It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint!

[messy_tess 7]

Hello All,

I'm new to the group but I am about 1/2 to being able to schedule my surgery. Due to my insurance, I am required to attend 4 group classes (medically supervised visits). I have had 2 appointments with my social worker and 1 appointment with my nutritionist. They both say that I look like the perfect candidate.

So, if all goes well, I should be able to have the procedure done in April.

Tell me, in the time that you have to wait for surgery, what are your biggest obstacles? What did you do to stick with it? I currently need to lose 15 pounds (weight that I had gained during the process of buying my first house and a really awful breakup)...and my head keeps saying "oh, you can work out tomorrow"...how did you get around this?

I have set myself a "mini-goal" to run a 5k before surgery...what are some of your goals? I need ideas to help me stay focused!

Thanks so much all!

[MzB 297]

Congratulations on starting this journey. I agree with you, this is a marathon not a sprint, even after surgery. I was partially self pay so I didn't have the pre-surgery wait but I think the following advise is still something I would love to have been told!

Focus on Protein and Water now! It will help with the pre-sugery diet hunger. Also, really try to track your food. Even when you mess up and eat poorly. Put it down! It will help with the choices you make the next day. This is something you REALLY have do after surgery but starting before is a great way to get in good habits now. Tracking what you eat is something you have to commit to! (don't I know it!) Surgery isn't a cure for our weight, it is just a big tool to help us lose it. Someone once called it dieting with bumper lanes (like bowling). You still have to learn how to eat/exercise so you don't NEED the bumper lanes as much. The tracking, getting in your Protein and fluids is really a mental thing you have to work at. Oh, and yes,exercise too, but you will find that easier once you have lost some weight. Hence the "marathon" feeling! All of this can start now.

Maybe it is all the Star Wars stuff I have been seeing, but the following Yoda quote comes to mind...

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

– Yoda

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

When I was preparing for surgery I tried to focus on one goal at a time.

I weaned myself off of carbonation and then weaned myself off of caffeine.

I increased my Water to at least 64 oz a day.

I aimed to exercise 60 minutes a day.

I practiced mindful eating/eating slowly.

I ate more vegetable and fruit/ate more cleanly.

You can do this! April will be here before you know it.

[messy_tess 7]

This is awesome stuff!

I LOVE using My Fitness Pal and Map My Run to track my food and exercise...though I'm not perfect at it. What you said MzB, reaffirms that I MUST do this...I MUST keep on it!

Inner Surfer Girl - yes yes yes - all of those things...working on it...same kind of thing; hearing that you guys are doing that reaffirms that it's something I need to practice on.

I'm feeling so optimistic - stepped on the scale this morning and I have lost about 5 lbs in a week (I'm guessing mostly Water weight, but weight is weight, right??)...and seeing the scale budge is SOOOO motivating!

Thank you so much!!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Pre-op I had been using the Weight Watchers app to track my food so I continued with that per my NUT. But, once I got to post-op I switched to MyFitnessPal because 1) it tracked Protein and macros (and Weight Watchers didn't), 2) it's easy to use, and 3) it's free.

[messy_tess 7]

I love myfitnesspal. When I started trying to lose weight years ago, I could never figure out why I was tired all the time- then when I started using MFP, I realized I wasn't getting nearly enough Protein.

I still struggle with the Protein, but it's getting better.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I love myfitnesspal. When I started trying to lose weight years ago, I could never figure out why I was tired all the time- then when I started using MFP, I realized I wasn't getting nearly enough Protein.

I still struggle with the Protein, but it's getting better.

Protein is vital. If you struggle with it now, then that is something you may want to work on pre-op with your NUT. Getting enough protein and Fluid is absolutely critical post-op.

[messy_tess 7]

I don't disagree with you - which is why I am working at it now, 4 months prior to surgery....