New to all of this! Help, and pointers!

[Ashley88 1]

Hello everyone I am new to this entire process, I am going to visit will a surgeon tomorrow for the first time, I’m honestly so scared. This is something I have been in denial about for a very long time. This past month I have been trying to start a diet, key word there trying.. I just can’t find what words for me. I also have 2 children, I’m a single mom, I have sat them down and explained this new chapter in our home of learning to eat better, they kind of understand and kind of don’t. So to bother everyone will this stuff. Just looking for motivation and some diet ideas. New friend.

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

Welcome to the boards. This is a very friendly and supportive community with all different experiences. Ask away and I'm sure someone will have some advice!

[Myaiku_Kuraitani 245]

I honestly don't have any experience with children but if the diet is involving your family, maybe involve healthy foods that you know the children will eat. Maybe make big casseroles in advance involving said healthy foods and portion them out. Instead of white bread, use whole wheat/whole grain. Instead of frying food, bake it. Get lean Proteins.< br>
I'm pretty sure the surgeon or the nutritionist you may see there will give you tons of information and what to eat and what not to eat. Just take everything one step at a time. I personally dove in head first and just did everything the entire 5 months I went through the process.

I did goof off a few times though, I will be honest.

Despite having children, you got this. There are many people on here who had kids during the process and got the hang of everything along the way and you will too. 🙂

Hw-273
Sw-226
CW-124
GW-130
Size- 2, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made.
Bra Size- 34C

Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017
RNY
"Only those who try will become" FFX

[Ashley88 1]

Thank you so much this truly means so much!

[Rainbow_Warrior 996]

1 hour ago, Ashley88 said:

our home of learning to eat better

Someone else has already begun on meals and cooking pointers.

You will do a great job if you improve the quality of the food you are putting into your kids. Their long term (i.e. life health) picture will improve as you fix your needs and get past your obesity.

You, as (single) parent, are leader of this family unit.

Can I say my favourite advice is "COOK WITH YOUR KIDS". My daughter has four of her five kids (the ones aged from 12+ down to nearly 7yo) all involved in food preparation several times per week.

Kids, even ones who have been on convenience style foods and packaged/reheated foods will still eat (IN MOST CASES) what they help prepare.

[Brittbrat 27]

No advice here really unless you want suggestions on things I cook for myself that ate simple. But I just wanted to say I had my surgical consult today so we're super close!

[Ashley88 1]

That you all! I did some more searching and I did find the meals page, I am definitely going to start meal prepping with my kids they will love to help with making dinner!

We definitely are super close it is so nice to find someone that is on the same path!

[Danny Paul 761]

Years ago my sister found my nephews to have high cholesterol they were eight and 12 respectively today they are both in their twenties. She didn't want them on meds at such an early age. Both were on the heavy side. She was determined that her two boys were going to be healthy by eating well. With the help of a nutritionist she went to work. Out went all of the Snacks, sugary foods and soda. In came fruits, Water and things like lean meats and veggies. My sister worked and was a single mom but she was determined to keep her sons healthy. Today they are very healthy and have a lifetime of good eating habits. Prior to my weight loss I would take them out to eat and they always ordered healthy and stayed away from the Desserts. (Since they didn't have any desserts I took theirs.) It's very doable if you stick to the plan.

[Matt Z 4,139]

I can vouch that after the bypass, everyone in my house is eating better. My nutritionist has us use a 5/5 "rule", we are to read the ingredients and if there is any added sugar in any form, it can't be more than 5 grams per serving. And for fats, no more than 5 grams per serving. This alone is helping the rest of my family out, you'd never suspect without checking how much extra added sugar are in things that you'd never guess!

[TakingABreak 2,733]

5 hours ago, Matt Z said:

I can vouch that after the bypass, everyone in my house is eating better. My nutritionist has us use a 5/5 "rule", we are to read the ingredients and if there is any added sugar in any form, it can't be more than 5 grams per serving. And for fats, no more than 5 grams per serving. This alone is helping the rest of my family out, you'd never suspect without checking how much extra added sugar are in things that you'd never guess!

Love that rule!

[TakingABreak 2,733]

21 hours ago, Ashley88 said:

Hello everyone I am new to this entire process, I am going to visit will a surgeon tomorrow for the first time, I’m honestly so scared. This is something I have been in denial about for a very long time. This past month I have been trying to start a diet, key word there trying.. I just can’t find what words for me. I also have 2 children, I’m a single mom, I have sat them down and explained this new chapter in our home of learning to eat better, they kind of understand and kind of don’t. So to bother everyone will this stuff. Just looking for motivation and some diet ideas. New friend.

Here's my top 10 tips!

1. Start altering your diet now. Cut out processed food, or at the very least processed sugar. Practice eating your Protein first and then focus on non-starchy veggies.
2. Find something that you like to drink that doesn't have calories. Try different caffeine free teas and Water additives. I still can't drink plain water....so you want to have something that you know you like.
3. Cut out caffeine. Most programs allow caffeine back in relatively quickly, but caffeine can hinder your body's ability to heal. You don't want to go through caffeine withdrawal along with the aches and pains of surgery.
4. Don't use Protein Shakes before you absolutely have to! I made the mistake of supplementing some of my meals with shakes to "prepare myself" for the pre-op diet. Big mistake. You will get to the point where they are DISGUSTING, and you don't want to increase the timeline of that by drinking them before you need to.
5. Start incorporating exercising (even if its just walking) somewhere in your daily routine. It will make it easier if its already a habit.
6. Practice chewing your food at least 20-30 times before swallowing. Muscle has memory and it will be so much easier if you already have this habit. If you screw up and swallow too soon after surgery, you will pay the price.
7. Set timers and don't drink and eat at the same time.
8. I highly recommend having at least 1 visit with a therapist to establish with someone for after surgery. Its not required, but everyone seems to have some emotional struggles afterwards. Whether its 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years.
9. I personally wouldn't share with people, unless you know they will be 100% supportive. It is nerve wracking already and you need nothing but positivity. Plus its a lot of pressure from people who know you've had WLS, versus people who think you are on the weight loss track. People think that the weight is going to melt off after surgery, and sometimes it doesn't. You don't want the extra judgment. ***Newly added**** I also would remember that you need to make time for you! Make the time to shop healthy, meal prep, cook healthy, and plan ahead. It's not selfish to put yourself and your health first. Don't let people bring you down. Don't engage with the people who say "WLS is too dramatic" "You could just diet and loose the weight" "You aren't big enough for that surgery" "It's the easy way out". SCREW THOSE PEOPLE, they don't know. They will never know how triumphant our victory will be.
10. Come up with a reward system of sorts. You want to acknowledge your successes. For my 50lb mark, I went and got pedicures with my girlfriends. For my 75lb mark, I bought myself some new dresses. For my 100lb mark, (which I haven't reached yet, so I rewarded myself 7lbs early) I already bought myself a really nice full length mirror.

Edited May 24, 2018 by AshAsh1

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

7 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

Here's my top 10 tips!

Brilliant, Ash! Especially #4 for people who have long "liquid only" phases!

[Matt Z 4,139]

To tag onto Ash's #3, Caffeine also binds to Calcium and renders it unusable by your body... so in a situation where calcium intake is important, caffeine needs to be cut or at the very least you need to understand that it's going to attempt to rob you of calcium so you need to ensure you offset.