Advice for pre-ops....

 I was thinking that it might be helpful to make a thread with just little common and not so common tidbits for the pre-ops that we have on the board.  The reason I do this is because I had a moment of "I wish I would have done this pre-op" today so I hope we can try to help all of you who haven't been through surgery yet with tips and advice would have been nice when I was there not so long ago.  

All post-ops, feel free to post anything that comes to mind that either you wish you would have known or have found out that could be helpful for any pre-op friends we have. Pre-Ops, if you have any questions, post them here too! There is no limit on the topic....anything and everything from food to fitness to saggy skin to sex!  I'll try my best not to let this thread die!!  I'll start! 

-  Start saving money now for future clothing purchases.  When you get to goal weight and probably into "normal" stores, if you are like me, you'll tend to go nuts so it's nice to have a little stashed away just for that.  
- TAKE PICTURES!  It's so motivating to see your progress through the camera lens because sometimes you won't think you look different but you do.  Also, keeping a blog or a journal is helpful too. 

<3
~Emily~

Thanks for the post, I'm scheduled Jan 5 and you gave some great ideas!   So thanks again!

Thank you for posting this I just got my surgery date on Thursday. I am scheduled for the closest date they have right now. Which also happens to be my bday Feb 9th. Excited and nervous at the same time, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. :)

More additions!

- We all have different surgeons, different eating plans, different lives.  While this site is so valuable for ideas and strategies, don't stray from what your surgeon recommends even though it may be different from what you may see someone else doing on here.  If you feel like something isn't working with your plan, talk to your nutritionist, surgeon, etc.  about your ideas.  Open communication is the key because after all, we pay them to help us.  
- On that same idea, we are all different as far as what will work for us.  What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.  It's ok!   
-Don't forget to set goals for yourself.  Not just weight loss number goals but every day goals as well.  My goal for next spring is to run a 5K, 10K and build up to a half marathon.  I also have my everyday goal of talking positively to a family member.  Goals (even small ones) keep us on track.  

Post-Ops, please add to!!!  I know I'm long winded but I'm sure I'll run out of things to say eventually. :-)  

~Emily~

 My biggest advice would be to take measurements as well as pictures. This is really helpful when you get further out and aren't loosing as much weight you can look at the measurements and still see the you are loosing, even if it isn't reflected on the scale. This especially helps when you start re-incorperating resistance training into you exercise routine. Also, It really really helps me to write everything I eat in a log to keep track of vitamins, water intake, and how much and what foods I'm eating... That's all I can think of, I'll repost if I think of anything else

 I'm only a few weeks out, but since I would say that I have been lucky and had a really smooth recovery so far, I thought I'd share a couple of things.

1.  People always say bring a pillow to cushion your tummy in the car on the way home,  Well, not only does that work in the car, but keep it up at home.  Since I'm a side sleeper, I still lean on a pillow at my side when I sleep 2 1/2 weeks out.

2.  DON'T STRESS ABOUT HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU ARE LOSING RIGHT AWAY!  i see so many people freaking out on these boards about how much weight they lost while at the hospital or in the first few weeks.  I've been on a scale twice since surgery, when I met with my NUT and when I met with my surgeon, and that is only because they made me.  Plus, I figure at first, most of the weight is jus****er anyway.   My personal plan is only the weigh myself every month and to focus on being a 'perfect patient' rather than the pounds everyday.  I have faith in the process and since I don't worry about the scale I do notice when my pants begin to fall off all the time!

Anyway, I may have a few more to add later, but those are the big ones so far.  Looking forward to you ladies joining us on the other side!

-Gillian

- A big one....Your weight either now or after you lose is no reflection of you as a person.  You were a beautiful/handsome, funny, loving person before and you'll still be the same person afterwards, just in different packaging with more self-confidence.  

- Don't wait to try on smaller sizes, they may be too big by the time you "think" you can wear them. :-)

What an amazing post Emily!!!.
There were many thing i didn`t quite understan before surgery that i do know that i woulda love to know before.

1.- For most of us the weight  doesn`t come off like magic. there are just a few that gets bellow goal  without working their ass off!!. and the ones that keep the weight off are really comited and have excercise ruting. and even less that have never excercise and can mantain the weight off.

2.- excercise is gonna be fundamental for your long term success. so get use to it now!

3.- no everybody dumps..... i wish i did!!. and pray it happends to you!!! lol.

4.-when your honey moon period is over. is not over!!! is when the real thing begins and you r gonna love it! your gonna become in someone else, you r not gonna belive how much you have change in a year. your gonna like excercising, enjoying a lot of things that you didn`t like before ....crazy.
 

5. write down all your food cravings like what you liked and crave before your surgery. your gonna find out that those cravings are gonna desapear, and your gonna crave on diferent things. and try to not try them again....... 1th time you try them your not gonna likem, but after a few months your taste is gonna come back n its gonna be to late to get rid of the craving again lol.

6. TAKE A BEFORE PICTURE!!. with your fav jeans and top. and keepem. is gonna feel soooooooooo good after a year when you try them on and they are to big! GREATES FEELING EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i have still my fav. outfit in my closeet an when i feel like a faliure i try them on and im back on track n reality.

7. be patient. people are gonna be worry about you. you have 2 options. 1. take the time to explain so they can understan what its happening, or 2. don`t even botter, and don`t let them BOTER YOU!!!!. is your life you already made ur decition n you cannot take it back. so learn to live with that. so othere people can take care of their own busines.

8. Try to not cheat the 1th year!!

9. start  LOVING YOU!!! your problems are not gonna be solve with your weight loss. ur gonna be more aware of your body after. blah!

10. is a tool and you have to work it!!!!!!!! IS NOT MAGIC BUT IT WORKS.

good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

im trying to think of a few tidbits to add. hmmmm.

1. experiment with protein shakes NOW! dont wait till after surgery or only a few days before to see what you like//dont like. your palate does change a little after surgery but order some samples online and get an idea before. getting protein in at the beginning was one of my biggest challanges, i cried every time i had to do a shake. but then i played around a bit and figured it out, and wished i did BEFORE i had my surgery, would have saved ALOT of heart ache on my (and prolly on my bfs ear too!) part.
remember if you buy from like gnc, and dont like the powder you bought as long as you have a receipt they will let you exchange/refund, i think within a month.

2. make sure you have alot of support! ! i stress this to every pre op i talk to. if my boyfriend didnt have my back days, weeks, months out from surgery, i just dont know where id be. he made sure to read and understand how the rules and guidelines with me as i was learning from my nut & surgeon (nut - nutrionist).  make sure that you explain to people close to you too that they understand your limitations and whatnot after surgery. i would explain to some if you have to also, that this is a LIFE CHANGE and how you will now be on a certain dietary restriction.  my family still apologizes eating in front of me things i cant eait! it drives me crazy. i made this decison, and im cool with whatever they want to put in their mouths, as long as nobody is shoving it in mine. lol. i also mention to tell people close to you because people just dont think sometimes, and think you can still eat things like fast food, etc. as long as i know ahead of time meeting up with people , i can always plan ahead.
stay on OH consistantly after surgery! my oh family has helped me so much in the past 8 months. everybodys always willing to answer any questions i may have and give nothing but love. dont be derailed by any trolls out there, they prolly just dont have any life off the internet.

3. buy a good pair of running shoes and work out clothes(ross or marshalls sells cheap both!)! your going to need them when you hit the ground running (errr walking in baby steps right after surgery!). make sure you have a plan before surgery about your physical activity after the big day! i think a big part of my success is that i fell in love with cardio and the gym. i worked out pre wls but now i love it even more! my insurance has discounts on their website for local gyms (some are womens only too!!)  also if you live in a warmer climate, or love the out doors (http://walking.about.com/library/walk/blgooglemap1.htm) that website helped out this past summer too! me and my boyfriend walked many differant routes, and that site helped us out alot figuring out milage and what not.

4. check out www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com . she is a post op and i love her reciepes. everything is wls friendly and even non wls people love her cooking too!! if you hate cooking, you may find a new love in cooking. i used to not be a huge fan but now i create things in my kitchen constantly and use tons of eggfaces recipes. a must try is her minis! you can make em in all differant flavors and all you need is a mini muffin tin to make em in :)

5. make sure you have proper measuring cups/spoons/etc in your kitchen. i keep on putting this off but a food scale would help you out too, once your a little further out.

6. something that was passed on to me, was after surgery using baby sippy cups and spoon. they help with tiny sips and tiny tiny bites on the first few stages of your new diet.  i loved this! it helped so much.

...i could go on with this list forever! if anybody needs anything WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
dont hesitate please! 
my email is [email protected] id love to hear from ya'll! <3
<3
ann marie <3

 i'm weird and have only had 1 protein shake so far i couldn't tolerate (it was a ready-to-drink one... i blame it on that). i'd actually rather drink them than eat regular food. like i said, i'm weird lol