Which behavioral topic was most helpful pre-op?

[GenJones 15]

I'm wading through all the requirements of my surgeon's program and the time has come for a behavioral topics class. I'm supposed to take at least one class pre-op and catch up on the rest either pre or post op. There are six classes in all:

- Stress Management

- Self-image & Self-esteem

- Mindset & Motivation

- Eating Patterns & Behaviors

- Emotional Eating

- Changes in Social Dynamics

From what you all have been through, which one (or more) of these topics do you think would be most helpful to someone pre-op and in the first month post-op?

Thanks!

Edited July 14, 2017 by GenJones

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

My program did not have those classes. They sound very helpful. I would say.

Stress Management - if you are an emotional eater and you can no long self soothe with food, you are going to need to learn stress management. Or if you have a drink to relax.

Emotional Eating - See above

Self image and Self Esteem - This is what I personally had the most issues with and I was a confident plus size woman but no longer being plus sized after 20 years of being plus sized was a huge shift for me that I was no prepared for at all. I thought it was would awesome and fun and enjoyable but instead it was a huge crisis.

Changes in social dynamics - This didn't apply to me because where I live, I live alone with no friends near by but if I lived near friends or family it would have been an issue. I see it being an issue for a lot of people. They have made a major life change but they try to resume their old life and keep things going like nothing happened. That seems to mostly have pretty poor results.

Good luck! seems like you have a good program. Report back about the classes and if they help you.

[GenJones 15]

Thanks for that answer - it gives me a lot of insight. It's funny, but I think I'm like you were: NOT being plus-sized seems like a dream. Just imagine being able to buy clothes anywhere or fitting into cinema seats with no problems. One can dream, eh? *sigh*

[Berry78 4,261]

I also had no classes, but it would be a toss-up between "mindset and motivation" and "self image".

I have good motivation for the diet, less for exercise, and some serious issues in other motivation-areas of life (like mowing the lawn).

Not sure what happens with self image if/when I get to goal.

[GenJones 15]

I was thinking the self-image class and the one on changing social dynamics seemed like definite post-op topics, if only because they both deal with changes in weight, but I may be wrong.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

15 hours ago, GenJones said:

Thanks for that answer - it gives me a lot of insight. It's funny, but I think I'm like you were: NOT being plus-sized seems like a dream. Just imagine being able to buy clothes anywhere or fitting into cinema seats with no problems. One can dream, eh? *sigh*

I mean it is really fun to be able to shop anywhere. Like on vacation this summer I bought a one size fits all skirt from a festival and it fit me fine, and I didn't even try it on before I bought it. I just got a cute little peasant skirt. That was a really fun purchase.

When you are plus size you have a few stores to shop at and the sizing and cuts are all pretty similar and standardized. The variations in normal sizes are really maddening. I used to be able to just look at clothes and know they would fit and I don't normally have that luxury anymore. I almost always have to try things on. Recently like in the past 2 months I have got to the point I can look at things and know if they will fit and now I have enough brands I know well.

Also rapidly changing sizes made me crazy. Something would fit one week and not the next. I lived with 18 months of constant changes and flux. It creates a lot of instability.

It isn't fun while changing, but once you get stable it is a lot of fun.

[Apple1 2,572]

13 minutes ago, OutsideMatchInside said:

The variations in normal sizes are really maddening.

This two time over!!!!

Depending on brand I am either a L, XL, or 2X. I tried to order some tank tops online and went by their sizing charts and what some reviewers had said.... big fail. I was trying to save a little money and time, but I have learned you have to try everything on.

[Apple1 2,572]

For me I think eating patterns and behaviors would be a good pre-op class. Many times we don't even realize how we are eating until we consciously think about it.

Second would be mindset and motivation. I think when the going gets rough we will need this to help remember why we had the surgery, and also to set small attainable goals to keep us moving.

[GenJones 15]

4 hours ago, Apple1 said:

Second would be mindset and motivation. I think when the going gets rough we will need this to help remember why we had the surgery, and also to set small attainable goals to keep us moving.

I hadn't thought about motivation like that, but you're probably right. (And I can see those first few months being a rough time, indeed.)