An EXCITING Tip for Pre Ops!
Well --maybe not EXCITING---but a tip none the less! Pre ops often ask, What can I do now? How can I start getting ready? I have a suggestion.
First, let me say--welcome to the many new pre ops stopping by this board. It's a great place! But you miss a day, you miss a new person. So I just want to say Hey to the new folks I've missed in the past few weeks. Your new life is just starting. Congrats!
Back to my tip----TRACKING-Start It Now. Crap, you say--I thought this would be interesting. Maybe not thrilling but IMPORTANT regardless of your surgery type. Think how many times you've seen the statement--I've fallen off the wagon; eating carbs; stopped tracking; need help getting back to basics OR Gained weight; don't know what the problem is; not sure of my calories (code word for stopped tracking).
WHY TRACK AT ALL?
1. ACCOUNTABILITY - It's you and the software. If you cheat on tracking, you're only cheating yourself. That's an issue right there! Keeps you honest.
2. YOUR STATS/TRENDS- Even if your NUT/surgeon doesn't have you track cals or carbs, they will at least have you count protein and fluids. If you don't track, how will you know your consumption? You will be able to identify trends with +/- pounds and food trends.
3. FOOD STATS- I don't think most of us are good at estimating cals, carbs, proteins, etc. We under estimate. There is a large database of foods on almost every site to help you. You can create your recipes and portion them out to get stats.
4. WEIGH AND MEASURE-Tracking almost forces you to weigh and measure your foods. This is a whole other post for a future date. But also important.
5. PLANNING-You can utilize the software to plan future meals/days. Going out to dinner Sat evening? Look up a menu; put in your projected meal and work the rest of Sat around it. Easy as that!
Those are my top 5 reasons. Other might have more.
WHY START AS A PRE OP?
1. IDENTIFY THE PROGRAM YOU LIKE-There are many free sites (myfitnesspal.com; fitday.com; sparkpeople.com; livestrong.com plus many more). Some have smartphone apps. Starting early will give you a chance to find the one you like.
2. FIND THE TIME TO POST DAILY-Some folks find this tedious. And sometimes it is. But most of the time everyone can find 5 minutes to spend on this important task.
3. CREATE THE HABIT--Some say it takes 3 weeks to create a habit. I say LONGER. You have to be able to adjust to those happenings that throw you off plan. What do you do for tracking on vacation or long weekend and you don't have a smart phone? Do you keep a hand written journal? Stop tracking? What to do?
4. DEVELOP SOME RECIPES EARLY--Going to eat a little of your family's beloved meatloaf? Put the recipe in your tracker and find tweaks if necessary. Identify the food stats--maybe not the best choice or maybe just 2 oz. is a perfect fit. Check it out ahead of time.
5. START LEARNING SOME FOOD VALUES-Compare some of your favorites. Do you get good value eating a whole egg vs. egg white? Shrimp vs.chicken? Turkey sausage vs Pork sausage? Just examples but things you will want to learn as time progresses.
6. MAKE SOME FRIENDS-Lots of sites have friend groups and you can be private or very open with your tracker. Your choice.
7. SEE WHAT YOU'RE EATING NOW vs PRE OP DIET vs POST OP--Interesting, is all I can say.
So, I hope you see this as valuable. I can't stress tracking enough! It's important, I think most will agree. Get a handle on it now and it will just become part of your daily routine.
edited for spelling
First, let me say--welcome to the many new pre ops stopping by this board. It's a great place! But you miss a day, you miss a new person. So I just want to say Hey to the new folks I've missed in the past few weeks. Your new life is just starting. Congrats!
Back to my tip----TRACKING-Start It Now. Crap, you say--I thought this would be interesting. Maybe not thrilling but IMPORTANT regardless of your surgery type. Think how many times you've seen the statement--I've fallen off the wagon; eating carbs; stopped tracking; need help getting back to basics OR Gained weight; don't know what the problem is; not sure of my calories (code word for stopped tracking).
WHY TRACK AT ALL?
1. ACCOUNTABILITY - It's you and the software. If you cheat on tracking, you're only cheating yourself. That's an issue right there! Keeps you honest.
2. YOUR STATS/TRENDS- Even if your NUT/surgeon doesn't have you track cals or carbs, they will at least have you count protein and fluids. If you don't track, how will you know your consumption? You will be able to identify trends with +/- pounds and food trends.
3. FOOD STATS- I don't think most of us are good at estimating cals, carbs, proteins, etc. We under estimate. There is a large database of foods on almost every site to help you. You can create your recipes and portion them out to get stats.
4. WEIGH AND MEASURE-Tracking almost forces you to weigh and measure your foods. This is a whole other post for a future date. But also important.
5. PLANNING-You can utilize the software to plan future meals/days. Going out to dinner Sat evening? Look up a menu; put in your projected meal and work the rest of Sat around it. Easy as that!
Those are my top 5 reasons. Other might have more.
WHY START AS A PRE OP?
1. IDENTIFY THE PROGRAM YOU LIKE-There are many free sites (myfitnesspal.com; fitday.com; sparkpeople.com; livestrong.com plus many more). Some have smartphone apps. Starting early will give you a chance to find the one you like.
2. FIND THE TIME TO POST DAILY-Some folks find this tedious. And sometimes it is. But most of the time everyone can find 5 minutes to spend on this important task.
3. CREATE THE HABIT--Some say it takes 3 weeks to create a habit. I say LONGER. You have to be able to adjust to those happenings that throw you off plan. What do you do for tracking on vacation or long weekend and you don't have a smart phone? Do you keep a hand written journal? Stop tracking? What to do?
4. DEVELOP SOME RECIPES EARLY--Going to eat a little of your family's beloved meatloaf? Put the recipe in your tracker and find tweaks if necessary. Identify the food stats--maybe not the best choice or maybe just 2 oz. is a perfect fit. Check it out ahead of time.
5. START LEARNING SOME FOOD VALUES-Compare some of your favorites. Do you get good value eating a whole egg vs. egg white? Shrimp vs.chicken? Turkey sausage vs Pork sausage? Just examples but things you will want to learn as time progresses.
6. MAKE SOME FRIENDS-Lots of sites have friend groups and you can be private or very open with your tracker. Your choice.
7. SEE WHAT YOU'RE EATING NOW vs PRE OP DIET vs POST OP--Interesting, is all I can say.
So, I hope you see this as valuable. I can't stress tracking enough! It's important, I think most will agree. Get a handle on it now and it will just become part of your daily routine.
edited for spelling
I started tracking and changing my eating in April, had my first meeting with the bariatric program on July 9th. I can't speak to how other programs work but the program in Edmonton, Alberta Canada said that the fact that I'm tracking my food and steps actually will move me faster through the program and to surgery. It shows them that you know you're responsible for doing the work 
HW: 361 CW: 337.8 Goal: To come off most of my meds
EXCELLENT advice!!!!
:Danni >>>AIDS/LifeCycle 10 & 11 Finisher: 545miles on the bike in 7 days <<<
HW390/SW340/CW 208/GW170
Excellent advice. I have been tracking for the past 2 years on Livestrong. I track everything including the days I really screw up. It really helps me be accountable and as I start maintaining I need to know where I should be calorie wise. I also helps me keep up with my protien.
Great Post!!!!!
Great Post!!!!!
Lots of 5K's, 10K's., 4 1/2 Marathons, 3 Sprint Triathlon done. 2 Olympics and my First IRONMAN 70.3 September 2013 and First Full Marathon Dec 2013 !!!!!
My blog- www.NPRunner.blogspot.com
After working with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and doing an extensive CBT Mindful Eating program, I would strongly advise that you track:
-Your level of hunger before you eat on a scale of 1-10 (could eat my arm no hunger)
-Your physical state before you eat (pain? discomfort? sick? feeling good?)
-Your mental/emotional state before you eat (anxious? sad? angry? happy? excited?)
-The reason you chose the food you ate (it was there, I was craving X, it had these qualities, etc)
-The level of satiety you feel after you ate scale of 1-10 (still hungry bursting)
This will teach you so much about how you eat, help you identify trends, make strategies, etc.
-Your level of hunger before you eat on a scale of 1-10 (could eat my arm no hunger)
-Your physical state before you eat (pain? discomfort? sick? feeling good?)
-Your mental/emotional state before you eat (anxious? sad? angry? happy? excited?)
-The reason you chose the food you ate (it was there, I was craving X, it had these qualities, etc)
-The level of satiety you feel after you ate scale of 1-10 (still hungry bursting)
This will teach you so much about how you eat, help you identify trends, make strategies, etc.
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