Pre-surgery weight loss?

I'm reading that some of you were told to lose weight before your surgeries. How much are you being asked to lose and for what reason? Is it to get to a healthier state before surgery so that its not so risky or what? My current BMI is 54.1. Is there a "safer" BMI I will be asked to reach before surgery?

Hello Brandy, My doctor asks that you lose 15 pounds. He said it gets the fatty off the liver and makes surgery easier for him. I lost 11 pounds and he was happy with that. It was so hard because my surgery was during the holiday season. Diana -164

Thank you ladies! I think that's doable. I understand the need for it. I always able to lose a good 30 pounds without much effort. Anything over that is a fight to the death. (And by "death" I mean my will to continue to diet deserves a proper burial.) But if I'm approved (cross your fingers!) I hope to have my surgery over the Christmas break. I work at a college so I get a really good chunk of time off. But ya know? That's alright. I want so badly for this to work, short and long term, that I can resist the urge to eat Christmas and Thanksgiving food. Do you ladies have any regrets? Brandy

Hello Brandy, I have no regrets. This surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am so happy. I feel so much better about myself. I feel heathy and sexy now. Good luck to you. Diana -164

Hi Brandy, My surgeon requires that people with BMIs less than 50 lose 5% of their starting weight, and people with BMIs greater than 50 (like me) must lose 10% of their starting weight. I had to lose exactly 33# before surgery, and "close" doesn't count. If someone doesn't lose the exact amount, they will reschedule the surgery. Fortunately, I lost the weight. Their rationale is that it gets you in the right frame of mind (eating healthy, exercising, etc.) for after the surgery and also due to the size of the liver. They want the liver to shrink as much as possible. It wasn't easy to lose the 33#, but it was easier than any other time I have attempted to lose weight because I knew I would be "rewarded" so to speak with the gift of the surgery. It was all well worth it, and I am glad that I lost the weight before surgery. I think it's a good policy. Tanja

I was not required to lose any weight, but I know many are. Some in my area require a standard 15 pounds, no matter what your weight, but I think a lot require about 10%/ good luck, Carrie

I was not required to lose weight prior to surgery. However, I did as a result of my participation in my pre op nutritional class. My BMI on the day of surgery was 102. When I first started this journey my BMI was 107. Georgeann

Sister Georgie , I read your whole profile and its so heartening. You're inspirational, really. And hey! I have twin babies too! Well, they're not babies, they're 6, but you know, they'll always be my babies. I just had to tell you how wonderful I think your story is. I look forward to your future updates. Brandy

Hi Brandy, Thanks for reading my profile and for your encouraging words. My twins are 20 now and they are still my babies ... only there my big babies. Do you have identical, faternal, boys, girls or boy/girl? Man I remember when mine were 6 ... whew ... two of everything. Bless you, Georgeann

Hey Georgie, They're identical boys. Yes, two of EVERYTHING. Sometimes 3 or 4 of some things. You know how boys go through clothes. Most of the time they look like this: and I look like this: . Haha, not really, they're good kids... but they are definitely six year old boys. I think more than anything, they are why I want to go through with WLS. I want the 3 of us to look like this: I can't imagine them being 20. I still can't believe they're first graders... the idea of having college students for children is just terrifying. Gotta run, work calls. Nice meeting you! Brandy