It's good to start making changes now, but the truth is you'll lose weight on the pre-op liquid diet and will fully comply after surgery - so don't beat yourself up at this point, you'll be fine. That said, every pound you lose now is one you won't have to lose later.

april731 wrote: »

your pre-op ability to stick to the program does not necessarily predict your potential post-op success.

This is so true! Yes, every change you make prior to surgery will make the post-op lifestyle changes easier, but following the pre-op plan to the "t" or not doesn't affect your success rate.

I didn't have the same pre-op program you did. I had 2 weeks of a pre-op plan with the last 3-4 days liquid only. You will most likely find that your tastes change after surgery and I think that goes a long way towards making these WLSs successful. I have cut out food completely that I know are triggers for me. Some can go back and do the "everything in moderation" route. I can't and I know it. So I just never added those foods back into my life. I don't miss or crave them either. Maybe it's the change in my tastes or maybe it's because it was my decision not to eat them again rather than some plan I was on saying I couldn't have them. Either way, you will probably find that as long as you don't add your trigger foods back in, you probably won't have those cravings.

@JudiMoving2 that's very normal to give in to the "I'm never going to be able to eat this again" fear and cravings. I have found that cravings post-op are way less intense than before. Also, cravings honestly won't kill you.

Here's an example for me: Every couple of weeks I find myself craving chocolate chip cookies (Not coincidentally, it's usually during "that" time of the month). I have tried to substitute them with sugar free/grain free ingredients with rather blah results. I've looked at nutritional information and I just can't justify 50+g of carbs for one cookie (and eating a piece of a cookie just isn't worth it to me either).

So, I just don't eat them. Why not just eat one since it's a rare occurrence? Because that's not how I operate and I know it. I'll eat that one cookie and not be able to stop thinking about it until I eat another one. But, if I just let the craving pass, and it will because I don't feed that sugar beast, it'll be another few weeks before I even think about chocolate chip cookies again. And then I get my Starbucks iced coffee with cream and Splenda and all is right with the world.

Try not to stress too much about this, which, I know, is a lot easier said than done. Some of the greatest gifts surgery has given me, and I hope you will experience something similar, are less feelings of desperation and lack of control when it comes to food. But, like @pawoodhull said, where people seem to get back into those old patterns is reintroducing trigger foods.

You might find too that something else that's 'safe' and on plan satisfies your cravings. Pre surgery, I would have rolled my eyes at the idea that a sugar free fudgecicle would satisfy my sweet cravings, but it seriously does (coupled with a handful of strawberries).

I'm two months out, and save for the odd piece of dark chocolate (100%, fits within my carb/calorie goals for the day), I've been absolutely fine and I was a sugar fiend pre-surgery.

I have had no cravings at all since my surgery in January. I also have a totally different mindset after going through gastric By-Pass. As far as eating prior to, I didn't follow the plan exactly. I left myself some "wiggle room" because I know that I would not be eating most of the things I was eating after surgery. Now, I would not dare touch food that are not on the plan. Looking in the mirror and seeing the results of all my hard work is so much better than the taste of those forbidden foods that got me to the point I was in the first place.

dragonflies6 - One thing you have to your advantage is your husband will be on the journey with you. You and he can support each other 'if' you have a craving for something that might not be on the plan. I'm nearly 3 months out and I haven't had any cravings for foods that don't add value. I was a chip, bread, and pasta girl. I know what my downfall is so I don't buy chips. I know if I bring them home I would eat them craving or not. I have not had any pasta. I am allowed 1/2 slice of whole wheat bread and a serving of 3 saltine crackers. I opted for the crackers because of the shelf life (I hate throwing out food) and I don't like frozen defrosted bread.

Prior to surgery I cleaned the pantry and freezer to remove temptation from the house. If I don't have it I can't eat it. I always eat before I to shopping and I stick to the list. I do walk the chip isle to prove to myself I don't need them. Before going to a restaurant I pull up the menu on line and write down what I'm going to eat. At the restaurant I tell them I don't need a menu I know what I want. That eliminates the tempting pictures that might sway me away from my earlier decision.

Congratulations on your start, you'll do well.