·         The goal is for patients to replace destructive eating patterns with learned behavior that is healing to the body.
  ·         Journal on a regular basis. In order to become aware of your habitual patterns, as well as reasons behind your eating, you need to become mindful of your actions and thoughts around food and eating by writing them down. ·         Begin moving! Physical activity is absolutely crucial to your success both before and after surgery. Begin a vigorous exercise program NOW. Join a gum. Do exercises such as daily walking, treadmill, or water aerobic and swimming. If you are not currently active it is important that you begin at a level you are comfortable with, Start slowly and increase the time and intensity gradually until you are able to walk for a minimum of 20 minutes without stopping to rest. It is always possible to be more active; even if you are wheelchair bound or have other physical limitations. By surgery date you should be able to tolerate at least 20 minutes of sustained activities without requiring rest. ·         Weight loss: it will be required that you lose some weight (depending on your body size or shape) of your current body weight between orientation and your surgery. Weight gain prior to surgery will cause your surgery to be canceled or delayed.  Weight loss greatly reduces the risk of complications during and following surgery. In addition, making the necessary changes NOW to your lifestyle, in both eating habits and exercise, will help you lose weight and get into a mindset about what life will be like after surgery. ·         Changes in eating habits. There are many foods that are not recommended after surgery. That‘s why it is important that you begin weaning yourself off of them now. Some of these foods include bread, pasta, rice, fast food, carbonated beverages, and sweets. From this point on start living your life as if you already had the surgery. Focus on proteins, fruit and vegetables, while decreasing the amount of carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes and rice, etc.

  ·         Practice the 6 principles of mindful eating. What to eat, how to eat, when to eat, where to eat, and with whom to eat. ·         Carefully review all educational materials. You will have to make permanent changes in your eating habits and lifestyle both before and after the surgery. The decision to move forward with the operation should be made after considering the risks benefits, and lifelong consequences. Gastric bypass surgery should not be considered reversible. ·         Take time out of every day for mindful breathing. Larry Dossey, M.D., Author of Space, Time & Medicine, talks about stress-related illnesses, such a s high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression, which he feels are the result of ?hurry sickness.? He points out that when we are so concerned about the passing of time, our external clocks cause our internal clock to move faster. You need to take time out and relax. Breathing is a powerful coping tool; practicing deep breathing is a form of relaxation and meditation. Deep breathing helps arise with the upcoming surgery. ·         Begin breathing exercises. Practice deep breathing every morning and evening for five minutes. This will help in your recovering from surgery. ·         Be patient. Terminating your old relationship with food will take hard work, patience, and consistency.

I have seen some post on loosing weight before WLS, and some about foods to eat after.. Any one got any ideas. I would be willing to post parts of my book that Kaiser South San Francisco gave me when I started this amazing journey. Let me know where you are and What you would like to see posted.. Great going everyone.. You are doing great. (I do check on your post).