Preparing for surgery!

trinoc

I am planning on having VSG surgery late summer. My insurance requires 90 days between consult and surgery to have several meetings with doctor, nutritionist, exercise specialist, etc. So, while I'm in the middle of all of this I've decided to start preparing myself for my new way of life. I gave up soda about 3 weeks ago and am finally no longer missing it. I'm now trying to concentrated on eating protein since that will need to be an emphasis for me. My next step will be getting in a habit of remembering to take vitamins. I'm also going to the gym 3-4 days a week for 30-40 minutes of cardio. I expect to ramp this up once some weight starts coming off and I'm feeling more energetic. Any other things I need to be working on?

I'm very happy to have found this group. I find that in "typical" weight loss forums there is a condescending tone toward anyone who has decided that bariatric surgery is a tool they need to make the changes necessary to live long and healthy.

Thanks for any advice you've got. I'll take it all! :-)

klj748

Hey-I think what you're doing is great! I took a similar approach. Things I would have done that I didn't do prior to surgery-I would have focused on not eating and drinking at meals. Drink at least 30mins before or after you eat. Start to train myself to not chug water. I really miss that! lol Are you doing sublingual or vitamin B12 injections? Start those now along with your multi-vitamin. Also, add iron if you are low it takes about 3 months to really raise blood levels.

Beyond that and what you're doing now-it's hard to say how to best prepare physically for this major life change before you begin the preop diet. I think eating with the sleeve postop is something you just have to get used to when it comes. It's a bit different for everyone and it can even be different for you different days in terms of food tolerances. Do you know what type of postop diet your nutritionist recommends for you? Some do more of a balanced diet with high protein others do more of a lower carb diet (I've seen 100g, 40g, and 25g carb limit, 30g fat limit, 60+protein) . You may want to consider focusing now on eating a diet in a similar composition to what your nutritionist recommends for postop after you've transited to solid foods.

I find that with the sleeve as a tool making these changes haven't been nearly as hard as it was when I was prepping preop. Part of it may have been because I'd already made major efforts at the lifestyle change but another major part of it was I didn't have any hunger or food craves to go up against.

I think a big part of prepping of surgery and the lifestyle change is mental and emotional. I think you should be thinking about those things. Focus on seeing yourself at a normal weight and believing you can do what it takes to get there. Think about how your weight loss may effect other areas of your life especially your relationships. Prepare your loved ones for the change. Develop the emotional resilience now to deal with weight loss stalls. Also, if you have any issues with emotional eating or binge eating work with a psychologist to address it now.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck on your journey!

KimberlyinMN

Don't forget to work on getting your water in too. I'm STILL working on that part. I just seem to "forget".

trinoc

Thank you both!

Water is going to be a big challenge. I drink it now but in big quantities at one sitting. I'm a chemist and we don't keep food items in the lab. We have a drinking fountain in our first aid room. I think I need to start setting a timer and just going and getting a few sips every half hour or so. No way to know what quantity it will be but it's better than nothing!

I've been working through a lot of the emotional eating. It's a big issue with me and with a son serving as a soldier in Afghanistan it has been VERY difficult to find new ways to channel the worry. It used to be finding low calorie things I could munch but that's not a habit I can continue because volume IS an issue. So, I think that I really need to consider that. At work, eating isn't an issue (same as drinking but this time it's a benefit....haha) but at home I need an alternative stress activity. Maybe gardening....or just going for a walk or bike ride. I also think maintaining my food diary will be key. For some reason, seeing it in black and white really affects my willingness to eat it!

I don't know about B-12. I made a note to ask my nutritionist about it. I was also under the impression that I wasn't to take supplemental iron so I'll make sure to ask about that, too! I have noticed that after drastically cutting my carb intake that my cravings and hunger are really better controlled. I'm so eager for those to go away and I can focus on the healthiness of my food and the emotions behind my eating....and make this work for me!

Seeing both of your tickers has been very motivational to me. GREAT work and congratulations to you both!

mandyabraio

Sounds like you have it all under control. Start your vitamins, I lay mine out for all day as I can't take them all at one time, so I will remember to take them. Start trying protein shakes now to see which ones you like the best. I think you will do GREAT!!!