Pre-op advice from a PostOp'er

[KellyMarie8288 29]

Hello!
I'm 4 weeks post op and thought I would come back here to share what I have learned over the last 4 weeks.
My experience since surgery has been nothing short of incredible. I'm not speaking in terms of massive weight loss, but my energy, focus, well-being, mental clarity, and state of mind. The weight loss is a bonus.
Looking back on my 8 month journey to the OR, I realized that the most crucial piece of advice I received came from the most unlikely of individuals on my path, the psychologist who did my psyche evaluation.
She told me that the single best thing I could do for my recovery in the time before my surgery was to practice hitting my program Protein and fluid goals before surgery and to practice liquid Meal Replacement.
I had more time than expected between this appointment and surgery (5 months versus 8 weeks due to multiple delays and reschedules), but I kept on doing this. I started by replacing Breakfast with my Protein Shake and monitoring my Water intake. I eventually worked up to hitting 70-90 grams of Protein daily and my minimum 90 ounces of Water. I still ate, but only after I was at my minimum protein goal.
It wasn't an doctors order, it wasn't required, but I took her advice to heart and it has paid off in droves.
Within days of my VSG, I was well on my way to hitting my goals again, with little head hunger or emotional discomfort with a liquid diet. I wasn't stressed or had any 'buyers remorse'.
This is one small thing you can do for yourself on the way to make the lifestyle change a smooth transition. Best of luck!
Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

[Jnfinney 521]

25 minutes ago, KellyMarie8288 said:

Hello!

I'm 4 weeks post op and thought I would come back here to share what I have learned over the last 4 weeks.

My experience since surgery has been nothing short of incredible. I'm not speaking in terms of massive weight loss, but my energy, focus, well-being, mental clarity, and state of mind. The weight loss is a bonus.

Looking back on my 8 month journey to the OR, I realized that the most crucial piece of advice I received came from the most unlikely of individuals on my path, the psychologist who did my psyche evaluation.

She told me that the single best thing I could do for my recovery in the time before my surgery was to practice hitting my program Protein and fluid goals before surgery and to practice liquid Meal Replacement.

I had more time than expected between this appointment and surgery (5 months versus 8 weeks due to multiple delays and reschedules), but I kept on doing this. I started by replacing Breakfast with my Protein Shake and monitoring my Water intake. I eventually worked up to hitting 70-90 grams of Protein daily and my minimum 90 ounces of Water. I still ate, but only after I was at my minimum protein goal.

It was an doctors order, it wasn't required, but I took her advice to heart and it has paid off in droves.

Within days of my VSG, I was well on my way to hitting my goals again, with little head hunger or emotional discomfort with a liquid diet. I wasn't stressed or had any 'buyers remorse'.

This is one small thing you can do for yourself on the way to make the lifestyle change a smooth transition. Best of luck!

Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

This is really insightful, thank you for sharing! I am 2 weeks away from my pre-op liquid diet and am graduating myself to that point, so I also started replacing Breakfast with a shake and this coming week I’ll be replacing breakfast and lunch. I like the idea of hitting your protein goal before you eat anything!

[Pilot my best self 51]

On 2/18/2021 at 2:11 PM, STLoser said:

I always KNEW it wasn't my fault I couldn't lose weight successfully. Over the years I picked up so many healthy eating habits that stuck with me, and ate healthier than most people I know, and still was fatter than all of them. I still saw myself as a failure for never being able to lose weight and keep it off. The surgeon who took out my gallbladder recommended wls to me and I'll never forget him saying it is almost impossible for someone, especially the bigger they are, to lose weight and keep it off, and surgery resets all of that. His words were so validating. I had considered wls for years but never seriously until he said that to me. I made my appt. with a bariatric surgeon that day. It's so different now that I've had surgery. I actually see results for my efforts and I couldn't be happier.
It really upsets me when I see articles that tell people that weight it basically all within our control, because it really is not.
I'm not staying our habits don't have anything to do with it, because they do, but it's so much more complicated than that.

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for this great suggestion. I heard the same from my behavioral health too but am really struggling to get my Water even above 40 oz. this was great motivation. I’ll keep trying and just make that my focus (my Protein is quite high).

[Pilot my best self 51]

On 2/14/2021 at 9:53 AM, KellyMarie8288 said:

Hello!
I'm 4 weeks post op and thought I would come back here to share what I have learned over the last 4 weeks.
My experience since surgery has been nothing short of incredible. I'm not speaking in terms of massive weight loss, but my energy, focus, well-being, mental clarity, and state of mind. The weight loss is a bonus.
Looking back on my 8 month journey to the OR, I realized that the most crucial piece of advice I received came from the most unlikely of individuals on my path, the psychologist who did my psyche evaluation.
She told me that the single best thing I could do for my recovery in the time before my surgery was to practice hitting my program Protein and fluid goals before surgery and to practice liquid Meal Replacement.
I had more time than expected between this appointment and surgery (5 months versus 8 weeks due to multiple delays and reschedules), but I kept on doing this. I started by replacing Breakfast with my Protein Shake and monitoring my Water intake. I eventually worked up to hitting 70-90 grams of Protein daily and my minimum 90 ounces of Water. I still ate, but only after I was at my minimum Protein goal.
It wasn't an doctors order, it wasn't required, but I took her advice to heart and it has paid off in droves.
Within days of my VSG, I was well on my way to hitting my goals again, with little head hunger or emotional discomfort with a liquid diet. I wasn't stressed or had any 'buyers remorse'.
This is one small thing you can do for yourself on the way to make the lifestyle change a smooth transition. Best of luck!
Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

Getting used to this site so sorry for quote error.

Thanks for this great suggestion. I heard the same from my behavioral health too but am really struggling to get my Water even above 40 oz. your post is great motivation. I’ll keep trying and just make that my focus (my Protein is quite high and not an issue).