Needs Motivation

Howdy Everyone First let me say that, I am grateful for this board. It's about time that we whom have high BMIS have a place of our own. I've been a member of AMOS for a long period of time, and I have finally decided that the WLS is for me. However last month when, I went to see the surgeon, I was told that, Im ust lose 20 pounds before I come back to see him. Although, 20 pounds doesn't sound like a lot compared to some of the people that have to lose on here. It is a lot to me. I must lose weight to shrink my liver, but I must admit I don't know where to start, and since, I don't have done some emotional eating. I will admit it's hard for me to just get up and exercise so I get depressed about that. I really don't know what to do, or where to start. So if any one of you has ANY advice for me...please give it to me because, I could really use some right now. I know that, I need this surgery to save my life, and I dont think, I can do it alone, and I feel so alone right now. SO please ANY advice on how, I can get on the right track, I will appreciate it so much! Thank you in advance to those that answer this post! *smoochies* NEVER SURRENDER *~T~*

Hi TT When I found out how much I weighed, I decided to try to loose some weight on my own before surgery. I started at 450 and lost 23 pounds in less than a month. It was hard because I eat when I'm bored. I am not working right now so I'm always bored. This is what I do... No sugar, Dont cook with salt, No fried food, No rice or pasta. I love bread so I bought light wheat but I only allow myself 2 slices a week. No soda and LOTS of water. Instead of half the bottle of ranch, I only use a very little. I eat a lot of salad. On the weekend I am always with friends and they like to eat at fast food resturants.. I order grilled chicken sandwitches with no mayo and dont eat the bun and thats the only time I drink a diet soda. Alot of places have fresh fruit now. So i order that instead of fries. SF popsicles are great when you want to just graze. I am addicted to them right now. Slim fast has a "snack" bar that taste like snickers and its good. I allow myself 2 a week so I wont get that chocolate taste and want the real thing. They help me when I want chocolate. I bought "walk away the pounds" DVD from ebay and it has really helped. She has a beginner tape out and it takes it real slow. I have been doing it for about 3 weeks and I can now walk a little better and further without so much back pain. It was only a dollar. I hope this helps. Everyone has there own way of loosing pre surgery weight but I just wanted to share what is working for me. Good Luck, Kay

Hi TT, Welcome! I'm sorry about your experience with the surgeon. I hear this so many times that certain surgeons require their patients to lose weight prior to surgery. I was not required to lose weight prior to surgery but as a result of my participation in the required pre op/post op nutritional class I lost 75 lbs. in 10 months. I was 598 lbs and wanted to shed some lbs. before I had surgery to make things a little easier for me. The nutritionist completed a calculation of the amount of calories, protein, fats and carbs I needed daily to be healthy enough to withstand surgery. She required me to keep a daily food journal so that I could actually see what I was consuming and this helped me so much. The key to my pre op weight loss was weekly meal planning and preparation a day ahead. This helped me make good food choices and when I was hungry the food was ready ... this also kept me from ordering the high calorie fast which I had done previously. You might want to call your surgeon and ask him to recommend a nutritionist/dietitian to assist you with a pre op weight loss plan. If he can't/won't you might want to find one on your own. Having a nutritionist in the beginning of my journey really made me accountable to someone which helped me stay the course. I encourage you to keep coming back here because we have either been were you're at or going through a similar situation. We understand about the depression, immobility, comorbities that go along with being our sizes. I want you to know that you are not alone and we are here for you. Take Care, Georgeann

hi t: i agree about the need for a board for the higher BMI and i, too, am glad i found it. i started at about 450 and am down 110 pounds since february of this year. i'd do the surgery again in a 'new york minute'. you've been researching this for quite some time, t, so i'm glad your decision is well considered. my only success at dieting, albeit temporary, was with the atkins diet. i took off 80 lbs almost three years ago and they stayed off as long as i stayed on the atkins diet. i don't know if you've tried it or not, or even if you're a meat eater - but that's what happened with me and if you want to lose weight for your surgery, that might be one way to go. i love your NEVER SURRENDER. and i hope we hear from you soon. hugs, dorthe

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((TT)))))))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you girl!!!!! 20 pounds is a piece of cake Think of it this way 20 pounds to lose on your own to be able to have the life YOU WANT AND DESERVE!!!!! You can do it!!!!!! I agree with Georgie.....check with your surgeon on a diet. I will tell you that I did the Adkins diet for 2 weeks and lost 14lbs without excerising. Just eat healthy *no junk* for a month and try to walk a little more. And those little itty bitty 20 pounds will FALL off of you!!!! Take this 20 pounds and make it yours, own up to it and get RID of it to have the surgery of a lifetime!!!!!! Do this for YOU!!! Best of luck to you!!!! Carmella -80lbs in 3mo

TT ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))), You are never alone as long as we are here!! I am pre-op myself and I am having the same struggle. NEVER tell a SMO person who is under a lot of stress to lose weight I deal with stress just like I have dealt with every single emotion in my life, good or bad. I EAT!!!!!! I'm sorry I cant help you with the weight losing part. But remember that we are always here and we are all in this together! We are just a away. Take care. bridget

I can relate to how you are feeling. I was only 400 lbs and I had a hard time moving. When the doctor told me to exercise I thought he was trying to kill me and I told him are you crazy? They made me get a heart monitor and get my heart rate up for 20 minutes at first and then increase it over the summer. They were not as concerned about losing weight as about the type of food I was eating and the number of meals per day. They told me not to worry about portion control. They said weight loss would come after the surgery. I did lose 25 lbs without portion control just by getting off the sweets and getting a little exercise. Once I got over 330 lbs I just gave up on exercise and just thought I would be fat for the rest of my "short" life. I am glad they made me exercise and made me get off the sweets before the surgery. They gave me hope for the first time. I have lost 184 lbs in the last 10 months and I feel good.