Survey=PLEASE!!

Okay, we touched on this last month at the post op meeting; rules to live by after WLS.  I've asked my friends on the Over 50 Forum, most of whom are more than two years out, to give me their top rules for being successful with your weight loss plan.

Please give me YOUR list of personal rules you follow. I'll compile all of the suggestion and list them in the order by most suggested on down. It's my intention to print this out and give it to Lauren for the pre-ops packet. These folks need to know the nitty gritty of life after WLS.

Thanks for your input. I'll post the list after it's done.

Hi Susan,

I think most of  what was said at the last meeting covered most of my thoughts, but I'll share them here just in case.

1.  If/when tempted to injest something I shouldn't... I think to myself  "I didn't have surgery to sabatauge myself" and walk away from it.

2.  Find a protein drink you like-before surgery- (I know tastes change, but worth a try, I finally found Muscle Milk last month and have 1 or 2 each day to keep my protein intake up)

3.  Find a chewable vitamin you will actually like and take daily- ( Flintstones were horrible tasting to me, I now use Nature's Plus Natural Pineapple Flavor Adult's Chewable Supplements- yummy!)

4.  If I absolutely can't resist tasting something, I have 1 or 2 bites and throw the rest away. Thankfully I'm  not pulled to sweets or chocolate. (shocking, I LOVE chocolate)

5.  Find a way to get fluids in. Plain water hurt, and is still uncomfortable most of the time...the flavored water I don't like... so it's tea for me or the Special K Protein water, with 1 or 2 protein shakes each day.

6.  Visit OH and stay connected- some need this more than others. I am more a "looker" vs a "poster"

7.  Have a support group- core people in your life to encourage you during those stalls, compliment you on the progress, and hold your hand through difficult times...and yeah, kick your butt when you don't follow the program.(Phew, I haven't had that experience just yet)

8.  Exercise- no matter what it is, find something you enjoy and do it. I love to swim, but swimming laps for an hour a day 5 days a week gets boring (I also stop the scales from moving when I do-UGH) but I can enjoy it, so I continue to do it. Some people can't handle wearing a swim suit... The way I see it, I look fat in regular clothes- who cares if I look fat in a swim suit?!  At least those who see me also see I'm doing something about it and you'd be surprised at the words of encouragement I get from strangers at the Y where I swim. As Nike says... JUST DO IT!

Ok, I can't think of anything else... hope this helps!

My own set of rules I follow:

Small bites

not drinking when eating

avoiding white starchy food (like white bread, tortillas, biscuits, anything made with plain white flour, especially pasta, I get sick if I eat anything made from white flour) Now whole wheat flour or 7 grain or 9 grain I don't have trouble.

I only eat small amount of milk products with my meal.  Cheese and anything other than skim milk give me stomach aches

I plan out my meals

I add a veggie to every meal (even though my roomie won't eat veggies)

I take my vits and meds like a good girl

I walk everywhere I need to go within a mile. 

If I am sitting for long periods I get up every 30 minutes to walk around the house. 

Throw out or donate your old clothes, there is no reason to keep your fat clothes.  I kept my clothes because I feared I would be wearing them again.  My donating them, I am now telling myself that I will not let myself get big again.  It's a personal thing I guess but it really helps to not have 5x shirts hanging in my closet next to my xl shirts.  

ALWAYS keep a few days worth of meds and vits in your purse, you never know what could happen

ALWAYS keep a list of all meds and vits in your wallet along with something that tells emergency people that you have wls.  NO BLIND NG TUBE and GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENT and NO NSAIDS are in big black letters on my emergency wallet card.  Along with my surgeons name and number, date of my surgery and a list of all my vitamins and medicine.  And also all other health problems I have.  I don't really think we need to wear a necklace or bracelet unless you have other important health troubles.  But keep it next to your photo ID since EMS will almost always look there first to find out who you are.


I am sure there are other rules I follow such as all the important ones we are told when we have surgery.  But this is all I could think of, I am sure later today I am going to go "oh man I should have put down this and that"