Pre op questions

I have been approved for surgery and will get my date next week and I have some questions. I have told several people of my upcoming surgery and I have received nothing but support from my friends. I explain how this is different then previous times when I have tried and failed and how WLS is a tool to keep me on track. My concern is that I often do not eat just because I am hungry. I eat out of habit, I eat when I am stressed, I eat when I am alone. How is WLS going to help with this? I realize I need to make some huge changes. I have to change my old habits and develop new habits. The problem is...I have never changed these habits in the past. How will WLS help with this? I realize it is going to be hard work and I am so motivated but I have failed so many times in the past. I want to make this work.

I have tried to work my diet prior to surgery but I just keep using my upcoming surgery as an excuse to eat the things I shouldn't. Is this normal? Should I be restricting my diet now, prior to surgery. I am trying to get walking in but I have not changed any eating habits.

Any feedback is appreciated.

The Clap

 tI was told the more physically fit I was the easier the recovery was going to be. I was wlaking 2+ miles  day for 6 weeks leading up to the surgery. I also hit the very low fat low carb diet hard for 6 weeks to shrink the litter. One thing I woudl HIGHLR recommend is to wean yourself off caffeine slowly and start now. I did all these things and had a flawless recovery with little pain and no nausea. I was up walking the day of surgery and sent home the next morning.
eating some foods to sya goodbye is normal. try to keep the portion smaller and enjoy the process, When it time to buckle down you need to stop. Some Drs require a 1 or 2 week liquid, THEY SUCK but get easier after day 3 or 4.
In the end its worth all the heartache and struggling you'll do pre-op. You will eat normal foods again EVERTUALLY just in much smaller portions and not for a couple of months usually

Assuming your having RNY,  your pouch will be the size of your thumb to begin with.  As you drop the weight, you will realize you can move better...This will in turn allow you to exercise more...Which will in turn cause you to lose more weight.  Even any boring exercise like walking or working around the house will still mean more calories going out than are coming in.  The part of the stomach that is bypassed is the part where the hunger pains come from.  I believe it is call grenlin (sp).  You will probably not have hunger pains anymore.  You will still have head hunger and will get a "not full" feeling, but not hunger pains.  You will still have that head hunger to deal with, but without the stomach hunger, you can concentrate on eating the right foods since you must...or you could lose muscle mass and get really really weak.  For most people it gets easier and easier over the weeks and months post op.  Two other things going for you...Your a male and your pretty young.  For men it seems to be easier for us to lose the weight (the women just hate us for that).  We have a larger muscle structure so we can move easier.  This allows us to burn more energy and lose weight faster.  No it is not fair...but that's how it is.  Yes you could go back to bad habits.  But you don't have to.  I hit my goal weight of 190 in 6 months and 10 days.  I have gained 20 pounds over the last year.  It is still better than being #300.  Just some thoughts.  Brian 

One thing I recommend is you come here and get your frustrations out. Because you're not going to have food to turn to. Your emotions will go topsy turvy as you lose. You may want to kill people. You may actually hate compliments. I did because I wondered how come people didn't like me before.

If you do protein shakes buy small sample sizes and try them. Your tastes will change and what tastes good now may not taste good post WLS.

Remember to walk walk walk sip sip sip 6 small meals a day. Make sure do not drink with meals,

WHen you're discouraged we are here. You can pay it forward by providing support to other newbies.

Remember it is a one step at a time journey and not a race so you go one day at a time.


We;re here for you

What the other guys so eloquently said.....WLS is the "kick in the head and stomach" but it's up to you to start eating right and exercise on a regular basis. Once you realize how sweet life can be when you're no longer obese, you'll never want to go back. 

Boner 

I have to echo all of what has been said.  One thing you have going for you is you have identified when you eat.  During the time leading up to your surgery and your post op period decide what steps to take, so that your head is in the right place to say no to those bad habits.  Also think about new behaviors you can institute to replace the bad behaviors. 

Good luck, I have faith in you

Jim