Question:
if you could give 3 pieces of advice...what would you say?

   — Kimberley D. (posted on August 14, 2002)


August 14, 2002
1. remain calm, collective and positive. 2. DO EXACTLY what your dr tells you regardless of what others tell you. Follow the plan! 3. You can never be fully prepared for this, but you can always do as much as posible to prepare your self. At the very least be prepared to be unprepared. Hope this makes sense. If you have any questions, email me. Good Luck. my thoughts and Prayers are with you.
   — Deanna Wise

August 14, 2002
Firstr TRY not to fear surgery but embrace it... Yep I KNOW thats tough but I wasted nearly a year being scared out of my mind unnecessarily. It was the best decision I ever made. Loosing the weight was FUN!<P> Try to get lots of exercise in pre op, it helps to make post op a LOT easier<P> Take a post op to dinner, and ATTEND support group meetings! They make going thru this so much easier!
   — bob-haller

August 14, 2002
I'm gonna give you 2 sets of 3. 1. bring lip gloss or something like that 2. sip & breathe 3. walk & cough ********** Long term thinking, to what I atrribute my success: 1. protein supps 2. no milk, no sugar 3. regular office visits & labs
   — vitalady

August 14, 2002
1) Start your exercise program now.<p>2) Follow your doc's pre-op and post-op protocol to the letter.<p>3) Establish a relationship with at least 1 support group.<4) Stay off the scale at home!
   — phoebe

August 14, 2002
hiya...3 pieces only? lol 1. breath thru the fear pre op...you made this decision based on the medical need, your life will be so different and BETTER after surgery 2. support, support, support!! studies show a need for at least 3 years post op of support..join a support group and get involved. become a facilitator or at least attend meetings regularly and vow to stay involved post op, the "newbies" need the "old timers" 3. exercise..walk, walk walk!!! move that body!!! ok gotta add one more: protein, protein, protein!! kate
   — jkb

August 14, 2002
Here are my three pieces of advice: 1) Do what the doctor tells you do do. 2) Attend as many support groups as possible. 3) Learn all you can about WLS.
   — Lawrence R.

August 14, 2002
My three would be (1.) Ask as many questions of your healthcare team as is necessary so YOU will understand what is going on. (2.) Accept plateaus as a fact of life, and don't give up during one. (3.) eat a well-balanced diet including carbs for energy and milk for strong bones. From a medical standpoint, a weight-loss diet which totally omits a food is questionable.
   — Tina B.

August 14, 2002
These are all good, and I want to add one important one: ENJOY every moment of this journey! If you stress about every little pound and bite, then you miss out on the excitement of it all! Celebrate when you see the scale go down, and EXPECT the loss to slow or even plateau, that way when it happens, you won't get all freaked out about it!!
   — Cheri M.

August 14, 2002
Congratulations on picking Dr. Felix! He is by far the best in his field and you won't regret it. My advice: 1. Follow Dr.'s orders to the T including all post op care. They are very thorough in making sure you are aware of all that is expected of you. 2. Walk walk walk 3. Drink as much water as you can. The sooner you get rid of the IV the better. Good luck and enjoy the journey. That last advice was free!
   — Sue A.

August 14, 2002
1. Take your measurements weekly. This way even if the scale isn't budging, you'll know the inches are going away. 2. Take before pictures and then take pictures at least every 2 weeks to chart your look. A picture is worth a thousand words. 3. Only weigh yourself once a week and do it at the same time - on a Saturday morning when you first get up after going to the bathroom.
   — Patty H.

August 15, 2002
1) Realize this is major surgery. You body will have gone thru the wringer so be kind to yourself for the first couple of months after surgery.<p>2) Protein first and foremost, replace white carbs with "whole foods" like whole grain breads/pastas, veggies, and fruit, and drink your water.<p>3) Set realistic goals. The scale does not always tell the whole story especially if you've been MO for a long time. It is much better to set goals based on health, clothing size, or percent body fat than to focus on the scale.<p>Good luck and happy losing!
   — ctyst

August 15, 2002
Congratulations on making this lifesaving decision, I pray it will be a decision that you are very happy with. I am! My first bit of advice is to try to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally as much as possible (I know you can't really until you've been there) but this was the hardest for me. You are going to be just like a baby again, having to learn to re-eat and your whole life will have to be readjusted. You will take roller coaster rides you never dreamed about (emotionally) and believe me this is HARD to get used too. I am 9 months post op and some days it is still hard for me. Talk one on one with someone you know that has had this surgery (Everyone is affected differently and no one is the same but at least you will be prepared) and ask them all the IMPORTANT things you need to know and tell them to fill you in on everything you may need to know that your surgeon can't tell you (has never endured this so he only knows what patients tell him). I can't stress how important it is to try to prepare yourself in this way. I researched for over 2 yeras to have this surgery and thought I knew everything, little did I know:) 2. Prepare to be sickly, it may not happen but for alot of us it does unfortunately. After every meal I get that nausea feeling and usually have to lie down. I have constant diarreha that I take 2 medications to control. And I have to take potassium daily or else I end up in the ER on IV fluids (no matter how much I drink). Like I said this may not pertain to you at all but it is a possibility. 3. Water water water....it is the answer to most of our post op problems. If you have any questions or need any support before or after surgery feel free to e-mail me anytime. I am sorry if these are not the kind of things you wanted but I think they are very important in the Post op era, and we usually don't hear about the "Maybe's". GOOD LUCK!
   — Lynda T.

August 15, 2002
1 - Maximize your the first six months after surgery. The weight will never come off as fast again. Maximize it by eating as best as you can and exercising.<br /> 2 - Find a low calorie, low sugar treat that you can have when you have that head hunger. Try smart ones english toffee ice cream bars (100cal) or healthy escapes (60-80 cal). There are times when I thought I just HAD TO HAVE something sweet. I was glad I took the time to find something. 3 - Keep up on the medical side of it. Keep your doctor's appointments, support group meetings, etc.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 15, 2002
1) Learn as much as you can about the WLS through discussions, research, asking questions and speaking with others (like you are doing) 2) Be sure that you are emotionally ready for the surgery and lifestyle that follows 3) Be gentle with yourself and get the support that you need (and deserve) to have during the process. and my personal number 4 - Put yourself in God's hands. Best wishes,
   — Ann B.

August 15, 2002
I'm about 6 weeks out from surgery (lap RNY). Everyone has given such good advice already, that I feel like I'm be repeating a lot of what has been said, but my three would be: 1) Make time to relax. I used meditation to help control my pre-surgery jitters. The day of the surgery I was very calm and ready. 2) Line up support. Friends, family, and people who have gone through the surgery already. And finally, 3) Follow doctor's orders. As many have already pointed out, the first several months are when you have the opportunity to lose the most weight - you don't want to sabotage yourself! :o) Best wishes on your journey!
   — Sally S.

August 15, 2002
What has worked for me? 1) Avoid simple carbs - always. 2) Exercise, exercise, exercise. 3) Enjoy what life has to offer - surgery or no surgery.
   — PaulaM




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