Tips for early pre-ops?

Make sure you read all the fine print from your insurance company. I didn't realize until too late that my insurance company required A) my nutritional counseling appointments had to be with the same provider, and B) not only did I need six months, but they had to be sequential. I had missed a month of medical weight management, and even though I wound up doing more than 6 months of appointments, I almost had my surgery cancelled.

Practice eating like a post op: protein first, 3 meals a day (or 3 meals and two snacks, whatever your program recommends). Practice separating eating and drinking. Get into an exercise routine now, even just walking or water aerobics, whatever you can do. Line up a therapist, if you think you will benefit from one.  

While not everyone is able to, and it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be successful as a post-op, I do think that attempting to lose weight pre-op will help you. The more weight you can lose, the lower the risk of surgery and the easier your recovery. I lost about 60lbs in my year before my surgery and I probably could have lost more if I set my mind to it, but it meant I didn't have to get a filter because I got my BMI out of the 60s. 

thanks, these are great tips!

what is a filter, though? I must say that I haven't heard of that before (in relation to WLS)

It's a tiny medical device that is inserted into one of the veins in your thighs. It's to prevent blood clots. The higher your BMI at surgery, the higher your risk of blood clots. My surgeon only has patients get a filter if their BMI is over 60.