Question:
How can I expect myself to follow a plan post-op if I haven't pre-op?

I'm in the home stretch toward my Open RnY (29 days to go -- October 9) and I'm asking myself hard questions that I refused to really face before now. I wasn't able to stick with -- long term -- an eating plan before, so what makes me think I'll be able to do it now? I suppose this is the fear of wls failure manifesting itself, but now I'm really concerned. I'm good with an eating plan for a couple of months -- shoot, I even stayed on Atkins for 18 months! -- but to be on a specific eating plan for the rest of my life? Can I do it? Maybe I'm equating "eating plan" with "DIET". Maybe I should ask my surgeon for some sedatives for NOW! <wobbly grin> Thanks for any words of wisdom.    — Felissa L. (posted on September 10, 2001)

September 12, 2001
I'm also pre-op and I have asked myself the very same question. I'm expecting the changes in my body from the RNY to affect my desires. I'm expecting that I will not have the over-whelming sense of always being hungry. In addition, I chose RNY so that I will (hopefully) dump on sugar. I'm anticipating that these 2 things together will make a dramatic difference. I look at my RNY (in 4 months) as internalizing an eating structure that I cannot internalize on my own.
   — Kathy J.

September 12, 2001
I was told to think of WLS as a tool. Fortunately, this tool has had 2 major effects: 1) I just don't want to eat all the time like I did pre-op. 2) I can't eat too much or I get sick (I vomit). Behavior modification is reinforced by a physical tool. My eating "plan" is very simple now. Go for protein first, eat low fat, and avoid sugar. Not as complex as all those diets that didn't work. I had the same concerns, I am only about 3 months out but it looks like a winner. Sometimes I do miss being able to "tuck in" to a big meal, but it is also a great relief not to have to. LOL
   — Jonathan M.

September 12, 2001
I also worried about that preop I have never been successful at dieting. Since my surgery I am 5 mths post op down 81 pds I find that I don't crave the sweets I used to live on I have avoided sugars besides sugar and breads I can eat everything else I ate preop just in small portions. I don't feel deprived and I am proud of the success I have had with my surgery.
   — susan V.

September 13, 2001
I'm a pretty recent post op, three months out. I have had worries recently that in a year, I'll have bad habits creep in. However, let me say this: On every other "diet" I've tried, one slip, one cheat, and I felt like I'd ruined everything. That just made me fall completely off the wagon. It's much harder to do that now. I have "cheated" if that's what you call it by eating small amounts of sugar or making "poor" food choices. But it's a rare thing and then I'm right back to it. I can't imagine that I'd ever be able to eat the same quantity again. So hopefully that will make up for some of the quality failures. Remember, the success rate of WLS is many many times higher than any other diet.
   — kcanges