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Personal preparation for surgery



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I'm just wondering how you prepared yourselves physically and mentally in the weeks or months before surgery. I am just waiting for my surgery date. I can't stop thinking about it in anticipation and fear.

I was thinking of buying some Protein Shakes and trying to incorporate them into my diet.

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I was on a 6 month pre-op diet that worked pretty good. I walked on a treadmill and rode a stationary bike regularly. I binged watched tons of YouTube videos on the different surgeries and other peoples journeys and that really helped prepare me for whatever was coming down the pike. The more I learned from YouTube and this forum, the less anxiety I felt. So basically, make sure you shrink that liver by following the recommended diet so you have a safe surgery and educate yourself so your anxiety levels are manageable. Good luck on your WLS journey!

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I worked on incorporating all the n new behaviors so I could hit the ground running. Sit at the table no less than 20 no more than 30 and no distracted eating. Chew Chew Chew Chew CHEW! Used tiny silverware and took little bites. Cardio 30 mins a day. shake for lunch every day. Alsowatched tons of YouTube videos. Asked my bf to write a list of things he was excited to do with me once I got smaller. Got in the habit off doing meal prep. Learned what triggers my anxiety and found solutions for it!

Sent from my LG-Q710AL using BariatricPal mobile app

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I love asking for a list if stuff to be excited to do.

Also, the "training" for chewing. I think I just Hoover food in. That's going to have to change!

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I pretended I had already had the surgery and ate like I would be doing post-surgery to prepare myself. It worked! I got used to drinking Protein Shakes and eating very small portions.

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I love this!! Thank you!

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To the extent you can start working out, do so - even if its just walking around the block or on a treadmill. I started working with a personal trainer who knew I was going to have surgery to being to do what I could. I spent time getting my head in the right place - eating as if I were already post-op - Protein first, drinking lots of Water, not eating and drinking at the same time.

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I listened to The Weight Loss Surgery podcast. It is great! It gave me all kinds of information I never would have thought to ask about. Check it out you won’t regret it. It really focused on understanding obesity, the mental/ emotional challenges pre and post op. Physical changes and physiology of the surgery.

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5 minutes ago, jenifaoh said:

I listened to The Weight Loss Surgery podcast. It is great! It gave me all kinds of information I never would have thought to ask about. Check it out you won’t regret it. It really focused on understanding obesity, the mental/ emotional challenges pre and post op. Physical changes and physiology of the surgeryi

I will check this out now! Thank you!

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    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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