Practicing and preparation.

What is the number one thing you recommend and/or wish you would have practiced before surgery?

Chrisitna

Great question Christina    We are looking forward to seeing the responses.

Regards,

Member Services Team

What surgery are you having?  

If it's RNY, the number one "difficulty" seems to be not drinking while eating or for 30 minutes afterwards.   I have done this all my life, so didn't have to learn how to do it, but it seems to cause some people a lot of problems if they are used to drinking to get their food down or to rinse their mouth after every mouthful.

If you are or are not a chew and chug person, then you will still need to learn to chew your food properly - you won't always have to chew it to a mush, but if you don't chew it properly you will end up with foamies and that horrible stuck feeling.   A meal should take you 20 minutes, no more and no less!

If you are having a VSG or DS there will probably be other recommendations ...

I practiced eating slower, chewing longer, and not drinking with meals. I did it on and off for a couple months pre-op, and it is still pretty difficult to get used to. I am doing pretty well now, but it took me a couple weeks to really be mindful of the chewing.  I didn't drink while eating, but really wanted to. I've also gotten better at making sure I drink plenty during that time when you can (30 minutes before and after according to my docs plan)

Good luck!

I worked on ensuring there was a minimum of 3 oz. of good protein on my plate and consumed that first, chewing at least 20 times.  Eating veggies and treating any carbs with respect, almost like a 'seasoning', eating a tablespoon, or 2.  The whole water intake, not with meals, stopping and starting 30 min. around a meal, so I always have a glass with me, as my oral fixation.  I said good bye to alcohol and have decided I don't need consume it any more.  I have had some terrific beverages to drink in my time, but it doesn't do you any favours, so I will save my calories for food - but this is a really tough & personal decision.

Basically start practicing mindful eating until it becomes as natural as all the bad eating habits we have all gone through.  

Good idea to wrap your head around your new life now.

for me it has been eating slowly. i was told meals should take 30-40mins, which seems ridiculously slow, especially when you are only eating 1/2c food at a time.

i am now trying to time at least 3 minutes between bites and am almost 2mos post-op.

and not drinking 30mins before or after is also tough for me. it's almost like it has to be a perfectly timed orchestra!