Feel Naive...?? Opinions Needed

Without sounding completely off my rocker - and naive.. I'd like some opinions,.

I am a month away from meeting with the nurse, dietician and social worker  - but am utterly confused what I am supposed to be working on or changing while working though this process.

So far I have been working on...eating 3 meals ( I am a meal skipper) and 2 snacks if necessary.. I've set up reminders at work to remind me when to eat at the same times daily.. and not at my desk if it can be helped....eatting slower...(counting to 20 before swallowing) .. TRYINNNNNNG to wait to drink my water 30 minutes before/after eating... using a smaller plate and sectioning 1/4 protein, 1/4 starch and 1/2 veggies ( long time low carber and have no problem omitting starch and sugar) when  I'm "trying"....beIng mindful of what is going into my mouth and ~sigh~ omitted pop...working on the coffee.. i feel like a total PARTY POOPER haha

I am struggling with my thoughts and the information I am trying to process  and put into action..i need to continuously remind myself that I am not dieting.. that I need to learn to have a healthy relationship with food, that when given this wonderful tool - - I will not think of this as Gluing/Stapling/Sewing my lips shut once again....learning to make the right choices and quantities is key.... Im worried how I am going to learn this... does the dietician teach you what to choose or what to have so as not to be restricting certain food groups or leaning towards that awful four-letter-word "diet"?

I try to read the what are you eating today threads ..but find it's mostly post-oppers listing  which has helped me to prepare for that time, making my lists of what to stock up on afterwards and ideas of what I will be focused on ... but right now...trying not to have food funerals - can't say goodbyes if you haven't said hello... ...almost feel like they would be able to tell if I had a slice of pizza for dinner instead of a piece of broccoli HA! so haven't touched it......

Can you tell I am an over thinker yet? But I can't seriously be the only one thinking like this - can i?

Thanks Everyone, Sleep Tight..

I think it's great you're trying to change all this now! The only thing I changed pre-op was my pop consumption and journalling my food. That's all I could seem to manage, and I knew food journalling was something I never seemed to be able to keep up in the past (and honestly, I still have trouble) I think if you can cut out pop, keep an accurate food journal, and do some of the other things on your list like slow down at meals, using a smaller plate, etc you are well on your way. Try not to over think it all or give yourself an ulcer trying to change your entire life in one fell swoop. It's awesome that you are being proactive and working on it all now, as it's a big life adjustment. Some things for me post-op came naturally, like chewing a lot and slowing down - just because if I don't do those things I get pain. So now it's automatic. 

You do need to build a healthy relationship with food and eat mindfully. I find at 3 months post op I have zero interest in food. If I never had to eat again I would be just fine. I know not everyone feels like that, and this certainly won't last forever, but it definitely doesn't feel like a diet or like I've got my lips glued shut! I can't eat big quantities even if I wanted to. I'm sure I could graze all day, but I have no desire to. Instead I just eat like a robot - protein first, veggies second, then if there is room I have something from another food group but generally once I eat the protein and get a few bites of veg in, there's not much space left. And like I said, that is not everyone's experience, but food has lost it's power over me for now and "diet" hasn't even entered my mind once since surgery! Your nutritionist will definitely help you with what to eat now and post-op and you'll get information on what you should be eating when. They want you to have a balanced diet, with some things in bigger quantities than others like protein over simple carbs. 

I think my best advice is to keep it simple pre-op - listen to the advice of the nutritionist you'll see and work on changing one or two things at a time so as not to overwhelm yourself. But of course only you know you - if changing all your bad habits right now will help, and you know it's better in the long run to change it all right off the bat, then carry on! I know how exciting/nerve racking it all is at the start of the process but you seem to have your head in the right place with the intention to change, so remember to be kind to yourself throughout all this :) I definitely remember having a feeling of being in limbo pre-op, wanting to do something NOW to change and start losing weight, and not have to wait until after surgery. It couldn't have come fast enough for me. But I think you're making positive steps forward, and just asking questions and reading a lot here will help!

Journalling is a great help, and perhaps u should start a thread for preop wht r u eating.today...i bet a great deal of ppl will find it helpful!! Love the changes u have made, and no u r not the only one to think like tht, i kno i did!! :)

I think you've made amazing progress.....just to be cognizant is amazing, yet you've actually gone to the next step and put measures in place! Congratulations

What more could anyone ask for?

Keep up the great work.

Terri

any type of positive change prior to surgery is helpful after..believe me giving up pop 6 months prior...made that craving of my (1) can a day habit just go away. 

It was almost 2 years from the time I decided to have bariatric surgery  to my actualy surgery date so I had a lot of time to prepare myself..I read a lot and made subtle changes but I do know one thing for certain, with the exception of chicken balls, really fatty heavily deep fried foods...you will be able to eat almost everything you do now..in smaller portions of course.

 

I was worried that my two favourites (ribs and shrimp) were never going to be consumed again...I eat both now and enjoy them..in different ways...not battered, and not with tons of sauce..and when at a resturaunt I know I am taking at least close to half of whatever I order home for another meal.

 

For me personally for at leats the first year I couldn't do wraps/bagels or even much bread..there was no way I could even eat an open faced sandwich..now I can eat a 1/4 or even sometimes a 1/2 sandwich...as long as the bread is thinner and not white

 

so don't think about DIET as in giving up things, think of it as a re-adjustment on your bad habits...and the desire to treat yourself in better ways than an entire bags of chips or a dozen perogies .

 

you have a good start on it all and I think your thinking is in line with success..just don't over think it~!

 

(p.s. back 5 years ago I met with the dietician 3 times...they weighed me talked about food, but myself personally I learned SQUAT form teh dietician) and the more I read the more I realize, than unless the dietician has been in the world of bariatric surgery specifically...they don't have a clue on how a bariatric patient eats, lives or truly what they need..I have always seen focus on no carbs, X amount of calories...and...although the above sounds sarcastic..we are NOT carbon cut outs of each other, so what works for one person doesn't necessarily benefit or work for another patient.)  (just my personal opinion)

 

 

 

Hi and Welcome,

Like you i made some changes from Orientation to my Appointments with the SW, RN and RD.  I cut out anything white, white sugar, bread, pasta and replaced with whole wheat.  I used my son's plate the ones divided into 3 sections.  I purchased measuring cups and when journaling my food i included detailed list of items in my recipes.  I made sure to have a balanced meal 3 times a day including all food groups, i had a protein, carb and vegetable.  I replaced full fat items with reduced fat or half the fat.  I ended up losing 15 lbs by the time i saw the team and they could see these small changes were working.  I was cleared by all that day.  Make changes that you can live with and be honest, this is a process that you will need to continue into your post-op life.   Congratulations on making an effort to make these  changes now and reclaim your health.

 

 

I had my appt. on Dec. 20.  I went in having changed almost nothing!  Except for cutting out pop, and yet that STILL ended up on my journal!  So now I have to go back and see the RD and SW.  My next appt. is Feb. 14.  Since then, I have made HUGE changes, I weigh and measure everything and I've got well balanced meals and I journal everything. 

Another thing, the RD didn't feel I knew enough about the surgery.  I.e. what to eat in all the different stages and how long each stage lasted.

I have to see the SW again because he wanted to see progress on my triggers, and emotional eating.

Overall sounds like you've already made amazing choices!  Good for you!

GL

The biggest thing your missing is journaling.  Writing down everything you eat, and any exercise you do.  This isn't a diet, it's more about being aware of what you are putting in your body.  And finding little tricks to help you do things like swapping bad foods, using things to drink more water.  Or using new cooking techniques.  Don't like something?  Try cooking it differently.  Such as instead of steamed cauliflour, roasting it.  Finding new recipes for things, like low carb pizza.  Carb free cheese bread.

For those trying to take longer to eat, use smaller spoons.  Even if you have to get a child size spoon.  That will help you slow down.

One more thing you can do, set goals.  And work on one goal at a time.  You've already given up pop.  But have a goal to limit your coffee for example, if you are drinking 4 cups of coffee per day, bring it down to 3 cups per day for a couple weeks, then 2 cups per day etc.

Enjoy your journey.

Cathy

Great Great Great Responses and Advice - Thank you all so much.  These posts REALLY are appreciated and important to all of us reading and starting out.

I went and met Dr Sohi yesterday and like everyone has mentioned before (but i don't think you believe 100% until it's your turn) that he really does put you at ease and makes it a comfortable environment when discussing our individual situations.

Felt like I had an ENTOURAGE of support people with me and yup - you guessed it - they all wanted to be apart of the "huddle" and get in their own questions - and Dr Sohi - like a champ, was patient and understanding when addressing their questions and concerns also - and lets just say - my mom is an RN at another large Hospital ....soooooooo you can imagine the questions she had ...( gave her the - don't make me pull out the duct-tape eye only once though - lucky for her!!)

My understanding of 11 vials of blood had me nervous.,..and when the ladies at the desk informed me that it was 12 - the look of horror must have shocked them ..but off I went like a good-little-patient-to-be....

Phewwwwffff I survived..and upstairs I went to book my next appointment with Dr Glazier...yippppeeeee pull up the anchor..my ship has set sail......I'm ready...and determined...

Journaling...ugggggg I know....I have to do it....yet I don't know why I am so resistant.,.but today I start,...30 days until I meet the fun-wreckers...and I will prove to them I am prepared...study....journal....and practice what they preach!! I can do this!! I will do this!!

Thank you all for becoming apart of my support group when you didn't even know it :) These posts are PRICELESS for reassurance and settling our racing minds

Be Kind to Yourselves It's Saturday, ( and one day deeper into our journeys)

were you in at 9 am ? :)