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Preparing for Surgery. Advice: What you wish you knew



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Hello Everyone,

I just started the process to have gastric sleeve surgery. Although I'm getting great info from the nutritionist, I'd love to hear your experiences and what you wish you knew before you had surgery. I'm nervous but excited! My surgery is still about 5 or 6 months away so I'm hoping to prepare myself as best I can before then. What are the biggest changes you've made and how did that impact your life? All advice and stories are welcomed!!

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I wish i would have know that it is a tool and you have to get the whole shop in order! Read this site the ups and downs but you will be so happy on this journey

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My biggest thing was not eating bread, rice or Pasta and was able to do really well and lose a lot of weight. As soon as I started eating those types of foods, I felt an increase in appetite and started noticing the weight going back up plus Now the craving is back too. I guess my advice is if you can keep away from the bad cravings do so because once you start letting yourself have some here and there it’s harder to distance yourself from it again. I’m sure some people won’t agree with what I’m saying about not eating bread, pasta and rice, but I experienced it myself first hand and had a very successful gastric bypass patient tell me the same before I got my surgery. Hope that helps! :)

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1 hour ago, SAMMYFRYD said:

I’m sure some people won’t agree with what I’m saying about not eating bread, Pasta and rice, but I experienced it myself first hand and had a very successful gastric bypass patient tell me the same before I got my surgery. Hope that helps! :)

Totally agree--and I'm still not eating bread, pasta or rice more than a year out!

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I wish I knew how frustrating the stalls were gonna be. Hadn't made me regret a single thing, but they are soooo frustrating!

I wish I knew that people aren't going to mention that you look like you are losing weight. I'm down 50 pounds, and have only had TWO people say anything. Again, no regrets, but a little feedback for your hard work helps!

My ONLY regret is that I wish I hadn't mucked around so long with my lap band before I decided to revise to RNY!

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The hardest thing I've had to come to terms with is losing my coping mechanism.

I used to eat to feed my emotions but now that's not an option I'm lost. Wish i had a bit more therapy as i did 15wks but it wasn't enough.

Speaking to a therapist Tuesday morning 😊

The stalls really demotivated me and disappointed me too. I thought I'd have lost more weight by now 😪

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I had to get into the mindset that the tool is a tool, and it’s forever. Sometimes I just want to sit down and eat for comfort, and that’s not an option any more.

Also, this is a process. I had the surgery and I had this “magical thinking” going on the the weight would melt away. I’m losing faster than ever, but it’s a pound at a time.

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For me it was the heartburn and acid reflux. I had it severely. To the point where it's deteriorated the enamel of my teeth. Mine is a more rare case and you may not get it that bad but know that acid reflux of some sort is common.

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

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      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

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      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

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      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
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