lizonaplane

I have heard that once you start the pre-op diet they don't count any weight loss against you. Did you talk to the program to see if their advice is to gain weight? I am in the process of jumping through hoops too. My BMI was 49.6 but it's now down to 46. I don't think it will get too much lower. I've lost 18 lbs but I seem to have stalled. I don't have any back pain and I didn't start having any joint pain until I started exercising in the last two months after being really sedentary for the entire pandemic. Good luck!

I feel you... I travel for work (at least until COVID) so once COVID is over I will have no choice but to eat out 5 days a week. I will not be able to cook at home. I haven't had surgery yet, but here are the strategies I'm planning: ordering plain grilled meat and fish with a side of steamed or roasted veggies (most nicer restaurants will let you order this way and I will bring a mini food scale that is about the size of a deck of cards with me - I already have it, or a measuring cup. I don't care who thinks I'm weird). For fast food, I will order a grilled chicken sandwich or egg, ham, and cheese breakfast sandwich and not eat the bread. I have heard a lot of people talking about P3 packs and I've eaten them before. I can just eat the cheese and nuts and skip the raisins or craisins. I can buy cheese sticks and packs of deli meat at grocery stores in most cities where I have access to a grocery store and a fridge in my hotel room. I am not saying I will be perfect, but I know what the options are. You can eat healthy at restaurants. No, you don't know exactly what is in your food, but you can ask them not to add the butter/oil to your grilled meat or fish, you can say no to the bread, potatoes, rice, etc. And unless you're staying at a hotel with no fridge or microwave, you can take the food home for your next meal. You got this! You may or may not be able to turn yourself into a gourmet cook, but either way, it is possible. My nutritionist felt like I could go back on the road after surgery and be successful, so I think you can too!

I fly every week for work (at least prior to COVID) and I love to fly for fun and it was super uncomfortable at my size and I am just generally achy and had developed asthma from being so sedentary during the pandemic. I haven't had surgery yet, just going through all the pre-op insurance hoops still, but I've already lost 18 lbs and my asthma is gone, but I'm now more achy from doing more exercise.