Preparing for Surgical Weight Loss

After you have made the decision to have surgical weight loss, there are a number of things you should do in preparation of your surgery.  Making a list of those items would be helpful to you as well as comforting in the knowledge that you have done everything in your power to have a smooth road ahead.

Modifying your eating habits is a primary way to prepare for your bariatric surgery.  Additionally, there are many necessary steps you should take to prepare for your surgery and your new life commitment even before your surgery date.

Below are ten things that you can begin doing now to help ensure that you are going to kick ass with your new commitment to a healthier you:

1. Learn about your weight loss surgery.  Research the type of surgery you are having and ask questions of the surgeon and others on blogs that tell of their experience with that type of surgery.
2. Research your insurance policy.  Definitely call your insurance company and ask for the person(s) assigned as your case representative.  Ask them what is your anticipated responsibility of the surgery costs.
3. If you smoke, quite smoking and discontinue use of all tobacco and nicotine products.  Your surgeon may not proceed if you are a smoker or use tobacco products.  Be honest and let him know because it is your health and the best outcome for your surgery if you are honest.
4. Drink adequate amounts of water daily.  Everyone knows that you should drink water and adequate amounts daily, but it is important to drink at least 64 ounces every day.  Did you know that sometimes when you think you are hungry, you are actually thirsty.
5. Begin tracking your food and water.  Writing this information down helps you see where you need to pump up drinking water or eliminating the wrong items in your meals or snacks.
6. Make changes in your diet to include  Let your daily eating consists of 3 regular meals and 1-2 small snacks per day.  Think protein, protein, protein first.  Plan your meals to include fresh and, did I mention, protein first.  Limit high sugar and high carbohydrates.
7. The deed of exercise.  Yes, you will need to start an exercise routine for a number of reasons.  One being that this will greatly increase your weight loss and two, it gets your mind off of focusing on the foods you cannot eat.  Exercise is truly great mentally and physically.
8. Make the solid choice to not gain additional weight.  Your physician will not be happy about you gaining additional weight and starting to change your eating habits now will give you a jump start post surgery.  Making smart choices now will totally enhance your weight loss.
9. Eat to live, not live to eat.  Your relationship with food will need to change.  For example, you will need to eat from a saucer, not a plate, you will need to eat slowly and take smaller bites and recognize when you are thirsty instead of hungry.
10. Focus on why you had the surgery.  Your old eating and drinking habits have to be thrown out the window.  The factors that contributed to your weight must be changed.  Think about things or adventures you have not done before.  Journaling, a new hobby, volunteering are a few things that you can do as you start your new, healthy life.  You showed love yourself by having the surgery, now show ongoing love.