Newbie on board

Hi everyone.  my name is Jenn and I am new to the board and the WLS world.  i made a decision to start the process a few months ago after debating for a long time.  i am only 34 years old and was worried that i couldn't change my lifestyle...but after going some nutrition classes i think that i can.  i just had my second of six classes today and am really motivated.  this class was really good today and we got to taste and see some foods that we will need to adopt.  i

i am struggling with what i should eat while i'm in the process of doing the classes and seeing the surgeon.  i gained 3 pounds over the past month (between classes) and that is very disappointing.  how do i change my eating habits while still feeling satisfied and also lose weight in the process? 

i just purchased the weight loss surgery for dummies book today from amazon and i am hoping that will be able to help stop some of my concerns and fears.  i also purchased the weight loss for dummies cookbook for after the surgery and maybe i can use it during the waiting process as well.  i need to figure out how to eat during this 6 month process before the surgery.  any suggestions?

thanks for listening and can't wait to make new friends
jenn

Welcome to the group Jenn.  Do your best during this time before surgery. 

I had success from using salad sized plates instead of dinner plates. 

Try to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day.  Start the healthy habits that will be your life as soon as you can.  Get in activity daily, even walking about the block or halls.  Try to not drink fluids during your meals.  I had the hardest time with not drinking while eating before surgery, this is much easier after surgery.  Make one or two small changes at a time, give the changes time to be a habit, and then add another healthy change.

Ask any and all questions of us, your dietician and surgical team.  Learn, ask, and take this one step at a time.  It is a great adventure, becoming healthy is up to each and every one of us.  Hugs

Hello, Jenn! I'm new to this group, too (though I had surgery back in December). So HELLO, everyone! :-)

I agree with Kathy on getting used to not drinking with meals. That has to be the weirdest of all your new habits post-surgery. My family STILL forgets that I don't need a drink with supper. Go ahead and get used to the odd looks now from waiters. At first I thought I could just ge****er and leave it alone, but sometimes, especially about a month or two post-op, when I was starting to eat "normally" enough to eat out, that huge glass of ice water taunted me to death! I just had to stop ordering a drink. Sometimes now I'll ask for an iced water in a "to go" cup and leave the straw unwrapped. Then I'm not tempted to drin****il I have had time to digest my food.

It will be SO much easier to eat less after surgery. I am still hardly ever hungry, and that has been the biggest blessing of surgery to me!!!

Start exercising now, at least a few hours a week. I didn't because I made a fast decision in early December to schedule my surgery before the end of 2010 (even though I'd been planning off and on for two years about surgery and had already done most of the pre-op work). Since I didn't have a lot of time to prepare mentally, the first month after surgery was harder for me because I had been so inactive and hadn't really thought about all the little things that were going to have to change. You're doing great to already be here on these boards getting as much info as possible!! Good job!

Also, clean your house. Not dusting and sweeping (though a deep cleaning is a good idea before surgery because you might not feel like it for a few weeks). But I mean get rid of ALL the junk food and crap that you might be used to eating. No more ice cream and cookies and chips. Maybe that's not your thing, but it was mine. And having young kids who are skinny and can eat anything made it harder. But I doubt anyone in your house really NEEDS that stuff, and if you're going to be successful, you will probably need to have a "clean" house. If my kids bring home candy, they know not to leave it out where I have to look at it. I have a few items I call "crack." My kids know I can't be near Doritos or Little Debbie snack cakes of ANY kind.

Well I've gone on long enough, but I wish you the best of luck as you step through the door of your new life!!! You (we) CAN do this!

Lara