Introduction

Hi Everyone -

My name is Michelle and I have the 37 year old mother of 3 boys (8,4 &2 1/2).  After a lifetime of weight issues, I have decided to have the RNY surgery.  I gave myself two good years, after my youngest son was born, to get off the weight.  Although I have lost pretty good amount of weight each time,  life gets in the way and I end up regaining it.  I have decided to quit beating myself up over my inablitity to lose this weight and get the help I need.  Needless to say, I am in the beginning steps of getting approved.  I am scared and any encouragement and suggestions of things that will help prepare me would be greatly appreciated.  I am currently in the mind set of lets eat whatever b.c I'm having the surgery so I better enjoy it now.  Did anyone else have that issue?  I keep telling myself every pound I gain now is another  I will have to lose... which lasts until I open the fridge. 

Anyway I look forward to getting to know all of you better!

Michelle

Hi Michelle! Glad to see ya! Wanted to welcome to you to our local board. My name is Theresa and I am 6 1/2 months out of lap RNY. So far, I am down 121 lbs and loving life.

Congratulations on making the decision to get healthier. I hope you do not encounter any problems with the approval process. As for the "eat whatever" syndrome. I really never experienced it, although, before my pre op liver shrinking diet, I did enjoy what I called "my last meal". But I would recommend that you start preparing yourself for the entire life style change. I'd begin taking my vitamins, getting used to protein shakes, exercising and learning how to eat properly. But alas... This is always a learning experience and everyone is different.

Again, welcome to our board. I hope you find all the information you want and need. I look forward to getting to know you better and to seeing you post more. If you have questions or need someone to talk too, feel free to add me or pm me. Best wishes.

Welcome, Michelle, to the Va Board and also to the world of WLS.  Congratulations on making the decision!  You have selected a wonderful surgeon -- he and his office are just terrific!  I am in North Stafford and Dr. Halmi was my surgeon, so if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.  In the meantime, feel free to ask questions and learn as much as you can from all of the experienced people on this Board!  :)

Welcome. I did have the "last meal" problem also. My doctor would not perform the surgery if you weighed more than you did on your first visit, so I had to be careful. Continue to watch this board, I learned sooooo much from everyone on here. Please ask any questions you may have.

Penny

Welcome to the boards! It is such a scary and exciting time. I did eat whatever I wanted before surgery. I ended up gaining 10 lbs over the 6 month supervised diet. Wish I could change that. Don't beat yourself up though. Post and let us know whats going on. Congrats on taking your life back and making this decision. One of the hardest in my life to make!

Hi Michelle & Welcome!!!

Hello Michelle and welcome!  I am three and a half years post open RNY and have lost a total of 260 pounds.  I have gained a bit back since I am now pregnant but am confidant that my tool will work once again and I can lose the weight once I have delivered our daughter.  Congratulations on making a wonderful decision to have a healthier lifestyle!  I would recommend starting to take your vitamins now, stop doing things you know you will not be able to do post op (i.e. drinking sodas, eating refined sugar, drinking from straws, drinking and eating together or within 30-45 minutes before and after meals) and do whatever exercise you can now.  I am sure chasing after the kiddos helps with that!  As for the last meal syndrome...yep, I had it.  For me I kept thinking about what I wanted and decided to wait until the day before surgery to go out and have it and then I was so busy doing everything and wanting to spend time with my daughter (I was going to stay with my aunt for two weeks after surgery and would not be seeing my daughter during that time) that time got away from me and I totally missed it!  But that is ok...it worked well for me.  And now I can eat almost anything that I want...just in moderation!  Good luck and let me know if you need anything.  Keep us posted!

Hi Michelle,
I had RNY 17 months ago and have lost 103 lbs and many many inches and sizes.
I did not do the eat anything because I was having the surgery. My hubby is active duty Navy and I had a nine month wait for surgery. I used that time to change whatever behaviors I could before hand so the after would hopefully be easier. It worked!  Some of the things I did..stopped drinking soda, stopped drinking with a straw, no drinking with meals and walking as much as I could comfortably tolerate.

Put a pic of yourself on the fridge, in the cookie cabinet.
You are on your way to a healthier you!

I think I forgot to mention...up your protein to help aide in your recovery after surgery (it will help in healing) and it will get you used to monitoring what you put in your body.  Also...DO NOT stock up on any proteins since your tastes will probably change post op.  Most everyones does!

Welcome!  Good to meet you and glad you found our online family.  We have so many successful people here who can help you along the way with any questions and of course give you the support to get through the start of this process!  I look forward to getting to know you better!

For me, I suffered from the last meal syndrome.  I didn't do anything in excess on a regular basis prior to surgery, but I did find myself doing alot of "I'll just have McD's one more time" or "I'm going to brusters one more time", Etc etc.  But when it came down to nuts and bolts I got off the weight my surgeon suggested prior to surgery and did the per-op liquid diet with no problems.  Just focus on the big prize.  For me, there were a few of the sweet treats that I would have liked to have enjoyed one last time and did not.  But you know what, feeling better, and looking better is way better than any of the sweet treats I sometimes wish I could enjoy "one more time".  Good luck!