New, no surgery date yet

[susan billow]

I am new here. I have been obese for over half my life. When I was 20, I was 135lbs. Within 6 months, I gained 90lbs. I stayed there for several years but then started gaining again. Over the years, I've gained 125 lbs, 35 of it just recently. I struggle with a sugar addiction. About a month ago, I started the journey for bypass. I don't know what I need to do or where to start.

 

[StephT]

Welcome! I'm glad you found the group. It sounds like you've been carrying this burden for a long time. Have you met with your surgeon or nutritionist yet? What part of the process feels most overwhelming right now?

 

[susan billow]

I've met with a dietician. They would like all these changes at once. Smaller bites, chewing, no drink before or after or during, take my time. And the biggest one, cut sugar out. How do you undo 52 years of habits without help?

 

[StephT]

Every Dr. focuses on something different and when I started my journey, I was given this food plan to follow for the 6 month approval process.

• Record everything consumed (I use the MyFitnessPal app)
• Daily targets; 70-80 grams protein, 40-50 grams carbs, 30-40 grams fats
• Meals should consist of lean meats and non-starchy veggies
• Eliminate - bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereal, high carb fruits, sugar
• Replace one meal a day with a protein shake
• Increase fluid intake to at least 64 ounces/day
• Eliminate soda, juice, carbonated beverages. Limit caffeine.
• No fast food

That day I decided to have one "last meal" before I started the plan. I ate a large pepperoni pizza, a 2 liter bottle of vanilla Coke Zero and red velvet cake - it covered all my required food groups, lol! I began the new food plan the following morning.

It can be overwhelming to think about all the things that need to change and I am an over thinker so I just jumped in. You also don't have to figure out the entire journey today. Just keep going to your appointments, learn as much as you can, and take things one step at a time.

 

[susan billow]

Every Dr. focuses on something different and when I started my journey, I was given this food plan to follow for the 6 month approval process.

• Record everything consumed (I use the MyFitnessPal app)
• Daily targets; 70-80 grams protein, 40-50 grams carbs, 30-40 grams fats
• Meals should consist of lean meats and non-starchy veggies
• Eliminate - bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereal, high carb fruits, sugar
• Replace one meal a day with a protein shake
• Increase fluid intake to at least 64 ounces/day
• Eliminate soda, juice, carbonated beverages. Limit caffeine.
• No fast food

That day I decided to have one "last meal" before I started the plan. I ate a large pepperoni pizza, a 2 liter bottle of vanilla Coke Zero and red velvet cake - it covered all my required food groups, lol! I began the new food plan the following morning.

It can be overwhelming to think about all the things that need to change and I am an over thinker so I just jumped in. You also don't have to figure out the entire journey today. Just keep going to your appointments, learn as much as you can, and take things one step at a time.

Thank you. This helped.