Question:
Having a hard time losing the 27 LBS I need to get a surgery date.
I was approved about 2 months ago and met with a surgeon that I love. Dr. Fisher at Kaiser Richmond Ca. He said "Lose 27 pounds and then call me to set up a surgery date!" I was so happy. I thought that I would be able to lose that no problem since I have lost 30-40 pounds on crap diets several times. But I am having a really rough time. Advice please? — GIAMARIE (posted on July 12, 2007)
July 12, 2007
Hi Gia, pretend you have already had the bypass surgery and drink a 6 ounce
protein shake for breakfast and lunch. Then have Soup with crackers or a
baked potato smothered in "I cant believe its not butter". This
should do it for you. No cheating!!! Tell youself you HAVE to do this. Best
Wishes, Mickey.........P.S. Drink plenty of ICE water as well.
— MCraig3
July 12, 2007
hello....i got my surgery 2 mo ago but i'll tell you i gained weight
beforehand and surprisingly didn't get yelled at thank god..lol i will
never understand these damn doctors telling people to lose weight
beforehand...if you could do that to begin with you wouldn't need the
fargin operation! well anywho...one word...PROTEIN! it fills you up
faster and longer than anything else...whey isolate protein shakes are a
very good protein source...i drink one every night! also on
sparkpeople.com there are countless number of low fat high protein recipes
that are yummy as hell on there....i've made a few of them so far and i'll
tell you it tastes like youre cheating but youre not! i hope this
helps..good luck
— lizzie42
July 12, 2007
Go on a high protein diet. Protein shakes, broiled chicken....stick to
1000 calories a day and you will do it! Take 3-5 protein shakes a day (110
calorie ones) and eat veggies and a 3 oz serving of chicken.
— threewishes
July 12, 2007
I had to lose 25 lbs before surgery and it took me about 1 1/2 months (it
CAN be done!!) You want this--- so pretend like you're already a post-op.
I started eating few to no carbs (like I do now) and eating sugar free
jello and s/f & f/f pudding for dessert, meat with no bread, baked
potato with tiny amounts of sour cream and margarine... think of it as a
crash diet-- in the past I had been able to lose 30 lbs with the Atkins
diet (not the best for you I believe) but I kinda followed the general idea
of high protein low carb. It's good if you need to lose fast. I know we
were supposed to completely change our eating habits beforehand, but we all
know how difficult that is-- if we could do it before we wouldn't be
needing the surgery. My understanding of why they want us to lose weight
is that it "shrinks" your liver so it's less likely to bleed
during surgery and I think they want to see that you are determined to be
able to adhere to the strict dietary requirements after surgery. When you
get to like 20 lbs and feel like you absolutely can't lose anymore call
your surgeon and explain that this is how much you've lost and you've been
trying really hard. I was SUPPOSED to lose 25 lbs but really only lost
about 20--- but about 5 lbs in the 2 days of fasting before my surgery.
Good luck!! You can do it and will be so happy with the changes in your
life and health!!! Aaryn :)
— airbear762000
July 12, 2007
Find a new surgeon its cruel to require patients to lose a big number like
that, if we could surgeons wouldnt be necessary..... WLS is a BUSINESS,
make a business decision by voting with your feet, going to a different
surgeon. Enough lost business and they will change their requirements.
— bob-haller
July 12, 2007
Gia,
I had lap band 2-2-07, I had to go on a liver shrinking diet for 2 weeks,
NO CHEATING or I would waste my money, the surgeons and my time and the
money it would cost for the travel costs, that I had to incur. The liver
shrinking diet is a modified Adkins. You can drink all of the diet drinks
you want (except pop) say bye bye to pop, it is the mortal enemy and you
will find you will not miss it. I found that If I bought the individual
crystal light packets @ walmart and cases of water at costco, the total for
both was less than the total for the same amt of pop. Plus, not only was I
changing a horrible habit....Now my kids prefer the crystal light to pop or
Kool-aid. I also LOVE my ice water. That was the first major step, second I
could eat what ever kind of protein bar or what ever I wanted AS LONG as i
stayed under 40 grams of carbs/day. I found that I loved the Adkins,
protein bars, they have the fewest carbs with the best taste. You have to
be very careful becasue all protein bars are not created equal!!!!!alot of
protein bars are EXTREMELY high in carbs. Also, we are in a huge transition
state in our lives. I have found that Russel Stover Candies have a new line
of low carb candy...Look for them in the diabetic aisles. A set of
"reeses peanut butter cups" have less than 2 grams of carbs. If
you find that you absolutely have to have something else, it has to be pure
protein. Something like a grilled chicken breast.... But remember portion
control. I lost 27 lbs in 2 weeks and felt like I was cheating the whole
time. I never went hungry, because they are protein, you do get full faster
and it lasts with you longer. Also remember, that this is the beginning of
a whole new life, and if it takes 2 weeks or 2 yrs to lose the weight, we
are doing this for ourselves. And we will have to make the changes
hopefully sooner than later, so make the choice here and now, that the fat
days are gone forever. Believe me, the first time that someone you know
doesnt recognize you, every bit of the blood sweat and tears that we go
through, is worth every moment. And the first time you child tells you,
Mommy, (or daddy) you look so pretty. (especially when it comes from a teen
age son....) Life is beautiful. And so are you. Best of luck....Don't get
discouraged, like Nike says just DO IT!!!!!! If you have any ?'s let me
know and I will call my surgeon and get the diet info again.
— mccabesmom
July 12, 2007
im a total loser i was approved over a year and four months ago, I cant
loose that 31 pounds, i started at 310 and got all the way up to 338 lost
the weight to 309 the second time i went in for the refresher at kaiser and
now i weigh 316 and i have another refresher on july 25 i am hopeless
— mhenry
July 12, 2007
Atkins has the answer or even any variation there of omitting the carbs! Or
another way to see it is "white ain't right!" Most carbs are
white....also see all this chicken boobs are good what about the other
white meat!~pork chops baby! Slam the chops on a grill and who cares about
bread, taters, pasta and more? Water is your best friend too.. desert?
Atkins cheesecake or sugar free somethin or another....PORTION CONTROL on
deserts!!!
Michele you can do it! You are NOT a loser, just get your entire self into
it and it will happen....Look yourself in the eye in a mirror and SMILE and
say I will do this no matter what 3x's and 3x's a day for 9 days and mean
it every time you say it. Be excited and just DO IT! woooo hoooo you go
girl!
— LouAB
July 13, 2007
Hi Gia. I think it is junk that your surgeon requires you to lose weight
before surgery. I just think that is junk. You might need to be followed
by a dietician or be trained to what is coming, but to put a number on the
amount of weight you need to lose, that is just junk. Anyway, having said
that, if you really want surgery, I would go to a medical fast place, or
slimfast or something, so whatever I had to in order to get 27 pounds off.
You will have to fight for it, and the week before it is 27 pounds, call
your surgeon and make the appt for surgery the next week, set your date and
then relax, but don't go back to eating extra, it will confuse your results
after surgery. I don't know how long it takes to have surgery once you
call them, but I would think it would be another week to 6 weeks before
surgery, so prepare for the lull in time. Stand up and fight though Gia,
if this is something you really want, you have to fight for it, and you
will have to fight to keep going after surgery. This is no miracle, it is
a tool. Don't use your tool, and you will be sorry you every started the
process. You can do it, it is sure worth it, and you are worth it. Take
care, Patricia P.
— Patricia P
July 13, 2007
Gia, I had to lose weight before surgery too. Boost up your protiens.
This will fill you up and help you lose the weight. The end result will be
worth the hard work now. Please listen to your doctor and nutritionist.
My coworker was told by our doctor to lose some weight to lower his risk of
complications. He didn't like what he heard and went to a different group.
He had his surgery and died from complications 5 days later. We buried
him 3 weeks ago.
— Shari P.
July 13, 2007
There are valid medical reasons to lose this weight before surgery. It will
decrease your surgery risks in many ways. By losing weight your liver will
shrink, making the surgery much easier for the surgeon to get to the
stomach and small intestine. This decreases your risk for bleeding and
leaking,
which can be life-threatening. Also, by losing weight you will be able to
move around more easily after surgery which decreases your risk for blood
clots and pneumonia (also life-threatening.) You have a better chance of
reaching an average body weight for your height if you lose before surgery
too. Your surgeon has your best interests in mind. I lost 90lbs. before
surgery on a South-Beach type diet (high protein, good carbs, no sugar) and
by walking for 1 hour everyday. Breaking my sugar addiction before surgery
was
the best part. I felt better and empowered. Granted, this may delay your
surgery but it is for the best possible outcome. You can do this..and
you'll be glad you did.
— conniew
July 18, 2007
Hi! I am the original poster of this question. I want to thank you all
soooo much for your help! Especially Mickey, Liz, Linda, AARYN, Bonnie,
Lou, Patricia, Shari (so sorry about your friend) & Connie. I am so
inspired now and I was pleasantly SHOCKED at how fast you all answered me.
I know exactly what I need to do now. What a great website for support.
Also, Michele, We need to lift you up baby! It will be ok. We can all do
this together. Luv, Gia
— GIAMARIE
July 19, 2007
I had to lose 10% of my body weight to have surgery. I gained weight &
then the doctor sent me to a nutritionist. It was very helpful & I
lost the weight gain & 12%. The weight loss is so less fat to cut
through for surgery & it's also safer for you. Have your doctor
schedule you with the nutritionist. It was one of the required people to
see prior to surgery for me.
— LornaZB
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