Things I Wish I'd Known/Ask About Before Surgery

I'm a newbie considering VSG.  My eval appt is Aug. 29, and my insurance wait period is three months -- so if all goes well, I'll be sleeved in Nov/Dec.  But I also have a little GERD, and have found a lot of interesting info on the boards about that and other things that I hadn't thought of. 

So, I'm hoping that you all will respond to this thread with info you've gleaned  that will help us newbies ask informed questions or avoid unpleasantness!  

If there's a specific thread that you found helpful, maybe you can reference that or link to it.  Thanks for all of the great info you provide!

 The most important thing that I have learned and had to immediately accept: 

THE SURGERY IS A TOOL; NOT A FIX IT ALL (OR QUICK FIX)!

I have met more than one person on the journey who has yet to recognize this.  To me - it is the most important lesson to seriously learn!

Also - accountability.  I track my food on myfitnesspal.com.  People in general seem to lack a strong sense of personal responisibilty and accountability.  I admit - it's one of the reasons I failed so muh in the past.  Now I use the tracker to hold myself accountable.  I use this forum to help keep me on the path. 

There are many, many threads here.  And that search box in the upper right is one of the best helpful tips I can give you.  Also, I say that the vets who are successful have some advice and insight.  They truly do their best to help and assist us newbs.  

 You may still be hungry following surgery; not everyone loses their physical appetite.

I believe that most successful patients track what they eat and get regular exercise, just like most people that are successful without surgery.

Your head is the biggest challenge.  It is hard to keep on plan when the scale isn't moving.  

Once you go off plan it is harder to get back on.  I certainly didn't plan to eat so poorly so soon.  Life happens and I had logistical challenges, plus mental stress and a lot of anger which is a crummy combination.  When I get hungry I feel angry.  Conversely when I'm angry I want to eat.  

My journey is tough right now because I am hungrier than I was earlier out from surgery.  I'm tracking my food and sticking to plan, but I feel angry about having to be hungry to lose.  I've already had a life of being angry that I can't eat the same as regular people and stay regular sized.  Anger about all the energy I've put into dieting/exercise only to always gain the weight back.  

I'm hungry right now and I just want to go make popcorn and munch away, but I know if I do that I wil be setting myself up to be hungrier later.  And this isn't even one of my hungriest weeks.  Seriuosly wondering about tring and appetite suppressant.

Weight training is very important to your journey, more so than even cardio IMO...because you will loose weight fast even without exercise due to the surgery and forced portion control in the beginning, but you want to preserve as much lean muscle mass as you can...this will help your burn more calories at rest (especially helpful if you regain your appetite or never lose it, and if you stray off the narrow path at times) Also, I have no proof, but I think my loose skin would have been worse, without the muscle.

Do not test your tiny tummy!  Why risk it? Why have foamies or throwing up, when I believe it can be avoided...eat teeny tiny portions, go very carefully through the post op stages, eat very slowly, chew more than normal,  stop before you get full, and you should have a relatively easy experience (at least it worked for me)

My GERD and reflux have resolved...but not for awhile...in the beginning I still had to take a PPI. All my other health issues resolved...I am on no prescription meds! Hooray!

Good luck!

Knowing what I know now, I would have started weight training BEFORE surgery, rather than waiting until month 4 post-op. I lost a lot of weight in the beginning due to complications and a lot of lean muscle mass in the process.


gail

The easiest weight loss is at first. Truly, at 6 months your body changes. Take advantage of the first 6 months. The cheezits and poptarts will be there later if you HAVE to have them. The data from your doctor/NUT should be one point of reference. Collect data on what has worked for everyone else.

Elina is usually right.

 People can and do lose on a higher calorie range.  1000-1200 may work for you if you are exercising and it is not necessary to go low carb.  The plan of 600-800 and carbs under 40 also works.  Do what is best for you and what your doctor is recommending.