Originally Posted by
tinman
I appreciate what you are saying, but, at five years, I know that the rules are are not rules. They are, at best, loose guidelines. Since we are all different, there shouldn't be a "one size fits all" approach on how to prepare for the sleeve and how to live with it post op. The best example I can give to validate what I just typed is that many surgeons do not advocate the pre op diet and many do. Many surgeons advocate a low carb diet and many don't. Many advocate that you shouldn't eat solid foods for 3-6 months and many advocate that you eat what you can when you can. Many advocate that you shouldn't drink for at least a year and many don't have any restrictions.
My point is this, the quicker each of us learns that we are in charge of our trip, and not a surgeon or NIT....errr.....NUT, the quicker we become independent of their regimented thinking and quit being sheeple. I don't expect any newly sleeved person to buy completely into this thinking right off the bat. I know I didn't. But, over the course of time, I became aware that I was ultimately the one who had to be accountable for my results. Not a surgeon and not a NIT.
I count going to Mexico as the biggest asset I received. I realized very early on that I had no support system post op. My surgeon was 2000 miles away. It was then that I resolved to take charge of my trip and be accountable for the results. That's why I preach:
Make a plan
Work the plan
Own the results
Change as necessary
My point to responding to your posts is to illuminate that there are as many ways of doing this as there are people on God's little green earth. I do not advocate dieting in any form. I sucked at dieting, you sucked at dieting, and everyone on here sucks at dieting. When I discovered that I didn't have to "diet", that opened up the world for me. I just want everyone on here to know that you don't have to suffer for any success post op.
The fact that you mention that there is a mental aspect to following some set of rules that isn't tailored made just for you goes to illustrate my point very nicely. My rants and drivel on here are all pointed to not following the rules verbatim. Find the rules that work for you and use them. Then, make up other rules that serve you well and help you achieve your goals. The one size fits all approach may very well work wonders for you. It doesn't for most though. This board is littered with the carcasses of those who beat their heads against the one size fits all wall and came away bruised and defeated.
Instead of being invested in rules, be invested in taking charge of your very own trip and own the results. You have a life time to find the right combination of the four pillars. Once you find them, you'll lose fast and the weight will stay off.
Peace.
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