Spin of Yaya post....

Thanks again Yaya for the well wishes. It really makes me feel good to get the well wishes of those on BAF. I really appreciate the support. But Yaya said something in her post to me that made me want to ask a question. Yaya said WLS is 10% physical and 90% mental. I think I get that and understand what she is saying, but what advice would you as a post op person give a pre-oper about preparing mentally for this surgery and what comes afterward???

Congrats on your approval. I personally would suggest finding a professional to sit down and talk to so you can address your relationship with food. For me, I know I have an unhealthy relationship with food and I know some of the reasons why. I knew that I needed to address this part of me or the surgery would not be successful. Even more so because I am a revision patient. I feel like this is my last and final chance. So, I started seeing a counselor weekly in preparation for surgery, then a couple times a month after (would have kept going weekly but cut back due to finances). She helps me to work out what is going on in my life that causes me to want to eat too much or the wrong stuff. Matter of fact, I just saw her today.

I would also suggest journaling or blogging your experience, it may help in the now or just be a place of reflection for later. It can show you just how you have changed before, during and after.

Thanks Amanda for your response. I  had to see a therpist to get a psych evaluation and I was thinking about seeing him again to get his take on how I could work out some issues that I may have with food. the thing is I sometimes go into denial and think I have no issue with food. But clearly this is not the case or I would not be where I am today. I think I will take your advice and give him a call. I see so many people who after surgery seem worse off emotionally then before they had it. I really do not want that to be me. I have a child to raise and I want to be the best mother possible physically and emotionally.

I totally agree, single parent over here, so I know what you mean. Best of luck to you, let me know if I can do anything to help you in your journey.

Thanks I will.

First let me say I don't think you can be mentally prepared before totally beauce everyone's journey is different so there is no footprints to really walk in but I think for me some general rules of thumb for me would have been:
1) Get yourself a hobby that is going to substitute for the food whether its exercise, reading, knitting SOMETHING to occupy your time because you will find that you have a lot of spare time on your hand especially in the beginning that your mind will want to revert back to its old habits of gorging and overeating because of the amount of time you used to spend eating, thinking about eating, or complaining about what you ate lol

2) Get into the habit of drinking water because we need to make sure we get our 64-80 oz's of water in every day

3) Be prepared to take your vitamins I know a lot goes on in our daily lives but not being vigilant about your vitamins could mean the difference between life and death literally

4)You will look thin one day and fat the next and thinner the next and the same size you were pre-op the day after that and then be thin again all in the same week. Because the weight is melting off so fast you have a hard time adjusting the change that your body is going through mentally. The scale may not move one day eventhough your clothes are getting bigger and one day you may feel like a pre-o p and down a whole pant size

finally
because for some of us (me included) the weight melted off I now have to force myself to go to the gym because that wasn't a habit that I have mastered thus far in my 10 month journey so you have to will yourself to the gym even when youre pulling massive numbers every week hell every day that you still need to get in the gymb ecause with that weight loss is also muscle and if you don't rebuild it you'll look like a blob with no definition and not too cute in some of those "cute" outfits you want to wear.

thanks queen for your response. The steps I have taken so far is to give up soda. The first week was the hardest and now its getting better with time. Funny that you mention about the water I was talking with a friend earlier who is also pre op and we decided to make it our goal to get in 64 ozs a day until our surgery date. (I know we have to do it after but this is just to get us started) the person who makes goal the most days before surgery will be the ultimate winner and gets the prize. ( We predetermined the prize) So we figured this would help us get into the habit of drinking water while still having fun.

I know the body image thing will probably be major for me. I have that problem now. I have a hard time seeing what others see in me. So I know that it will be really hard after surgery. (I guess that is something I could talk to the therapist about.

Hi kjajj,
I'll say I've lot my 90% mental you have to stay on track.  Sometimes it's easier saided than done.  I"ve slip on the proteins
HB have to remind me to eat.(running to and from REB, I'm exhausted I just go to bed) I've still take my meds on time but the other85% is not work and not eating is not helping, problemly hurting everything more than helping.SO PLEASE STAY ON TRACK AND LEARN EARLY TO GET YOU SOME ME TIME.

Thanks Kathleen for responding. Yes I am NOTORIOUS  for skipping meals. I know this is a WLS huge no no. I skip meals everyday. And that is something I know must stop.  I will try very hard to stay on track. Right now me time consists of vegging on the couch (not necessarily eating) but definately not moving, so I think my goal will be my new me time will be putting on the ipod and getting on that elliptical or treadmill,

  I really don't know how to describe it just having that trust to let the "Inner FAT Girl/Women" go has been and is a struggle for me... I think my fat was a barrier for not letting people getting inBut at the same time like Ms. Rhonda always say "If your crazy before surgery you will be crazy after.(and I don't think I was crazy..lol  In my head Ktajj i think I'm still a 26/28 really I go in store and pick up pants in a size 18 WTF I can fit a 14 and have fit a 12 in MACY's *smile*, but I have clothing with tags on them that the tops are too damn big. My girl friend had to say stop buying that big $@#! went in LB and I can wear a 14 blouse looks really nice , but because it was clinging and you could see shape. I got the 18.  I would say just mentally prepare your self for all the change that will hit you at once. I've never had a problem with getting the attention from men (married so that didn't matter) or people treating me ill will...I've always been a people person just don't like to mingle with crowds. Sorry for the rambling!  A lot of folk say they have bouts of depression and hormone changes post op I have not and DON'T want to experience that I'm the same Jervis that I was 108lbs ago.