Why does it bother me so much?

 I will admit that when my surgeon wanted me to lose X amount of weight before surgery I was mad as hell... why? How? all I need is surgery!!  WRONG !!!   I am so grateful that she has required this of me now.
I have been living the "lifestyle" for almost 3 months now, and I cannot express enough how eye opening it has been. I have been following the directions of my NUT and the surgeon and the weight is coming off faster than it ever has in the past and I have not even been given my date yet, but I couldn't be happier!!
 I don't want to postpone losing weight by waiting for a date. I want every day to count on this journey. I want to be BELOW my surgery goal weight on my surgery date because I know It will benefit me, the surgeon and the overall recovery time.
I view any pre op that does not get their head in the game NOW as someone who will have a rude awakening after surgery. I feel sorry for them and still it bothers me that they see this surgery as a cure that will fix them without effort.
Every post op I know tells me that this is not the "easy way out", and now I understand what they mean. It is hard work and diligence... may as well start now and prepare yourself. 

I think it is an individual thing......I am pre-op and as soon as I made the decision to see a surgeon for a consult....I started getting a grip on my eating.  When I saw the surgeon he gave me a pre-op diet and did not require me to lose any weight at all and neither did my insurance company.  All he asked is that I not GAIN any weight.  I immediately followed his diet and upped my exercise.  I practice chewing chewing chewing. I have tons of samples of protein to have on hand post-op.   I have read everything that I can on WLS and feel that I have a good grasp on what I am in for.  I use MyFitnessPal to log my eating habits and keep an eye on it.  I have lost weight, but I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have lost and gained over the years several times.....this is what I need now and what I want now.  I think some people don't want to lose weight until surgery because they are afraid that their insurance will not approve them if they lose weight.  Everybody is different.  I guess some people just go with the flow.....I can't.  I need to know what to expect....what is normal and what isn't.....

I talked to someone the other day that had WLS and asked what kind they had.  They said .... "ummm, I don't know....but it wasn't the band".........how can someone have surgery and not know what kind?  Some people do all kinds of research, some don't....I don't know why......maybe they are scared......  All I know is I did, and I'm ready.....mentally, physically and emotionally.  I have a great support system....and they know what to expect too. 

I'm getting closer to my date and I can't wait!!!!  I can't wait to join you on the losers bench.....well, I guess I'm already on the losers bench.....but I'm ready for my RNY..... and I too and impatient......but prepared....

Good luck to you on your impending surgery......We are going to be sooo happy!!!

I agree. My journey started the day I started making inquiries of friends who have had bariatric surgery. My biggest step was calling the surgeon's office to be scheduled for the seminar. Without those 2 huge steps, there would not have been a journey. I started adding protein shakes very early out, making sure I got plenty of water, and cutting back on bad carbs. I wanted to give my body time to adjust, not shock it into submission after wls. I wanted my head to be in the right place. This IS a LIFESTYLE change, not a miracle. There has to be a great amount of effort. It takes dedication, determination, and commitment.

Kristi

**Double Like!!**

I didn't lose much weight pre-op.  Didn't worry about it much because I knew that it would be very different post-op.  I was the 4th in my family to have surgery and I saw early post-op food struggles.  I did start practicing not eating/drinking together because that really is habit.  I also started exercising 30 mins. a day. 

My journey didn't start when I had weight loss surgery. My journey started before surgery. I lost a 100lbs pre op.

I'm preop.  I started this journey a few months ago now.  I realize completely that it's a tool, not a magic pill.  I've read several books, been to support groups and visited with my doctor and others who have had surgery.  I stopped eating and drinking together 3 weeks ago, started at 356 about a month ago and am down to 345.  I'm trying to make the changes now so the drastic changes after surgery don't affect me.  I think when we all start this, we get so excited about the tool of the surgery that we call it the start of our journey.  I look forward to getting my surgery date every single day.  It's the start of another journey for me.  My initial journey started probably a year ago when I started my research.  I understand where you are coming from with looking like some people think it's a quick fix.  But I sure don't, and I am a newbie.  Nothing in life comes easy.  I've learned that the hard way, and this isn't going to be easy either, but it's worth it.  Every day is a new day on my journey, but for me, the biggest step of the journey will be my surgery, then the biggest step will change after that I am sure. 

Neither my insurance nor my surgeon required any weight loss pre-op, so the only thing I did was to start taking some extra vitamins.  I did not attempt to lose any weight before surgery because I turned 45 years old the day after my surgery and had suffered through SO many years of diet failure (either not losing at all or losing a small amount and then gaining it all back and more) -- and I was SO depressed by so many failures -- that I simply could not face trying one more time and failing to lose any weight yet again... even knowing that surgery was coming up.  I needed the little bit of emotional energy that I had left to put towards being successful AFTER surgery.

Although I understand where you are coming from and the intent of your questions, I have to say that your post seems kind of judgmental to me.  You don't have any idea what the medical, weight, and emotional history is of the individual people who are here.. and there are probably dozens of answers.  Why don't people completely change their lives pre-op?  When, according to you, should tghey start?  The day they get their surgery date? the day they go to their info session? the day they decide that WLS is their only hope to lose the weight and keep it off? the day they first realize they are overweight? the first day as an adult that they have to buy a larger size pair of pants because they gained some weight?....  why not just ask why people don't live the "new lifestyle" and NOT have surgery at all?

So I would go back to your very first question... why does it bother YOU so much that other people don't "start living the new lifestyle" pre-op...?

Lora

 I know my question... there is no need to repeat it back to me.  I realize it seems judgmental, it does to me too. THAT'S WHY I POSTED THE QUESTION.  It bothers me that you and others make excuses as to why you could not even try to get started pre op (when you decided to make the lifestyle change and get surgery) but that after surgery you will miraculously have the mental, physical and emotional ability to start the program.   I don't understand...   

 I don't mean to sound like a b*tch... sorry.