Ok... So I am starting to panic! Thursday starts my 26 day pre-operative diet of Optifast. Someone asked me yesterday what happens if I lose to much weight during the pre-operative phase?!?!? Uhhhh I dunno!!!! I never asked! I will be doing the optifast program for the full 26 days leading up to my surgery, which will consist of 6 products per day, grand total of 800 calories a day.... My BMI is 41.0... YIKES.. Any suggestions on A. How to make it through this 26 days of hell, and B. What about the weight loss?

Okay first of all they use your consultation weight. Most people lose ten to twenty pounds duringthe preop diet.

Thanks, I was just concerned because they mentioned weighing me the day of surgery and so on, and my nutritionist/behaviorist and everyone has mentioned and "encouraged" me not to lose weight. I haven't spent much time with them all since my "consultation" so maybe it was just to get to that point. I appreciate ur input!

Ok... So I am starting to panic! Thursday starts my 26 day pre-operative diet of Optifast. Someone asked me yesterday what happens if I lose to much weight during the pre-operative phase?!?!? Uhhhh I dunno!!!! I never asked! I will be doing the optifast program for the full 26 days leading up to my surgery, which will consist of 6 products per day, grand total of 800 calories a day.... My BMI is 41.0... YIKES.. Any suggestions on A. How to make it through this 26 days of hell, and B. What about the weight loss?

I thought two weeks was Hell.... 25 days! Why so long?

It helps to decrease the size of your liver so reduces of pentrating the liver during surgery. My surgeron required all paitient to a four week preop diet. If your bmi isover 50 you are on it for six weeks. I only lost ten pounds.

It helps to decrease the size of your liver so reduces of pentrating the liver during surgery. My surgeron required all paitient to a four week preop diet. If your bmi isover 50 you are on it for six weeks. I only lost ten pounds.

I HAVE NO IDEA!!!! It seems amazingly stupid to me, in my opinion its to soak me for 136.00 a week for 4 weeks... There is no way I need 4 weeks of Optifast before a Lap Band... I am 5'2 @ 228lbs... however this is how my program works so I have to follow it. Someone did tell me that there is a chance they won't make me do all 4 weeks, however the coordinator said different.... So starting Thursday I will have weekly meetings, and optifast support groups until surgery... anyone else think I might be getting "soaked"?

I def think you are getting soaked! Wow im on a pre op of 2 shakes a day and a.small sensible meal at dinner. For 12 days only.

Oh and my bmi is 50.

Most surgeons use your starting weight they probably wont even weigh you before your surgery. Good luck with everything!!

I know right?!??!?!?!

I don't have a choice either, I work at a hospital and our hospital "owns" the insurance I have... Therefore, it is the only program covered... I call it (with no offense) Fat Camp... It has been a rough road, but right now I feel like I am just being cheated... I am ok with 2 weeks... but 4 ??? and it HAS TO BE Optifast ...

Ugh

Each doctor has their own set of guidelines. I am very happy with my surgeon I see on a monthly basis at support groups. He's very active in our weight loss.

wow 26 days!!!! guess i shouldn't complain about my 2 weeks. it is to shrink your liver, but every surgeon has their own protocol. As far as loosing weight and them not doing the surgery Ive never heard of that. I've been on my pre-op liquid diet for 6 days and have lost 10lbs. i shared this with a friend today and she was like wow see you dont need the surgery! ARE YOU SERIOUS! I've had nuthin but liquids so of course i'm gonna lose weight, but there is no way i can live off liquids only. i just kindly reminded her that i cant live on liquids. therefore i dont think a surgeon would ever say you lost too much weight to have the surgery. Now my surgeon does have a zero pound clause, meaning if you weigh more than you did when you started your pre-op's they can decide not to do the surgery! YIKES! but if you follow the pre-op rules dont see how that could happen. Best wishes to you!

I wouldn't worry about losing too much weight. They have dropped the min. requirements for a lapband drastically! I've seen pple who only needed to loose 50lbs getting lapband. I read a different forum where one girl said her doctor told her not to even weigh he wasn't worried about the weight just shrinking the liver! As far as the amount of time I think it sounds crazy! Two weeks is plenty. I am 4'11 weight 160 and am only on a two week diet. I drink whey supreme shakes. They are a little bland so I add fruit like banannas or strawberries to mine. I am allowed healthy request soup, fruit, and veggies as long as I don't add sugar, butter, or oil to them. The Whey supreme is only 14 dollars at walmart for a huge jug of powder to mix with water. Of course it sounds like you may not have the option to get what you want! If you do I suggest the whey supreme the jug is 2 lbs. it has 27 shakes worth in it. Good luck!

I was encouraged to lose as much weight as possible...they may weigh you the day of surgery (or ask for your weight) this is more for anesthesia (sp?) purposes. If you've lost 20-30lbs (give or take) that is a decent difference in the amount of meds needed to put you to sleep... The BMI is calculated based on your beginning weight. I was absolutely assured that they want to see you're focused and sincere on losing weight so they will want to see weight loss.

Thanks, I was just concerned because they mentioned weighing me the day of surgery and so on, and my nutritionist/behaviorist and everyone has mentioned and "encouraged" me not to lose weight. I haven't spent much time with them all since my "consultation" so maybe it was just to get to that point. I appreciate ur input!

Well, if you are getting soaked then we are getting drenched together. I am on Optifast. I am 5'2 and 223 pounds as of last friday. I am doing it until my surgery date of 5/31/11.

At least you have support groups. My optifast clinic doesnt even offer groups anymore. This is my only "support".

I HAVE NO IDEA!!!! It seems amazingly stupid to me, in my opinion its to soak me for 136.00 a week for 4 weeks... There is no way I need 4 weeks of optifast before a Lap Band... I am 5'2 @ 228lbs... however this is how my program works so I have to follow it. Someone did tell me that there is a chance they won't make me do all 4 weeks, however the coordinator said different.... So starting Thursday I will have weekly meetings, and optifast support groups until surgery... anyone else think I might be getting "soaked"?