Just starting. wondering if there is anything you wished you knew at the beginning of the journey that you know after you've gotten the surgery done. Tips and pointers are also helpful

That all those months of "food mourning" and thinking that my life was going so suck without being able to have X, Y, and Z in my life was a collosal waste of time. Things like fast food, my diet sodas...don't care. Sure, there are times when I'll get a "I miss..." phase but it's short lived. Like smoking I couldn't imagine doing certain things without food being involved. And surprise! Life went on just fine without them.

The other thing is to prepare mentally for it. That plays a much bigger part than we realize. I had a big come to Jesus moment on my relationship with food during my 2 week pre-op diet and sadly realized how much control it had on my life. Head hunger will still be a demon that you may have to fight. Just remember that WLS is still a tool and if not used properly it won't do what it's intended to do.

Lastly I did wait too long to work on cutting some things out. Diet soda was my crack and knew it would be tough to give that up. Would have made the pre-op diet phase a bit easier if I'd given it up sooner.

Good luck to you!

Viky88 I'm not thru with,surgery just wanted to offer friendship. I'm waiting on an early-mid March surgery but will also,be a RnY. I've been on Bariatric Pal a couple months , have,learned a lot from veterans,and done a lot of research myself. I,have a BMI of 45, am 5ft8in tall, 72 years old and goal weight at this time 175 or size 16,,if I end,up smaller, Halleujah! It will,be a struggle but,oh so worth it. I'm in it to win it, care to join me?

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal App

@orionburn Those are the thoughts that are going through my head right now. I am concerned about "mourning" the loss of being able to eat all those comfort foods. I was thinking about how I am going to deal with life's upsets without having those foods. A part of me almost said, "Screw it! Maybe it's just better to eat whatever I want and enjoy ... " I stopped there because I realized that I was doing just that but not enjoying life at all.

The psychologists want me to have a game plan for dealing with this. I don't have a solid one now, just some vague ideas. Sometimes it's very hard to think clearly when you feel so physically bad that it effects your mental and emotional health. I am just barely stable enough physically and mentally to get through this. I am really going to have to lean on my support systems during this time.

How they tell you that you can't have gummy vitamins if you've had RNY when you actually can. All that talk about how it won't absorb well isn't exactly true unless said person isn't healing well or isn't even taking any vitamins.

I was told by my surgeon's team that since I'm completely healthy, I can take gummies. So I'm taking them. The chewable vitamins are gross to me and I refuse to take them anyway. Lol

I wish I would have known I could take the gummies way ahead of time. I would have bought boat loads of them. These things are delicious and it has me wishing I could eat more than two per day for each vitamin I have.

Hw-273
Sw-226
CW-139
GW-130
Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made.
Bra Size- 38D

Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017
RNY
"Only those who try will become" FFX

3 hours ago, Mattymatt said:

@orionburn Those are the thoughts that are going through my head right now. I am concerned about "mourning" the loss of being able to eat all those comfort foods. I was thinking about how I am going to deal with life's upsets without having those foods. A part of me almost said, "Screw it! Maybe it's just better to eat whatever I want and enjoy ... " I stopped there because I realized that I was doing just that but not enjoying life at all.

The psychologists want me to have a game plan for dealing with this. I don't have a solid one now, just some vague ideas. Sometimes it's very hard to think clearly when you feel so physically bad that it effects your mental and emotional health. I am just barely stable enough physically and mentally to get through this. I am really going to have to lean on my support systems during this time.

Here was my wake-up call: As I was getting closer to starting my pre-op diet I started thinking of what I was going to do as my "last meal." I kept dwelling on it and thinking "I have to go here. No, wait. I have to here instead." In the end I just ended up getting some crappy fast food because I had a bunch of running around to do that night and we couldn't go out to anywhere decent. So a few days later I was feeling sad that I "wasted" my last meal. That's when I realized if I would have went to another place I would have ended up feeling the same way. That I didn't pick the right place and should have went there instead. And I would have kept doing that. And needing this to get my fix. Or that. Or, no, the first one was right so I'll have that again and be done. I dunno...for me I finally stopped for a minute and realized how pathetic I was being.

There are a lot of things I've avoided in this last year. There are things I've allowed as a treat. I've had pizza (gasp!). But it's pretty much a slice and that's it. And it's like every other month I'll treat myself. Other things I've tried, didn't care for, and they're gone for good now. Doesn't bother me at all. All this sadness I thought I would have hasn't been there. It does help to have a plan in place because the mental struggles can be as difficult, if not worse, than the physical ones.

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by orionburn

Thank you guys for replying and giving me some great advice I'm really excited but nervous because I know is going to take a lot of will power and I think that's my bigger hurdle... but I'm exited to feel better health wise. I have a long way to go but I'm ready for this journey..... and kakatlady612 I'll join you because I'm in it to win it too