Hi, my name is Maria. I'm looking for good tips to help me start weight lost before I have the surgery.

HI, Maria!

Okay, some tips for you . . .

-thoroughly investigate all your surgery options, the pros and cons, what life is like after the surgery, how that procedure will fit your lifestyle, etc. Then, do it again. Discuss this with your surgeon and your primary care guy. Base your decision on what YOU want and need and what THEY recommend. DO NOT make a final decision based on what some stranger on the internet tells you.

- remember that NO surgery is a magic bullet. It's going to take time, work, you'll have to address the issues that caused your obesity in the first place. Your day-to-day problems won't magically disappear and if those problems caused you to eat as your coping mechanism, they still will.

- accept the fact that exercise is good for you. If you loathe the idea now, you may find that you hate it less as you lose weight.

- ask for help, which is what you just did. A great starting point. Come back to OH often and use it for therapy. It's always available and it's FREE.

- you will find that there are people here that you will become really good friends with, and some that you cannot stomach. Try to ignore or block the ones that get under your skin.

Well, those are a few to get you started. I have a post that I put up every once in a while about how to get the most out of this forum. If I repost it, I will put the link here. Good luck to you!

Here's the link.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4605784/REPOST-Tip s-for-GETTING-THE-MOST-OUT-OF-THIS-FORUM/

Welcome Maria,

Congratulations on taking the first steps to a new life. Bette has already said most of what I would normally say and said it better, of course. One thing I would like to add is that as you work toward surgery try to learn what it takes to succeed, for life. Also, find out what it takes to fail since it is a good lesson for anyone. You see, when I made my first tentative steps I had never heard of any one having wls and gaining all their weight back and more. Let me tell you, I thought I would croak when I heard that it was possible, and even common. That scared me badly. Hence the warning.

Attend wls support groups in your area, they are very important to your success. Come here often. If you have long standing food issues consider counseling with a therapist familiar with these problems. Often a surgeons office will be able to point you in the right direction.

There are many things you can do right now, so get busy girl, times a wastin'. Honestly, if you research well, work hard and continue to do so after your weight is gone you will do great.

Sue

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