If I knew then what I know now........

The only big thing that I didn't know about before surgery that I wish I knew was that IF you gain weight again, it's much harder to lose it than before surgery.  Weird, I thought it would be easier for life.  My goal is never to have to lose any again, after I finish maintenance.

I don't think it would have made a difference in my decision to have the surgery though.  Even with the bad things you can read about here, most people would still have the surgery.

 

I've read your post, left because I couldn't think of anything and come back several times.  I really cannot think of any one thing I didn't know before that I know now.  I'm pretty sure I didn't know everything and I'm still learning....it is a never ending process.

Ask questions, be prepared for things to start out bumpy (it may or may not), don't freak out on stalls, follow the rules for losing and maintaining.  The emotional aspects are just as important or more so than the physical aspects.

 

I wish that I had known that having the surgery and losing the weight was just the first stage of this journey and that plastics was the second part.  Had I known, I would have saved more money to get everything fixed instead of part.  When I had this surgery, I was just so grateful to be able to lose the weight and I said that I wouldn't care about the skin.  You do care about the skin.  It becomes your enemy in a way.  You can stuff and hide it all you want to look fairly good in public but when alone, you see what the rest of the world doesn't see except perhaps your husband or partner.  My hubby always told me that I looked fine, but I knew it could be so much better.  I have had a lower body lift and feel really good about myself now, my hubby thinks I look awesome.   If I had the money, I would have my arms, breast and thighs done too.  I guess what I am saying is start you a plastic fund now so that in 3-4 years you will have some money to get some things fixed too!

The are just a couple of things I didn't know beforehand (my surgeon provided EXCELLENT info in the binder she gave us all pre-op):

1) that only 30% of RNYers dump (my surgeon said that not everyone would, but she didn't tell us that the percentage was so low)

2) that (for a number of reasons) we are at a much higher risk for kidney stones after RNY

3)  that the significant decrease in nutrition during the six months post-op can cause your body to permanently lower its metabolism

 

Lora

I was not aware of #3 as far as reducing our metabolism (I assume you mean belies the norm for someone of equal height & weight). How much is it reduced by on average?

This study says there is no change in metabolism after weight loss surgery, except the change related to reduced body tissue (you need less calories to support life at 120 lbs than you do at 320 lbs).

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/1/22.long

OK. Thanks! That I knew. Obviously my 170 pounds requires much less energy to move around than my 364.

I wish I had known that my energy levels would be so low for the first 5 weeks or so.  I also wish I had know to take 3 full weeks off work instead of 2.

 

I did my research beforehand (largely here!), so I feel as if I went into this pretty well informed.  I guess the biggest surprise has been how much I don't care to cook now.  I've downloaded tons of high protein/low calorie meals off of the internet (I save them on Keep Recipe), yet I've only made one.  I bought four bariatric cookbooks off of Amazon, yet have only made three or four recipes total.

I find I prefer very simply prepared meals--baked chicken, broiled steak or salmon, etc. and a veg.  I was worried about how, after surgery, I was going to "dress up" my meals to make them more appealing (since I can't fall back on rich sauces or starchy sides).  But it's been a non-issue.  My appetite is small, even at seven months out, so the fuss just isn't worth it to me and my pouch is happier with the simpler food.

This completely. I cook a piece of meat and usually have some uncooked veg with it, and that's it. Nothing fancy at all, wanted or needed.