PRE OP Weight loss Mind Games

[Newyearnewme2019 56]

I began my pre-op liquid diet on November 26, 2018. I am scheduled for surgery on 12/12/18.

I knew that I would lose weight during the pre-op stage, but I didn't know it would be such a mind screw. The liquid diet can result in rapid weight loss, and when you begin to see the pounds fall off, you may begin to rethink having surgery. (Well at least this thought did cross my mind). You begin to think, "Wow, I have lost, so many pounds already, maybe I don't need to go through with the surgery." "Maybe I can just stick to a diet plan and keep losing the weight." But just as this thought went through my mind, the parallel thought of, "if you could just watch your diet and loss the weight, why haven't you been able to do so and keep up with it?" This truly a mind screw.

Don't get me wrong I know weight loss surgery is not a miracle. It's a tool to help you reset your lifestyle for weight loss. I am definitely going to continue my preop, and have my surgery, but I that mind screw was something I hadn't prepared myself for.

I asked a few friends that have already had, different forms of bariatric surgery if they felt this way anytime during their preop, and all of them said YES! One of my friends even talked to their surgeon about it, but lucky for them the surgeon knew this was a phase and asked my friend to think it over for a few days before they took any steps to cancel the surgery.

Another friend said a lady in per surgery group had cancelled their surgery for this exact same reason and had to start their 6-month supervised program all over again...twice.

I even found previous VSG patients on YouTube, who stated they felt this way. Has anyone here felt like this?

[BeanieSprouts 171]

I feel like it all gets back to this idea that weight loss surgery is "unnatural" or like "Cheating". My parents asked me the same thing before surgery. Like, "Well you've lost 30 pounds before, why can't you do it without surgery?". I told them how I look at it is this: When I was the lowest point in my depression, I couldn't bring myself to get up and shower, eat, or do much of anything. If I hadn't reached out for help, I'm sure at SOME point I would have made myself get up and shower. Or eat. Generally act like I wasn't depressed. But I needed help, and I made the doctor's appointments to get myself the help I needed.

When I reached my highest weight, I realized I couldn't walk around like I normally could, that my back hurt all the time, that I would get shakes for no reason at all. I realized that, yes, I could possibly go on a diet and lose some weight. I could act like I would stick to a diet plan and lose the weight. But I needed help, and I made the doctor's appointments to get myself the help I needed.

Both appointments changed my life, but knowing that I was beyond the "quick fixes" everyone always suggests was the turning point for me. I could have gone on Atkin's again. I could have just watched Ghost Adventures and tried not to be depressed. But admitting I needed something beyond what I could physically do was the turning point!

the Pre-op diet is hard! You got this!

[Healthy_life 1,437]

2 hours ago, Newyearnewme2019 said:

I began my pre-op liquid diet on November 26, 2018. I am scheduled for surgery on 12/12/18.

I knew that I would lose weight during the pre-op stage, but I didn't know it would be such a mind screw. The liquid diet can result in rapid weight loss, and when you begin to see the pounds fall off, you may begin to rethink having surgery. (Well at least this thought did cross my mind). You begin to think, "Wow, I have lost, so many pounds already, maybe I don't need to go through with the surgery." "Maybe I can just stick to a diet plan and keep losing the weight." But just as this thought went through my mind, the parallel thought of, "if you could just watch your diet and loss the weight, why haven't you been able to do so and keep up with it?" This truly a mind screw.

Don't get me wrong I know weight loss surgery is not a miracle. It's a tool to help you reset your lifestyle for weight loss. I am definitely going to continue my preop, and have my surgery, but I that mind screw was something I hadn't prepared myself for.

I asked a few friends that have already had, different forms of bariatric surgery if they felt this way anytime during their preop, and all of them said YES! One of my friends even talked to their surgeon about it, but lucky for them the surgeon knew this was a phase and asked my friend to think it over for a few days before they took any steps to cancel the surgery.

Another friend said a lady in per surgery group had cancelled their surgery for this exact same reason and had to start their 6-month supervised program all over again...twice.

I even found previous VSG patients on YouTube, who stated they felt this way. Has anyone here felt like this?

It's a big decision to have surgery. I think most of us second guessed and questioned our decision. If I could do it on my own and keep it off I would have. I have lost and regained many times. I needed something long term.

[Jazzy1125 1,010]

I did not think about it in this way, but I did think about it in a sense of I already have the food plan from the surgeons office, what if I could do the surgery food plan without the surgery it would accomplish the same thing.. Then my mind wandered to.. I wonder if anybody has ever tried it.. and then to.. Naw.. if they were successful it would be known out there and surgeries would be on the decrease not the increase.. and then I proceeded to continue my journey to have the surgery done. I will be a month post op in 5 days!

[Hrsnjs 267]

I did not think about it in this way, but I did think about it in a sense of I already have the food plan from the surgeons office, what if I could do the surgery food plan without the surgery it would accomplish the same thing.. Then my mind wandered to.. I wonder if anybody has ever tried it.. and then to.. Naw.. if they were successful it would be known out there and surgeries would be on the decrease not the increase.. and then I proceeded to continue my journey to have the surgery done. [emoji4] I will be a month post op in 5 days!

I thought the same thing! But honestly I'd be starving without the restriction of my sleeve. I'm lucky in that I have no physical hunger. Just head hunger and in the mornings I feel empty. Or hollow. Best I can describe it. I think we all wonder "what if...?"

Sent from my Pixel 3 using BariatricPal mobile app

[Jazzy1125 1,010]

1 minute ago, Hrsnjs said:

I thought the same thing! But honestly I'd be starving without the restriction of my sleeve. I'm lucky in that I have no physical hunger. Just head hunger and in the mornings I feel empty. Or hollow. Best I can describe it. I think we all wonder "what if...?"

Sent from my Pixel 3 using BariatricPal mobile app

True.. I have started to drink a 16 ounce Water on the way to work.. before my coffee and Breakfast. It has really helped get my liquids in earlier and feel full. Sometimes that water is a Protein water.. and then I have Protein Shake in my coffee.. all before I attempt to eat that egg, or 2oz of yogurt or cottage cheese LOL I cannot wait till next week I can add in pancakes.. low carb ones, with Protein Powder added.. silver dollar size is what I will be able to handle I am sure..