Getting mentally prepared for life with lapband

[Tia1966 0]

Ok, my surgery is next week and I'm having trouble getting mentally prepared for life with the lap band. What did everyone else do? I think I'm having trouble because it is something new that I have never experienced before. I have been researching and preparing for 2 years now, but I need to get really focused like I did when I started so many other diets. Maybe thats it, I failed sooo many times before, that its hard to get over that mind set. I can do this, I will do this!!! I just need advice to help get me focused, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

Love, Tia:wub:

[IwannaBeHappy 0]

I start liquids on monday and am schedualed for surgery on June 29th.

I thought about it the same way you had, the preop apts, paperwork , the unknown was hell for me. it got me thinking well this is just reiculous what am i doing?

what helped is realizing that this is it. This will be great. and not think so much. I have a tendency of overanlyzing everything. sometimes we just have to go through the motions..

a member on here told me that its a rollercoaster ride weare waiting on line for no need to think so much were gettign on! Think that way, clear space in ur mind for all the other things your going to be able to think about and own this.

good luck!

[sarahbellzz14-4 1]

The Only Mental preperations I really did was The liquid diet and learning the ability to say NO. I also found doing the grocery shopping for after my surgery (liquids, puree, etc) was a big help. The night before my surgery, My Fiance had McDonalds, Determined to succeed, I had chinese Soup. Little things like that, Keep yourself hydrated, and Start to figure out if your really hungry or your dehydrated. Stop drinking caffine, Soda, Regular Iced tea, and switch to diet. Caffine free AND STAY AWAY FROM SODA!!!!!! You'll miss it, but After your banded, even when you take 1 sip, you'll regret it, because it hurts!!!!!

[mia_72797 0]

I just got approved and the date is set....june27th... the thing is that i never thought that it would be so soon, i was anticipating the insurance to give me a long list of reasons for not approving, and i got the ok the week after submitting the papers...

the liquid diet seems like a sacrifice... and its difficult to do but i think it will be worth it in the end!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I didn't go into it thinking "diet". I went into it thinking "new life". I was desperate for the appetite control I expected I'd get (and finally did in May of this year). I'd already done the yes/no/yes/no/yes/no of it since I'd wanted the band essentially since 2002! (long wait)

You CAN diet post op; or not. I was more like a kid at Christmas, anxious and over excited and READY!

[NYGirl82 0]

I am scheduled for June 19th and have been on liquids for about 5 days. I couldn't agree more with RestlessMonkey...you have to think about it as not a diet but a life change. Best of luck!

[TopTier 0]

My doctor does his darndest to make sure that we understand this is NOT a diet and it's not a fad.

In his orientation he talks about why we (America) has such a high obesity rate and why it's increased so much over the years.

He talks about how it's because we (Americans) have changed our idea of what "normal" eating is.

Taking McDonald's as an example, when they first hit the scene, the "normal" hamburger "meal" was not even as big back then as the Happy Meal is for kids today.

That was "normal."

Today, quarter-pounders, double-quarter pounders, THOSE are the "normal" meals we see at McDonald's.

Go into any restaurant and the portions we get are huge. Monsterous, if you consider what a "normal" human being should be eating in a day.

So we (modern Americans) have been habituated to a much larger (and life threatening) "normal" than we should be.

What the band does for us is work as a TOOL to help us adjust to a new "normal."

So it is not a diet, it is re-habituating to a more life-sustaining "normal."

He is adamant about eating all the foods we are used to eating, with a few exceptions.

For example, he doesn't like if people try to eat hot dogs without the bun. That's not "normal" and you will always feel you are "dieting."

Eat the hot dog on the bun. You just take smaller bites and chew them really well, and you won't eat as much.

Soon, you will be "habituated" to a new normal. Then you will be able to work with your new tool, your band, so much better!

Best of luck to you! I haven't been banded yet, but I'm trying to keep my doctor's mindset in front of me.

This isn't a "diet," this is a "new normal," and I will love what that "normal" does to me! (at least, I hope so!!)

[sgw1985 0]

I am scheduled for my surgery on June 24th. I hope to make this my new normal. But Day 2 of the pre-op diet was harder for me than I thought. My doctor told me only 3 Protein shakes a day, plus a dinner with only a Protein and green vegetables. So i have decided to have chicken ceaser salad, minus the cheese and the croutons (my favorite part of course!). I will probably be switching this up in the next ten days. What was the pre-op diet your dr. gave you.

Looking froward to hearing from you,

Stacy-

My doctor does his darndest to make sure that we understand this is NOT a diet and it's not a fad.

In his orientation he talks about why we (America) has such a high obesity rate and why it's increased so much over the years.

He talks about how it's because we (Americans) have changed our idea of what "normal" eating is.

Taking McDonald's as an example, when they first hit the scene, the "normal" hamburger "meal" was not even as big back then as the Happy Meal is for kids today.

That was "normal."

Today, quarter-pounders, double-quarter pounders, THOSE are the "normal" meals we see at McDonald's.

Go into any restaurant and the portions we get are huge. Monsterous, if you consider what a "normal" human being should be eating in a day.

So we (modern Americans) have been habituated to a much larger (and life threatening) "normal" than we should be.

What the band does for us is work as a TOOL to help us adjust to a new "normal."

So it is not a diet, it is re-habituating to a more life-sustaining "normal."

He is adamant about eating all the foods we are used to eating, with a few exceptions.

For example, he doesn't like if people try to eat hot dogs without the bun. That's not "normal" and you will always feel you are "dieting."

Eat the hot dog on the bun. You just take smaller bites and chew them really well, and you won't eat as much.

Soon, you will be "habituated" to a new normal. Then you will be able to work with your new tool, your band, so much better!

Best of luck to you! I haven't been banded yet, but I'm trying to keep my doctor's mindset in front of me.

This isn't a "diet," this is a "new normal," and I will love what that "normal" does to me! (at least, I hope so!!)

[TopTier 0]

Well, the pre-op and post-op liquid diets aren't what should be considered the new normal, since those are specific medically required diets for the surgery itself.

It's the period after the surgery and healing that will constitute our new normal.

For pre-op, my doctor gave me a whole list of things I could eat/drink and in what quantities. I start that tomorrow.

They give us a shopping list, too, for each phase.

I also have a daily "check list" for the pre-op phase.

For the pre-op, he has broken down "Liquids that can be taken in any amount," "Liquids in moderation," and "Solid foods."

I'll let you know on Tuesday if it (all the lists and checkboxes) was of any help or not! LOL

[free2beme 0]

I'm scheduled for my surgery on June 23 and I'm looking forward to my new way of life, just trying to keep my eye on the prize. This is day 6 of my liquid pre-op and it's going to be challenging as we're going to a graduation party. It's swimming and cook out. If asked why not eating only drinking I intend to say I'm trying to lose before my sons wedding in Sept. Wish me luck!

[TopTier 0]

Hehe. Tell them you're recouping from a bout with Swine Flu. They'll probably stay away and not ask any more "probing" questions after that!

[sarahbellzz14-4 1]

SGW.... Silly question.... is it a Low Fat caeser salad? b/c the pre-op diet besides the medical reasons to do it, is usually your starting point for your new life with the band, such as going sugar free, doing without caffine and carbonated beverages etc. This way by the time your post op, you've detoxed most of the caffine, sodium and sugars from your body(which is lbs off from the get go).

I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before my surgery, and in that time from switching out "normal" things I lost 8lbs pre-op. Post op so far, I've lost 16.

I've read it on here a few times (and closer to my surg. date had that mentality) that it's my last batch of freedom with real food so I will indulge while I can!. My doc put it this way, There is a reason we're all getting this surgery, and it has to be 100% obvious who the enemy is here, and it's not food, it's our self control over food.

I don't mean to sound rude or like a drill seargent, but if there is such a thing as mental preperation, it starts with change: change of ingredients, Change of mentality towards yourself, and preparing yourself for your limitations and not being angry because you can't have a coca-cola for the next 6 months to eternity. This is your life, your health and your future. So good luck.

[TopTier 0]

With all due respect, I don't like your surgeon's attitude!

At any rate, there is no reason to remove caffeine from your diet. At least that's what my doctor and nutritionist both told me. You can even have soda's if you let them get sit out for a bit and get flat.

Reducing sugar? Sure, but to be honest, everyone should, and High Fructose Corn Syrup is a deal breaker. Everyone, especially kids, should reduce consumption of products with this killer in it.

But the "reason" why many of us are obese is very complex.

Do we need to adjust our mindset? Sure, for lots of reasons and in many ways, but to say we are weak is not only not fair, does not address the complexities of what goes on in the body at the metabolic level to create and maintain an obese person.

It's a shame your doctor felt he had to pull out that tired, and inappropriate, cliche to get the "motivation" going.

[terripardun 0]

You will be fine. I did mine last Tues. did great. Came home right after.(outpatient) A little sore but not to bad. Good luck, Theresa

[sarahbellzz14-4 1]

It's not only HFCS(that stuff is just evil, and it's a shame that it's banned in almost every country but here)..... Glueton, White Sugar, White flour and the extreme amounts of carbohydrates we all consume. It wasn't my surgeon who said it. it was my PCP, who is a cardiologist as well. For some of us it's genetics as well (myself included) As for the soda thing, Unless your drinking Kosher coca-cola, your consuming HFCS, And don't get me wrong, I love my coca-cola, BUT, I took a sip of it the other night of a can that was sitting out for more then an hour, and Thought I was having a heart attack from the gas it caused, and ended up throwing it up. And there are a few posts on here where people have had the same experiences.