[missdaisy]

Because your life changes so drastically after WLS...no drinking with meals, no pop, chewing food really well, etc...did you try to practice changing behaviors/attitudes before surgery?

The LPN at the info seminar told me that the biggest shock is for patients who continue their old behaviors right up until the day they have surgery and then wake up having to change their whole lives. She recommended starting now and trying to prepare for the changes that must take place. It helps to avoid depression and difficulty. She also recommended beginning some type of exercise even if it's difficult right now.

Have any of you done this? What kinds of things did you do/not do and how much did this influence your feelings and successes post op?

I have not even started trying, except the not drinking thing. I am not able to do it yet, but I will keep trying. I hate not drinking with my meals!!

[Della1977]

I haven't done any of those things because no one suggested that I do, but I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before the surgery and 2 weeks afterwards. So after a month of not eating, I had to chew slowly and do the other stuff. And I almost never drank while am eating even before so I had no trouble with that.

One thing that I knew AFTER my surgery that I wished I knew before, was exercise. If you could try to start some fitness program (even if just walking) you could improve your lung capacity and make your post-op recovery smoother. If you can do it, I highly suggest you do.

Good luck sweety

[jiffypop]

many people live the changes beforehand - i wasn't one of them. however, i'd done SO MUCH in the years before to clean up my eating that it wasn't that big a deal. except for the not drinking with meals. that was hard.

i think the real goal of the pre-surgery change is to start to get a grip on some of the emotional and other head issues that a person might have about food. bottom line, after the surgery, food CANNOT be eaten because you're bored, angry, sad, etc etc etc.

and another thing. after the surgery - the LAST thing i wanted to do was eat. just wasn't hungry. but that's the point, isn't it? but if the 'head hunger' or other emotional issues rear their ugly heads, ya gotta be prepared to deal with them

[Leenie]

I did not practice anything or change before surgery because after surgery it sort of happens automatically. I was on liquids for 3 weeks and then mushies for one week before being able to eat solid foods again, so just the thought of hurting myself was enough to slow me down and keep me aware of what I was doing. Exercise is just starting to happen now after a 50 lbs loss... my body hurt to much before to begin anything.

Like Jiffy said, I have no problem chewing slow but I am still struggling with the head hunger and eating on every emotion, chosing the wrong foods, etc. The band works with the belly.....but not the brain so to speak. I still have those issues.