I have a surgery date

Hello everyone. I've made one post, but am fairly new here. I have a surgery date of March 22 with Dr. Wellborn. Kind of scared, but excited also. Turns out that I have to go on an 800 calorie a day diet starting March 8. Has anyone else had to do this, and does anyone have any hints on things that I can eat that are filling, but low in calories? I think this 2 week diet before the surgery is going to be a whole lot worse than afterwards because I fear that I will be hungry and get weak. (I sometimes have problems with low blood sugar) Any hints would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Wow... 800 calories? Did the Dr. at least give you any hints on how to do that? Congrats on your date!! I am going to his seminar next week.. hoping to have surgery soon, I'm not a good with patience in these kind of things.. Susan

Basically they told me slim-fasts and lean cuisines. But like I said, I know me and I'm going to be hungry I'm sure. And when I get hungry and don't eat, I get headaches, dizzy spells, etc. So I'm looking for some hints on what I can do for those times when I need something but can't have a lot of calories until after the surgery. I still have a regular sized stomach here, and I'm a big girl!! LOL You'll find the seminar to be very informative. I learned a lot and it eased my fears on the surgery itself. Good luck to you Susan, and if you need a support buddy, I'm here!

If you like Japanese food, Miso soup is supposed to have maybe 25 calories... I'm sure there are recipes online. Some have tofu, but its ok without it as well... hang in there.. Susan

Hello LuAnne, I would stay as close to the 800 cals as possible. Try the protein drinks, they have less calories than slim fast. I get the On from walmart, 13 bucks for the huge canister (near the pharmacy) and I like the vanilla cause I can add things like sugar free davinci syrups (walmart in coffee section) to change their flavor. I can add coffee or peanut butter or fruit, yummy and they fill you up too. Also, I know we have all heard this for years, but keep snack food on hand so you don't have to make a decision on the spur for something to eat when you are craving a sweet thing: string cheese, lite yogurt, applesauce, vienna sausages, and advantage protein bars (also found near the pharmacy at walmart). I was fortunate that I didn't have to do any dieting previous to surgery, but my surgeon has a stricted post op diet, like I had surgery in October, and am just now getting to eat chicken. Still, now beef or pork or raw anything. Good luck and remember what the prize at the end will be, you will melt.

Thanks so much for the tips Jeannie. I think that pre-op is going to be tougher than post-op, so I'm open for any suggestions! I'm going to Walmart tomorrow, so I will definitely look for the proteim powder you were talking about. And good idea about the snack stuff. I'll pick some of that up tomorrow as well. I do appreciate your hints. How have you done so far with your weight loss? And did you get the band, or RNY?

LuAnne, I had gastric bypass and have lost over 60 pounds, probably more like 80 by now. I lose about five or six pounds a week, sometimes more. I only weigh when I go to the doctor and so if I have ever stalled, I don't know about it. I make these wonderful protein balls out of peanut butter, the vanilla protein powder, oatmeal, and wheat germ and splenda and I swear they taste every bit as good as the peanut butter inside the reeses cups. I suppose I could melt some dark chocolate and pour over them but I like the peanut butter taste. Keep your snack foods handy and healthy. If I have something to grab like a protein ball or a advantage bar or something like that, I am not tempted to eat crap. I even use soy milk so that I can cut more fat and calories out of my diet. I can't wait until I can eat boiled eggs. One of the benfits of bypass surgery is that everything we eat is so dense that it fills us up. I don't know how the banders do, but bypass makes us where we can only eat a tiny bit of food at a time. I literally go to bed one night and wake up smaller, really. My husband says when he comes home from work, it seems as though I am smaller and smaller. I say I am melting. It is a nice journey as opposed to all those other times of trying to lose weight and after months of only a few pound****ting a stall, and then getting discouraged and gaining back the weight I lost and more. You'll be here real soon.

I went to Walmart yesterday and looked for that protein powder you were talking about. There were several different kinds, so I wasn't sure which one I should get. Does it matter? Your protein balls sound really good, and I love reese's cups! I'm a peanut butter freak so I may try your recipe. Sounds like your weight loss is coming along wonderfully...I hope that I can do half as well as you have.

what kind of surgery are you having? How long did it take you to get a surgery date from the time you turned in your packet? Did you have to deal with insurance? Good luck!

Hi Kelly. I'm having the lap band done with Dr. Wellborn. l actually went to Dr. Wellborn's website and filled out the packet online and they called me the very next day with a date. I have to say, everyone in that office is wonderful. Very helpful and willing to answer any question you may have. As far as insurance, no...I'm self-pay. My insurance wouldn't pay for this surgery, which makes me ill. I mean, why do we pay all of these premiums if they won't cover something that will do nothing but help. I guess they'd rather pay $100,000.00 for someone who has a heart attack, but don't want to pay $16,000.00 for the lap band surgery. Makes no sense. Anyway, thanks so much for your well wishes!