Question about dieting before surgery???????

So....I have decided that I need to drop better numbers before the surgery. I know I can do it...Ive done it before. My question is ( since apparently I have about a month and a half before surgery ) what do you think my best options are for losing weight? Im certainly not talking abut fad diets... Im really wondering  about this.... Are protein shakes good for diet or do they add muscle/weight etc? You see my biggest problem is that I'll go ALL DAY without eating...I'll eat once a day with a few snacks to hold me over, untill like 8 pm and then Im eatng huge amounts cause Im starved and of course we all know that this makes your body store fat and etc. I was thinking since I need to try out some of the protein samples and protein shakes Ive been given that maybe I could do a shake for breakfast and then one for lunch with a snack inbetween before dinner... But I dont know how protein shakes work as far as weight loss? Am I making a fool of myself...if so...you can laugh at me...I do it all the time I guess I was just thinking instead of slim fast..I could try my protein shakes, since I have to try them out anyway's... Any sugesstions? Brandi~

I put myself on THE very diet I would be on after surgery BEFORE surgery. I wanted to know if I had the discipline AND whether I could tolerate so much protein supplement, and which supplements. I also began exercising, and lost 30 pounds in the 2+ months before my surgery. It does not add muscle. It prepares you for post sugery. You have fewer things to adjust to following you surgery. The diet helps with the NASH problems. Go for, get a headstart on what is right around the corner. Good luck, Lois PS--When you are so very hungry, have a protein supplement, drink or bar.

It is actually a great idea Brandi.  The extra protein will also help you with your healing.  Just remember that after surgery some peoples tastes change so what you like before surgery you may not like after.  Starting yourself on the routine now is a great idea.

I agree with Lois. I made the committment before surgery to change behaviors. They have to be changed after surgery right? Instead of trying to lose weight, think about eating better  Some suggestions: Take your vitamins daily Set an alarm to remind you to eat Drink lots of water/ crystal light/ flavored water---cut out soda if you drink it Stop or cut back on smoking For your snacks for you and your family- how about cheese sticks, fruit, carrots, cucumbers When you feel hungry have a protein shake or protein bar Talk to your nutritionist- at PNH they are more than happy to help, just give her a call You can do this!!

Thanks so much guy's....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll keep ya posted :)

I agree with Jen on this one.  Instead of going on a "diet" why not start incorporating the changes you will have to make after surgery.  First off...you need to eat - even as post-ops, we need to eat even if we aren't hungry.  The body just does not work that way.  Limit your carb intake.  Look at sugars...no more than 7 grams per serving.  Look at the serving size and eat only one serving, instead of the whole thing.  You will be shocked by this one! (Did you know that alot of the mini pizzas are actually 2 servings?  And the DiGorno's mini pizza is almost 500 cals per serving).

Get in your fluids and increae your protein intake.  Try the samples, but know that often times our tasts change after surgery.  Start the habit of taking your vitamins.

Also, use a journal or something like fitday.com and write down your food intake to begin monitor it. And definately, start walking. But, don't overwhelm yourself...make these changes slow so you know that you will be more able to stick with them. Oh...and look inside.  For me, the one thing that has really helped me along is the fact that this IS my last shot.  To do something this drastic meant that this would be my last hope for success, so I take full advantage of it everyday.  When it comes to me, I have become very stingy.  I decide what we will have for dinner, and it meets my needs.  I decide when i will do my physical activity.  I no longer allow others to dictate my time.  I give them time each day, but I have time each day that is all MINE.  I know...sounds self centered, but I decided that this surgery was going to be all about me.  And it is...........

Thanks for all the great info...that's definatly my down fall...Im a HUGE procrastinator and I NEVER give time for myself. Im such a busy busy girl and when I do have ALONE time I spend it being lazy because that's the only time I have to be lazy. Im the kinda girl that LOVES more than anything to curl up with a good book, sip warm tea with a comfy blanket and fall asleep...that's just me.  Im looking forward to having more energy after some weight loss! Last time I lost weight ( about 22 lbs ) I had such much energy you couldnt keep me still... Thanks so much Brandi~ Ps... I have started making sure I dont drink 30 minutes prior and after meal times or snack times and I dont drink sodanever did...

Good idea but you won't have the hunger after you have now before surgery,...thank sto the new pouch size. My surgeon required 14 days pre-op for his patients to go on the "Liver Reducing diet" that helps to shrink the size of the liver that lays over the front of the stomach where the surgery is performed and makes the liver more pliable so it can be lifted and folded up abovee the stomach during the operation. I don' t have the details with me but it was some real similar to: Breakfeast:  1 Slimfast lowcarb or optima and fruit  Lunch: 1 Slimfast and fruit Dinner: 4-6 oz of lean white meat and steamed vegetables (any amount)  I usualy did chicken fish or shrimp with steams broccoli (sprinkled with shredded cheddar; sprinkled not smothered). This meal plan also included 64 oz of water over the course of the day as worked best for your schedule. I supplemented this plan with 1 or 2 protein bars between brkfst and lnch and between lunch and dinner.  Nothing after dinner excep****er.  Do not guzzle water as filling and overfilling the stomach keeps it stretched out and we are trying to let things shrink some before they cut on us. I lost 14 pounds in 13 days as they were a day late telling me about this pre-op requirement, so no I didn't do the "Last Meal" ritualistic binge before surgery. I think it is also good to lose as much as you can post insurance approval and pre-op so the magic losing period after surgery pressures your body to get on with metabolizing the hardert oget to stored fat rather than the inital water weight and easy access fat.  So I second your effort as a really smart thing to be undertaking.  Not taking it seriously only impacts your future success, no one elses.  So go for it.  You and your solider will be amazed and in love with the results of your efforts. And Courtney is absolutely right about what you like now may be REAL different after surgery.  Besides that, there is the after anesthesia metal taste in your mouth that appears for most of us 2 or 3 days to a week after coming home and makes everything taste weird.  I had to force the protein to get it in as I was only interested in water and chewing ice. SF popcicles were heaven for two days them they tasted like chemical stick and felt like they burned or stung on my tongue.  But we have different reactions, so just be prepared and be flexible.  I went from SF orange tropicana drink (that I loved and had stocked up on pre-op, then tasted horrible post-op) and Carnation Instant Breakfast (CIB) with skiim milk to lactose free milk to soy protein, vegatable protein, then whey protein powder to ISOPURE vanilla protein with water or juice, and finally ended up on diabetic chocolate and strawberry BOOST.  It was quite a rollicking three weeks of liquids before I got to transition to soft foods ( I had a 1 week kidney malfunction 5 days after WLS that kept me on liquids an extra week post op). Not telling you this to scare you but to warn you it can be an adventure, look at it that way rather than get frustrated or depressed; because during all of this, the weight is dropping.  I lost 30 pounds during those 3 weeks followed by weeks of 4 and 10 lbs lost, then the clothes sizes started dropping that included shoe size and a link out of my wris****ch.  All pretty darn exciting stuff. You have much excitement to look forward too. 

Thanks for all the great info...I have to get used to eating cottage cheese ( which I cant stand now )and yogurt too! I had heard about your taste buds changing but boy your's were all over the place huh...lol Thanks for all the names of the different proteins shakes you tried...Ive been wondering which ones are popular! Right now I just have the CIB and the Whey also a couple samples from bariatric eating.com! I'll keep you all posted! Brandi~

Ugh I still can't stand protein shakes I try and try but usually it comes right back up, even on anti-nausea pills.  Before surgery I also tried the muscle milk light (different flavors) and now it makes me ill I have 2 more sample packs that I do not like if you want them.  I too, hated cottage cheese before and now it isn't so bad. I add like 1/2 a tsp of splenda to 2oz of it.