water, I know it is IMPORTANT...how do you sip???

So,  pre-op I am working on many things that my NUT said will make the transition easier when I come home, so far I have. Give up Diet Coke Started taking my daily vitamin Started eating scheduled meals/snacks Split up eating and drinking enforcing the 30 minute before and after rule Taking smaller bites, chewing until its liquid I am having so much trouble with the sipping.   I know I am drinking too much too fast.   Does anyone have any tricks or hints to help you get in the habit, or is this one that after surgery you just have to do. Next week I am working on adding more excercise back into my routine.  Is anyone else pre-op working on changing habits?   Post-ops any words of wisdom? Happy Friday~Leslie

My NUT/surgeon said when it came to things like sipping, chewing well, the 30 minute rule to just wait until after surgery *shrug* I think the giving up diet coke and taking vitamins is excellent. Post-op you physically wont be able to chug water until further out (maybe never again, just depends) so you will quickly stop doing it. So honestly I wouldnt worry about it too much. I also changed habits preop - cut out the soda, severly cut back on fast food, exercised and worked on learning about my food addiction. I went to therapy and picked up self-help books about food addiction, overeating and exchanging habits (how to exchange a bad habit for a good one). I think working on the mental aspect was really the biggest thing that helped me post-op. 

I have been thinking A LOT about food, and how I have abused/misused it since I was 5.  I will be getting some reading material together, great advice!!!

Have any good suggestions from the books you have read?

First you have to start by identifying your triggers - what is prompting you to eat.. being bored, stressed, anxious etc... then you have to learn other ways to deal besides food - reading a little, taking a short walk, talking on the phone etc. There is a whole process to this that takes a little under two months or so. You have to give yourself other tools to deal with things instead of using the food. Another thing is to identify issues that you are using food to 'fix'... childhood issues, self esteem issues whatever... some books can help you or you can do so via talk therapy. A great thing to learn about for post-op life is 'mindful eating'. Basically learning to slow down and paying attention - you can really apply it to more than just eating in your life... we go thru in such a rush/daze we miss a lot of whats going on around us. This is all pretty general suggestions, you really have to check things out and find what appeals to you.

Hijack:  I am interested in the books you read about food addiction and switching addictions.  Any recommendations? helen

I will have to check at home, its been a while. I ordered the Beck Diet Solution last week, it was reccomended by a few OHers as well as a psych who comes to my support group - worth checking out from what I hear... deals with the mental side of 'dieting' instead of the ole 'heres a diet, follow it'.

Good morning Leslie... the only easy way I found to get into the sipping habit was to keep a bottle with a sport top on me at all times...it made it harder for me to gulp it down too fast... The sipping is important right after surgery when you are healing and can't feel anything...that's the time when you can do damage by taking in too much... Right now, seven months out, I can drink normally...just no GULPING liquids down....and your pouch WILL let you know when you over do it! Right now your anatomy is what it is...you drink the way you always have and its a tough habit to break post-op, your pouch will set the pace for you... xxxBecca

Morning!  I was hoping this one was one that would come with time.   The sports top should help me.  I cut out straws, because I was sucking down way too much at one time.  Thanks for the input, makes me feel better. Leslie

I was a gulper post op too!  Now I never feel like I actually quench my thirst, because I can only take sips.  It is also difficult for me to get my fluids in if they are cold.  I drink sugar free apple cider at work.  Since its hot, I cant chug it, and it goes down a lot easier.  Tea is for some reason easier too.  It's weird!  But definately, you will stop the chugging on your own.  It is SOOO painful!