Next step....

Well, I received authorization to take the next steps in my journey. I scheduled my Nutrition Seminar (it is Nov. 2nd) and my four other nutrition appts. I called for my Psych evaluation, but had to leave a message. Well, their message said they would respond within 72 hours, so it should be anytime for that. I am so excited, it seems like things are progressing!!! Thanks, Betsy R.

Besty, That is just awesome hun and it sure feels good when things move along for you. Moving forward makes you feel like you are REALLY working on bettering (is that a word ) your life! Take care and I wish you all the best, keep us posted! Debra P

Thanks so much Debra. I means a lot to me your words of encouragement!! Betsy

Betsey: HI! Congrats on moving along in the WLS journey (process)! I recommend on this journey you take every oportunity to educate and inform yourself the best you can.... Use the preop period to your benefit, avoiding the last supper syndrome and being as healthy in body/mind/spirit as possible... If you exercise and have a healthy food plan before the surgery, you will have a strong impact on reducing your surgical risk & assist in long-term success. The time to really choose your new habits is preop/early postop- this is when your motivation is highest, and the rest of your life has been thrown out of kilter by the surgery anyway. Things to consider along the journey....Starting now.... Now is the time to define a new relationship between you and food. Dispel old beliefs. REFRAME! Live in balance. Changing old unhealthy habits into healthier ones. Finding happiness in your mind and life. Find non-food rewards. Loving your life makes you successful at any goal. Life happens stop making excuses, Holidays, celebrations, stress will always come how will you cope? Break out of your isolation, get/keep supportive others around. Practice the rules of the pouch now even w/o it as nothing about surgery magivally makes us do it... Drop the carbonation, caffeine, sugar, don't eat/drink together, give up drinking calories, focus on smaller portions, eating slwo, chewing well, avoiding emotional eating, working on ways to cope, exercise to ability daily now and keep progressing as able, protein first then veg/fruits, then carbs make em multi/whole grain! Not looking for perfection just progress, making the postop journey easier and more successful! Do not waste a minute! WT LOSS BEFORE SURGERY/MOTIVATION/AVOIDING THE LAST SUPPER SYNDROME In our program we are required to loose 10% of our body wt before surgery.... Loosing weight pre-op is required by many surgeons & for many reasons... and I am so happy I did! 1.. to show motivation, 2.. ability to adhere to a plan (as we will need to for life!), if you can't be mindful and able to follow restrictions pre-op how will you do it post-op? 3.. to increase your health even a modest 5-10% wt. loss is very helpful, the National Institute of health has even researched this...(hence why weigh****chers is so focused on the 10% wt loss) 4.. decreases surgical complications (by exercise and decrease wt your heart and lungs are in better shape for surgery, anesthesia and healing!)... 5.. Also psychologically it is tough going from a super-sized big Mac meal to clear liquids for 2 weeks post-op! 6.. ***MAIN ONE FOR PROTEIN SPARING or MEDIFAST DIETING***It helps shrink the liver and this eases their surgical procedure and decreases chance of nicking it.... 7.. exercising before helps you continue after! 8..The more you lose pre-op the less you will have to lose post-op and the closer to an ideal body-wt you will attain! I lost the weight by doing the food pyramid. That's it, I was eating so bad (fast food daily, large portions, consuming every high-fat/sugar thing imaginable and NOT exercising that just cutting down and walking 2 miles a day helped! For ME, it was "no one" was going to stop me from having this operation, it was my decision and all that was asked of me was to loose 30 lbs, I figured this is a small price for such a wonderful gift I would be given and the opportunity to have a healthier happier longer life....! I was so motivated/psyched; I dropped 30 pounds in 30 days and went on to drop 15 more before surgery! (Although this took me 2 months, as it got harder and I had a few last meals, we all do but you can't let this ruin your opportunity!) Exercise was another key; I faithfully walked 2 miles everyday..it helped that my mom went with me a lot! (a buddy is so helpful!) I followed the food pyramid given to me by clinical nutritionist Dr. Boham...I also wrote everything down (Many find www.fitday.com helpful for this) that went in my MOUTH!!! Or you can get food pyramid/bullseye version at: http://www.xenical.com/hcp/1400_Am_Beye.pdf I also had to remind myself how BAD I wanted this! Everyday it was/had to be more important to me to change my bad habits and lose weight to have this surgery than to continue to slowly kill myself with food/keep myself from the only hope I had!. I also told everyone about my plans and they helped support me, my friends/family and coworkers! I really can't give you any more guidance than this, it really had to come from within, it was a mindset with me, and I wanted this BAD real bad and I knew it was my last resort/chance! I felt invigorated and motivated by the end results...the long-term had to outweigh the short-term gratification of eating bad choices or overeating! It was a learning opportunity for me to change my habits and practice chewing well, not drinking with meals and eating smaller portions, giving up sugar/caffeine/carbonation/alcohol (if any of those are your issues, carbonation/caffeine/alcohol weren't issues for me)! So a few weeks/months of healthy habits to lose pre-op wt is not a lot if you frame it right! IT IS NOT FOREVER and it is about starting this journey! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Thank you so much for all your advice and information. I really appreciate it. Betsy R.