Loding Weight Prior

Did any of you have to lose weight prior to surgery. If so, how did you do it. I know by diet and excersise but what food and excersise work best?

Hi Debra i wasnt told to loose weight but i was told to change my diet prior to surgery to help shrink my liver. I was put on a high protein, almost no carb diet. I had to cut out my soda and junk food as well. This is a good way to train yourself for post op as well. I also started all my vitamins prior to surgery to make sure my body was in the best shape it could be for the actual surgery and recovery. Hope that helps.... When is your surgery? LisaMarie

Hi Debra, First I started on Weigh****chers. I am not quite sure why but I started to drift from that and switched to eating high protein stuff and just not eating much. I was really working hard to break off my relationship from food and it felt like I was eating too much on WW even if it was healthy food. I'd start out with a measured breakfast like go lean oatmeal, a south beach meal bar, and protein and veggie measured for dinner. Whatever I did I tried getting a lot of protein. I lost 27 pounds pre op. Walking was and is my exercise of choice. Kristine

Hi Debra, Dr. Singh requires his patients to lose 10% of their body weight before surgery. I am going through a Clinical Nutrition Group and they have me on a Calorie control diet. For me I have to stay under 1600 calories per day. It works well for me. My neighbor had her surgery done at the Adirondack Medical Center by Dr. Hill. She really likes him. Good luck with your wieght loss efforts... Lori

MY surgeon requires it for several reasons. I opted to follow a clean induction of ATKINS. ATKINS is very similar to the way we are supposed to eat post op (but useing lofat products) so i figured it wouldnt hurt to start! I ridded alot of my food addicitons prior to the surgery....and i think it was beneficial for me ALL the best lisa

Hi Debra Most surgeons require you to lose weight before surgery for two reasons. #1 it shows them that you will be able to handle a program after surgery and #2 it helps to shrink your liver making the surgery easier. Also, some insurance companies require you to lose a certain amt of weight in order to met a medical release. I had BC/BS and they required me to lose 5% of my current weight. Our nutritionist puts you on a program to help you Marie

Debra: This is what I usualy send on this subject to preops! WT LOSS BEFORE SURGERY/MOTIVATION/AVOIDING THE LAST SUPPER SYNDROME In our program we are required to loose 10% of our body wt before surgery.... Loosing weight pre-op is required by many surgeons & for many reasons... and I am so happy I did! 1.. to show motivation, 2.. ability to adhere to a plan (as we will need to for life!), if you can't be mindful and able to follow restrictions pre-op how will you do it post-op? 3.. to increase your health even a modest 5-10% wt. loss is very helpful, the National Institute of health has even researched this...(hence why weigh****chers is so focused on the 10% wt loss) 4.. decreases surgical complications (by exercise and decrease wt your heart and lungs are in better shape for surgery, anesthesia and healing!)... 5.. Also psychologically it is tough going from a super-sized big Mac meal to clear liquids for 2 weeks post-op! 6.. ***MAIN ONE FOR PROTEIN SPARING or MEDIFAST DIETING***It helps shrink the liver and this eases their surgical procedure and decreases chance of nicking it.... 7.. exercising before helps you continue after! 8..The more you lose pre-op the less you will have to lose post-op and the closer to an ideal body-wt you will attain! I lost the weight by doing the food pyramid. That's it, I was eating so bad (fast food daily, large portions, consuming every high-fat/sugar thing imaginable and NOT exercising that just cutting down and walking 2 miles a day helped! For ME, it was "no one" was going to stop me from having this operation, it was my decision and all that was asked of me was to loose 30 lbs, I figured this is a small price for such a wonderful gift I would be given and the opportunity to have a healthier happier longer life....! I was so motivated/psyched; I dropped 30 pounds in 30 days and went on to drop 15 more before surgery! (Although this took me 2 months, as it got harder and I had a few last meals, we all do but you can't let this ruin your opportunity!) Exercise was another key; I faithfully walked 2 miles everyday..it helped that my mom went with me a lot! (a buddy is so helpful!) I followed the food pyramid given to me by clinical nutritionist Dr. Boham...I also wrote everything down (Many find www.fitday.com helpful for this) that went in my MOUTH!!! Or you can get food pyramid/bullseye version at: http://www.xenical.com/hcp/1400_Am_Beye.pdf I also had to remind myself how BAD I wanted this! Everyday it was/had to be more important to me to change my bad habits and lose weight to have this surgery than to continue to slowly kill myself with food/keep myself from the only hope I had!. I also told everyone about my plans and they helped support me, my friends/family and coworkers! I really can't give you any more guidance than this, it really had to come from within, it was a mindset with me, and I wanted this BAD real bad and I knew it was my last resort/chance! I felt invigorated and motivated by the end results...the long-term had to outweigh the short-term gratification of eating bad choices or overeating! It was a learning opportunity for me to change my habits and practice chewing well, not drinking with meals and eating smaller portions, giving up sugar/caffeine/carbonation/alcohol (if any of those are your issues, carbonation/caffeine/alcohol weren't issues for me)! So a few weeks/months of healthy habits to lose pre-op wt is not a lot if you frame it right! IT IS NOT FOREVER and it is about starting this journey! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Debra: Dr. Pearlstein puts his patients on a low carb low sugar diet that starts the first day you come to his office. This diet continues until 10 days prior to surgery. During that time (1 1/2 months) I lost 11 lbs. Then, 10 days prior to surgery patient start an all liquid diet which continues for 7 days. 3 days prior to surgery is an all clear liquid diet. During those 10 days I lost an additional 10 lbs. These last 10 days help shrink the liver, making surgery easier. The whole process helps you prepare for what will be required after surgery. Plus....isn't it nice to know you can loose a few pounds and get started on your new look before surgery is done? Heather

I went through Dr. Pearlstein, had my surgery on April 3rd of this year and he NEVER told me about any diet that he puts patients on. Now maybe it is because i was losing weight prior to coming to him, but he even told me he does not require his patients to lose any weight, juts doesnt want them gaining any. I had started my wls process with drs. in albany who did require a 10 percent weight loss prior to surgery, but Dr. Pearlstein said he did NOT have that requirement. He does however put his patients on the ten day liquids to help shrink the liver to prepare for surgery.. I lost about 53 lbs prior to surgery.. and am now down a total of 102 lbs as of today. I loved Dr. Pearlstein!