Does it get easier? I just accomplished my first day of my surgeon's pre-op diet which is 6 small meals, 3 of which are protein shakes. I am starting earlier than is asked...he requests two weeks strictly. I just want to give myself a better head start on the weight loss, but God is it hard. I am starving and very grumpy! How many days until it gets easier? What is the norm for the amount of weight you should get off before having surgery? I read somewhere that 5% is common. I am hoping to be able to do that much to give myself some sense of accomplishment. Everyone thinks you are taking the easy way out for having weight loss surgery, but that is so not that case! I wish more people would be educated about weight loss surgery! I work in surgery and most of the people I work with have no idea what the vertical sleeve gastrectomy is b/c we do not do weight loss surgery at my hospital. Still, I wish there was a better way to get the word out and educate people about this surgery!

Good work, I myself dieted for a year before surgery and took off 200 lbs knowing it was the last "diet" I would ever have to truly be on... Every bit you lose before the surgery helps. It makes it easier for them to operate. It makes your recovery easier and it makes it easier for you to walk as most doctors want you to start walking right after surgery.

It also helps you get used to your new lifestyle, yes you won't be hungry or shouldn't be stomach hungry but dieting ahead of time helps you get used to the head hunger that will still occur.

Hi I'm trying to loose 20 pounds so I can get my op done, need ideas of what to eat and drink I'm have my lap-band still but it isn't doing a thing now this New one is crap.

I was one of the first banded people back in1999 went from 567 down to 202 by 2003 but in 2007 suffered a band hiatus hernia and No insurance and gained back about 150 had new band put in may 2010 but 5 adjustments nothing, so decided to do the sleeve but now have to loose these 20 pounds before the Dr will do the Op.

I'm eating High protien foods (fish, white chicken meat ) , in a week only lost 1 pound

Ideas needed and will protien drinks help.

Cheers Mal

Well, I have completed 3 weeks of the pre-op diet with a few small cheats. I did not go all out and eat a whole chocolate cake like my mind kept telling me I wanted to, but I did have a pinch of my husbands milky way bar one night, and a few bites of cheesy enchilada. I also went over on the ounces of steak I was supposed to eat one night b/c it was so yummy. Also, one night I skipped the whole program dinner meal and swapped it for a roast beef sub and french onion soup....that was early on though. I have been good for the most part and I even miss some of the meals here and there b/c I don't have the time to fit them in. I have lost 16 lbs in the three weeks and hopefully I will get a few more off the following week and then my surgery is March 15th. I have to do a bowel prep (mag citrate) the night before...which I have never done before. Wondering what that will be like... Anyway, I haven't been perfect but pretty good with the diet and this week I will try to be extremely strict since I am one week from surgery. I am glad I started early and have not been treating every meal as the last supper. By the way, in case anyone is wondering here is a typical day of my pre-op diet

breakfast 8 oz skim milk, 1/2 scoop Protein powder, 4 oz fruit

mid-morning premade protein shake (been drinking premier with 30 grams protein)

lunch 6-8 oz plain greek yogurt, non-fat, 4 oz fruit

Hi I'm trying to loose 20 pounds so I can get my op done, need ideas of what to eat and drink I'm have my lap-band still but it isn't doing a thing now this New one is crap.

I was one of the first banded people back in1999 went from 567 down to 202 by 2003 but in 2007 suffered a band hiatus hernia and No insurance and gained back about 150 had new band put in may 2010 but 5 adjustments nothing, so decided to do the sleeve but now have to loose these 20 pounds before the Dr will do the Op.

I'm eating High protien foods (fish, white chicken meat ) , in a week only lost 1 pound

Ideas needed and will protien drinks help.

Chhers Malcolm

Malcolm, can you write down what you really eat all day?

I think for many of us, portion size and appropriate portions are really skewed and what we consider "no a lot" is more than we should have. And in your case, since you had been banded and possibly eating lower amounts already, it is difficult to say what can help unless you tell us what you do now.

For me, replacing breakfast with a Protein shake at least during the week helps a lot. I am getting 30 g of protein for 140 calories right up front to start my day, it's easy, I find it tasty (or tasty enough) and it seems to help my weight loss. It also gives me peace of mind because I already have half my protein done!

It gets easier around the third day. It is really really hard I know this.. There are a lot of people on this site and all of them had to go on a pre op diet program. The doctor wants to make sure that you get used to the caloric intake so when you are fresh out of surgery you will not want 1800 calories. It also helps with fatty deposits on your liver..Be true to yourself and don't cheat it will make all the difference on your weightloss. Keep us posted and Stay strong I know that you can do this..