Gaining Weight- Pre-Op

Thanks Debra, I'll tell you it helps to know I'm not in this alone.I am so down on myself right now for losing focus. My nutritionist did say to me eat some protein in every meal to, so I will try that. I need to mentally get ready for this journey, I know I am ready but I need to prove it to myself. Thanks again, Tina

I agree with the protein idea! Atkins and South Beach do have a point (I had to do South Beach for 6 mos - had a LOT of trouble with it, too) - but protein is the key!!! I kicked it up by drinking the protein drinks that we have to use now. I lost 20lbs in 5 weeks. It helped!!! Protein Exercise and WATER!!!!! Good luck on getting your date - Can I suggest something? Order some sample packs of protein shakes. www.bariatriceating.com is one website. Start trying them now so you can have what you like available when you get home and start drinking them. I wish I would've. I also prefer the liquid calcium. The chewables were just too chalky for me. Dawn 336.5/195/145

Dawn, Thank you, ordering the protein shakes now to see what I like is a great idea and I will definitely do that.Does the liquid calcium have a taste to it?Thanks for all your help and great advice. Tina

Tina, OMG that is so the norm is seems, it is called the "last supper syndrome" and it was killer before my surgery as well. That is why in the 6 months before surgery I only lost 7-10 lbs.. Hey if you and Andi walk, let me know if it is around 5pm because i would love to join you guys.. Take care Debra P

Debra & Andi, I can't walk now through Saturday,because my Father is up from Florida visiting and he is leaving early Sunday morning. I would love to start walking with you both,that is the motivation I need because I just don't do it on my own.Lets try to set up something for anytime after Saturday. Tina

Tina: This is what I send to people... 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!"

Thank you,that was a lot of Great advice! I wrote down the web sites you listed and some other great advice like chew well now,don't drink with meals (that will be hard for me so I'd better start now) smaller portions and no sugar or carbonation. It is time for me to wake up and get started.It is funny but when I'm on and going nothing could stop me but when I fall off,it is so hard to get back up again.Maybe it is me telling myself I don't want to fail again,So if I don't start I can't fail. What ever the reason-thanks again. Tina

MY SURGEON requires a 10 percent weight loss pre op. I choose to follow a strict atkins beign the eating style is very MUCH how we eat post op...HIGH PROTEIN, lo carb. SO i felt it was perfect for me to get on track early. WITHOUT weight loss my surgeon would not do the surgery. SO that kept me very motivated and on track. ITS a tough situation, and many felt thats hard for my surgeon to ask, because if I could loose weight I wouldnt need the surgery in the first place. BUT i had my heart set that this was my surgeon and i didnt care. I kept focused worked hard and got the 25 lbs off pre op. ITS not easy but you can do it. JUST starting a little early changeing your eating habits. THE surgery is just a tool so its never to early to change. IN the long run it will help you post op with the eating. I did atkins and used the protein shakes pre op. GOOD LUCK its not easy but to get the surgery and have your complications risk reduced is a great reason to do this.

Thank you so much for your tips and great advice. I think that may be the answer for me to start an Atkins's type diet. I think that is what I need.Have a great day and thanks again for the encouragement! Tina