For all those who are considering surgery or who have just had surgery x-post
I don't post often, so not sure how many will read this - but I've been thinking about posting this for a while. I've seen so many "help, I just had surgery and I think I'm failing because I've only lost --- pounds" posts that it felt like maybe some reality check things might help. I'm kind of a plain spoken Texas girl, so please forgive the bluntness.
Here are some things to think about when you're considering surgery, or when you've just had surgery.
1. Surgery is not a magic bullet - That's right, I said it. Surgery will not cure all that ails you. So sorry. If someone told you that it will, or if you got that in your head, it's a lie. It can help you with portion sizes, perhaps help with calorie absorption, but it will not fix everything that is wrong with your world. Odds are, carrying around all that extra weight has done some damage to your body and your mind (read, self esteem, eating disorder, body dysmorphia, etc) and surgery isn't going to fix those things. Nor will it make the handsome guy/cute girl down the hall thing you are magically irresistible, and it won't necessarily make your spouse think you are more lovable. It's also not going to make that cookie less appetizing, it's not going to make the twinkies revolting, and it isn't going to make things you used to hate eating all of a sudden appetizing and tasty. This is all side work that you have to do on your own, so get to it. Don't wait until after surgery, if you do, you're foolish. You're stacking challenge upon challenge. Develop good habits before you're forced to. Don't wait until bad habits can be deadly. Start your head work now. If you've convinced yourself that surgery will magically make all things better, go ahead and have that little pity party now, we'll wait. Because until you wake up and realize that it's just a tool, you won't get very far.
2. You won't wake up thin tomorrow - That's right, get ready for the long game, ladies and gents. You didn't get overweight from a single meal, you aren't going to get thin overnight either. Yep, you'll have weeks of tremendous loss. And you'll have weeks of no loss, or even (gasp) slight gain. That's part of the deal, the trick is understanding that this is not a short game you're in, this is a life change you're making. There's no going back, there's no giving up (unless you just quit and go back to bad habits). That's why you need to change your habits before surgery. So you're already ahead of the game before someone starts cutting on you. So you have your head and your heart in the right place. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up to fail. And that would just be a waste, wouldn't it? I mean, really, who puts their body through all that just to give it up? Not you, right?
3. Exercise - Not everyone needs to exercise to lose weight. That's a fact. In fact, most people who have surgery don't need to exercise to lose weight at all. The reason for exercise is so that your body eats up your fat instead of your muscle as you lose weight. Otherwise, you'll be thin, but weak. And where's the fun in that? I mean, it's great to look like a model, but if you can't lift a pencil, it's kind of pointless. Not only that, but you're probably going to have loose skin, and if you have muscle, the skin doesn't look as bad until you can have it removed. It just drapes more attractively. Besides, no one says you have to be a body builder, just make sure you're doing something to keep yourself moving. And there are really no excuses. If you can't walk because your knees hurt right now, there's nothing that says you can't do arm lifts, or even just lift your legs up and down while you're sitting in your chair, so get moving....anything to keep your muscles going until you can get up and move around. You must learn to walk before you can run, grasshopper....and run before you can fly!
4. Plastic surgery - Start saving your pennies now. Odds are, you'll want some skin removed. Or a little nip here, a little tuck there, and very often, insurance doesn't cover it. A lot of people don't think they'll need it, and end up sorry that they didn't do it. At some point, you will likely decide that you want some done, and if you start saving now, you'll be well on your way to affording it. But don't jump and do it too fast. Wait until you've gotten as close as you can to your weight goal, and then wait a while. 6 months to a year, if you can stand it. Give yourself time to make sure you can manage some maintenance. Most people struggle a little, especially at first, and bounce around as they learn to handle the additional calories that come with maintaining weight, rather than losing it, and you don't want to undo work that your plastic surgeon has done. So, don't add that additional stress. Remember, you're in it for the long haul, some patience will serve you well.
5 Head work - Everyone needs it, there's a reason we all got to the weight we're at. Accept it, find someone to talk to, deal with your demons. You aren't the exception. That is all.
Those are my 5 main pieces of advice for the "new kids" not that I'm an expert. Just seems like common sense. I"m sure there will be those that disagree, so feel free to post opinions.....go!
I had gastric bypass 8 yrs ago. Weight than 287 weight now 148 YEAH! For the first year I did not eat any pasta/rice/potato/ bread. This helped me to achieve the great weight loss. Now every day I still think about what I eat. I think before I eat something I want" does thin feel better than that pastry? " almost always the answer is yes!! I work at an endocrinology office and see so many pts. Gain all the weight back. They got rid of the diabetes but, we're not successful in keeping off the lbs. or ever really losing all the weight so, diabetes back!!!
