Yup, starting before makes all the difference. I got off coffee first, started taking my bariatric vitamins, and went through a lot of different proteins before I found some I loved. I do NOT drink those canned ones. I started eating half portions to get my head around eating seeing smaller portions on my plate. The food tracker and water reminder are excellent success tools. I have both. Being hydrated for surgery will make recovery easier. Already having a vitamin habit established will make recovery easier. I bought small plates and baby utensils for post op and still to this day use small plates and bowls. Hope this helps!

Yes, the practice before hand is vital! My dietician told me that those who did this for longer periods of time were overall much more successful after surgery than those who only spent a month or so doing it.

My surgical team had me replace one meal with my protein shake, so I could find one that I loved and get used to having it every day. They had me start taking a calcium supplement, as well as the multi every day. Increasing the water and WEIGHING my protein every day as well (and yes, cutting portion size). They also told me to make sure all my meals consisted of mostly protein, then a veggie and only a tiny carb - and to make sure I ate my meal in THAT ORDER every time, because after surgery that's how it would be. Oh and the hardest part?? Stop drinking water while you eat (and for 30 minutes after). Practice that, it's VERY HARD. They had me do ALL this for 6 months prior to surgery. I lost over 30 pounds prior to surgery and another 170 after, and so far have kept it all off for 4 years.

It's not easy to do all of that, but it's much more important that you learn those habits and get used to doing them than worry about drinking coffee or a stray candy bar.

Your surgical team (surgeon, dietician, etc...) should have a plan in place for how to prepare you before surgery. If they haven't given you instructions already, ASK!!!

i'm in the pre-surgery stage too and have also been trying to make changes. it's been a struggle but it's making me realize which habits i have to change or i'll have issues post surgery. i did cut caffeine and sugar from my diet without any issue. i have been focusing on slow eating and not drinking with my meals. my dietician gave me the great suggestion of eating with my non-dominant hand and it has helped alot. My surgeon requires I have only 1,000 calories a day the 2 weeks prior to surgery so I've been working 1 or 2 of these days into my diet now to get a feel for it. it's also helping me with recognizing hunger cues.

I really struggle with drinking liquids during meals. That might be one of if not THE hardest thing to fix. I can chew slowly, I can pause between bites, but not taking at least a tiny sip of water just seems so foreign to me. I was lucky that I didn't have to lose any weight before surgery, I just had to maintain where I was which has been a challenge as well. I have a protein shake for breakfast because that's the easiest meal to "skip" for me. I don't wake up hungry so it takes me awhile to work up to eating so just doing a protein shake or instant breakfast was an easy change.

I've cut caffeine way back, I still have a diet coke here and there but nothing like I was before where I would have a 6 pack a day almost. I've been given the WLS bible from my doctor so I've got a lot of great information to help. It's just hard to break 34 years of bad habits.

Hi There,

I am in the pre-surgery state as well. I had been contemplating this surgery for two years. I finally got the nerve to go talk to my doctor and get the process started in Oct. 2017, It has been a time of breaking bad habits and replacing them with good habits. You know the ones no one tells you about! For me the 30 min to eat a meal along with not drinking for 30 min is the hardest for me. I have found though, if I do sloooowwwww down and take my time eating and not just gobble gobble it all in, I become full and do not want anything else. If I rush through it in 10 -15 mins I am absolutely miserable for the next few hours.

I don't drink my coffee anymore, have been off soda for many years and I quit smoking 3 yrs ago. Changing bad habits to good habits has been hard but it is do able. I am feeling better than I have in a long time, which is motivation to keep on going.

I have been doing the vitamins. I have been trying different protein drinks and fitting them into my daily goals.

I would recommend starting now. Its a journey, but one worth taking.

I'm 6 months post-op and if I could go back and start over, I'd focus on increasing my exercise. My bad eating habits have been taken care of by the surgery....I'm only physically able to eat a fraction of the amount of food I used to eat, and even the thought of fast food/junk food/ carbs makes me feel nauseated. But I haven't been exercising like I should....the surgery hasn't helped me change that. I wish I had started the habit of a better exercise regime.

I am in pre-surgery state as well. I have been changing my diet for a while now I am doing the surgery for medical reasons I have a lot of pain I can't move or bend over my hips are bad and I need back surgery. So the hardest part for this for me has been getting more exercise, but I am still trying. Not drinking with my meals as everybody has stated is very difficult as well. But I have already been trying to do that and drinking some protein shakes eating less food more frequently, lots more protein and vegetables and fruits. I feel like it's been the same with what I have been reading the same struggles as everybody else my biggest struggle is how long from the decision of doing this till you actually get it done and the expense. It takes so long and there are so many Hoops to jump through and so much money put out that sometimes you feel like giving up. I haven't gave up yet as I keep thinking of the money that I've spent and I think of the outcome of what will be.