Question:
Any suggestions on Weight loss before surgery???
Well, my surgeon wants me to lose 30 pounds before surgery. She said that if I want it Lap I have to...said something about how rapid weight loss shrinks the liver (I have a fatty, enlarged liver) and it makes it easier to do the procedure....I need help on how to lose the weight...Nothing is working..And they need to see if I can lose a little weight before they even schedule the surgery or talk to the insurance company..HELP>> — Dusty S. (posted on September 25, 2001)
September 25, 2001
These surgeons who want us to lose weight before surgery never cease to
amaze me. If we could lose weight in the first place why do we need
surgery? Oh well. I hope someone has some advice to help you. It just
sounds weird to me.
I'd be afraid IF I did lose the weight they (surgeon, insurance companies)
would say, "why do you need WLS if you can lose without it"?
— Danmark
September 25, 2001
I had the same questions for the surgeron...If the insurance company sees
that I am losing weight won't they not approve it...Well, the surgeron's
office tells them that I was required to lose weight every quickly on a
crash diet and assoon as I return to normal eating I will gain all the
weight back and more....Do to fatty liver infiltrates they WILL NOT do the
lap procedure on me if I don't..
— Dusty S.
September 26, 2001
Hi!! Dusty
you have ask the right person this time... I have been a YO-YO diter all
may life (44years) and I have lost 100+ pds. three or maybe four times in
my life time... I just can't keep it OFF.
Of all the dites I tried.....
The Atkin's dite ( Protein Power Plan).... worked the Fastest... Felt
wonderful the first weeks... Big weight drop the first month.
You eat meat( Protein) chicken, turkey, stake AS MUCH as you want any time
you want..( I would stay away from pork and hambuger - just because they
are higher in fat - and cal.)
DON'T GO AROUND HUNGERY !!! EAT MEAT....
NO MORE THAN 30 carbs.. a DAY not Meal..
For a snack EAT PORK SKINS( MEAT )
1- small bag Tom's peanuts.. high in protein..low carbs.
Drink --- Crstal Light-- All you want..
and WATER..
Your carbs. need to come from vegs....
I lost 30 psd first month.... NOPE YOU DO TO..
HOPE This has helped
— Deborah M.
September 26, 2001
I wouldn't put myself through the pressure of trying to lose
weight before wls. You are having this surgery because you CAN'T
lose weight by dieting. One would think your doctor would understand
.....actually, he probably does and doesn't realistically expect a
thirty pound weight loss before surgery. Just relax and don't let anyone
push you into a pointless, fruitless effort to diet at this point.
— [Anonymous]
September 26, 2001
Just a question, but why do you HAVE to have the lap procedure? My surgeon
didn't give people a choice: Either he would do it as is or wouldn't do it.
I did end up having a lap but if you have to jump through hoops, you may be
better off just having the open procedure. I returned to work in 10 days
but I talked to lots of people who had open that said they felt fine at 2
weeks, too.
— ctyst
September 26, 2001
Dear Dusty,
I am in the exact same situation, except I have to lose 50lbs to have the
Lap procedure. I also have a fatty, enlarged liver. I really want the Lap
procedure for obvious reasons: less pain, less recovery time, smaller
scars, etc., I suppose if the Lap procedure was not available to me I
would have the open procedure but I would be more frightened. I am
currently doing Weight Watchers and have lost about 8 lbs so far. I think
it is a good program that lets you eat normal things. Also, going to the
meetings and getting your weight recorded is documented proof to show you
doctor instead of running to his office just to get weighed. I weigh
336lbs and it is hard to find a scale that will accurately weigh me. The
scales they have at Weight Watchers are accurate and go beyond 300lbs,
unlike most. Good luck and just remember if you can't lose weight now how
do you expect to after surgery?, remember it's only a tool, not a miracle.
— Angie B.
September 26, 2001
HI Dusty, I am also trying to lose weight before surgery. I don't have to,
and I've already been scheduled, but I figured it would be too easy to GAIN
weight at this point - in an effort to not allow that to happen, I have
started a routine. I've started drinking protein drinks now, mainly to
find one I like, but I have found that drinking them all day definitely
curbs my appetite - and, oddly enough I am actually developing a taste for
one. I joined a gym, but if exercise is not easy for you now, try to at
least walk a bit once a day - maybe during your lunch break. Drink lots
and lots of water all day and just try to cut back on sweets, junk food,
and fatty stuff. Try these little things. Don't get yourself all worked
up. Just try your best and see what happens. Maybe you won't lose 30lbs,
maybe you won't lose anything at all, but you know, you just may surprise
yourself. If you are really, really worried (and I understand, I would do
anything I could to have a lap as the idea of having it open scares me to
death) and all else fails - try Metabolife. You still should do
everything else I suggested, but it may give you a little push. I've used
it in the past and it worked for a quick short term loss, but keep in mind
that it's pretty unhealthy. I know losing weight isn't easy, we all do -
but this time you have the potential of WLS to use for positive motivation!
Good luck to you!
— PaulaM
September 26, 2001
First off, I want to say that all you people that are having the surgery
because you "can't" lose weight are wrong and are doing it for
the wrong reason. Every single person on this planet can lose weight, even
people in wheelchairs! The surgery is not just an easy way out. You can't
just sit back and watch the fat fall off you - it takes work. Like the
person before said "If you can't lose any weight now - how do you
expect to after surgery?" It is an issue of control. You need to
gain control now before surgery or surgery will fail. Believe me, I know
dieting is hell but everyone can do it and lose some weight. We don't have
WLS because we "can't" lose weight, we have it done because we
cannot keep the weight off.
— [Anonymous]
September 26, 2001
Please.....none of us would have had wls if we were able to lose
weight by diet alone. My question to those of you are so successful
at dieting now....now that you've been approved for wls....Why go
have the surgery? Why take that risk when all you have to do is diet
and exersize? As for that nonsense about having "control". Wls
is so
effective because we don't have to have "control" and
"willpower" to lose a
significant amount of weight. We're forced to eat less and those who
experience
the dumping syndrome are forced to avoid even limited amounts of sugary,
fatty
foods. In that first year, we can even lose loads of weight without
exersizing.
So "control" isn't a factor. That's the whole point of wls.
Granted one has to work
harder to reach one's goal and to main the one's weight loss. But, many
people lose
significant amounts of weight and keep it off even when they are only 50%
compliant.
The weeks before surgery are stressful enough, why add to that stress by
attempting to
do something that you already know you can't do?????
— [Anonymous]
September 26, 2001
I can say that for myself, I tried to lose weight a lot before my surgery.
I was as stuck as could be at 235 pounds and nothing I did budged me either
way. I did try the Adkins diet as well as many other things some of which
were definitely not healthy. Then I gave up on all of that when I decided
to have WLS. I started to "eat whatever I want". I didn't gain
a pound. In 5 years my weight didn't budge whether I was dieting or
pigging out. So I don't really think we could all lose weight withouth
WLS. I couldn't. I am now though, down 50 pounds and there's no way that
would have happened without surgery. However, I do believe that getting
into good exercise habits and good health for the surgery is a good idea.
— kcanges
September 26, 2001
Anonymous---oh stop it already. Sheesh! She's trying to lose weight in
order to insure a successful lap. Everyone (including you) can lose weight
on a diet. Our problem isn't losing the weight -- rather it is keeping it
off. She doesn't need to worry about keeping it off because by the time
she takes it off, it will be time for her surgery. Anyway...I did the same
thing because my doc wouldn't guarantee a lap with a BMI of over 50 (mine
was 52). So I did Atkins (easiest and quickest thing for a month) and lost
about 6 pounds. I wanted to lose 10 but 6 was enough to take my BMI down
to 51. And I did have a successful lap. Have your last meals this
weekend, then Monday -- GET BUSY! Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
September 26, 2001
My 2 cents (and it may only be worth a penny:) is: why argue
with Dusty about trying to lose weight or question her doctor?
We are here for support- if her doctor gives her advice, I am all
for encouraging her and helping if I can. I didn't have to
lose weight for surgery, but I had OTHER hoops to jump through
which I gladly did. Dusty- I think the Adkins thing might
work only because it is the "diet" I tell people I am on
when I am not comfortable telling them I had surgery. After
all, it's basis is low carbs, high proteins- just like we should
eat after WLS. I stay away from fats too- just to help it along.
Good Luck- I think you can do it!!!
— M B.
September 26, 2001
I want to say a thank you to everyone who gave suggestions, I talked with
my dietician today and she said that the Atkins would be the best way to
go...But I will be doing only the protein shakes Breakfast, lunch w/small
salad, and dinner...And be able to have my protein bar for snacks.... I
have a very enlarged liver and really want to have the LAP for ovious
reasons, I am 24 and someday would like to be able to wear a bathing suit
and would feel self-consious about a big long scar.(Just my opinion) so am
going to start that tommorrow my support group meets on Oct. 8th so
hopefully I will lose something by then....A friend of mine just did the
shkes before surgery and lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks!!!! really shrunk her
liver (that is the first place fat comes off of)..Well wish me luck
— Dusty S.
September 27, 2001
Sorry this question had to become an argument. All I can say is that I was
required to lose 9-12 lbs before I could be scheduled for surgery. Since I
know my biggest problem has always been sweets, I cut down significantly on
the sweets to almost nothing, and walked more often. Granted it took 4
months, not exactly fast, but I lost 10 lbs that way. It took almost no
effort. BUT, if it took 4 months to lose every 10 lbs, I'd need 3 years to
reach my goal weight. UGH! Just think about what your weakness is and deal
with that the most. It should help somewhat. Good luck! :-)
— Anne B.
September 27, 2001
Hi again. Glad you answered my question, Dusty. I myself had my reasons for
choosing lap (I work contract: No work, no pay). And I lost 15 pounds in 5
weeks before my surgery. I ate less and worked out with a personal trainer
(glad I had that option!). If I had known about the high protein/low carb
diet I would have done that. I probably would have lost even more weight!
Also I wish I had tried different protein shakes to find one I liked before
I HAD to have them. By the way, my scars (6 of them) look like little
1-inch bites but at 4 1/2 months they are starting to fade. Good luck to
you and I hope you get your lap!
— ctyst
September 27, 2001
Hey Dusty, watch the sugar content on those Protein bars. Also some have
high carb content. I think Atkins makes protein bars but I'm not sure.
When I am travelling, I usually get a brand of bar called "Pure
Protein". It is sweetened with sucralose (Splenda) and has 33 g of
protein per bar (I can usually eat 1/2 at a time). 8 different flavors and
available at GNC. The bad thing is that it has 14 g of carbs and I think
you can only have 20 on Atkins. So keep the bars to a minimum. You'll be
fine. You see the light at the end of the tunnel and for once, it is
attainable. Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
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