Ok, so...I have a surgery date of Aug 24th. My surgeon has not required me to lose any weight or to go on any kind of pre-op diet. So, therefor in my mind I am eating everything I want......feeling kinda like its the last time I will be able to eat like a normal person! Am I the only one that had been experiencing this??? I mean in my mind, I know I need to be focusing on cutting carbs, eating my protein first, not drinking while eating,chewing my food 20 times, eating SLOW and so on and so fourth. Am I alone in doing this?? I hear of most people being on pre op liquid diets, but since I didnt have to, I just wanted to enjoy my food for the last couple of weeks! Do I need to just stop now????

Do a search at the top of the forum in the box and type in food Funeral, or look for topics that have that as a title.

It's common. I didn't have a strict pre-op, liquids only diet. All I had to do was low carb/high Protein the week before surgery.

The only problem with over-indulging right before surgery is the slimy/slippery fat deposits on the liver can make it difficult for the surgeon to move it out of the way so he/she can get to the stomach. Low carb/high protein pre-op diets resolve this issue. My BMI at my revision was 49, and my liver looked stellar.

I would take this opportunity to log all that you eat "normally" on fitday.com or something like that. Fitday also has a function where you can see the progression of your weight loss on a graph, and starting it now gives you the whole picture from before surgery on...Perhaps every other day add a good habit that you will need to follow...stop drinking with meals is a really good one to get used to...Cold turkey after surgery is being pretty cruel to yourself... Face it, we are not eating "normally" before surgery, or we wouldn't be extra fat! Also, if you lose a little before surgery, you don't have to lose it after.... and getting in your exercise now helps with your health in surgery, and you will have to start walking right after surgery and it might make that a little easier at a time when you are feeling more or less like cr@p. Congrats on your date. Plan on eating some things you like now for sure, just don't "Pig out" you are only hurting yourself.

....also, measure yourself now... you won't regret it later when the scale stalls.....

After reading these blogs for the last 8 months, I am of the opinion that if you start to get used to eating less etc. before the surgery you will have an easier time with the recovery process and you won't have to put your system into such a shock. But like I said that is my opinion. I started drinking the shakes and trying to lose weight as soon as I went to my first seminar. I was required by my insurance company to lose 30 lbs and I lost 41 lbs before surgery. I had absolutely NO complications or problems after the surgery. I really think that getting my body into the process of eating less really helped the process go smoothly.

This is normal. BUT it is up you. You have to decide when you are going to start your new life. Is it today? Next week? or after surgery?

If you start now your recovery will be a lot easier. I had lost 20 pounds before my surgery & I haven't had any problems since the surgery. Others have done the same thing.

Shoot pig out but the week before surgery go LOW LOW carb and get that fat off your liver, you dont want any complications.

Lala, I went through this with my Lap-Band. I didn't have any type of pre-opt diet and I took full advantage, and even gained about 8 Lbs before my surgery. I mean we're talking 2 weeks here or a months worth of time tops!! I had lost 7 Lbs during the 6 Month Dietician appts so that was a wash...

Well... imagine my surprise that come to find out I didn't need to do any kind of "last meal" eating at all because eventually you are still going to be able to eat all your favorite foods again. Maybe not for a few months or until you hit your goals, but reality is you ARE going to be able to enjoy all your favorite foods. Believe me when I tell you, IT WILL STILL BE THERE TOMORROW... no need to pig out like it's going to not be.

It is only my opinion that it's always good to get a head start. Start off on the right foot, and take this very precious time you have left to practice and prepare yourself for what's to come. It's a heckuva ride, and believe me - I've been through this twice now. This time I was successful because I went in with the right mind set.

In fact, I only needed to do one week of Low Carb/ Low Fat for 7 days. I did 14. I don't regret that one bit!! The life I'm living today was well worth it, and in fact I took off 9 Lbs before I even had surgery. That placed me at 9 Lbs closer to goal, as opposed to 8 Lbs MORE to lose like what happened with my Lap Band.

Good luck with whatever you choose!! The decision is all your own, much like having this surgery.

i just had surgery last wednesday!! and I have to be honest ... i gained weight before my surgery.. i could not stop eating thinking this is the last time i will have this much nachos, or the entire burger.. etc... i can tell you that i wished i hadnt because i would be farther along in weight loss.. BUT i understand what you are going through because that was me about 3 weeks ago!!!! hang in there.. and try your best.

Yep, 100% normal. My "last meal" was a cheeseburger. I didn't have a presurgery diet, either, and actually had to gain a couple of pounds to qualify for the surgery (my BMI was right at 40 when I went for my surgeon's visit).

Here's the scoop: After surgery, you will have a "new" normal--eating like a "normal person" is not what we were doing pre-surgery--at least I wasn't. I was eating ABnormally, which is why I needed the surgery in the first place. Thin people, healthy people, do not eat like I ate. Surgery is going to give you the tool to make some changes. Your body may not appreciate the same types of food the way you do now. You may emotionally miss your "friends" or favorite foods. Then you'll begin to realize it's not just about the food--there are friends and family to enjoy, there are kids to chase and play with, there is work, there are your goals, and the sleeve is going to make those possible. You will slowly learn how to use your sleeve. Food will become less a "friend" and more like what it always was supposed to be--fuel for your body, great tasting, sure, but you won't have to eat like there's a famine coming and you'll never see food again. You'll be satisfied with much less, although you will enjoy it just as much. I promise--you will enjoy food after surgery. I definitely enjoy it. I just don't eat as much of it, and that's great!!

Relax. Follow your surgeon's instructions. If he doesn't put you on a pre-surgery diet, do what is healthy for you. Best wishes!!

Hey, I have the same surgery date as you! Cool!

I have to start my pre-op diet in 6 days, but I'm definitely having a Farewell-to-food tour before that. I know that eventually I will be able to eat these same foods, but I also know it won't be the same. So, I'm pigging out. But like I said, I will be doing the pre-op (2 weeks, ugh!) next week. I think maybe my pig-out has more to do with the 2 week pre-op than with the actual surgery. Like Southern Sleever said, it might be a good idea to pig out a while longer, but then do very low carb the week before surgery.

Thanks everyone for your responses!!! I really appreciate the feedback! I am not literally pigging out, but I feel like eating the way I am(which is whatever I want) and not watching my diet is a form of pigging out! I will definately take some of the advice given to me! Thanks so much!!!

Yup I last mealed myself up about 7 pounds in the two months before surgery. You will be able to eat all these foods again...just in smaller portions down the road. Don't think you have to say goodbye forever. Maybe that will make it easier.