Kaiser WLS pre surgery diet

I have my appt. next week with the surgeon so he can tell me how much weight I have to loose before having WLS. Has anyone gone through this? I know it is probably going to be about 20 lbs. but I am worried I wont be able to do it. Any suggestions would be oh so helpful.

Hi there
You've been to orientation, right?  You received your Kaiser binder, right?  It's all right there in the Book...and you've met with the nutritionist?  Which Kaiser are you going thru for surgery?  I have found each facility can have different protocols for the process.  But definitely, read your Book (this will become your Bible! for WLS).  You will do great...kaiser has a proven record of successes...just follow and do what they tell you...and enjoy the ride of a life time! ^_^
Nancy aka Sunray

Yes, I have recieved the binder and it has been really helpful. I have gone to all of my appts and am on my last step before surgery. I am going to be going through the Fresno Kaiser, did you also have kaiser? I am more worried because there are quite a few foods that I don't eat, the nutritionist told me I will have a hard time! (no eggs, seafood and very little red meat!)
Thanks Nancy. I need all the help/support I can get.

I went thru Richmond Kaiser and they are different than So San Francisco or Fremont.  I don't know the protocol for Fresno..do they allow Protein drinks?  Richmond did not...however, due to the fact I wasn't getting enough protein on a daily basis, my surgeon (after surgery) allowed me to substitute a protein drink for my breakfast meal.

Somehow you are going to need to get protein in...that will be your main dietary food after surgery..your body is dependent on it!  How are you on cottage cheese, cheddar, motzorilla (sp) or any type of hard cheese? What about turkey or pork?  If you are a strict vegetarian, I agree with the nutritionist..you may have difficulties getting enough protein...but then there is always Tofu LOL Definitely do more talking with the nutritionist!  I'm sure you are not the first one to present this issue to her; she should have answers and recommendations.

Good luck..and read the Binder!  Be sure to 'get moving' now...it will help losing the pre-surgery 10% and definitely help with the weight loss after. Even if it is just walking around the block..any movement counts! ^_^
Nancy aka Sunray

Are you a revision??  Just because you are going straight to the surgeon.  Anyway the best way to loose it, is low carb high protein and logging your food.  Best of luck to you =)

Hi there!  I am going through Kaiser So. SF and here is the way mine has gone so far (keep in mind I am considered a light weight being 4'10" and less than 100 pounds to lose, but with a high BMI and co-morbities) :

I started the journey ~ 230 (September '07) with my referal from my PCP, and at orientation I was down to 210 (Feb '09).  I had lost 15 pounds by Feb '08 and that was enough for me to get pregnant, hence the huge time span in between.  As soon as I got my book I got right on the pre-op diet, high protein, low fat, etc. 

I went in ~ June for my first visit with the surgeon and was given a goal weight of 194, I was at 199 at that point.  At the end of September I hit 192 and went straight in to have it documented (necessary for So. SF before being scheduled for any futher appts.).

I went in in October to meet with my actual surgeon and was told I was doing great.  I could have been scheduled right away but I needed to wait until December due to time off with work.

I am currently scheduled for 12/16 and am holding between 191 and 194 (water weight mostly).

A good "rule of thumb" is to expect to lose 10% of your body weight.  HOWEVER, this varies by person due to girth of the stomach, etc.  They need for you to lose enough weight to be able to get those instruments in there and work comfortably.

For me, my starting weight was the highest recorded in my medical record, so I had lost a considerable amount of weight by the time I went for orientation.

My advice:  start moving now - walk at least 30 minutes every day, increase when you can and start the pre-op diet.  It will get you ready to make that change in diet much easier once surgery has been done.

Good luck!

Thank you all for all of your advice, it is really helping.

Hiya,

When I went through the Kaiser program, they required us to lose 10% of the weight that you had to lose. When I finally made it to the surgeon, he wanted me to lose just 10 pounds prior to surgery just to get the fat away from the liver.

Like people have said, low carbs, hi protein and start excersing (just do a walk everyday) and you will be pleasantly suprised of the results.

Have a great day...........Rick

The main advantage to losing weight before surgery is to make your liver less fatty and less likely to rip apart during surgery. It is illegal for Kaiser or anyone else to deny you surgery if you don't lose 10% or whatever they require. The law does not allow surgeons to do this.  People have acquired help from a particular law firm whose name I can't recall to get their surgery.

Also, there are no studies that demonstrate better outcomes with WLS if you lose weight ahead of time. I tried to lose weight, but couldn't. I was on a ton of insulin which makes weight loss hard, and I have a very sluggish thyroid. I finally spoke frankly with my doctor and asked her if she looked at my chart would I be someone likely to lose 30 pounds on my own. Without thinking she said "No, I don't". At that point I became angry and said I felt it was cruel to hang this surgery in front of my face, tell me to lose weight and then have your doctor tell you it wasn't possible.  She then called my surgeon and told him to schedule me for surgery and he did.

With all that being said though, I had years of counseling and belonged to an eating disorder support group for food addicts. I learned why I overate and how to deal with emotions rather than stuffing them. Before surgery I stayed at the same weight for 3 years which was something I had never done before (usually just gained gradually).

Good luck in working with Kaiser and using this time to address several issues before surgery.

MsBlues

I am in Bakersfield Ca. and am in week 10 of  what Kaiser says is a mandatory 20 week pre-op program. The weekly classes are on nutrition, exercise and behavior and we have to keep an exercise and food log  They just told us tonight that they no longer use the Fresno surgeon and we will choose one in North L.A. or Pacific Bariatric in San Diego. How did you get straight to the surgeon? We have to loose 10% of our body weight, I thought I would never be able to do it, but 1/2 way through the program I have lost more that 1/2 the 10%. I feel I owe this to the awesome nutritionist because if I had just been handed a binder full of info I would have been lost.