Just for fun, Fridays

We have some new members posting this week so please join in and introduce yourselves.

1.  What is your best advice for pre-surgery folks?

2.  What is your best advice for early out folks?

3.  What is your best advice for the first year and after in the losing phase?

4.  What is your best advice if you are in maintainence?

Pre-surgery - learn to not drink with meals, take tiny bites, de-caffienate and de-carb.

Early out - stick to your plan and get your fluids in.  Find a protein supplement you like and use it.

First year - Don't be in a rush to try new foods.  Use this time to learn new habits that you can continue for the rest of your life.  This isn't a sprint, it is a marathon.  It isn't important how fast you lose but that THIS TIME, you keep it off.

Forever - Find an exercise that you love so you will stay active.  Don't ever let up on your vits/mins.  Find a way to eat that works for you.

Lots more advice out there but I will leave some for the rest of you guys.

Hey Price ...BTW   I LOVE Ur Friday  entertainment !!!  its like a PARTY

1)  get all  Ur medical recordz in order  BEFORE   Ur surgeon appointment .   Cut n paste  in order to submit the BEST   possible  profile for insurance

2) sip sip sip  walk walk walk  and blow ino the litt;le thingy ... it DOES reduce the pain considerably ( and ask for pain meds .... jus to fly for fun  oh I KNOW im naughty

3)  actually FOLLOW ur surgeons advice  not the ( fatties')  on HERE . EXERCISE !!!!  make that  commitment to tight skin,bikini bodies etc 

4)  I hate to say this protein -loving folx   BUT ... I LIKE homegrown veggies ...tree ripened organic FRUIT  rice n beanz   ...3rdworld DELICIOUS foodz ... I am TOTALLY  SCARED of a STEAK /SAUSAGE /MCDONALDZ  eaing diet   ( yesTotaly even w/out da bun )

5) maintenance -  find a LOVING  partner ... eat homegrown n organic wherever possible  ...and MOVE   so SIMPLE 

fatties????...lol

I was the BIGGEST one lol  ( I definitely have the fattest HEAD ) 

 I totally use that term   that AFFECTIONATELY ( but realistically )  .. there ARE some people on this site though who attack lightweights just cuz we have less to lose ..and maybe the possibility of slightly better results ..

fatties???? on here??? Excuse me but while surgeons are good CUTTERS, they are not nutritionists!

Hi Price,

A lot of my answers are the same as yours.  Great advice.

1.  Pre-Surgery - start doing a little walking - get yourself in the best shape you can before surgery - it will help with your recovery.  Don't go in expecting your surgery to fix all your weight problems.

2.  Early Out - follow your program - get your fluids in if you can't do anything else - stay hydrated.

3.  First Year & After losing - don't be anxious to add in bad foods and bad carbs.  Do not start drinking with your meals (for RNY).  Stay connected to some type of support, even if it is online here.

4.  Log your food at least occassionally to see what you are consuming, you can really get out of the habit and it can catch up with you really quickly.  You will be eating more than you realize with a nibble here and nibble there.  I think you can become scale obsessed but I also think you need to stay aware of your weight some way even if it is just with your clothes - don't let it get too far out of hand before you get back on track.  Do some type of exercise, even if it is chase kids or grandkids.

Never give up - you still have your tool.

Linda

I'm not sure I could give advise for specific phases but I can say number one, before you have any WLS, you do a lot of soul searching about your reasons for needing surgery in the first place.  There are a lot of reasons we become morbidly obese but I can't think of any that WLS alone will cure.  If there is an emotional component to your obesity then address that before you get sliced and diced or it may not work as well as you hope.  If you addicted to certain foods look at that and deal with it.  WLS will help deal with those things but it won't make the choices for you.

Also, if you find yourself regaining after WLS don't assume you need a revision.  Many times the surgery is perfectly fine and it's the behavior that has to be changed, not the surgery.  Revisions are often necessary medically and should be utilized but if it is solely due to weight gain then you need to understand why the first WLS didn't work for you or the second (or third or more) probably won't do much good, either.

1.  What is your best advice for pre-surgery folks? RESEARCH...pick your surgery THEN your surgeon. Don't settle if there is a specific surgery that fits YOU best. Doctors will only advise you on the surgery they perform.

2.  What is your best advice for early out folks? HYDRATE, and WALK

3.  What is your best advice for the first year and after in the losing phase? Get rid of carbs...drink plenty of fluid, and take ALL your vitamins...only adjust after you start getting your lab work.

4.  What is your best advice if you are in maintainence? Keep the carb monster at bay, don't forget your fluids and vitamins and go as low as your body will go. Just because you THINK you may be at goal, bounce back is REAL and a *****!

1.  What is your best advice for pre-surgery folks?  research the different types of WLS and decide which one is better for you. Find a Surgeon who specializes in Weight Loss Surgery....Do Not go to a General Surgeon who decided to add WLS to his/her portfolio even it is closer or convenient.

2.  What is your best advice for early out folks?Take it slow. Don't push yourself to go back to work too soon or get on real food too soon.  Sip your fluids all day and slowly start walking .

3.  What is your best advice for the first year and after in the losing phase?  Don't eat "bad" carbs and sweets and think because you are still losing that your body can handle them.  The more you get away with the more you will eat.  One day you will wake up and realize the honeymoon period is over and  you will be shocked that you are gaining instead of losing.

4.  What is your best advice if you are in maintenance? Don't be anxious to be on maintenance.  Let your weight drop as low as it wants and Don't increase your calories and slow down the last months of the honeymoon period.  It ends at a different time for everyone. It could be anywhere from 6 months to 2+ years. Bounce back is for real!!!!  Check your totals every once in awhile so that if you do have a gain you can pin point where the problem is.