What kinds of things did you do prior to surgery that you found most helpful?

What kinds of things do you wish you had done, but didn't?

For example, I'm trying to take smaller bites and chew more. Until I started packing attention I didn't realize how large my bites were. It's been a real eye opener.

CW 227 5'5" 61yrs

--Got a digital kitchen scale and started weighing all my portions

--Tracked my intake on MyFitnessPal

--Stopped drinking with meals and for 30 minutes after.

--Moderate exercise almost every day (walking, Leslie Sansone DVD's).

Good luck!

Rid my house of all bad or trigger food/drink items that I might be tempted by as a post op.

Bought second hand treadmill, elliptical and bike from Craig's List.

Kept a personal video journal starting a year before surgery through meeting my weight goal after surgery.

Took before pics and measurements.

As far as what I wish I had done, I really can't think of many things as I did a ton of research, except maybe not buy as much in quantity for some things - like Isopure. Some stuff definitely went to waste. But I'd rather be over prepared rather than under prepared.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Removed all the excess stress from my life. Which included streamlining my business and cutting a lot of toxic people from my life.

Making sure you are mentally checked in, and happy I feel is the biggest thing.

The physical changes are so big, I don't think it is worth trying to practice for them. I would have never been able to mentally imagine sipping the way I had to sip post op. I could have never done it.

Clean out all the cabinets and stock them only with the healthy foods I will be eating.

DIGITAL scale A scale is the key, weighing your food is the most accurate and easiest way to track.

Best thing I did was to keep busy, and cleaned all the pasta, rice, macaroni and cheese, and unhealthy food from my pantry. I gave it all to a needy friend with two children. Then I over prepared by overbuying too much protein, and shakes. I think I thought I would be housebound when in fact I was in the grocery store two days after the sleeve, because I was bored sitting around.

Weaned myself off of carbonation and caffeine.

Practiced mindful eating: eating slowly, taking small bites, and chewing thoroughly.

Shopped - got things like a good scale, small dishes and utensils (sushi and appetizer/salad plates, bowls, etc), food storage containers, etc

Sampled different Protein supplements

Read and learned as much as I could

Journal

Exercise

Practice polite persistence and patience.