TIPS FOR NEW FOLKS....

It is wonderful to see all the new postops and those who are just waiting in the wings for their surgery. The following are some things that really helped me out .. by NO means is this list all inclusive... just some things that helped me. Start taking your vitamins NOW. Start taking your supplements NOW. You want to be in the best condition possible for your surgery. Make sure that your surgeon KNOWS what you are taking though. Don't go out in a rush and buy all sorts of protein supplements. Your taste WILL change postop. What you like know might make your toes curl after surgery. Get in the practice of drinking your water. HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE.. our bodies need alot more water than most of us ever take in the course of the normal day. Start making wise food choices NOW. Not later. I myself didn't have any "last meals".. Why? I had to start sometime and now was better than later. It made it ALOT easier for me postop. I wasn't crying and mourning this and that. It is a mental thing. Make the committment and stick to it! Start to exercise (of course with your drs. clearance). Even if it is walking out to the mailbox whereas before you never did. Exercise is exercise... start moving as it will help you bounce back from surgery quicker. If you are a smoker STOP. Start clearing out the crap food in your house. Your family might grumble a bit but healthier eating for them is good too. Start learning how to read labels and make wise food choices. Surround yourself with positive energy and folks. If you have good support in friends and family/coworkers USE IT. If they are negative poopy drawers then don't entertain them. You don't need it so don't go there. Someone has the power to hurt you ONLY if you give them the power. FOLLOW YOUR SURGEONS POSTOP PLANS ... you didn't get this far to start slipping up here or there. If it says NO MEAT for 3 months or 6 months. It means NO meats. If it says no popcorn it means no popcorn... such and so forth. You are only cheating yourself and is that really what you want? DON'T MAKE EXCUSES. This is one of the number one things that burns my biscuits. Stop making excuses. That is what gets you into trouble. If you screw up in your eating plan don't expect me to say that it is ok. It isn't. Pick yourself up, figure out WHY you did it and remove that trigger from your lifestyle. You are not going to hear from me that it is ok, that you are human and that you will try harder tomorrow... Is that really want you want? Excuses and promises. Remember what got us in this situation in the first place. Tough love but think about it folks. Ok... I know that I have left out alot of other information but these bits are really really important. Know that all of us postops are right here cheering you guys on. YOU CAN DO IT ... YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU APPLY YOURSELF TO IT... ((hugs)) Elizabeth~ 14 months postop -155 lbs. WELL PAST MY SURGEONS GOAL and only 20lbs. from my ultimate goal.

Thank Elizabeth I already cut down a lot and been taking my vita's for 2 years now. my surgery is on Dec 16. I will have a open Rny. Doc said. youre right. the hardest was throwing away the cigs. but feel much better now. Thanks for the input. Take care. My goal is 155 pounds to. I just hope I stay there cause I'm very tall. God Bless Melodie