Have I changed enough????

So, I'm preop, have been in medically supervised prep program for 5 months. I've lost 70 pounds, as per insurance requirements. I have been slipping lately. I have a sweet tooth. I haven't gaine anything, but my loss has slowed. I'm worried that I haven't changed enough for surgery. I'm pretty terrified of surgery anyway, but I'm stressing that I'll fail.
I'm sure that this is probably normal anxiety, but I was hoping for some input on how to be more ready.

Hey Tracey!!!

I think you should re read your own tag line to feel more encouraged! The 6 month diet is the most difficult part of the surgery. We are people who have a eating disorder and for 6 months we have to try to do what we have not been able to do on our own for all this time.

Take a deep breath...and don't forget to exhale lol you are doing a FANTASTIC job!! When is the last time you were able to drop 70lb?? Congratulations! You are excelling during the most difficult part of the journey. It's not just the weight loss but the pressure and anxiety...how long can you hold out? can you really do this? The answer to both is YES!!!! you are doing it every day.

Try to control the sweet tooth, try having some of the sugar free popsicles or a piece of sugar free candy. Once you have the surgery, it will take a lot of effort to learn what you new tummy will and will not tolerate. It will become easier to control that sweet tooth, and once you see more progress and find new wonderful things to nourish your body, the sweet tooth might cure itself.

Be patient with yourself. It's almost over! You will soon have a wonderful tool that will help you do what you have never been able to successfully do before.

Best of luck to you!

I was curious about your post as I noticed you have been a member for a few years now.  Based on your previous blog entries, I think you are asking a really good and perhaps key question for you.  You know yourself and the traps ahead for you, and changing how you value and use food is key to your success.  Not knowing you, I'd ask the following:  are you the type to sabotage your success to not address fears (many of us do)?  What is your level of by-in to the lifestyle changes?  You've done great for the past five months, are you putting in place the support systems to help you make these permanent changes?  Are there underlying emotional/cognative behaviors that you might want to address in order to remain successful (again, as many of us do)? Do you still have questions or concerns about the surgery itself?  This is based on one of your posting.  While many speak of the RNY as working because of malabsorption and restriction, it also changes some of the hormonally driven digestive processes.  That also makes a big difference especially with being satisfied with what you eat and not being hungry (although that doesn't effect 'head hunger'--drats). 

Does your surgeon have a strong support program in place--nutritionist, exercise therapist, behavioralist, support group, etc.?  All of these help. 

I am over five years out having lost 240 lbs.  I've also had both knees replaced.  You do not want to go through that physical therapy with excess weight.  

While some do "fail" after wls, many more succeed.  It is a matter of compliance.  With the surgery, your body works with your efforts.  You can do this, and it is so worth it. 

Good luck.