Tips and advice for our newbies

[Steph~L~16 168]

This is wonderful and so helpful for me. Thank you for taking the time!

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[heather5565 959]

Anytime @@Steph~L~16

[jessjames 234]

*follow your eating plan

*eat your Protein

*take your Vitamins

*drink your Water

*go low carb

*low to no sugar

*exercise

*as you lose weight & get into better shape - keep revamping your exercise, don't sweat it if you don't lose every day or every week - it's gonna come off so don't dwell on it

*enjoy the journey because it goes fast

*don't obsess over losing the weight

(try not to anyways)

*enjoy other things going on in your life

*celebrate weight loss with non-food things

*if you do go out to eat at a restaurant - don't get too anxious; you're gonna have healthier options but even if you do choose unhealthy you're only going to have a small portion so it's not gonna hurt your progress (just don't make it an everyday habit)

*stay away from your trigger food(s) - they can get you into trouble... mine is popcorn. (Or aka crackcorn)

*enjoy the compliments - don't turn around with a negative comment like "yeah but I have loose skin or I still have X amount of weight to lose"

*just smile and say thank you - you know you deserved that compliment and know how hard you worked to get to where you are...

*don't let anyone get you down with saying shitty things like "I knew of someone that lost all the weight only to gain it back" --- you are not that person they are referring to.

*really push yourself with exercise (later on) - you won't die even though you may feel like you are.

See what you're made of!

You'll feel so good afterwards knowing that "I just did that!"

It's addicting. You'll want to continue to push your own limits.

*try new exercises and such

*your incisions will be tender, red and sore. If they are oozing pus then get them checked out - otherwise they should be fine

*that left (or sometimes right) shoulder pain is the leftover gas/air they pumped up your stomach with from surgery - it'll go away

*that extra painful area (left quadrant) on your stomach is where most of the work was done. It will be sore longer. (Bypass patients anyways) - the pain will go away eventually

*do what your doctor says about eating, drinking, exercise, everything. Follow the rules!

*Just remember why you had this surgery.

You want to be healthy and happy.

***No food or drink will make you as happy as how that new dress or pair of jeans fit. ***

- Or when you are able to walk or jog without being so out of breath

- or when you can fit in an airplane seat comfortably and not need a seat belt extension.

- or when you don't have to worry if that plastic chair will hold you

- or you can bend down to pick up that pencil you dropped and get up easily

- or having that social anxiety anytime you go out in public

- or looking around a crowded room only to be mortified that you're the biggest one there

- or taking the elevator up one floor and being ashamed of it because you know what people are thinking

Don't let the food control you anymore.

***Nothing tastes as good as being fit and healthy feels.***

*Don't think you have to have a certwin food because you'll never have it again; it will always be there. It's not going anywhere. You're just choosing to not have it now - you're in control. McDonald's will still be around 100 years from now, so don't fret.

*Breathe.

*You can do this.

It's easier than you think. You will have a tough time at first because everything is so new and you're most likely withdrawling from carbs, sugars, junk etc. But once that is out of your system - it does get easier, honest!

And when the weight starts dropping your priorities and cravings change.

You'll crave more successful weight loss then you will carbs! You'll think to yourself "that *insert food of choice here* isn't worth it!"

You'll crave exercise. Your body will anxiously await to move!

*Weigh and track your food. It helps a lot. I use Myfitnesspal. And I have a fitbit. Friendly competition is motivating

*Take one day at a time, again, try not to obsess and have your weight loss consume your mind. There are other things to your life right now too.

*Every few weeks or month - go thru your closet and try on smaller clothes - this is a huge motivator! I forgot to do that so many times and totally bypassed clothes and then never even got to wear them. (Brand new clothes, dammit!)

Gave them away with the price tags still on them.

Anyways, you can do this!

If there's any other questions - just ask

Heather

**if there is anything someone wants to add -- please do!

Let's all help each other be as successful as we can possibly be!

Surgery date: September 21 2015

Starting weight: 273.4

Current weight 168.4

Loss of 105 lbs so far.

18 to go

I had my surgery yesterday and am already feeling the struggle.. This thread made me feel so much better. Thank you

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[heather5565 959]

@@jessjames

Congratulations for changing your life for the better!

You can do this!

The absolute most important thing for you right now and for the next few days to a week is drinking your fluids and moving.

You don't want to get dehydrated and land back in the hospital,

And you don't want to get a blot clot from not moving.

Take your pain meds if you need them and get some rest as well.

The next week's will be tough but you will get thru them. Don't be surprised if you'll feel fine for the first couple of weeks then by week 3 or 4 you'll feel like you've been hit by a truck.

It's like delayed fatigue or something.

You may even feel nauseous and have diarrhea around that time too.

And don't worry if you experience the infamous '3 week stall'

It happens to many many wls patients - just keep calm and know that it is normal.

Your body is confused and is just trying to rebuild and heal itself.

If you have any questions or concerns or just need to talk please pm me or ask on this thread.

Take care and welcome to the 'losers bench'

Heather

[Browneyes44 15]

This is awesome! Great reassurance for us newbies! My surgery is less than 2 weeks away and I feel I can breathe a little better now.

[myree 31]

Well said...❤️

Myree

[heather5565 959]

This is awesome! Great reassurance for us newbies! My surgery is less than 2 weeks away and I feel I can breathe a little better now.

Good luck in 2 weeks! Keep us up to date on how it's going!

[VEGAN ME 117]

Very helpful, thank you!

[KindaFamiliar 3,867]

@@heather5565

I'd probably add one more that's BP site specific rather than general WLS stuff...

Here 'tis..

- Be extra nice to KindaFamiliar. He's not any kind of trouble and he knows stuff.

That's all...

Prayers going "Do do do de do wahhh.. Scooby de do wop, yeah.."

[Alex Brecher 10,516]

@@heather5565,

Great thread!

-Be patient! Weight loss will come. It may feel slow, but it’s probably not. Even if it is, it is happening. You will lose weight as long as you are following your surgeon and nutritionist’s instructions.

-Have lots of goals, not just weight ones. Include goals that are outcome-focused, like achieving a goal size for clothing, and include goals that are action-focused and completely controllable, like working out three times a week for a month.

-Put yourself first, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to hit your goals, and because that’s the only way you’ll be able to give your best to others. It’s not selfish to put yourself first, because it benefits everyone.

[Sajijoma 1,324]

The best piece of advice I received post op was from a surgery vet at a support meeting. He said you either have to be all the way in, or your not in it at all. You can't just do some of it. You can't just exercise on the good days or give yourself permission to eat crap because you just miss it. You have to be all in every day and stick to your plan and basically think of it as a new job and if you don't do your job, your body will get fired from the weightloss job. There's no second chance to get it right if you mess up your tool by abusing it or not using it to it's full potential so don't blow it.

[Lindalou7 1]

Thank you for the time you took to offer this fantastic advice! I really appreciate it! Only three weeks in.....

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[gpmed 623]

This is a fantastic list! I'm eight months out, so I know most of this stuff, but it still helped me to read it today. I realized my workout routine isn't challenging me enough. This gave me the little boost I needed to step up my game.

[Tommy Joe 113]

@@heather5565

When does your book come out? I want a copy!!

Seriously, I've looked and there aren't a lot of options for guidance. Your attitude and delivery are awesome. Get typing girl!

Oh and thank you... This list was a gift to a newbie like myself. The other veterans adding to is was icing on the cake.

Oooooooo cake.......

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Don't say cake!!!!! Lol

[Angela2616 13]

Thank you for this at 3 weeks post op it's exactly what I needed to read :-)

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