Hello everyone,

I have been lurking here for quite some time, but this is my first post. I started the program to have the gastric sleeve surgery back in 2017, however, due to a death in my family, I had to drop out and focus on my mental health for a while. I am starting my classes over on the 28th and I am really looking forward to making some big changes in my life. The first time around in the program it was required to take classes for 6 months, now they have changed it to 12 weeks! I wasn't really sure if I wanted to have the surgery the first time around, and I didn't make many big changes in my lifestyle.

This time is different though. I am sure that I want to do this and I have started to make some changes, I quit smoking and I am starting to exercise more. I am wondering what other changes you guys made in the months leading up to your surgeries that really helped, or what you wish you had done differently. Should I start replacing a meal with a shake? Multivitamins? What eating habits should I focus on changing right now? Or is there anything you wish someone had told you before you had your surgery?

I started "practicing" eating like I would be eating after the WLS before the WLS so I could get used to it mentally, small portions.

Hi and welcome!

The stopping smoking is awesome, congratulations! That is not easy!

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I think taking vitamins is a good thing. Might as well get as healthy that way as you can.

I think the most important thing you can do now is read/ learn here from the vets on the site. They can give you a perspective of not only your short term outlook, but what really counts- maintaining the weight loss after the honeymoon period of "easy" weight loss is over.

Excited for you and wish you well on your journey!

Congrats on stopping smoking! I am new too. I just had my first appointment today. I am so excited. My husband went with me and he is being very supportive. Do you have someone that can cheer you on? If not, I will do it!

I gradually weaned myself off caffeine and carbonated beverages (I can drink caffeine again - but in limited amounts, but four years later, I still don't drink carbonated beverages). I gradually increased my protein and decreased my carbs, and I gradually decreased my calories. As the above poster said, I wanted to start doing some of things I'd have to do post-surgery so the change wouldn't seem so drastic.

Stopping smoking was a great step! I had stopped smoking about five months before I had my first appointment (before I'd decided to do the process) and also completely stopped drinking about two months before - again for unrelated reasons, but those both ended up being things that the nutritionist and psychiatrist at my weight loss center were very happy to hear.

I gradually cut down on caffeine and carbonation and eventually cut them out entirely at about 4 months pre-op, and started taking my recommended multivitamin at that same time.