Hey Team WLS,

So...pre-op bariatric classes started at Kaiser Permanente last night. Can hardly believe I'm already on the next six months of learning lifestyle adjustments for the surgery.

Attached an image here so you guys can see what we cover over the next six months.

It was really difficult to sit through it, and I kept having to remind myself that we are all fighting the same battle, and every individual is in a different stage of the game regarding denial, knowledge, physical ability, et al. issues that are going to be personal struggles they have to work through regarding this process.

We had to go around the room like an AA meeting and introduce ourselves, why we were here for the surgery, what we hope to get out of the class. Several individuals had taken the class already but dropped (!!!) because they didn't like the exercise component and switched locations, delaying their surgery by another six months; the majority wanted to learn better eating habits and to stop "eating mostly meat," and were upset that Kaiser SoCal required six months of classes before surgery.

Was honest and let the room know that I've been addressing the obvious underlying eating disorder issues with Kaiser for the last two years prior to even considering surgery, and that I hoped to unlearn the lingering adaptive habits associated with binge eating/furthering practice on coping mechanisms. I haven't had a binge episode in over one year, but sometimes I have moments of near-relapse. Someone squawked that they "don't have an eating disorder, I just like food!" and the counselor (thankfully) jumped in and said that it was good I've already worked on the ED angle; reinforcing with the squawker that attitude is the specific reason why this class is required--whether or not an individual has been diagnosed living with an eating disorder, we are all in this position because of an unhealthy relationship with food, and it needs to be addressed before surgery. Her frankness and not boxing with kid's gloves was appreciated. There are some hard truths we have to look in the eye here.

So, that's it.
I don't think I'll be going back to school this fall because of the difficulty of changing my entire lifestyle around--I need to focus inwardly instead of outwardly right now.

All love,

—K

@@fatgirlsvelte I'm going thru Kaiser Richmond in SF east bay, my binder is very similar to yours. Tons of info and the support groups are great, you learn a lot. Congrats on starting your journey, it will go by fast. Mine was not 6 months it was just over 3 months, my first class with the weigh in and the intro's and nutritionist starting us on the pre-op diet was March 23, my surgery is next Wednesday July 13

Hi everyone! I have just signed up for the orientation class. Karen, I too will be out of Richmond. I was wondering.... How long after the orientation did you start the classes? Did they give you a good variety of class times? They didn't give me much information and I'm trying to navigate how I'll make the classes work with my current work schedule. Would love to get any information you would like to offer!

I am totally on your side. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!