Question:
Did anyone go through a behavior modification plan pre-surgery?

I would like to through behavior modification in the Cleveland area...any suggestions?    — Meg T. (posted on November 5, 2002)

November 5, 2002
If its for eating post op does the job. Eat too much, wrong foods or too fast? Get sick feel terrible throw up. What do you have in mind?
   — bob-haller

November 5, 2002
I'm sorry I can't help you with the Cleaveland area, but I just wanted to say "BRAVO" to you. You're the first person I have heard say that they want to go to Behavior Modification. Sorry, Bob, but I don't agree with your statement. I think the people who fail at this surgery are the ones who were not even remotely prepared to give up food and change their behaviors and attitudes towards food. I almost think it should be a requirement of having this surgery. I'm still pre-op, but from all the hundreds of posts I've read (sorry if I offend anyone), I think there are a whole lot of people out there that weren't at all prepared for this and stand a good chance of gaining back their weight. The Dr.'s drill it into our heads that this surgery gives you a tool for your body but does nothing for your head. I hope you can find what you are looking for because I believe it will help you greatly in your journey. I plan to do something similar. Good luck to you.
   — Kathy S.

November 6, 2002
I went through a support group through my church. It was called "healing for damaged emotions". I knew that this surgery would take care of the physical aspect of eating, but I, like many, had an emotional attachment which involved eating. It was a hard thing to go through, but I feel that dealing with my emotions pre-op was the best thing I could've done to prepare myself for this surgery. I am 2 weeks post op and am feeling great about the surgery and myself. This surgery brings about alot of change, even though alot of it is good change, change is still stressful. Good luck, I hope this helps
   — Susan M.

November 6, 2002
My surgeon has Behavior Modification as part of his post-op treatment. We had to take a test and it showed what kind of eater you are, emotional, stress, etc. We got a workbook and audiotapes. I think they helped me so much. I needed to understand what trigged my eating and start to do something about it. Yes the surgery helps you eat less. However, many people find ways to get around it....like eating every 2 or 3 hours....even if it is a little bit, it all adds up....I did not want to be back in the same place I was before the surgery. If you surgeon does not offer it....you may want to check around with support groups in your area.
   — Sharon H.

November 6, 2002
Please understand I meant the RNY helps train us to not overeat or eat excessive sweets. Plus the malabsorbtion helps keep the weight off. But long term we can gain. It appears to be primarily a 5 years and over problem. Well I needed a treatment today. I sincerly believe that in 5 to 10 years a safe effective drug treatment will WORK and be commonly available. I honestly was not aware of any direct behavior modification programs. All of my surgeons patients are well informed and given LOTS of info. Told the dumping will retrain us. This from barb thompsons book. What happens in a behavior modification program? Last time I heard of something like this smokers were wired up and electrically shocked every time they smoked. I honestly am clueless in this area....
   — bob-haller

November 6, 2002
I'm not quite sure if this may be what you're looking for, but when I saw my dietitian/nutritionist she suggested that pre-op to sit in a quiet room, take a small saucer and spoon 2-oz. of food (be it applesauce, yogurt,etc.) onto it. Take some type of timer (oven timer, watch,etc.) and concentrate on eating the 2-oz.'s of food very, very slowly over 20 minutes. This gives pre-op's a visual impression of what it will be like shortly after surgery. She said that it prepare's people "visually" to what it will be like. She also said that the tiny bit of food, might seem like too much to me post-op (still sounds ridiculous to me!!). She suggested doing this once a week until my operation. Sort of like behavior modification?! I must say the first time I did it - it was a shocker.
   — Tracy H.