So your gonna have/just had WLS, or want WLS read this! - ThinnerTimes

bridgetgirl · 03-21-2007, 12:22 AM

After Weight Loss Surgery -- Tips
1. Buy a good thermos type container to carry your water. You will find that you need to sip on water all the
time!! If you don't, you will get dehydrated, fast! Bad news!

2. Don't go out and buy an entire new wardrobe as you are losing weight. The weight will generally come off
pretty fast. You will find that the size you wore 3 wks ago, does not fit anymore! Look for bargains at "thrift
shops" and clothing exchanges w/ other WLS patients that are post op.

3. Don't force yourself to take that "extra bite" no matter how good it tastes! You will "pay" for it, later by
feeling sick. Also, you don't want to stretch your new pouch! Try only one new food at a time, so that you can find if it agrees w/ you. Later on, you will be able to eat
foods that you can't eat when you are newly post op. What does not agree w/ you today, may agree w/ you 2
months from now!

4. Use lots of pillows when you come home from the hospital, when you are laying in bed. Use them to brace
yourself around the area of your incision.

5. Don't lift anything over ten pounds (ck w/ your surgeon) for at least 3 months post op, unless you want to bea good candidate for a incisional hernia.

6. Walk!!! even when you don't feel like it.

7. Don't compare your weight loss to someone else's. Everyone is different. Doing this can discourage you if
the other person is losing faster.

8. Don't weigh yourself daily! Once a week or more is best. Weigh at the same time of day w/ about the same
amt of clothing on each time that you jump on the scales.

9. Work yourself up to where you drink about 64 oz of water or other zero calorie liquids a day. It helps w/
weight loss and keeps you from getting dehydrated, too. Remember, in the beginning...sip, sip, sip! Don't gulp!
(ck w/ your surgeon).

10. Don't be surprised if you start losing some hair around 3 months post op. This is pretty normal and it
generally starts to come back around 9 months post op.

11. Learn the difference between "head hunger" (thinking you want to eat when you aren't really hungry) and
"real hunger." Learning the difference will help make you long term weight loss much more successful.

12. Drinking water will help you not get hungry.

13. There will be times when your pouch "acts up" and it feels irritated. A good tip is to go back to eating
bland tasting foods til the feeling passes. (low fat chicken broth, water, Boost Plus for protein and other
nutrients, and items w/o any spices in them.) Foods like mashed potatoes and pureed foods are good, too. (ck
w/ surgeon before doing this).

14. Take your VITAMINS EVERY DAY. Very, very important to your well being.

15. Don't miss your appointments w/ your surgeon for follow up visits. That is the only way that he/she can tell
how you are doing!

16. Expect for your brain to play "follow up!" for a while w/ your body. At first, it is generally very difficult to
comprehend that it is REALLY YOU looking back at you in the mirror, post op. The weight comes off so fast
that it is hard to keep up w/ it.

17. Don't be afraid to seek counseling for insights, and help w/ your continued successful weight loss. Try to
pick a therapist that is familiar w/ "eating disorders."... and knows how to treat them. (Over Eaters Anonymous
is free and offers ongoing support in weight loss and even afterwards, so that you are successful in keeping the
weight off).

18. Talk w/ a dietician about the kinds of foods you should be eating now that you are post op. If you can't
find a dietician, research it on the internet. Remember, this is a life long committment to learning how to eat
right and nutritiously!

19. Exercise

20. Sip, sip, sip that water!!!

21. Don't have unrealistic expectations for yourself as far as setting a date when you will have lost a certain
amt of weight, or when you will be "back to your old self" as far as energy level is concerned. This is the time
to take care of yourself. You just went thru MAJOR SURGERY. It takes lots of time to bounce back!!

22. Join an online support group of others that have had gastric bypass surgery. This can help you when you
have questions, concerns or just need someone that understands when you need to talk!

23. Be cautious w/ your choices, attitudes, after a major weight loss. Often people that have lost a major amt
of weight, make lifestyle changes that are not always in their best interest at that particular time! If you have
problems and want/need to make a major change, seek out a good therapist and talk it out before doing
anything about it.

24. Learn to substitue other positive things in your life when you feel like eating, later on after you have lost all
your weight. Eventually, most are able to consume more food and it is at that time that we generally need to
incorporate things such as exercise, journaling our feelings, writing down what we eat each day, talking to a
friend, or just plain...getting out and away from the food that is "calling our name!"....like before.

25. Remember that this is a MAJOR LIFESTYLE CHANGE. Starting w/ learning a new way of eating all the
way to exercising daily, etc.....it takes time to integrate all these changes in to your life, so don't get upset,
depressed about it. You will be able to do it. It just TAKES TIME.

26. Depression often is a very normal part of the post operative experience around the end of the first or second
month, post op. Remember that it will pass. If it does not, talk to someone about it, especially a physician that
is skilled in assessing whether you need further evaluation and treatment for the depression. Don't go it alone!

27. If you have problems post op that won't go away, call your surgeon and ask him/her if it is normal to feel
that way! Don't wait a long time expecting it to pass. Better safe, than sorry! The doctor's expect the post op
patient to have questions after surgery so don't be shy! Call!

28. Do your best to take it all "one day at a time" w/ a positive attitude and remember: THIS TOO SHALL
PASS...no matter how badly you feel at that particular moment!

29. Go easy on yourself. Remember, you just had major surgery! Baby yourself. You deserve it.

30. Let others do for you. Don't be afraid to ask.
BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR NEW LIFE!!

Dave in NY · 03-21-2007, 07:36 AM

Bridget,

That is so well written. Congradulations. I would love to share this with my bariatric clinic with your permission.

watergirl · 03-21-2007, 07:51 AM

Yup, that about sums it up!

Thanks for the tips!

rivercanyon · 03-21-2007, 08:32 AM

Very good list of tips Bridget!!!!!

Thanks

mauldinmama · 03-21-2007, 08:44 AM

Thank you so much for posting this...it is such great info as I hope to get date soon!

LyndasRoom · 03-21-2007, 09:16 AM

Good to remember for everyone! Thanks so much for posting it Bridget!

ceekerr · 03-21-2007, 04:46 PM

Your list of do's and don'ts is great. Thanks so much for posting it.

bridgetgirl · 03-21-2007, 06:47 PM

Your welcome, and anyone can use this and share with as many people as they like!

BlondeCAgirl · 03-21-2007, 08:04 PM

Oh that's just what I needed to read. It's like a refresher course. Ir's all true! It seems to be a little easier to stray off the path as time gos by. Thanks for a healy reminder Bridget

I'll go sip sip sip some water

MiladyB · 03-22-2007, 04:26 AM

Thank you for posting these, Bridget.

I printed a bunch of them off to take to my support group meeting tonight.