Frustrated

Ever since I got my surgery date (4/9/12), I have not been watching what I eat and have gained 10 lbs.  I need some inspiration to get back on the bandwagon.  I have been having alot of pain in my feet due to plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, which makes it impossible to go to the gym and work out.  I guess I am just going to have to force myself and work through the pain.  Any suggestions on how to start eating the right way again.  I told my co-workers that I need to star****ching what I eat because my surgery is coming up and of course many of them have the attitude that I am going to have surgery and I will lose the weight then but this is a tool that I am going to lose that could lead to the solution.  If I continue to eat like this after the surgery, it will be a failure and I didn't work this hard (almost a year of fighting the insurance company) for it to be unsuccesful.  Please send me some prayers and good vibes....

 I'm in the same boat--trying to keep the weight down before surgery, but wanting to eat everything not nailed down. I feel like it's a mourning period--I'm not going to be eating as freely as before, and that is a huge change! ;)

However, I have been stockpiling an array of sugar-free drinks, decaf coffees, cheese, cottage cheese, etc. It helps me to stay on a better path than before. Another thing that might help, is doing a food journal.  There are lots of them online and for smartphones (SparkPeople, MyFitnessPal, LivingStrong, etc.). It might help to see what you're eating, and figure out how to plan better. Lastly, drink plenty of PLAIN water. I know the sugar-free waters are a nice change of pace, but I find limiting myself to two a day (20 oz. each), and drinking almost as much plain water, really helps. 

As for the exercise, can you swim laps at the Y? The pool helps relieve pressure all over, and I find it calming (when I can get it in--LOL).

Hope these help! You'll do wonderfully by the time surgery happens--keep your head up! 

For me, the best tool for losing weight before surgery was tracking EVERYTHING I ate. Huge eye opening and motivating experience. There are several good trackers available, but I used spark people because it has an iPad app.

I lost 60 pounds in six months before surgery, and still track everything now.

I encourage you to begin changing your relationship with food now, it will make the adjustments after surgery easier.

Regarding your heel spurs and pain issues... Working out through the pain is the last thing I would do. Perhaps you could get a referral from your dr for physical therapy? The therapist could help address the causes of the pain, and teach you exercises to help alleviate the pain and strengthen your body.

Swimming is a great non-impact exercise - if you have access to a pool.

Also, you could search online or YouTube for upper body aerobic exercises to do while you are waiting for your surgery and your feet to heal.

I did a lot of high impact aerobics in the 90's and pretty much destroyed my feet. It took years for the planters fasciitis to heal.

You have the right attitude.  You have to change your way of eating or you won't get the results you want from surgery.  In the beginning, you could eat any way you want and still lose weight because your pouch will not let you eat very much and you'll be malabsorbing so much.  But that won't last that long.  You'll start to be able to eat larger amounts and you'll start to absorb more calories.  The surgery helps you limit your portions but it doesn't force you to make the right choices.  So you might as well get started on that work now because it's not easy and it takes practice.

First remind yourself that having surgery does not mean you are saying goodbye to yummy food forever.  You don't have to eat everything you like now, and as much of it as possible, because you're gonna get to eat most of that stuff again after surgery.  Just not right away.

I would start now practicing some of the stuff you'll need to do after surgery.  Focus your meals on lean protein, then add fruits and vegetables until you are full.  Limit the bread, pasta, rice, potatoes.  Pay attention to portion size.  Don't try to live on 1/4 cup of food like you will right after surgery, that would be ridiculous when you have a normal sized stomach, but pay attention to how much tuna or chicken or whatever makes one serving and eat that.  Avoid stuff high in sugar.  Get used to reading labels to see what's in stuff.  Just little things right now.

I can relate to your feet problem and when it was at the most painful I cut 1/4 inch foam to fit my shoes and the soft cushion hepled tremendously. Sometimes it took 4 or 5 layers. Then I bought orthotics and they made all the difference in the world. In the meantime, if you can go to a gym, you could bike and do the weight machines which would help you build up muscle tone and give you a good start for post op. You need to get your feet in good shape so you can walk and exercise later. I just can't imagine losing the weight without a good exercise plan.

I have had plantar fasciitis twice in the last ten years.  I am just getting over the last bout which lasted from last April.  Then I woke up a couple of weeks ago and it was gone!!  I did the whole podiatrist thing with the cortisone shots (ow!), wrapping, insoles, etc.   It's awful, I know.   Do you have boots to wear at night?  I found keeping the foot flexed helped immensely.  Also, I wouldn't push myself exercising if it hurts your feet - it can make it worse.

As far as getting on track, perhaps a day or two of liquids - protein drink, broth, SF Jello and lots of water will help you get off the bad eating merry-go-round.  It seems to work for me and it's not as hard as it sounds.   Try to challenge yourself - I think you'll find you're stronger than you think!

And Kelly is right, you'll be able to eat yummy things again.