If I knew then what I know now...

I've not yet had surgery, I'm hoping for September/October, but what is the best advice you can give me?  What do you wish someone had told you before surgery?  Is there anything you wish you had known before that you didn't find out until after?

That the weight loss journey has tons of layers... it's not just the weight, it's the food, your friends, your family, your body-image, your everything!

They may be able to do surgery on  your body but they can't do it on your head. The head game is harder to beat than the body game.

*hugs*

Couple things that I think I extrememly important.

Support from others I think is so important to achieve success on this journey. It has been such a blessing for me to have others to talk with and are on this journey with me. Online is nice but I think in person makes it more personal. So I suggest to get to a coffee group near you.

To me I did not realize how hard this journey was going to be. Its certainly much harder than I thought it would be. But, its totally worth it in the end.

Wishing you all the best as you walk through your journey.

Wow, such GREAT responses already from the ladies!  I echo everything they say and only will add that I wished I hadn't chickened out 3 years afo and went through with it the first time.  But, I had three years to think long and hard about whether WLS was for me and a year ago, I joined the others on the losers bench.  Almost 190 lbs gone and I will never look back.  Best of luck on your journey!

Remember to walk and sip, walk and sip, walk and sip right after surgery. Because that will help you recover from the anesthesia much more quickly. And never underestimate the power of your mind. Because it plays nasty tricks on you. TV? Turn it off! That makes the whole post-surgery thing much worse. Commercials are awful.

And be realistic. Don't set goals for yourself that are unattainable or too much. The whole process is about feeling healthier. Don't focus on the numbers when you reach your goal. Just focus on being happy and healthy.

Best of luck! Its the best thing I've done for myself EVER.

Kelly

I totally agree w/ the other posts of it being a mind thing!! Although I am only 4 months out I am still trying to get a grip on the head thing, I really never realized how much of a mental issue this was going to be. Ya I knew there were going to be moments and occasions but I somehow did not think it was going to be a mental awareness each and every day, I thought somehow my body would just take over and would guide me in the right direction, now I know that my mind has to guide my body or all this was for nothing!! Do all the pre work right away, like eat SLOW, take small bites, etc.etc.etc.So that it isn't a struggle after surgery.  Also I thought I was one of those people that everything would go just fine and in a week I would be back to work, not so for me, I was sick for the first 3 months and mentally was not prepared for that and I wasn't financially prepared to miss alot of work. Good luck on your journey!!!!!!!!

Very good question.......

Ditto to what all the others said.....

I want to add, If I could do things over, I would have not tried certain foods because now I know I can eat them, like cake, cookies, etc. So stick to the program it makes maintenance easier......

The head, I wish they could do surgery on that......I still see that fat person in the mirror, I don't see what others tell me yet, in time maybe.....

Also, I wasn't prepared for the male attention, that through me for a loop.....

Support from friends, family is important. But the support I've gotten here on OH and at our coffee get togethers has been the best and most helpful....So come to coffee...

Good luck, Kelly

Okay, given the previous answers, this is going to seem trivial, but it PISSED ME OFF!!!

Now, I had a little extra work done with my RNY, so I spent an extra night in the hospital - and I was really diligent about getting my water in right from the get-go.

When I went in 6 days post-op, I was 19 pounds UP from my surgery weight!  W. T. F.????  Well, all the IV fluids and water, plus my body just hadn't really let go yet - it was NORMAL to be up at that first post-op appointment - my nurse (God Bless Her!) was FINE with it, but I about blew a fuse!  I mean, we all want to wake up from our surgery 100 pounds lighter, right?

Argh...   so, just know that it's NORMAL to be up a few at your first post-op.  Nothing to be alarmed by.  Annoying?  Yes.  But not to be alarmed.

I wish I had known how tired I would be post op. I just talked to the RN @ the WLS office yesterday.. and she's sure it's still my body healing, and post-op anesthesia effects...  So make sure you don't push yourself too hard and listen to your body when it wants to rest.. I'm 5 weeks out and thought I'd feel like superwoman.. and I feel more like a slouch on the couch some days.
The other thing is that even though I knew it would happen and I thought I was prepared for it.. the post op scale stall about 3 weeks out was very difficult for me. All you want to see is those numbers going down on the scale.. and when they don't I found it to be really hard. However, I lost inches like nobody's business anyway... So be prepared for the stall and keep on doing the protein and liquids and it will pass.. and after ward you'll be like holy crap, these jeans are too big for me now!