It was required that if I smoked or consumed alcohol to stop. I also quit all carbonated beverages, including diet and regular soda 4 months before. Best thing I ever did. I also experimented with various protein drinks

I had to start seeing an eating counselor, but since I was already doing that, it wasn't new to me. I highly recommend that support starts prior to surgery since getting your head in the right place is part of the process. Pre-surgery support groups are also a good option.

Consume high protein foods, start post surgical diet. The more protein, the faster you heal, the healthier your liver becomes, The more weight you drop presume grey,the bigger your total loss will be

Most of the people who answered your question have spoken about their 'physical' prep. My 'wish' is mental prep. As I approach 200 pounds lost, I wish I had pictures of me before my surgery - I'm talking my past 30 years. I had been overweight most of my life, and in that 30 years, I have destroyed most of the photographs ever taken of me

Bariatric surgery, as it is today, is about 10 years old - give or take a few years. I spent years riding the roller coaster of weight loss with no luck. I was depressed and seeing a picture of me made it worse, so I destroyed it.

Now after my surgery, I have no visual remider of my obese past and I wish I did. I feel and see the weight loss total - my ticker below reminds me daily, my doctors applaud me, my family reminds me of the past. But visually, I have no reminders that I can use to keep me 'in check.'

So to answer your question - take photographs of your journey to good health, Find and keep those 'before' pictures. I don't plan on 'falling off the wagon' - ever, but if I did, those pictures may have been that visual reminder of exactly how I looked and felt - a powerful, visual admonition that could 'shock' me back to reality.

Christine

Everything everyone else said, but I'd add that I wish I had practiced "sipping" throughout the day, and taking smaller bites before surgery. It was hardest to get used to not gulping water (after surgery if you still have that habit it can be really uncomfortable). Especially if you're at the end of your day and realize you're a cup or two short on your liquids - you want to drink it quickly but you can't. For smaller bites - go buy yourself a set of baby food spoons/forks for right after surgery. When they say "small" bites at first, they mean EXTREMELY small.

There is lots of great advice here. I'm just short of being a month out from surgery and I can honestly say I had no idea what to expect. I read and prepared myself the best I could, but I had no idea how psychologically challenging this process would be. I started the no starch, no carbonated, no caffeine, no sugar diet about 3 months prior to surgery, but I wish I would've practiced sipping water/fluids, eating smaller bites, and taking my time while eating. Don't be too hard on yourself after surgery, but stick to the program. Be sure to get those 64oz of fluid in. It's way harder now than I thought it would be.

i wish i would have practiced eating slower and smaller bites also to chew way more than usual im almost 2 weeks post op and haven't had any troubles except the first time i had oatmeal i didn't make it soupy enough and it got stuck after about a half hour to an hour of pains it finally slipped through good luck