prepare for Lap-Band surgery
You have decided to have Lap-Band surgery, now what . . . There will be things that your doctor tells can do to prepare for the surgery.
Instructions
1. Mental Preparation
Let's face it, if you are having this surgery, you have always been big and most likely have tried diet after diet that has not worked. You are about to enter into a whole new world - permanent weight loss. This is hard to get your mind around.
If you will follow your doctor's instructions, the weight WILL come off, but you can sabotage it. Try your best to erase all of the frustrations that you have had with food, dieting, body image, etc. that have plagued you for your whole life and believe that this is going to work and you are going to loose weight. See yourself in smaller clothes, fitting into seats at ball games better and all of the things that you want to do, but have not been able to because of your weight.
2. Physical Preparation
Again, your doctor will tell you what to eat before the surgery to insure success, but there are other things you can do to prepare.
1 - Start doing some light exercising (walking, stretching)
2 - Get a haircut/get your hair done. Just another step to the new you!
3 - If you eat out a bunch, try to scale back and eat at home more.
4 - Do what your doctor says!
3. Family/Friend Preparation
Here is where it gets a little tricky. Chances are food is a big part of your relationships now. That is going to have to stop if your surgery is going to be successful. If your family and friends know that you are having the surgery, be frank with them and tell them that food has to stop being the center of all of the things that you do. My biggest problem with this was with my family. As a family, since my mom was such a good cook, we comforted with food. Again, this must stop.
If your family and friends do not know that you are having the surgery, you can just say that you are dieting and will not be able to eat like you used to. Funny that it is easier to tell people that you are going on a diet (usually a temporary solution) than telling them that you are having weight loss surgery (usually a permanent solution).
Having gone through the surgery, I definitely believe that is best to tell family and friends. It might be a little awkward to tell them, but in the end, it will make things much easier.
4. Wardrobe Preparation
Here is the fun part! Before your surgery, buy a pair of pants or dress in a size or two less than you are wearing now. Just a little carrot to dangle in front of yourself.
If you have any clothes that fit, but are a little too big - put them aside so that you will be "forced" to wear clothes that fit.
As crazy as it sounds, one of my goals with my surgery, was that I wanted to be able to go into Walmart and actually buy a pair of pants and a shirt that fit. Go to a store that you generally can't buy clothes in and just look around an say to yourself "I will be back for you very soon".
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