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Blog
Preparing for Success: What to Expect Before Bariatric Surgery
Sep
Starting your weight loss surgery journey can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re excited to team up with Tash Jarrett, she’ll be sharing a series of blog posts based on her own experience with weight loss surgery, offering helpful tips to guide you on your journey.
Tash Jarrett brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Bariatric Support Australia Facebook group admin with over 60,000 members. Read on to discover how Tash prepared for success before her bariatric surgery. Find more information about her personal journey here.
So, you’ve taken the leap and decided that bariatric surgery is the right path for you. You’ve got your surgeon picked out and a whole team of healthcare pros backing you up. Now what? Well, that’s where I come in. This is what to expect before bariatric surgery from a lived experience perspective.
While everyone’s journey is unique, and yours will definitely be too, I’m here to share my experience and all the tips n tricks I’ve learnt in the 6 years since my RNY gastric bypass surgery and 16 years since my lap band. And hopefully, answer some of your burning questions along the way.
The pre-op stage of bariatric surgery is arguably the most difficult. Research, research and more research with a side of worry. This was me for the few weeks leading up to the big day. It makes sense though, right? This is a big decision, a turning point for your health. It’s a little overwhelming for sure but remember, knowledge is power! I wanted to get ready not just physically but mentally too.
Online Communities
Diving into online communities was my first move. It was amazing to connect with people going through a similar experience. I felt less alone, and it became a big part of my journey. Such a big part, in fact, that when I was invited to join the admin team for Bariatric Support Australia on Facebook, I jumped at the chance, and now they have over 60K members in their main group and thousands more in their smaller groups (don’t mind the shameless plug, the group is amazing!)
Knowing how supportive the online community was, I started digging around on other social media platforms. I stumbled upon an entire world of creators openly sharing their experiences with bariatric surgery. It felt incredible to find these accounts talking about the feelings I was going through – the excitement, the fears, the rollercoaster. But also, people who were 1, 6 even 12 months post-op that I would use as inspiration. These creators often mention terms like VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) or WLS (weight loss surgery) in their bios. So, if you are looking for similar accounts, those are some great terms to search for!
Pre-Op Diet
My excitement about the surgery came to a halt when I learnt about my pre-op diet. My surgeon told me that I was to be on a Very Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD) for the 4 weeks leading up to my surgery (now often referred to as VLED or Very Low Energy Diet.) It consisted of 2 VLCD shakes/soups a day alongside one meal with two cups of low-carb veggies and a tablespoon of oil. As a self-proclaimed foodie, that sounded about as appealing as a blank recipe book. But I knew I had to do it. This was my chance to prepare my body for the surgery and to lay down a strong foundation for my new life to be built upon.
Not only was social media amazing for connecting me with like-minded people, but when it came to getting creative with low-carb veggies, Pinterest became my new best friend. Let’s face it, there are only so many ways I could get excited over two cups of broccoli. Pinterest, though? It was like a magic portal to veggie inspiration! I would simply search “veggies” or “vegetables” and bam! A whole world of recipes unfolded. Sauteed, roasted, steamed, air-fried – you name it, Pinterest had a way of turning those humble veggies into something delicious. One of my favourite recipes I discovered was cauliflower curried rice, it was my go-to! It did make me a little, ok maybe a lot gassy, but it was worth it.
A helpful tip I learnt along the way was how to make the VLCD shakes, well let’s say, more edible. I would add A LOT of ice and more water than recommended and wizz it up in the blender. It would come out like a frappe consistency which was so much more enjoyable (if only it tasted like one too.) But my ultimate favourite way to eat them was by mixing them with less water and popping them in the fridge for about half an hour. If you close your eyes, it’s like eating a yogo! And, having it like this meant I was actually able to chew my food which I was so thankful for.
Mental Preparation
I must say, the most difficult thing about this stage is the mental strain. Going from your regular eating habits to such a small amount each day can be hard. Very hard. There is no sugarcoating it, (even though I wish we could) and I found it to be a battle every single day. That’s why it’s super important to prepare yourself, as much as you can, for the big change that’s incoming. Sticking to my pre-op diet diligently meant that I had a successful, safe surgery and a smooth recovery. I knew I had to lay the groundwork for a positive outcome and let me tell you, it paid off!
With love,
Tash x
Read “The Stages of Bariatric Surgery and How to Prepare for Them – From Lived Experience” by Tash Jarret here.
