

Does the salad book have any recipes that use Syrup or jelly - I prefers jelly.

Warning Don't Watch This Video If You Are Squeemish

Not Safe For Work

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No game    14,437

No game
Posted

Does the salad book have any recipes that use Syrup or jelly - I prefers jelly.

Warning Don't Watch This Video If You Are Squeemish

Not Safe For Work

Video Link: 300x225

Oh my!!! :oJust when I thought I've gone to far.. you one up me!!

My oh my... :P

Child you better hope this one gets buried right quick!

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joatsaint    2,814

joatsaint
Posted

Oh my!!! :oJust when I thought I've gone to far.. you one up me!!

My oh my... :P

So, you wanna just skip the chit chat and get married - or what?

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No game    14,437

No game
Posted

So' date=' you wanna just skip the chit chat and get married - or what?[/quote']

I'll get back to you on that! I've got to ask my husband first.... I'm kinda old fashion that way :D

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joatsaint    2,814

joatsaint
Posted

Well, maybe he's more open minded than you are? And the jelly is for anyone, I'm a sharing kinda guy. :P

Maybe you and he would be open to an arrangement along these lines?

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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