ROOKIE

HI- I HAVE ABOUT THREE MONTHS MORE TO WAIT UNTIL MY SURGERY. MY INSURANCE REQUIRES  6 MONTHS CONSECUTIVE VISITS BEFORE THEY WILL AUTHORIZE THE SURGERY. I AM TRYING TO BEGIN MY HEALTHY HABITS- STOPPED DRINKING SODA, INCREASED MY WATER INTAKE, EATING SLOWER, PORTION CONTROL AND WORKING OUT. THAT LAST ONE IS A CHALLENGE FOR ME. I BELONG TO THE YMCA AND LOVE THE POOL BUT MY MOTIVATION STINKS.

I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW OTHERS MANAGE THE CHANGES THEY HAD TO MAKE BEFORE THEY HAD THE SURGERY, I WANT TO DO A BEFORE AND AFTER SHOT SO I CAN SEE THE CHANGES I'VE MADE AND MONITOR MY SUCCESS.  

I did the same thing you are doing only with a three month requirement. I go to the pool three times a week now and attend a water aerobics class. It makes it more fun and I have found a friend to go with so you have that extra commitment factor. It is working and I have stuck with it for two months now. I also went off the caffeine. Keep it up the day will come quicker then you think. I have 8 days left before my surgery.

Good luck!

Hi Holly -- and welcome.

I was self-pay, so I didn't have much waiting period -- due to schedules, etc, I was about 10 weeks from 'decision to incision' --- and in that time I did several of the things that you listed.

I also did --
1.  bought some baby spoons and used them to eat my yogurt and pudding and other soft food (wanted to get used to the bite size that I am supposed to take).
2.  I cut my food up tiny --- and I took tiny bites -- about the size of a pea ---- it is amazing how much food we shovel in before surgery.  Even today, I can take 3 ounces of steak and cut it into about 32 bites -- my husband can eat an 8 ounce steak in about 6 bites ---- it really makes me wonder how much weight we could all lose if we took small, thoughtful bites and swallowed and breathed before the next bite.
3.  I made a list of '25 things to do besides eat' -- and I put one in my office, and on the fridge and on the pantry ---- when I am tempted to eat and it is not meal/snack time, I make myself do something on that list before I eat anything.  That helped alot with the eating out of boredon
4.  I made of list of 'trigger' foods and re-joined an on-line OA group.  I prayed for the willingness to surrender those foods --- and I became abstinent from them.
Not everyone has to give up foods, there are alot of people who are able to eat 'all things in moderation'.  That is not me.  I spent 50 years learning that it is just not me.  If there are cookies in my house and I allow myself to have 1, then 1 becomes 2 which becomes cookies instead of lunch and dinner -- and tomorrow, I want a new bag ---- they control me, and it is just not worth it to me to have even 1.
Thankfully, I am happy to say that I have been abstinent from those trigger foods since March 31, 2009.  I still have some foods that I consider to be 'treats' ---- but nothing from my trigger list goes into my mouth -- they are just not my food anymore (cookies, candy, ice cream, cake, donuts, muffins, etc).

Take pictures, take measurements --- get ready to change your life!!!!!

I am still working towards my goal, but I believe Kath pretty much said it all. My biggest problem since it has turned cold is staying honest with my exercise. I am one it does not matter how well I eat I HAVE to exercise to shed any weight. I dont mind exercise, its just getting to that point where it is habit.
Congrats on the steps you have taken and good luck!

Excersise is a tough one, but also so important. Not only does it burn calories, both at the time and by increasing your metabolism, I find there is someting about it that helps with food choices. Just do it! It will become a matter of routine. I can't say I've grown to love it, but it feels good (when I'm done lol) and has become a matter of habit.