Hi there ☀️

I just asked our patients to share what they wish they knew before coming for their weight loss surgery to Latvia.

Along several "I wish I had done this years ago..." here are four different versions.

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"1. I should have done it sooner 

2. You HAVE to be strict on the no drinking before or after food for at least 30 mins…… or you will regret it

3. Broccoli is no longer my friend 

4. Book airport assistance on the way home. Walking is good, but not that much so soon after surgery

5. If you go for a walk in the woods at the hospital, because it is so beautiful, take mossie spray 

6. Be prepared to feel amazing watching the weight come off and receiving lots of compliments. The health benefits happened quickly and I’m. Im no longer on pain meds or blood pressure tabs.

7. Getting the right vitamins. I have some by spray as my tummy doesn’t like too many tablets.

8. If you are travelling alone don’t worry! Ilva will take the best care of you and you might have someone else there to say hi too.

9. Bring a book, headphones, a long phone charger, ear plugs and for me eye mask. I hate any noise or light when I sleep "

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"Definitely wish I’d done it years ago, changed my life and mental health for the better .  x"

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"I wish I had known that the surgery doesn’t switch off hunger, it just changes it. At first you don’t want to eat, and then slowly "your own" comes back. Sometimes it’s real hunger, sometimes just habit or emotions.

I also didn’t expect that I would be able to eat more than I thought. Not in one meal, but little by little, 50–100g many times a day. That “grazing” is very easy to fall into and not so easy to control.

Pain was another surprise. I had moments of sharp pain or strong pressure, especially when I overate. It’s not always something dangerous, but it is your body setting limits.

The hardest part is mental. Even with a smaller stomach, evening cravings, especially for sweets, don’t just disappear.

And weight loss is not linear. There are weeks when nothing happens, and it makes you doubt everything.

I don’t regret the surgery at all, I'm totally happy. It helped me a lot. But I wish I had been prepared not only for the physical part, but for everything that comes after."

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"I think I’m the only person that doesn’t wish she did it sooner. I was talking about it for years but I was definitely only ready for it now."

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Weight loss surgery is not just a procedure. For every single one of our patients, it is the moment everything shifts - health, confidence, energy, the way you carry yourself, the way you live. Not just how you look. Everything, literally.

And here is the thing - before the surgery comes the decision. And that decision is rarely simple. It takes courage and honesty with yourself. And alongside the physical changes, the most important work happens in your mind. Learning new ways of thinking, new habits, a new relationship with yourself and with food. Because the old patterns did not serve you - and that is okay. They just need to change.

That is exactly why I am here - I genuinely want to hear your story - your worries, your doubts, your hopes. And guide you through every step of this liofe changing journey, making it as smooth as possible. 🤍

P.S. To read more answers to my question, please join the closed Weight Loss Latvia Facebook group!

With love 🧡

Ilva Urbanovica

Weight Loss Latvia

📧 [email protected]

📞 +371 29148884

www.weightlosslatvia.com